TEAM Coalition

What TEAM Coalition does

TEAM Coalition (Techniques for Effective Alcohol Management) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded in 1985 and headquartered in Alexandria, Virginia, that provides alcohol management training and certification programs to sports and entertainment venues across the United States. The organization operates a train-the-trainer model through its Instructor Development Program (IDP), certifying facility managers who then train their venue employees using TEAM's two-tier certification system: Level 1 for non-alcohol-serving staff and Level 2 for alcohol servers, bartenders, hawkers, and suite attendants. Certification is valid for three years and is delivered through both in-person workshops and an online platform powered by Brainshark, with custom video vignettes and venue-specific policy configurations; 76% of FY2025 certifications were completed online.

The coalition serves venue operators, concessionaires (Aramark, Legends, Oak View Group), and all major professional sports leagues (NFL, NBA, NHL, MLB, MLS, NASCAR, NCAA), with over 1,000 active trainers certifying approximately 40,000 employees annually across 142 venues in 36 states. The accompanying Responsibility Has Its Rewards (RHIR) sweepstakes program engages fans as designated drivers, with 250,000+ pledges collected in FY2025, tied to league-wide events including the Super Bowl, World Series, NBA Finals, and NHL Winter Classic. The technology stack is built on Brainshark for online delivery and an internal certification tracking database that has processed over 250,000 exams historically.

TEAM Coalition's revenue model combines annual membership dues (5 tiers ranging from $7,500 Associate to $100,000 Hall of Fame), IDP workshop registration fees ($750 per participant), training materials (manuals at $6-$14 and online access at $5-$20 per person, with member and non-profit discounts), and RHIR sweepstakes program fees. Distribution is direct and membership-driven, with channel partnerships through IAVM and SMA providing access to venue managers. The organization reported FY2025 total assets of approximately $1M with $122K net income and $840K cash on hand, indicating a small, financially stable operation.

Name

TEAM Coalition

Legal name

Techniques for Effective Alcohol Management (TEAM) Coalition

Website

https://teamcoalition.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1985

Operating status

Operating

Short description

TEAM Coalition is a 501(c)(3) non-profit that provides alcohol management training and certification to sports and entertainment venues, serving all major U.S. professional sports leagues, concessionaires, and breweries through a train-the-trainer model.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Alcohol Management Training & Certification

NAICS

Spectator Sports (71121)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYMPAKAKAK

Sports Fundraising & Development Services (Foundations, NIL Collectives Support)

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Sports (Leagues, Teams, Events, Venues)/Sports Management & Promotion Services

SECONDARYMPAKACAL

Amateur Event & Tournament Organizers (Meets, Invitationals, Opens)

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Sports (Leagues, Teams, Events, Venues)/Collegiate & Amateur Sports Organizations (NCAA, Federations, Clubs)

Keywords

• Alcohol management training
• Responsible alcohol service
• Venue safety certification
• Designated driver programs
• Employee training certification

Headquarters

HQ city

Alexandria

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Trainer Certification Fees: Revenue from Instructor Development Program (IDP) workshop registration fees. Standard fee is $750 per participant. Discounts available for IAVM and SMA members.
2. Employee Training Materials: Sale of participant manuals for in-person training (sold in quantities of 50, prices range from $6-14 per manual depending on membership tier) and online access bundles (sold in quantities of 50, $5-20 per person depending on membership tier).
3. Membership Dues: Annual membership dues from organizations. Tiers range from $7,500 (Associate) to $100,000 (Hall of Fame). Provides discounts on training products and voting rights on organizational matters.
4. RHIR Sweepstakes Programs: Responsibility Has Its Rewards sweepstakes programs with member organizations, customizable from individual events to league-wide season-long programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

TEAM Coalition provides alcohol management training and certification services to sports and entertainment venues, concessionaires, and professional sports leagues. Its core offerings are the Instructor Development Program (train-the-trainer workshops), a two-level Employee Certification program delivered in-person and online, participant manuals, and the Responsibility Has Its Rewards (RHIR) designated-driver sweepstakes fan engagement program. The organization sells annual memberships and training products to facilities that must certify their staff to manage alcohol service responsibly and reduce liability exposure.

Product overview

TEAM Coalition offers a unified alcohol management training ecosystem consisting of two primary program tracks: (1) Trainer Certification via the Instructor Development Program (IDP) — a train-the-trainer workshop that certifies facility managers as TEAM trainers, and (2) Employee Certification at two levels (Level 1 for non-alcohol staff, Level 2 for servers), delivered through both in-person training sessions and an online platform powered by Brainshark. Training materials include participant manuals in English and Spanish. Supporting the training mission is the Responsibility Has Its Rewards (RHIR) sweepstakes program, a fan engagement initiative that incentivizes designated driver pledges through prizes at major sporting and entertainment events. The organization also provides a Trainer Login portal for managing training sessions and certifications.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Responsibility Has Its Rewards (RHIR): Fan responsibility campaign and sweepstakes program encouraging designated driver commitments

Products and services

• Instructor Development Program (IDP) A train-the-trainer workshop that certifies facility operations, concessions, and human resources managers to become TEAM-certified trainers. Covers alcohol policy assessment, reasonable efforts implementation, and provides staff training tools including PowerPoint presentations and role-playing scenarios. Standard registration fee is $750 per participant, with discounts for IAVM and SMA members.
• Employee Certification (Level 1 and Level 2) Two-level employee certification for all venue facility staff. Level 1 covers non-alcohol-serving employees (2-hour training with 20-question exam). Level 2 is for alcohol servers, bartenders, hawkers, and suite attendants (3-hour training with 30-question exam). Certification is valid for three years. Available in both in-person and online formats, with 76% of FY2025 certifications completed through online training and 88% from Level 2 (alcohol servers).
• Online Employee Training (Brainshark)

Quantifiable outcome

• Nearly 40,000 employees certified at 142 venues in FY2025
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers17 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature4 records

Partnerships

26 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• NHTSAcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1985The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has been a key partner since TEAM's founding in 1985. NHTSA provided primary funding for the first 15 years and continues to provide cooperative agreement support of $40,000 annually. NHTSA funds have been instrumental in executing multi-facility evaluations, producing TV PSAs, and supporting designated driver programs.
• GHSAminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernors Highway Safety Association partners on traffic safety initiatives and impaired driving prevention campaigns.
• AramarkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHall of Fame member ($100,000 annual contribution) and major concessionaire providing alcohol management training to their venue operations staff across the country.
• Legends GlobalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHall of Fame member ($100,000 annual contribution) providing training to their venue operations and working closely with TEAM on best practices.
• Anheuser-BuschcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMVP member ($50,000 annual contribution) as Anheuser-Busch Foundation. Major supporter of responsible drinking initiatives and RHIR sweepstakes programs.
• NFLcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHeadliner member ($15,000 annual contribution) with league-wide RHIR sweepstakes program. More than 10,000 employees from 15 stadiums became TEAM-certified in the 2025 season.
• NBAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHeadliner member with RHIR sweepstakes program. Participates in designated driver programs at NBA events including All-Star Games and Finals.
• NHLcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHeadliner member with RHIR sweepstakes program at NHL events including All-Star Games and Winter Classic.
• MLBcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHeadliner member with RHIR sweepstakes program. Designated drivers recognized at World Series and All-Star Games.
• MLScoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHeadliner member with RHIR sweepstakes program at MLS events including Cup finals.
• NASCARcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHeadliner member with RHIR sweepstakes program encouraging designated driver pledges at races.
• NCAAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHeadliner member with RHIR sweepstakes program at NCAA events including Men's Final Four and Women's Final Four.
• Live NationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHeadliner member bringing RHIR sweepstakes to concert-goers at Live Nation venues and amphitheaters across the country.
• Oak View GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAll-Star member ($25,000 annual contribution) working with TEAM on venue alcohol management at OVG-managed facilities.
• Molson CoorsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAll-Star member providing support for responsible drinking initiatives.
• Brown-FormanminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAll-Star member supporting TEAM's alcohol responsibility mission.
• Constellation BrandsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHeadliner member supporting responsible alcohol consumption initiatives.
• New Belgium Brewing CompanyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHeadliner member contributing to alcohol responsibility programs.
• IAVMcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHeadliner member. International Association of Venue Managers members receive discounts on TEAM training. IAVM promotes TEAM training to its membership.
• SMAcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHeadliner member. Stadium Managers Association members receive discounts on TEAM training. SMA helps promote TEAM certification to venue managers.
• Beer InstituteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHeadliner member representing beer industry in alcohol responsibility efforts.
• NBWAminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHeadliner member. National Beer Wholesalers Association contributes expertise on alcohol distribution and policy.
• HERO CampaignminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartners with TEAM on designated driver programs, particularly with Live Nation concert events.
• MADDminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMothers Against Drunk Driving partners on drunk driving prevention and awareness campaigns.
• LyftminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRideshare partner supporting designated driver initiatives. Research shows 71% of Lyft riders report being less likely to drive impaired due to the service's availability.
• UberminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNew member as of December 2021, partnering on drunk driving prevention through the Decide to Ride initiative with MADD and Anheuser-Busch.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• TIPS (Training for Intervention ProcedureS): TIPS is the most direct competitor to TEAM Coalition — both deliver alcohol-server training and certification to hospitality and venue operators. TEAM and TIPS were actually partners (2001–2005), making them the closest historical and functional peer in the U.S. responsible-service-training market.
• ServSafe Alcohol (National Restaurant Association): ServSafe Alcohol is the dominant alcohol-server training program in the U.S. foodservice industry, delivered by the National Restaurant Association. It competes with TEAM for hospitality/training dollars and serves many of the same bar/restaurant/venue operator customers with comparable on-premise responsible-service training.
• Learn2Serve (360training): Learn2Serve, operated by 360training, offers online alcohol seller/server training and certification courses accepted across many U.S. states. It is a direct online-delivery competitor to TEAM's Brainshark-based certification, particularly for multi-unit operators seeking scalable compliance training.
• Responsible Training: Responsible Training provides alcohol-server and food-safety certification programs with similar state-approved curricula. It competes with TEAM for the same hospitality and venue operator buyers and offers an online-delivery model analogous to TEAM's.

Broad incumbents

• Foundation for Advancing Alcohol Responsibility (FAAR): FAAR (formerly The Century Council) is a not-for-profit funded by major distillers that promotes responsible drinking and fights drunk driving. It operates in TEAM's adjacent responsible-drinking mission space with broader public-awareness campaigns and partnerships with MADD/NHTSA.
• Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD): MADD is the leading U.S. nonprofit dedicated to stopping drunk driving and supporting victims. TEAM Coalition partners with MADD on designated-driver and awareness campaigns (e.g., Decide to Ride with Uber/Anheuser-Busch), making MADD a mission-adjacent peer in the impaired-driving prevention ecosystem.

Others

• International Association of Venue Managers (IAVM): IAVM is the primary industry association for venue managers and a TEAM Coalition channel partner that promotes TEAM training to its membership. While not a training competitor, it is the principal trade body serving TEAM's core customer base and influences procurement of alcohol-management programs.
• Beer Institute: The Beer Institute is a national trade association for the U.S. brewing industry and a Headliner member/partner of TEAM Coalition. It overlaps with TEAM through shared responsible-drinking advocacy, and its members are key sponsors of TEAM's RHIR sweepstakes programs.
• Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA): GHSA represents state highway safety offices and partners with TEAM on impaired-driving prevention campaigns. It is mission-adjacent in the traffic-safety ecosystem and helps TEAM access state-level policy and enforcement channels.

Emerging players

• National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (NCADD): NCADD is a national nonprofit focused on alcoholism and drug-dependence education and prevention, and awarded TEAM its 2003 Education Prevention Award. While its primary mission is treatment advocacy, it is an adjacent peer in the alcohol-related harm prevention category.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/responsiblefans
• YouTubeyoutube.com/teamcoalition
• Facebookfacebook.com/FansDontLetFansDriveDrunk
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/team-coalition

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about TEAM Coalition