Responsible Fans at the 2017 NCAA Women’s College World Series

06/05/2017

TEAM Coalition traveled to ASA Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City, OK for the 2017 NCAA Women’s College World Series on June 1 – June 6, 2017. TEAM asked fans to make the Responsibility Has Its Rewards pledge to:

• Always Buckle Up – Every Trip, Every Time
• Never Drive Drunk
• Always Have a Designated Driver
• Never Provide Alcohol to Anyone Under 21

Fans from all over the country gathered to watch the Oklahoma Sooners take on the Florida Gators in the WCWS final. After an incredible  17-inning Game 1, followed by a Game 2 where both teams battled, the Oklahoma Sooners took home the National Championship in back-to-back years. Over 2,600 fans from all eight schools vying for the National Championship took time to make the responsibility pledge while enjoying the pre-game festivities at WCWS Fan Fest before each game.

WCWS 2017-06-01 09-14-21AM
WCWS 2017-06-01 10-10-57AM
WCWS 2017-06-01 12-58-44PM

The NCAA and TEAM Coalition partnered to promote responsible drinking at ASA Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City, OK, encouraging fans to never drive drunk if they were over 21 or to buckle up – every trip, every time – if they were under 21.

The TEAM Coalition effort to contribute to a safe and exciting fan experience benefits us all – the fans, players and sports leagues alike. TEAM recognizes that most fans come out to enjoy the thrill of the competition, and that irresponsible alcohol use can detract from that experience. By engaging us all in this effort, and rewarding positive fan behavior, TEAM scores!

Mary Wilfert, Associate Director of Education Outreach, National Collegiate Athletic Association
The success of the Responsibility Has Its Rewards campaign is a direct result of the commitment from our members and all the designated driver program partners, including the leagues, stadiums and concessionaires. Teamwork is what this campaign is all about. We are demonstrating that when everyone – including the fans – takes responsibility, everyone wins.Jill Pepper, Executive Director, TEAM Coalition
NCAA
For more information, see NCAA.org.
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 Collegiate Athletic Association, Major League Baseball, Major League Soccer, NASCAR, National Basketball Association, National Football League, National Hockey League, Americrown, Aramark, Delaware North Sportservice, Legends, Spectra, Beer Institute, National Beer Wholesalers Association, Anheuser-Busch Companies, Constellation Brands, HEINEKEN USA, MillerCoors, Brown-Forman, Live Nation, National Association of Broadcasters, Contemporary Services Corporation, International Association of Venue Managers, Stadium Managers Association and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. For more information visit www.TEAMCoalition.org or www.FansDontLetFansDriveDrunk.org.
US DOT / NHTSA 2014 NATIONAL DATA:

• In 2014, 9,967 people were killed as a result of alcohol-related (BAC > 0.08) car crashes, a decrease of 1.1% from the 10,076 fatalities in 2013.

• Many, if not most of those lives would have been saved if people did not drive when they were impaired by alcohol or if they used sober, designated drivers or if they simply wore their seat belts.

• Statistics and research clearly show that 21-34 year old males are the demographic most likely to be involved in an automobile crash, drive when impaired by alcohol, and fail to buckle up.