Wings and football are a great combination.
This past week, DraftKings and Buffalo Wild Wings announced a partnership in which the two companies will provide special game-day food and drink specials as well as a fantasy football platform — Blazin’ Fantasy Football.
The game is available only on Sundays at Buffalo Wild Wings locations, including the 18 in New Jersey.
Ezra Kucharz, DraftKings’ chief business officer, said the partnership is another step in the company’s mission to provide sports fans “exciting” ways to participate in fantasy sports.
“We are excited to partner with Buffalo Wild Wings to offer sports fans a unique, in-store fantasy product this football season. 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.”
DraftKings + Buffalo Wild Wings
The custom fantasy football game available at BWW restaurants will happen four times during the day: once at the kickoff and once at halftime of the day’s 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. games.
To access the games, you’ll have to be at a BWW restaurant and open the Blazin’ Rewards app, which is available on iOS and Android phones.
Lineups will consist of eight players: 1 QB, 2 WR, 2 RB, 1 TE, 1 DEF and 1 K. Participants also get a “Blazin’ Pick,” with which they can add to a player to double that player’s points during the competition.
Each week, BWW will provide 600 prizes that will include, according to the release, free wings for a year, BWW gift cards, and rewards points.
BWW is also sponsoring a Thursday night fantasy football competition via DraftKings. The game incorporates the NFL’s Thursday night game in a fantasy competition called Thursday Night Showdown with more than $10,000 in prizes.
There are more than 1,200 BWW locations worldwide, of which there are 18 in New Jersey:
- Millville
- Mays Landing
- Sicklerville
- Moorestown
- Toms River
- West Windsor
- Brick
- Flemington
- Marlboro
- North Brunswick
- Eatontown
- Bridgewater
- Iselin
- Watchung
- Linden
- Rockaway
- Parsippany
- Secaucus
Of course, there’s also food
In addition to the fantasy football contests that the restaurant will run on Sundays during the NFL regular season, it is also adding $5-and-up items to its menu that will be available on game day.
According to the press release, items on the menu will include:
- Bratwurst & fries
- 38 oz. domestic pitcher
- Cheeseburger & fries
- Tall craft or import beer
- Specialty cocktails
DraftKings pours on the betting sauce in NJ
Since the repeal of the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) in May, DraftKings has emerged as one of the most prominent sports betting and DFS names in the state.
The company was the first to launch an online sports betting app in New Jersey. DraftKings Sportsbook app piggy-backed via Resorts license to launch statewide on Aug. 6.
They remained the state’s only mobile sports betting platform for three weeks until playMGM sportsbook launched on Aug. 22.
The NJ sports betting market has since gotten more crowded with a total of eight retail sportsbooks (six in Atlantic City) and five sportsbook apps.
Even with all the new competition, DraftKings plans to remain a big-time player. Its partnership with Buffalo Wild Wings is just another way for the DFS giant to stay in the game in more ways than one.