SAN DIEGO, CA -- 12/13/07 --
The San Diego Chargers are one of six NFL
teams being recognized for their large number of fans pledging to be
designated drivers at home games this season, the TEAM Coalition
(Techniques for Effective Alcohol Management) announced today. The Chargers
join the Baltimore Ravens, Washington Redskins, Chicago Bears, Jacksonville
Jaguars, and Detroit Lions in this prestigious ranking to save lives on our
nation's highways.
At the Chargers home game against the Detroit Lions, Sunday, Dec. 16, TEAM
Coalition will recognize the Chargers and their fans at a pregame ceremony
for their continued effort to make our roadways safe. Representatives of
California Highway Patrol (CHP), Anheuser-Busch and Centerplate, the
building's concessionaire, will join TEAM at the event.
"We want every game day to be safe and enjoyable for our fans, both in the
Stadium and as they travel home after the games," said Chargers Chief
Operating Officer Jim Steeg. "We are proud that so many of our fans have
chosen to demonstrate responsible behavior."
Through the Anheuser-Busch Good Sport program, nearly 7,000 Chargers fans
promised to refrain from drinking and be the designated drivers to get
their friends and family home safely from the games played at Qualcomm
Stadium this season. TEAM Coalition has been aggressively promoting the
designated-driver program at NFL stadiums since 2003 with a league-wide
campaign called Responsibility Has Its Rewards. The campaign encourages
fans to participate in designated-driver programs supported by beer and
concessionaire companies at every NFL stadium nationwide.
"Tying 'Responsibility Has Its Rewards' to our season-long 'Good Sport'
program makes everyone a winner," said Carol Clark, vice president of
Corporate Social Responsibility for Anheuser-Busch Companies, Inc. "We are
pleased to work with TEAM, the San Diego Chargers and the National Football
League to recognize Chargers fans who look out for each other and make a
designated driver part of their game plan. When it comes to preventing
drunk driving, we are all part of the team."
"We work closely with our clients to ensure fans make responsible decisions
when it comes to alcohol," said Centerplate President & CEO Janet L.
Steinmayer. "The designated driver program is an important component of the
alcohol management program at Qualcomm Stadium."
During the 2006 NFL season, more than 100,000 football fans planned ahead
and made the responsible, winning play by pledging to be designated
drivers. This season, the league-wide total is estimated to be 110,000.
"This promotion is an opportunity for the NFL to show support for the
teams' efforts in coordination with the concessionaire, brewer, and beer
wholesaler to encourage responsible fan behavior. And for the fans, it's a
great reminder that responsibility really does have its rewards," said Jill
Pepper, executive director of the TEAM Coalition.
One lucky Chargers fan will be selected by TEAM Coalition as the Chargers
Designated Driver of the season. If the Chargers make it all the way to the
Super Bowl®, that fan will join them at Super Bowl XLII® which will be
played on February 3, 2008 at University of Phoenix Stadium in Arizona. In
addition, one designated driver from an NFL team that does not play in the
Super Bowl® will be chosen at random to attend the 2006 NFL Pro Bowl®
in Honolulu, Hawaii. The winner of that prize will be selected by TEAM
Coalition through a random drawing after the NFC and AFC Champions are
determined.
Recognition of the Chargers fans' commitment to the designated driver
program coincides with the Department of Transportation's national
enforcement crackdown on drunk drivers called Drunk Driving: Over the
Limit. Under Arrest.
"We want to congratulate the Chargers and their fans and remind everyone
that true football Fans Don't Let Fans Drive Drunk," said Chris Murphy,
director of the California Office of Traffic Safety. "If you plan on
consuming alcohol whether you are at the game or watching from a house
party or sports bar, pass your keys to a sober, designated driver before
the party begins. We commend all the Responsibility Has Its Rewards
campaign partners for creating such a fantastic incentive for fans who make
the responsible decision to designate a driver."
California Highway Patrol (CHP) assistant chief, Bob Clark, said, "We are
extremely proud to be in partnership with the San Diego Chargers,
Anheuser-Busch and Centerplate. CHP has always been committed to removing
the impaired driver from our highways. Nearly 1/3 of all fatal traffic
collisions involve driving under the influence. More than half of the
vehicle occupants killed were not wearing their seat belt. We know this
program is educational and it saves lives."
Fortunately, football fans join millions of other Americans in doing "the
ride thing." According to the 2007 Designated Driver poll conducted by
Nielsen Media Research, 154 million Americans have been a designated driver
or have been driven home by one.
TEAM Coalition -- an alliance of professional and collegiate sports,
entertainment facilities, concessionaries, stadium service providers, the
beer industry, broadcasters, traffic safety experts and others working
together to promote responsible drinking and positive fan behavior at
sports and entertainment facilities.
For more information, please visit www.teamcoalition.org or www.rhir.org.
CONTACT:
Jill Pepper
202-669-0357
jill@teamcoalition.org
