Throughout the season, the NBA, Techniques for Effective Alcohol Management (TEAM) Coalition, Budweiser and NBA teams across the country have worked together to make more fans aware of the designated driver programs at NBA arenas, encourage responsible drinking, positive fan behavior, and promote traffic safety. The success of those efforts is demonstrated by the fact that more than 43,000 adults pledged to be designated drivers during the 2011-12 season. A “Designated Driver for the Season” from an NBA team not playing in The Finals 2012 also will randomly be chosen to attend the 2013 NBA All-Star Game.The top five NBA teams for designated drivers at the end of the 2011-12 season are:
- Dallas Mavericks with 7,116 designated drivers
- Oklahoma City Thunder with 6,600 designated drivers
- Sacramento Kings with 5,234 designated drivers
- Houston Rockets with 4,500 designated drivers
- San Antonio Spurs with 3,521 designated drivers
“The success of the ‘Responsibility Has Its Rewards’ campaign with the NBA this season is a direct result of the commitment from the league, the teams and all the campaign partners,” said Jill Pepper, executive director of TEAM Coalition. “Teamwork is what this campaign is all about. We are demonstrating that when everyone – including the fans – takes responsibility, everyone wins.”
“Tying ‘Responsibility Has Its Rewards’ to our season-long Budweiser Good Sport program makes for a winning combination,” said Kathy Casso, vice president of Corporate Social Responsibility for Anheuser-Busch. “We’re pleased to work with the NBA, 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. When it comes to preventing drunk driving, we’re all part of the team.”
The Budweiser Good Sport program promotes responsible fan behavior at sporting venues nationwide and rewards fans who volunteer to be designated drivers for their families and friends.
About TEAM Coalition
TEAM Coalition is an alliance of professional and collegiate sports, entertainment facilities, concessionaires, stadium service providers, the beer industry, distillers, broadcasters, traffic safety experts and others working together to promote responsible drinking and positive fan behavior at sports and entertainment facilities. TEAM Coalition members and supporters include National Basketball Association, Major League Baseball, Major League Soccer, NASCAR, National Football League, National Hockey League, National Collegiate Athletic Association, ARAMARK, Delaware North Companies – Sportservice, Ovations Food Services, Beer Institute, National Beer Wholesalers Association, Anheuser-Busch Companies, MillerCoors, Brown-Forman, Live Nation, National Association of Broadcasters, Contemporary Services Corporation, Elite, International Association of Venue Managers, Stadium Managers Association and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
For more information, go to www.TEAMCoalition.org, www.RHIR.org
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