Toronto, Dec. 11, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Seattle Sounders FC and Toronto FC provided a grand finale to the Major League Soccer season at the 2016 MLS Cup™, and two supporters and their guests got to enjoy the experience up close as the winners of the “Responsibility Has Its Rewards” sweepstakes.
Jen Wisemore from Bothell, WA, the Seattle Sounders FC Designated Driver for the Season and Ian Kane, a supporter from Keswick, ON representing Toronto FC, were selected as the grand prize winners of the “Responsibility Has Its Rewards” sweepstakes. The sweepstakes is in its twelfth season, provided by Techniques for Effective Alcohol Management (TEAM) Coalition with support from Major League Soccer (MLS) and HEINEKEN USA. It continues to succeed in raising awareness for the designated driver programs offered by MLS clubs.
Both winners and their guests attended the 2016 MLS Cup™ at BMO Field on Saturday, December 10, 2016. Before kickoff, they took part in an on-field recognition saluting Wisemore, Kane and the 34,218 other supporters who pledged to be designated drivers at MLS games throughout the 2016 season, ensuring a safe ride home for their friends and family.
The top three MLS clubs for designated drivers in 2016 are:
- Seattle Sounders FC: 10,955 designated drivers
- New England Revolution: 5,491 designated drivers
- Real Salt Lake: 3,529 designated drivers
“Major League Soccer is happy to support and continue to work alongside TEAM Coalition in support of the key objectives of improving the game day experience for all our guests, together with the extremely successful Responsibility Has Its Rewards and the Designated Driver programs,” said Ray Whitworth, Senior Vice President of Security & Operations with Major League Soccer and Chairman of TEAM Coalition. “The work that TEAM continues to be involved in can only make our events safer and more secure for all attending and supporting soccer. We are privileged to be a partner with TEAM.”
“HEINEKEN USA is proud to be a member of TEAM Coalition and promote responsibility throughout the MLS season,” said Tara Rush, Senior Vice President and Chief of Corporate Relations at HEINEKEN USA. “The Responsibility Has Its Rewards program is an engaging way to support designated drivers in making responsible decisions. By working with TEAM Coalition and MLS, we support a fun and safe environment for our fans to enjoy the great game of soccer."
"The success of the Responsibility Has Its Rewards campaign with Major League Soccer and HEINEKEN USA is a direct result of the commitment from the League, the MLS clubs, sponsors, concessionaires and all the campaign partners," said Jill Pepper, executive director of TEAM Coalition. "Teamwork is what this campaign is all about. We are demonstrating that when everyone - including the fans - takes responsibility, everyone wins."
About MLS
Headquartered in New York City, Major League Soccer features 20 clubs throughout the United States and Canada. The 2016 season marks the second year of the most comprehensive U.S. media rights partnership in the history of the league, as eight-year agreements with ESPN, FOX Sports and Univision Deportes have commenced. For more information about MLS, visit www.MLSsoccer.com.
About HEINEKEN USA
HEINEKEN USA Inc., the nation's leading upscale beer importer, is a subsidiary of HEINEKEN NV, the world's most international brewer. Core brands imported into the U.S. are Heineken®, the world's most international premium beer brand, the Dos Equis franchise, the Tecate franchise and Strongbow Hard Apple Ciders. HEINEKEN USA also imports Amstel Light, Newcastle Brown Ale, Red Stripe, Sol, Indio, Carta Blanca and Bohemia brands. For the latest information on our company and brands, follow us on Twitter @HeinekenUSACorp, or visit HEINEKENUSA.com.
About TEAM Coalition
TEAM Coalition is an alliance of professional and collegiate sports, entertainment facilities, concessionaries, stadium service providers, the beer industry, distillers, broadcasters, traffic safety experts and others working together to promote responsible drinking and positive fan behavior at sports and entertainment facilities. TEAM Coalition members and supporters include Major League Soccer, Major League Baseball, National Basketball Association, NASCAR, National Football League, National Hockey League, National Collegiate Athletic Association, Americrown, Aramark, Delaware North Sportservice, Legends, Spectra, Beer Institute, National Beer Wholesalers Association, Anheuser-Busch Companies, Constellation Brands, HEINEKEN USA, MillerCoors, Brown-Forman, Live Nation, National Association of Broadcasters, Contemporary Services Corporation, International Association of Venue Managers, Stadium Managers Association and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
For more information, visit TEAMCoalition.org.
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