Fantasy CRAVEBall Kicks Off This Fall

CRAVE's Unique Marketing Promotion Merges Fantasy Football with Favorite Foods

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Sep 07, 2011, 02:43 ET

MINNEAPOLIS, Sept. 7, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- CRAVE restaurants are adding some healthy competition to the menu this fall with the launch of Fantasy CRAVEBall, a fantasy football-like contest for foodies. Participants may not be able to tell a running back from a fullback, but when it comes to ordering the sweet or savory – it's a touchdown every time. The 16-week promotion launched September 5.

Each week, contestants will choose the menu item they think will be the week's best seller in five categories: beverage, appetizer, entree, sushi and dessert. Points are accumulated throughout the contest and winners will be announced weekly leading up to the CRAVEBowl, which will include the top three winners of the contest.

"We're very excited to announce the launch of Fantasy CRAVEBall," said Zach Sussman, CRAVE marketing director. "Given the popularity surrounding traditional fantasy football, we wanted to create something that appealed to spouses and significant others of fantasy sports fanatics who are generally confined to observing the excitement from the sidelines. Fantasy CRAVEBall offers a great opportunity for us to interact with that audience and for them to get to know our menu and brand personality."

To ensure CRAVEBall is well-executed from start to finish, the CRAVE team invested in promotional elements worth over $200,000 in retail value. This includes an interactive website – www.fantasycraveball.com – where participants sign up, create their teams and monitor their points to potentially win prizes for weekly giveaways, as well as three grand prizes for the top winners. The accounting powerhouse Lurie Besikof Lapidus will review the contest and certify the results.

The grand prize winner will get a two-year lease on a 2012 Range Rover Evoque from Jaguar/Land Rover/Range Rover of Minneapolis. The second place winner receives "The Ultimate Wedding Package," which features a $5,000 shopping spree at Wedding Day Diamonds and a $5,000 catered event by CRAVE Catering. The third place winner receives a Mexican getaway for two including airfare and hotel accommodations, courtesy of Sun Country Airlines. Weekly prizes include reVamp! Salon & Spa packages, month-long Lifetime Fitness memberships, plane tickets from Sun Country and $100 CRAVE and Sopranos gift cards.

Other Fantasy CRAVEBall sponsors include Mall of America and Lurie Besikof Lapidus.

For more information about Fantasy CRAVEBall, visit www.fantasycraveball.com.

About CRAVE

CRAVE fulfills the vision of a vibrant restaurant where the cuisine, service, atmosphere, energy and value are second to none. CRAVE offers fresh and innovative cuisine along with an impeccable wine selection brought to life in a chic yet casual atmosphere. A grand sushi bar extends the dining experience, appealing to both traditional sushi lovers and adventurous epicureans. CRAVE has four Minnesota locations, recently opened in Orlando and Omaha, and is scheduled to open Coral Gables, Florida, later this year. At each location patrons enjoy a familiar yet unforgettable dining experience. For more information visit www.CRAVEamerica.com.