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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 – coordinated
a league-wide promotion with Major League Baseball called “Responsibility Has Its
Rewards” in support of existing designated driver programs sponsored by concessionaires
and brewers. TEAM and its partners are educating fans about the importance of drinking
responsibly and always buckling up and designating a driver.
Approximately 280,000 fans pledged to be designated drivers during the season. More than
24,500 Cardinals fans participated in the Good Sport designated driver program offered
at Busch Stadium through a partnership with Anheuser-Busch and Sportservice. From those
participants, one lucky designated driver for the season – Jeannie Johnston – was selected.
When the Cardinals host Game Three of the World Series on Tuesday, Johnston and a guest will be
at Busch Stadium. A secondary prize of a trip to the 2007 All-Star Game® at AT&T Park in San
Francisco will be awarded to one of the 28 designated drivers for the season whose team does
not play in the World Series.
“Tying “Responsibility Has Its Rewards” to our season-long “Good Sport” designated driver
program makes everyone a winner,” said John Kaestner, vice president of Consumer Affairs for
Anheuser-Busch Companies, Inc. “We’re pleased to work with TEAM, the Cardinals and Major
League Baseball to recognize our fans for looking out for each other before, during and after
the game, and making a designated driver part of their game plan. When it comes to preventing
drunk driving, we’re all part of the team.”
“This promotion is an opportunity for MLB to show support for the clubs’ efforts in coordination
with the concessionaire, brewer, and beer wholesaler to encourage responsible fan behavior. And
for the fans, it is a great reminder that responsibility really does have its rewards,” said Jill
Pepper, Executive Director of the TEAM Coalition.
"Fan safety in the ballpark has always been a top priority for Major League Baseball," said
Baseball Commissioner Allan H. (Bud) Selig. "We believe this is an excellent program that emphasizes
fans' safety to and from the ballpark."
Through the designated driver program, fans who sign up pledge to get everyone in their group home
safely after the game. "We want the game-day experience to continue to be safe and enjoyable for
Cardinals fans while they enjoy the new Busch Stadium and as they travel home after the games,"
said Joe Abernathy Vice President of Stadium Operations for the St. Louis Cardinals. “We are thrilled
to reward our fans for demonstrating responsible behavior with such a great opportunity.”
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TEAM’s members and supporters include Major League Baseball, Major League Soccer, National Basketball
Association, National Collegiate Athletics Association, National Football League, National Hockey League,
ARAMARK, Delaware North Companies – Sportservice, International Association of Assembly Managers,
Contemporary Services, Corporation, Beer Institute, Anheuser-Busch Companies, Miller Brewing Company,
Coors Brewing Company, National Association of Broadcasters, Live Nation, ESPN ABC Sports, and the National
Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
For more information on the TEAM Coalition please log on to www.teamcoalition.org
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