After weeks filled with rumors, a partnership with Buffalo Wild Wings and DraftKings is now a reality. The two companies reached an agreement this week for a custom fantasy football game played at only one of the over 1,200 Buffalo Wild Wing restaurants.
Paul Brown, CEO of Buffalo Wild Wings’ parent company Inspire Brands, talked about the partnership in a press release.
“As America’s largest sports bar, millions of fans spend their game days at Buffalo Wild Wings each week. We are thrilled to partner with the industry leader in fantasy, DraftKings, to deliver an experience to our guests that they can’t get anywhere else.”
Things are heating up between DraftKings and Buffalo Wild Wings
Fans of football and Buffalo Wild Wings are the real winners this week. The company’s partnership with DraftKings spawned a new, exclusive daily fantasy football game called Blazin’ Fantasy Football.
“We are excited to partner with Buffalo Wild Wings to offer sports fans a unique, in-store fantasy product this football season,” said Ezra Kucharz, the chief business officer at DraftKings. “Our mission has always been to create innovative and exciting ways for fans to engage with their favorite sports and our Blazin’ Fantasy Football product is an excellent example.”
Blazin’ Fantasy Football will be available on the Buffalo Wild Wings’ Blazin’ Rewards mobile app. It is free to enter and 600 players each week will win prizes.
There are four contests every Sunday, one at the beginning of the 1:00 p.m. ET and 4:00 p.m. ET football games and another at half-time of each game.
Players must draft their team by the first and third quarters, and their team consists of:
- Quarterback
- Running back (2)
- Wide receiver (2)
- Tight end
- Special teams
- Kicker
Additionally, players get to choose a “Blazin’ Pick,” a player from their team that will receive double points in the game. Fans can also look for Buffalo Wild Wings to make an appearance on DraftKings Thursday Night Showdown contest as a presenting sponsor.
Doesn’t everyone want to “Escape to Football?”
Buffalo Wild Wings is launching a brand new ad campaign piggybacking off its new partnership.
The campaign called “Escape to Football” consists of four 30-second ad spots showing people ditching daily life for football at Buffalo Wild Wings. A brand-new $5 specialty menu is also being rolled out for football season and the new game.
Seth Freeman, Buffalo Wild Wings chief marketing officer, comments on the new campaign.
“We’ve all been there – it’s game day, and we’re stranded somewhere, instead of watching the game live. It’s a painful, almost helpless feeling for any true fan. The new creative celebrates the reality that a game should be enjoyed with friends, surrounded by TVs, great food, and cold beer.”
It’s not quite sports betting, but it’s still awesome
Earlier this month, there was speculation that a potential sports betting deal between Buffalo Wild Wings and DraftKings was in the works. The talk probably stemmed from the fact that DraftKings just launched the first mobile sports betting app in New Jersey.
The excitement was palpable at the thought of sports betting at a local Buffalo Wild Wings. An official from the company even spoke to ESPN about how Buffalo Wild Wings was exploring sports betting opportunities.
Fantasy sports might not be sports betting, but it is still bringing some excitement to game day.
Luke DeRouen, Vice President of Brand Experience & Activation for Buffalo Wild Wings talked about the importance of this new chapter to Forbes.
“For football fans, game day has evolved to be so much more than just watching your hometown team win or lose. It’s all about the experience, where everything has to be right from the atmosphere, to what you’re eating and drinking, to who you’re watching with. And when it’s done right, a ritual is born. Buffalo Wild Wings celebrates this fandom and delivers the ultimate venue for all things football.”
It’s all coming together for the brand that proudly wears the tagline: Wings. Beer. Sports. The fun begins at Buffalo Wild Wings restaurants on Sept. 9 and runs all season long.
