Buffalo Wild Wings Gives Guests 'Home Court Advantage' During 2011 Basketball Season

MINNEAPOLIS, Jan. 12, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- As the basketball season heats up, hoops fans are heading to Buffalo Wild Wings Grill & Bar to watch all the action and cheer on their teams with fellow supporters and rivals. With dozens of big screen HDTVs, award-winning wings and signature sauces, Buffalo Wild Wings has become a social destination for sports fans. Between college and professional basketball followers, there are plenty of hungry fans, and basketball season has become one of Buffalo Wild Wings' busiest times of the year – with college basketball playoffs and finals, in particular, one of the biggest draws among sports fans.

The restaurant chain – known as the place for wings, beer and sports – is giving customers even more of an incentive to come in and keep coming back with the chance to win big during the college and professional basketball seasons. Whether it's a bracket challenge or Blazin' challenge, the competitive spirit thrives at Buffalo Wild Wings. This year, the restaurant is taking competition – and social gaming – to a new level. Through SCVNGR, a location-based social game, guests will complete challenges and unlock rewards – including a grand prize trip to the pro basketball finals with Hall of Famer Scottie Pippen – at Buffalo Wild Wings locations across the U.S.

"We have such a strong fan base that is passionate about wings, basketball and social media," said Kathy Benning, Buffalo Wild Wings executive VP, marketing and brand development. "In addition to offering the ultimate game viewing experience, we want to reward that passion and engage with our guests, while they make Buffalo Wild Wings their 'home court.' SCVNGR offers a unique platform for us to hit that deeper level of social loyalty with our guests at each location."

As the first national restaurant chain to launch SCVNGR, Buffalo Wild Wings is taking location-based customer engagement to the next level. During 2011 basketball season, Buffalo Wild Wings guests can complete challenges on their smart phones and win instant prizes, such as Buffalo Wild Wings and Coca Cola rewards (redeemable on the spot) and a grand prize trip to the pro basketball finals with Scottie Pippen. Each month, January through March, guests can play new challenges – such as snapping a photo with an opposing fan – to earn points. To play, simply download the SCVNGR application on any smart phone.

Inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2010, six-time pro basketball World Champion Scottie Pippen has signed on to help fans experience Buffalo Wild Wings' "Home Court Advantage" and will play SCVNGR and share his experiences at www.twitter.com/ScottiePippen. Just like other Buffalo Wild Wings guests, Pippen will complete challenges and record videos with the results available for all to see at www.facebook.com/BuffaloWildWings.

"Buffalo Wild Wings is a social place to enjoy sports and relax with good food and drink," said Chris Mahl, SVP and Chief Brand Alchemist at SCVNGR. "We are excited to extend SCVNGR's competitive game layer and its engagement capabilities to Buffalo Wild Wings' guests and feed the company's growing social presence through our location-based gaming engine."

About Buffalo Wild Wings

Buffalo Wild Wings, Inc., founded in 1982 and headquartered in Minneapolis, is a growing owner, operator and franchisor of Buffalo Wild Wings Grill & Bar™ restaurants featuring a variety of boldly flavored, made-to-order menu items including its namesake Buffalo, New York-style chicken wings.   The Buffalo Wild Wings' menu specializes in 18 mouth-watering signature sauces and seasonings with flavor sensations ranging from Sweet BBQ™ to Blazin'®. Guests enjoy a welcoming neighborhood atmosphere that includes an extensive multi-media system for watching their favorite sporting events.  Buffalo Wild Wings is the recipient of hundreds of "Best Wings" and "Best Sports Bar" awards from across the country. There are currently 728 Buffalo Wild Wings locations across 44 states.

SOURCE Buffalo Wild Wings, Inc.