With fewer fans permitted in NFL stadiums this season, Buffalo Wild Wings is trying to position its restaurants as the next best place to watch a game or snag some wings for catching the contests at home—if they don’t mind paying before the first kickoff.
For $750, Cleveland Brown supporters can purchase a “season ticket” for seats inside a special section of 10 Buffalo Wild Wings units in and around the team’s home city. The restaurants are converting a section of their dining rooms into mini versions of the Dawg Pound, the bleacher section of the Brown’s FirstEnergy Stadium. The Pound is infamous for seating die-hard and highly vocal fans.
The deal entitles the buyer to a four-seat table within the indoor Dawg Pound for all 16 of the Brown’s 2020 games, home and away. The customers also receive a “Gameday Spread” consisting of 15 traditional wings, 15 boneless wings, a basket of fries, ultimate nachos and fountain drinks for the group; a cooler in Cleveland orange; Dawg Pound face masks; and stickers. The tickets are being sold through StubHub, the virtual ticket window and resale website.
The casual-dining chain is offering a second pay-ahead deal for football fans elsewhere. For $99, customers can buy a Blazin’ Season Ticket that entitles them to 10 boneless or regular wings for each of the 2020 season’s 17 weeks. The ticket is a multi-pack of “coupons”—actual and digital—that can also be used for takeout and delivery. Buffalo Wild Wings said it will offer only 1,000 of the Blazin’ Season Tickets.
The chain stresses in its promotional messaging that the 170 wings would cost $190 if ordered ala carte.
The initiatives are consistent with Buffalo Wild Wing’s positioning as a sports bar that specializes in wings. All of the major professional sports were suspended because of concerns about the coronavirus pandemic. NFL football resumes Sept. 10, but many stadiums are remaining closed to viewers or offering limited seating. The Browns’ stadium, for instance, expects to use only about 20% of its seating capacity.
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