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CLEVELAND, Ohio. (5/7/09) – While the Indians host the Detroit Tigers in an AL Central Division matchup on Sunday, May 10th, 2009 at Progressive Field, Indians fans will have an opportunity to serve as spokespeople for responsible behavior. The Cleveland Indians, The Ensign John R. Elliott Hero Campaign® and TEAM Coalition are partnering to educate fans about the importance of using a designated driver, buckling up and demonstrating positive fan behavior. The message is simple: “Be a Hero, Be a Designated Driver®.”
"The HERO Campaign is proud to be associated with the Indians, Major League Baseball, and our partners in promoting the use of designated drivers in memory of our son John," said Bill Elliott, Chairman of the HERO Campaign. A designated driver is truly a hero by keeping others safe on the way home after the game. Our goal is to register a million designated drivers nationwide and make the use of designated drivers as automatic as wearing a seatbelt."
Fans must first make the Responsibility Has Its Rewards (RHIR) pledge to:
- Always have a designated driver
- Never drive drunk
- Always buckle up every trip every time
Those fans will have the opportunity to tape their own message about responsible behavior at the game. The video clips will be e-mailed to participants so their moment of fame can be shared with family and friends. Fans from across Major League Baseball who pledge and demonstrate responsible behavior have a chance to be selected as the Indians Designated Driver for the Season and may win tickets to the first game of the 2009 World Series® if played at Progressive Field or a trip to the 2010 MLB All-Star Game® at Angel Stadium of Anaheim.®.
“Giving fans the opportunity to be the voice of the Responsibility Has Its Rewards campaign personalizes the designated driver message,” said Jill Pepper, Executive Director of TEAM Coalition. “Teamwork is exactly what this campaign is all about, and through this program the Cleveland Indians, and The HERO Campaign are demonstrating that everyone – including the fans – plays an important role in alcohol management.”
The designated-driver program is one of several components of the alcohol management plan at Progressive Field. In addition, alcohol management training for the Progressive Field employees gives them the skills to observe fan behavior and serve alcohol beverages in compliance with local laws and in a manner designed to encourage responsible consumption. Alcohol service policies are enforced to ensure only fans of legal drinking age are served alcohol beverages. These combined efforts represent an alcohol management plan in which the fans, arena employees, corporate sponsors and team representatives all are working toward common goals – promoting responsible alcohol consumption, positive fan behavior and traffic safety.
“The Cleveland Indians take the issue of alcohol management seriously. Game day should be safe and enjoyable for our fans, both at Progressive Field and as they travel home after the games,” said Brad Mohr, Assistant Director of Ballpark Operations for the Cleveland Indians. “We’re proud that so many of our fans have chosen to demonstrate responsible behavior and embrace the ‘Be A Hero’ message for our designated-driver program.”
Sunday, fans who pledge to be designated drivers will have a unique opportunity to show their dedication to the Indians, because responsibility really does have its rewards.
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TEAM's members and supporters include Major League Soccer, Major League Baseball, the National Basketball Association, the National Football League, the National Hockey League, National Collegiate Athletic Association, ARAMARK, Delaware North Companies Sportservice, Beer Institute, Anheuser-Busch, MillerCoors, Live Nation, National Association of Broadcasters, Contemporary Services Corporation, International Association of Assembly Managers, and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Visit www.teamcoalition.org for more details.
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