| SAN DIEGO, CA. (02/13/2012) – The San Diego Chargers were recognized at a luncheon today for winning the AFC West Designated Driver Challenge with the Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs and Oakland Raiders. Representatives from the Chargers, Centerplate, California Highway Patrol, Anheuser-Busch and TEAM Coalition gathered for the celebration.The AFC West Designated Driver Challenge tracked the number of fans who pledged to be designated drivers at all the 2011 regular season home games for all four teams. Each fan who pledged to be a designated driver at Qualcomm Stadium earned the Chargers six points in the challenge. Additionally, fans who “liked” the Chargers Facebook page for the Challenge earned the team an extra point. The Chargers outscored the other AFC West teams in both in-stadium designated driver pledges and Facebook “likes.”Click here to see the final standings in the AFC West Designated Driver Challenge.
A.G. Spanos, Executive Vice President and Chief Executive Officer for the San Diego Chargers, holds the AFC Designated Driver Challenge trophy surrounded by California Highway Patrol officers, Centerplate representatives, San Diego Chargers and representatives of the local Bud Light distributor.
The San Diego Chargers, Qualcomm Stadium, Centerplate, Bud Light and California Highway Patrol have been working together successfully for the designated-driver program, finishing the last five seasons in the top five in the NFL for the most fans participating in the program. “We’re proud of our designated-driver program, but we’re most proud of the fans who are a part of it and participate,” said Spanos. “We have great fans in San Diego who help us create a safe, family-friendly experience at Qualcomm stadium.”
“We commend the Chargers and all the designated-driver program partners at Qualcomm Stadium for creating a unique incentive to bring the Chargers and their fans together to make the responsible decision to designate a driver,” said California Highway Patrol, Border Division, Chief Jim Abele.
“We’re pleased to work with the Chargers, 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.”
“As a part of our commitment to creating safe and enjoyable fan experiences, Centerplate takes responsible alcohol management very seriously,” said Scott Marshall, senior vice president Sports West for Centerplate. “We’re proud to be part of the designated-driver program at Qualcomm Stadium and thrilled to be part of the winning team in the AFC Designated Driver Challenge. The designated-driver program empowers fans to make smarter, safer choices both inside and outside the Stadium.”
 “Teamwork is exactly what this organization is all about,” said Jill Pepper, executive director of TEAM Coalition. “Through the AFC West 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 San Diego Chargers at Qualcomm Stadium. Other components include:
- A Fan Code of Conduct posted in and around Qualcomm Stadium
- Text messaging (text “SECURITY” to 59629) empowers fans to report disruptive behavior to security
- Certification of more than 1,000 employees across every organization operating in Qualcomm Stadium in effective alcohol management training
- Alcohol service policies including ID checks for all fans, no more than two alcoholic beverages per person per transaction in the first half and only one alcoholic beverage per person in the third quarter, no alcohol service in the seating area (fans must go to the concession stands on the concourse to purchase alcohol) 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. |
