MLS 2013 Alcohol Management Training and Designated Driver Award Winners Recognized

01/13/2014

TEAM Coalition Recognizes 2013 MLS Alcohol Management Training and Designated Driver Award Winners back
For Immediate Release
Contact: Jill Pepper, TEAM Coalition, jill@teamcoalition.org (703) 647-7431
PHILADELPHIA, PA (01/15/2013) – TEAM Coalition (Techniques for Effective Alcohol Management) proudly recognized the 2013 training certification and designated driver program award winners at the 2014 MLS Operations & Security Seminar today, Wednesday January 15, 2014.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.”
2013 TEAM Training Award Winners
In 2013, 50,855 sports and entertainment facility employees became certified in TEAM’s effective alcohol management training program. 8,473 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 2013 number of certified MLS employees was an increase of more than 113% from the 2,278 employees who became certified in 2012. 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: 601 employees certified
    • BC Place, home of the Vancouver Whitecaps FC: 135 employees certified
    • ARAMARK at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park: 192 employees certified
    • Delaware North Companies Sportservice at Red Bull Arena: 588 employees certified
  • Securitas at Red Bull Arena: 223 employees certified
2013 Designated Driver Award Winners
In 2013, a new record of 26,946 MLS fans pledged to be designated drivers. The 2012 Designated Driver for the Season from the New York Red Bulls – Herb Weltig – attended the 2013 AT&T MLS All-Star Game at Sporting Park in Kansas City, MO. Additionally, the Designated Driver for the Season from Real Salt Lake – Trish Ferry and the Designated Driver for the Season from Sporting KC – Jennifer Wilton attended MLS Cup 2013 at Sporting Park in Kansas City, MO.
The Top Three MLS Clubs with the Most Fans Pledging to be Designated Drivers

  • Seattle Sounders FC, 4,826
  • Real Salt Lake, 4,056
  • New England Revolution, 3,387
Toronto FC was the club with the Greatest Increase in Fan Participation in
Designated Driver Programs, 303%

Representatives from the Seattle Sounders FC, Real Salt Lake, New England Revolution and Toronto FC proudly display their designated driver awards
2013 Responsibility and Designated Driver Challenge Winners
In 2013, 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.In one challenge – the Budweiser Good Sport Designated Driver Challenge between FC Dallas, Houston Dynamo and Sportking KC – Houston Dynamo used social media and Facebook “likes” to take the trophy from Sporting KC! Facebook “likes” and online pledges to never drive drunk and always have a designated driver earned each of the clubs additional points in the challenge.
The Winners of the 2014 Responsibility and Designated Driver Challenges
  • Chicago Fire, 8,496 points
  • Seattle Sounders FC, 14,490 points
  • D.C. United, 4,241 points
  • Houston Dynamo, 12,409 points
Author: jillteamcoalition
TEAM Coalition