SOUTH BEND, Ind., Aug. 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- While this may
not be the launch moment we planned for, when a partnership nearly
two centuries in the making comes together, it's a reminder that
history's best teams are built over time. Guinness is proud to
announce it is now a partner and Official Beer of Notre Dame
Fighting Irish Alumni and Fans, a group that numbers well over 40
million across the U.S. Our seven-year partnership will
unite two Irish institutions and bring to life new
traditions, like raising a Guinness toast to honor the Irish
faithful – whether you're Irish by blood or in spirit.
While these are no doubt unprecedented times, we're also
reminded that football is more than just a game. It's about
building bonds between us – especially in the hardest of times.
It's about believing a comeback is always possible and, just like
the best pint in the world, great things come to those who wait.
Because no matter what…
We will play again.
To help us all look forward, we're also honored that former
Fighting Irish quarterback Joe Montana will be the National Ambassador for
our partnership. As an icon who has won both collegiate and
professional championships, Joe is the epitome of a great
leader known for staying cool under fire. Fans 21-and-over can
expect to see Montana featured in Guinness TV spots, social media,
and other promotional activities, including a focus on encouraging
responsible drinking.
"As a former player and an alum, Notre
Dame has always had a special place in my heart, and on a
trip with my family to Ireland, I
fell in love with Guinness. A perfect pint is lighter and more
delicious than I ever imagined," Montana said. "I also love
that Guinness and Notre Dame have
shared values – a respect for tradition, but also a relentless
desire to win and a commitment to building an even better
future."
"This is a dream come true, even as we go through these
challenging times," said Nikhil
Shah, Guinness brand director. "It's not often that you come
across a group that so closely aligns with your purpose, but that's
exactly what we've found in the fans and alumni of Notre Dame. And as we kick off our partnership,
we're also lucky to have a living legend like Joe Montana – the Comeback Kid – on our
side. What's more, the network of Fighting Irish supporters extends well beyond
South Bend – from New York to Chicago to Baltimore to Dublin and around the world – and this year
and beyond, it's going to be a privilege to experience their
passion for the university and to build new traditions together.
Cheers to this partnership nearly 200 years in the making."
Guinness and Notre Dame are pleased
to give fans of legal drinking age a new way to relive their
favorite football memories and start new Saturday traditions with
special edition Notre Dame
8-packs of Guinness Draught cans, which can be found across
select U.S. markets, including Indiana, New
York, Chicago and
Boston. Guinness and Notre Dame
are also working together to establish a shared culture that
prioritizes responsible drinking above all else.
Keep up with all things Guinness and Notre
Dame by following @GuinnessUS
on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook. And remember,
wherever you're safely raising a pint to the Fighting Irish, always drink responsibly.
About Guinness
The Guinness brand was established in
1759, when Arthur Guinness signed a 9,000 year lease on
St. James's Gate Brewery in
Dublin. Brewed using four main ingredients, water, barley
(malted & roasted), hops and yeast, Guinness is the world's
most popular stout. The iconic beer is brewed in 49 countries
worldwide and sold in over 150 with almost 9 million glasses of
Guinness enjoyed every day around the world. The most GUINNESS
is sold in Great Britain,
Ireland, USA, Nigeria
and Cameroon. More information can
be found at www.guinness.com.
About Diageo
Diageo is a global leader in beverage
alcohol with an outstanding collection of brands including
Johnnie Walker, Crown Royal, Bulleit
and Buchanan's whiskies, Smirnoff, Cîroc and Ketel One vodkas,
Captain Morgan, Baileys, Don Julio,
Tanqueray and Guinness.
Diageo is listed on both the New York Stock Exchange (DEO) and
the London Stock Exchange (DGE) and our products are sold in more
than 180 countries around the world. For more information about
Diageo, our people, our brands, and performance, visit us at
www.diageo.com. Visit Diageo's global responsible drinking
resource, www.DRINKiQ.com, for information, initiatives, and ways
to share best practice.
Follow us on Twitter for news and information about Diageo North
America: @Diageo_NA.
About Notre Dame
For more
information on the University of Notre
Dame, visit nd.edu.
Founded in 1842, the University of Notre
Dame is the nation's leading Catholic research university,
providing a distinctive voice in higher education that is at once
rigorously intellectual, unapologetically moral in orientation, and
firmly embracing of a service ethos. Rated among the top 15 of all
U.S. research universities, Notre Dame
ranks in the top 10 in the percentage of students who study abroad
and has seen research funding double in the past decade. The
University is organized into four undergraduate colleges — Arts and
Letters, Science, Engineering, and the Mendoza College of Business
— the School of Architecture, the Keough School of Global Affairs,
the Law School and the Graduate School. It is located adjacent to
the city of South Bend, Indiana,
in a region with a population of more than 300,000, and is widely
known for the beauty of its campus, including the Golden Dome of
the Main Building, the world's most recognized university
landmark.
About Notre Dame Athletics
For more information on
Notre Dame Athletics, visit und.com.
The University of Notre Dame
sponsors 26 varsity athletics programs (13 men's, 13 women's),
dating back to 1887 when the Irish played their first football
game. Notre Dame won its 29th and 30th
team national championships in 2018 when the Irish claimed the NCAA
Fencing Championship and the NCAA Women's Basketball Championship
following previous titles in football (11 consensus), fencing
(eight), women's soccer (three), plus one each in men's soccer,
women's basketball, men's tennis, men's golf and men's cross
country. Notre Dame remains an
independent in football, but most other Irish sports began
competing in the Atlantic Coast Conference during the 2013-14
season. In 2019, Notre Dame
student-athletes recorded the highest NCAA Graduation Success Rate
figure (98) among all Football Bowl Subdivision institutions.
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Dave
Finn,
TAYLOR
(212)
714-5792
dfinn@taylorstrategy.com
Kelly Pepe, DIAGEO
(908)
902-4435
kelly.pepe@diageo.com
Kali Krisik, Notre Dame Global
Partnerships
kkrisik@nd.edu
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SOURCE Diageo Beer Company USA