The Seattle Seahawks and Seattle Sounders FC were both recognized on August 28, 2017 for winning the Bud Light Good Sport Designated Driver Challenge and the Cascadia Responsibility Challenge, respectively. The Seahawks came out on top of the 2016 Bud Light Good Sport Designated Driver Challenge against the rest of the NFC West. The Sounders FC won the 2016 Cascadia Responsibility Challenge against the Portland Timbers and Vancouver Whitecaps FC. Representatives from Brown-Forman, CenturyLink Field and TEAM Coalition gathered for the celebration.
The Bud Light Good Sport Designated Driver Challenge tracked the number of fans who pledged to be designated drivers at the 2016 regular season home games for the NFC West. Each fan who pledged to be a designated driver at CenturyLink Field earned the Seahawks 6 points – a touchdown – in the challenge. Fans also had the opportunity to show support of their team’s responsibility efforts on social media to earn additional points. The Seahawks finished with 111,900 points compared to the Cardinals with 56,124 and the 49ers with 13,536.
The Cascadia Responsibility Challenge tracked the number of fans who pledged to be designated drivers at the 2016 regular season home games for the Pacific Northwest MLS clubs. Each supporter who took the Good Sport pledge to be a designated driver at CenturyLink Field earned Sounders FC 3 points in the challenge. Supporters also had the opportunity take an el Jimador responsible fan pledge to plan for a safe ride home and earn additional points. Sounders FC finished with 8,317 points compared to the Timbers with 295 and the Whitecaps with none.
The Seahawks, Sounders FC, CenturyLink Field, Anheuser-Busch, Brown-Forman and First & Goal Hospitality have been working together successfully for the Seattle designated driver programs for several seasons, and participation continues to grow every year.
The designated driver program is just one component of the fan behavior initiatives offered at CenturyLink Field. Other components include:
- A Fan Code of Conduct posted in and around the stadium
- Certification of employees in effective alcohol management training
- Clearly communicated alcohol policies posted at points of sale