Designated Drivers Recognized at the 64th NBA All-

New York, NY, Feb. 16, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Among the sold out crowd in Madison Square Garden for the 64 ^th NBA All-Star Game last night, New York Knicks fan Helen Settles was in attendance as the first prize winner of the "Responsibility Has Its Rewards" sweepstakes for designated drivers. Settles, a resident of Staten Island, New York, was named "Designated Driver for the Season" for the Knicks for the 2013-14 season.  All 30 NBA teams selected a Designated Driver for the Season.  Ms. Settles was the lucky one randomly selected to represent the nearly 65,000 responsible NBA fans who pledged to be designated drivers last season. 

For the last eight NBA seasons, the NBA, Techniques for Effective Alcohol Management (TEAM) Coalition and NBA teams across the country have been working together to make more fans aware of the designated driver programs at NBA arenas, promote traffic safety and encourage responsible drinking and positive fan behavior. The success of those efforts is demonstrated by the fact that designated driver program participation has more than tripled league-wide since the partnership began in 2006.

The "Responsibility Has Its Rewards" sweepstakes grand prize winners were Jim Corbin and Gerald Mitkowsky. Cobin was named "Designated Driver for the Season" for the San Antonio Spurs and Mitkowsky was selected to represent the Miami Heat for the 2013-14 season.  Corbin attended game one of The Finals 2014 and Mitkowsky attended game 3. Designated drivers pledge to refrain from drinking alcohol at the game and provide their friends and family with a safe ride home.

"TEAM Coalition has proven to be an invaluable partner. Specifically, we appreciate TEAM Coalition's ardent commitment in our continued efforts to create a safe environment at each of the league's arenas," said Jerome Pickett, Senior Vice President and Chief Security Officer for the NBA. "The fan experience is significantly enriched in an atmosphere characterized by conscientious behavior. The foundation for this positive fan experience is our continued partnering to provide a comprehensive safety and security program.  We look forward to our continued relationship with our TEAM Coalition partners."

"The success of the Responsibility Has Its Rewards campaign with the NBA is a direct result of the commitment from the league, the teams 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 TEAM Coalition

TEAM Coalition is an alliance of professional and collegiate sports, entertainment facilities, concessionaires, stadium service providers, the beer industry, distillers, broadcasters, governmental traffic safety experts, and others working together to promote responsible drinking and positive fan behavior at sports and entertainment facilities. TEAM's members and supporters include the National Basketball Association, Major League Baseball, Major League Soccer, NASCAR, the National Football League, the National Hockey League, the National Collegiate Athletic Association, Aramark, Delaware North Sportservice, Ovations Food Services, Beer Institute, National Beer Wholesalers Association, Anheuser-Busch, MillerCoors, Brown-Forman, Live Nation, National Association of Broadcasters, Contemporary Services Corporation, Elite, International Association of Venue Managers, Stadium Managers Association and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. www.TEAMCoalition.org

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A photo accompanying this release is available at:
http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=30787

Jill Pepper, TEAM Coalition 703-647-7431