| WASHINGTON, D.C. (05/23/2012) – The Cleveland Browns were recognized at a luncheon today for winning the Bud Light Good Sport Designated Driver Challenge with the Cincinnati Bengals. Representatives from the Browns, Anheuser-Busch, DNC Sportservice, LaRose Distribution and TEAM Coalition gathered for the celebration.The Designated Driver Challenge tracked the number of fans who pledged to be designated drivers at all the 2011 regular season home games for both teams. Each fan who pledged to be a designated driver at Cleveland Browns Stadium earned the Browns six points in the challenge. Additionally, fans who “liked” the Browns posts on Facebook about the Challenge earned the team an extra point. The Browns outscored the Bengals in both in-stadium designated driver pledges and Facebook “likes.”
Click here to see the final standings in the Designated Driver Challenge.
(left to right) Jill Pepper, Executive Director of TEAM Coalition; Nick Dodson, Geographic Marketing Manager for Anheuser-Busch; Joe Wilsford, District Manager for Anheuser-Busch in Cleveland, OH; Jim LaRose, President and COO, House of LaRose Distributing; Fattar Thomas, General Manager for DNC Sportservice; Nicole Peters, Director of Client Services for the Cleveland Browns; Heather Popa, House of LaRose Distributing; Mallory Sanders, Regional Director of Corporate Social Responsibility for Anheuser-Busch; Steve Eyerman, Manager of Stadium Operations with the Cleveland Browns; Julie Leggett, Executive Director of MADD
The Browns, Cleveland Browns Stadium, and Bud Light, have been working together successfully for the designated driver program.
“We’re pleased to work with the Browns, TEAM and the other program partners to recognize fans who look out for each other and make a designated driver part of their game plan,” said Kathy Casso, vice president of Corporate Social Responsibility for Anheuser-Busch. “When it comes to preventing drunk driving, we’re all part of the team.”
“Teamwork is exactly what this organization is all about,” said Jill Pepper, executive director of TEAM Coalition. “Through the Designated Driver Challenge, we are demonstrating that when everyone – including the fans – takes responsibility, everyone wins.”
The designated driver program is just one component of the fan behavior initiatives offered by the Cleveland Browns at Cleveland Browns Stadium. Other components include:
- A Fan Code of Conduct posted in and around Cleveland Browns Stadium
- Text messaging (“Browns” + your message) to 78247 empowers fans to report disruptive behavior to security
- Alcohol service policies including ID checks for fans who look 30 years of age or younger, no more than two alcoholic beverages per person per transaction and alcohol cut-off at the end of the third quarter
About TEAM Coalition
TEAM Coalition is an alliance of professional and collegiate sports, entertainment facilities, concessionaires, stadium service providers, the beer industry, distillers, broadcasters, governmental traffic safety experts, and others working together to promote responsible drinking and positive fan behavior at sports and entertainment facilities. TEAM’s members and supporters include the National Football League, Major League Baseball, Major League Soccer, the National Basketball Association, National Hockey League, National Collegiate Athletic Association, ARAMARK, Delaware North Companies Sportservice, Ovations Food Services, Beer Institute, National Beer Wholesalers Association, Anheuser-Busch, MillerCoors, Brown-Forman, Live Nation, National Association of Broadcasters, Contemporary Services Corporation, Elite Show Services, International Association of Venue Managers, Stadium Managers Association and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. www.teamcoalition.org. |
