Buffalo Wild Wings Partners With Draftkings - Introducing Blazin’ Fantasy Football
Buffalo Wild Wings on Wednesday announced it had entered into a deal with Draftkings.
America’s largest sports bar is launching a first-of-its-kind-partnership with DraftKings for an exclusive fantasy football game called “Blazin’ Fantasy Football,” which is only available to guests who are at a Buffalo Wild Wings restaurant on Sundays this fall.
“As America’s largest sports bar, millions of fans spend their game days at Buffalo Wild Wings each week,” said Paul Brown, Chief Executive Officer, Inspire Brands. “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.”
The partnership between Buffalo Wild Wings and DraftKings will focus on a custom-built fantasy football game, Blazin’ Fantasy Football. Available on mobile through the Blazin’ Rewards App, the game is exclusively available to guests at Buffalo Wild Wings restaurants beginning September 9. The contest is free to enter each week and offers multiple chances to win prizes such as free wings for a year, Buffalo Wild Wings Gift Cards, Blazin’ Reward Points, and more. There will be a total of 600 weekly winners.
“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, Chief Business Officer, 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.”
In recent weeks, many have speculated on how Buffalo Wild Wings might enter the U.S. legal sports betting arena. With Draftkings already having introduced its sports wagering app in the state of New Jersey, we now might be gaining a clearer picture.
"If we were gambling men and women," Gambling911.com Senior Editor Payton O'Brien said, tongue-in-cheek, "we'd be betting this is only the beginning of something exciting from the world's largest sports bar chain."
How Blazin' Fantasy Football Contests Will Work
Blazin’ Fantasy Football contests start at the beginning of each game and again at the half of the 1:00 p.m. ET and 4:00 p.m. ET football games, for a total of four contests every Sunday. Guests must download the Blazin’ Rewards app and then click the Blazin’ Fantasy Football icon. Guests are offered the chance to draft a team comprised of a QB, RB (2), WR(2), TE, DEF/Special Teams, and a Kicker. In addition, each guest will have the chance to “double down” on a player as their “Blazin’ Pick” choice. This player will receive double the points in that game. All line-ups must be drafted by the start of the first and third quarters of each game.
In addition to the custom game on Sundays, Buffalo Wild Wings is the official presenting sponsor of the DraftKings’ Thursday Night Showdown contest available to all DraftKings customers globally beginning September 6, where players have the opportunity to win $10,000 in total prizing.
Escape to Football Campaign
Debuting tomorrow and created by Figliulo&Partners, Escape to Football explores the reality that everyone has commitments and obligations in life that can keep them from where they’d rather be on game day: watching football. The series of spots place characters in relatable life scenarios – being stuck late at the office, a PTA meeting, touring homes or taking family photos – that they ultimately escape from and arrive at Buffalo Wild Wings.
“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,” said Seth Freeman, Chief Marketing Officer, Buffalo Wild Wings. “The new creative celebrates the reality that a game should be enjoyed with friends, surrounded by TVs, great food and cold beer.”
Escape to Football includes four unique spots titled Family, Office, Principal, and Tour, which will begin airing on television on August 30 and extend throughout the 2018 football season. Additional spots will be available for radio. The advertising campaign features a refreshed logo with a more neutral brown and honey mustard color palette and an updated buffalo that is forward-leaning.
$5 Football Menu
Beginning September 6, guests will be able to enjoy specialty food and beverage offerings starting at $5. New to the menu this season is a bratwurst with a side of fries. Sharable pitchers of domestic beer (38 oz) will also be available. The complete $5 and up menu is available Thursday – Monday in all participating Buffalo Wild Wings restaurants and includes:
• NEW Bratwurst & Fries
• NEW 38 oz Domestic Pitcher
• Cheeseburger & Fries
• Tall Craft or Import Beer
• Specialty Cocktails
About Buffalo Wild Wings
Buffalo Wild Wings, founded in 1982, is the largest sports bar brand in the United States. Globally, there are more than 1,200 restaurants in 10 countries. Buffalo Wild Wings is part of the Inspire Brands family of restaurants. For more information, visit BuffaloWildWings.com and InspireBrands.com.
- Aaron Goldstein, Gambling911.com
