(Washington, DC) The TEAM Coalition, Inc. (Techniques for Effective Alcohol Management) is proud to recognize several professional sports leagues, teams, concessionaires, and facilities for their commitment to promoting responsible alcohol consumption at entertainment and sporting events. Teams and facilities representing Major League Baseball, National Football League, and National Basketball Association were recognized. Concessionaires including Aramark, SportService, Levy Restaurants, and MGR Food Services won awards; as did the White River amphitheater in Washington State, managed by Clear Channel Entertainment. The twenty winners trained at least 50% and as much as 100% of their concessions or operations staff in effective alcohol management, specifically designed to prevent alcohol-related incidents.

TEAM is a unique alliance of professional and collegiate sports, entertainment facilities, concessionaires, the beer industry, broadcasters, governmental traffic safety experts, and others working together to promote responsible drinking and positive fan behavior at sports and entertainment facilities. “We’re especially proud of the diversity of the winners of our training awards,” said Jill Pepper, TEAM Executive Director. “To have winners representing three leagues, four concessionaires, and an amphitheater is a testament to the value of the training and its positive impact on fan behavior.”

In 2004, over 11,000 employees from 33 facilities completed the training, and in many cases funding and support for the training and responsibility initiatives -- including designated driver programs -- came from local beer wholesalers. “We applaud the efforts of those being recognized,” said Norman Adami, Beer Institute Chairman and President and CEO for Miller Brewing Company. “The partnership between brewers, wholesalers and the concessionaires at these facilities serves as an important bridge to help ensure that those who choose to drink take personal responsibility so that all fans can enjoy the game and get home safely.”

Baseball Commissioner Allan H. (Bud) Selig said, “Alcohol management training is vital to making our ball parks a safe, fan-friendly place for our great fans, and I congratulate these seven MLB clubs for being recognized by the TEAM Coalition.” Roger Goodell, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer for the National Football League added, “The NFL has strongly supported the TEAM program for over 15 years. The positive contributions made by TEAM are far reaching." And according to Dennis Robinson, Senior Vice President Business and League Operations for the NBA, “the league commends the Trail Blazers, Bucks, and Knicks, as well as their respective facilities, for undertaking such an important training program.”

While TEAM incorporates all job functions of the facility into its alcohol management training program (including ushers, ticket takers, and security personnel), nearly 8,000 of those employees trained in 2004 were concessions workers. And Aramark employees from fourteen facilities represented over 5,000 of those employees trained. “ARAMARK strongly supports alcohol server training for our staff at all of the facilities in which we operate,” said Sean Rooney, President, ARAMARK Stadiums and Arenas. “It has proven to be an important safeguard against the misuse of alcohol that benefits not just our employees but ultimately protects our customers, the fans.”

NHTSA Administrator Jeffrey W. Runge, M.D. said, “Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta and I commend the professional sports leagues, their teams, sports and entertainment facilities, and the concessionaires for their continued leadership in preventing impaired driving. Their commitment to alcohol management training and common-sense policies has saved countless lives in their communities.”

The winners will receive awards at events throughout the year. The Major League Baseball Clubs that won awards were recognized at the Stadium Operations Meeting held in San Diego in December 2004.

TEAM Coalition members and supporters include Major League Baseball, National Basketball Association, National Football League, National Hockey League, National Collegiate Athletic Association, ARAMARK, Beer Institute, Anheuser-Busch Companies, Miller Brewing Company, Coors Brewing Company, National Association of Broadcasters, ESPN ABC Sports, International Association of Assembly Managers, and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.