TEAM Coalition Recognizes 2012 MLS Alcohol Management Training and Designated Driver Award Winners

01/16/2013
TEAM Coalition Recognizes 2012 MLS Alcohol Management Training and Designated Driver Award Winners back
For Immediate Release
Contact: Jill Pepper, TEAM Coalition, jill@teamcoalition.org (703) 647-7431
INDIANAPOLIS, IN (01/16/2013) – TEAM Coalition (Techniques for Effective Alcohol Management) proudly recognized the 2012 training certification and designated driver program award winners at the 2013 MLS Operations & Security Seminar today, Wednesday January 16, 2013.TEAM Coalition is a unique 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. Click for a complete list of TEAM Coalition members.

“We’re proud to continue the tradition of recognizing those MLS clubs that have embraced TEAM training and the designated-driver program,” said Jill Pepper, TEAM executive director. “Each year we continue to see more MLS clubs participate in TEAM training and more fans make the pledge to be designated drivers. This growth is a testament to MLS’s commitment to alcohol management and its positive impact on fan behavior.”

2012 TEAM Training Award Winners
In 2012, 46,058 sports and entertainment facility employees became certified in TEAM’s effective alcohol management training program. 2,278 of those employees were Major League Soccer operations employees (ushers, ticket takers, and guest services representatives) and the employees of concessionaire companies and security companies at MLS stadiums. The 2012 number of certified MLS employees was an increase of more than 71% from the 1,330 employees who became certified in 2011. The TEAM Training Award Winners exemplify the commitment to alcohol management training that TEAM Coalition strives for with all leagues, facilities and clubs.
    • New England Revolution: 623 employees certified
    • BC Place, home of the Vancouver Whitecaps FC: 708 employees certified
    • Delaware North Companies Sportservice at Red Bull Arena: 419 employees certified
  • Securitas at Red Bull Arena: 254 employees certified
New England Revolution representativeCaitlan O’Toole and Securitas representativeJoe DiCocco receive the TEAM Training Awards. Vancouver Whitecaps FC representativeScott Jones received the TEAM Training Award on behalf of BC Place.
2012 Designated Driver Award Winners
In 2012, a new record of 22,447 MLS fans pledged to be designated drivers. The 2011 Designated Driver for the Season from Chivas USA – Sergio Medina – attended the 2012 AT&T MLS All-Star Game at PPL Park in Chester, PA. Additionally, the Designated Driver for the Season from the Houston Dynamo – Johnny Chin and the Designated Driver for the Season from the Los Angeles Galaxy – Shannon Draper attended MLS Cup 2012 at Home Depot Center in Los Angeles, CA.
The Top Three MLS Clubs with the Most Fans Pledging to be Designated Drivers

  • Seattle Sounders FC, 4,273
  • New England Revolution, 3,785
  • Real Salt Lake, 2,988
James KramanTaylor Grahamand Daryl Niles proudly display the Seattle Sounders FC plaque for being one of the Top 3 MLS Clubs for Designated Drivers and the Cascadia Responsibility Challenge Trophy. Caitlan O’Toole shows off the two plaques earned by the New England Revolution – one for training and one for being one of the Top 3 MLS Clubs for Designated Drivers. Trino Martinez smiles especially wide for the photo recognizing Real Salt Lake as one of the Top 3 MLS Clubs for Designated Drivers. Real Salt Lake has won this distinction 3 years in a row!
The Three MLS Clubs with the Greatest Increase in Fan Participation in
Designated Driver Programs

  • Chicago Fire, 783%
  • Philadelphia Union, 734%
  • Sporting KC, 676%
Erin Kwiatkowski and Candice Cuilty proudly display the Chicago Fire plaque for being one of MLS Clubs with the Greatest Increase in Fan Participation in the Designated Driver Program and the Designated Driver Challenge Trophy. Ashley Dabb shows off the Philadelphia Union plaque for being one of the MLS Clubs with the Greatest Increase in Fan Participation in the Designated Driver Program. David Dollase and Dan Drelichare all smiles as they display the Sporting KC plaque for being one of MLS Clubs with the Greatest Increase in Fan Participation in the Designated Driver Program and the Designated Driver Challenge Trophy.
2012 Responsibility and Designated Driver Challenge Winners
In 2012, TEAM Coalition partnered with several MLS clubs and their sponsors to create a little competitive spirit around the clubs’ responsibility programs. Four challenges produced four winners – the clubs with the most fans pledging to be designated drivers for their friends and family at MLS games. Each fan who pledged to be a designated driver earned his or her favorite MLS club 3 points in the Challenge.One challenge – the Cascadia Responsibility Challenge – also added the elements of social media and an online pledge to never drive drunk and always have a designated driver, even if the fact was not serving as the designated driver that day. Facebook “likes” and online pledges earned each of the Cascadia Responsibility Challenge clubs – Portland Timbers, Seattle Sounders FC and Vancouver Whitecaps FC – additional points in the challenge.
The Winners of the 2012 Responsibility and Designated Driver Challenges
  • Chicago Fire, 4,677 points
  • Seattle Sounders FC, 12,844 points
  • D.C. United, 4,926 points
  • Sporting KC, 2,493 points

Kevin Donovan and Jason Amaguana raise the D.C. United Designated Driver Challenge Trophy