NEW YORK (Friday, November 4, 2005) – Major League Soccer and TEAM Coalition announced today the winners of the “Responsibility has its Rewards” campaign that focused on the importance of responsible drinking and always using a designated driver. One fan from each of the winning teams playing in the 2005 MLS Cup Conference Championship games this weekend will win a trip to follow their club play in MLS Cup 2005 on Sunday, November 13 at Pizza Hut Park in Frisco, Texas (live on ABC Sports at 3:30 p.m. ET).

In April, TEAM Coalition and Major League Soccer coordinated a league-wide promotion in support of existing designated driver programs to promote responsible drinking and positive fan behavior at the games. Out of the thousands of participants who registered during matches as designated drivers, one fortunate driver was chosen by each participating team. The selected designated drivers for the two teams that advance to MLS Cup 2005 will receive round-trip airfare, hotel accommodations, and tickets to the championship game. In addition, one designated driver from clubs that don’t make it to the championship game will win a trip to the 2006 Sierra Mist MLS All-Star Game.

TEAM Coalition - an 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 facilities.

The Colorado Rapids will host the Los Angeles Galaxy on Saturday, November 5 in the Western Conference Championship game (live on Fox Soccer Channel and HDNet – 9:00 p.m. ET) while the Chicago Fire travel to face the New England Revolution for the Eastern Conference Championship on Sunday, November 6 in a game televised live on ESPN2 (3:00 p.m. ET).

The “Responsibility Has Its Rewards” promotion was created to help ensure fan safety and to educate fans about the importance of drinking responsibly, always buckling up and designating a driver. “This promotion is an opportunity for the Major League Soccer to show support for the clubs’ efforts to encourage responsible fan behavior. And for the fans, it is a great reminder that responsibility has its rewards,” said Jill Pepper, Executive Director of the TEAM Coalition.

The selected designated drivers for each club follow:

Chicago Fire – Robert Kalinsky
Colorado Rapids – David Bannon
Columbus Crew – Pat Underburger
D.C. United – Nancy Costa
FC Dallas – Todd McQuietor
Kansas City Wizards – Tom Denzer
Los Angeles Galaxy – Donald Schraier
MetroStars – Arleen Kupper
New England Revolution – Christopher Summers
San Jose Earthquakes – Lila Valadez