KANSAS CITY, MO (02/28/2013) – Sporting Kansas City was recognized at a luncheon today for winning theBudweiser Good Sport Designated Driver Challenge with FC Dallas. Representatives from Sporting Kansas City, Anheuser-Busch, Schatz Distributing Company, Inc, DNC Sportservice and TEAM Coalition gathered for the celebration.The Budweiser Good Sport Designated Driver Challenge tracked the number of fans who pledged to be designated drivers at all the 2012 regular season home games for both teams. Each fan who pledged to be a designated driver at Sporting Park earned Sporting Kansas City three points in the challenge. Sporting KC outscored FC Dallas 2,493 points to 1,563 points Click here to see the final standings of the Budweiser Good Sport Designated Driver Challenge.
(left to right) Hans Niska, VP of Stadium Operations for Sporting KC; Jim Neal, General Manager for Schatz Distributing Company, Inc.; Jeff Fickas, Event Services Coordinator for Sporting KC; Dan Drelich, Operations for Sporting KC; Chris Wyche, General Manager for Sporting Park, Sporting KC; Aurelio Ruelas, Regional Director of Corporate Social Responsibility for Anheuser-Busch; Christianne Miles, General Manager of Sporting Park for DNC SportserviceSporting Kansas City, Sporting Park, Schatz Distributing Company, Inc, Budweiser and DNC Sportservice have been working together successfully to offer fans the Budweiser Good Sport designated driver program for many seasons. In 2012 the partnership more than quadrupled fan participation relative to the prior season. Overall, Sporting KC finished the season in ninth place in comparison to the rest of MLS.“We’re pleased to work with Sporting Kansas City, TEAM Coalition 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 Budweiser Good Sport 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 Sporting Kansas City at Sporting Park. Other components include:
- Alcohol cut-off at the 80 minute mark of the game
- Alcohol service policies including no more than two alcoholic beverages per person per transaction
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 Major League Soccer, Major League Baseball, NASCAR, the National Basketball Association, 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, 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. www.TEAMCoalition.org.
About Anheuser-Busch
For three decades, Anheuser-Busch and its nationwide network of wholesalers have invested more than $930 million in national advertising campaigns and community-based programs to promote responsible drinking, prevent underage drinking and drunk driving and address college issues. For more information on these alcohol responsibility efforts and the progress being made, visit www.anheuser-busch.com. |
