AT&T and "It Can Wait" Campaign Come to Raley Field

WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. - The Sacramento River Cats and AT&T are teaming up for the River Cats' Fan Appreciation Day on Sunday, September 6. The company behind the "It Can Wait" campaign, which focuses on spreading awareness about the dangers of texting and driving, will host a number of interactive and educational activities at the ballpark, as well as provide prizes and other giveaways for Fan Appreciation Day.

AT&T will present several interactive exhibits to help fans learn about the effects of texting and driving, including the It Can Wait Driving Simulator. The simulator employs virtual reality to give users a real-time and immersive view of what it is like to try and drive while distracted by a smartphone. Fans will be encouraged to try the simulator at Raley Field, as well as take advantage of other opportunities at the ballpark.

"It's our goal to help spread information about the serious risks associated with distracted driving," said Steven Ramirez, a spokesperson for AT&T. "The reality is that there can be very serious consequences to taking your eyes off the road to glance at your phone. Our hope is to communicate the importance of that message through the "It Can Wait" campaign while encouraging people to learn more."

The "It Can Wait" campaign launched in 2012. Although the campaign has always focused on texting, it has expanded as research shows that drivers often do more than just text while on the road. New research from AT&T reveals that nearly 4-in-10 smartphone owners use social media while driving, almost 3-in-10 search the web, and a surprising 1-in-10 even video chat. As the research and focus of the campaign have evolved, so has the technology. AT&T has an It Can Wait Driving Simulator with virtual reality technology, an extensive educational website at http://itcanwait.com, and the AT&T DriveMode® App.

This is not the first time that AT&T has spent the afternoon with the River Cats at Raley Field this season. In July, the River Cats and AT&T hosted a pledge drive encouraging fans to pledge to keep their eyes on the road and off their smart phones. The River Cats are proud to welcome back AT&T and "It Can Wait" to the ballpark on Fan Appreciation Day.

"We are happy to be partnering with AT&T this season," explained Greg Coletti, Director of Corporate Partnerships with the River Cats. "Our first big event was an incredible success as the pledge drive generated interest from all over the ballpark and sparked important conversations across our social media channels. We're excited to work with AT&T again as we help share the message of "It Can Wait" with our fans."

Fan Appreciation Day is Sunday, September 6 at Raley Field as the River Cats take on the Albuquerque Isotopes (Colorado Rockies) at 5:05 p.m. Tickets for the game are still available and can be purchased by visiting rivercats.com or calling the River Cats ticket hotline at 916-371-HITS (4487).

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The Sacramento River Cats are the Triple-A affiliate of the 2014 World Champion San Francisco Giants. The team plays at Raley Field in West Sacramento, consistently voted one of the top ballparks in America. River Cats Season Tickets, Mini-Plans, and Flex Plans can be purchased for the 2015 season by calling the River Cats Ticket Hotline at (916) 371-HITS (4487). For more information about the River Cats, visit www.rivercats.com. For information on other events at Raley Field, visit www.raleyfield.com.