This will mark Buffalo Wild Wings’ second year as title sponsor and the 25th anniversary of the bowl game.
Buffalo Wild Wings is hosting a pre-game party, dubbed “Tablegate”, which will feature their award-winning wings, Blazin’ Challenge wing eating competitions and a performance by multi-platinum band Smash Mouth.
“We know many of our guests love college football, so what better way to bring Buffalo Wild Wings to them than through a college bowl game,” said Bob Ruhland, vice president of marketing for Buffalo Wild Wings. “The Tablegate provides a tremendous opportunity for fans to directly experience our brand, including our flavorful wings, which will enhance the game for thousands of fans participating in the Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl activities.”
Buffalo Wild Wings plans to have a significant brand presence inside and outside Sun Devil Stadium. And the winner of the 2013 Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl will take home a newly designed Buffalo Wild Wings trophy that will be unveiled during the Tablegate.
The Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl marks the culmination of the company’s first year of its Team Up for Kids initiative, a philanthropic effort to support youth sports in underserved communities. Through a partnership with Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA), Buffalo Wild Wings is creating and enhancing flag and tackle football and cheerleading programs through All Stars grants that increase opportunities for kids to participate in team sports at clubs across the country. Nearly 500 kids from Boys & Girls Clubs of the East Valley (BGCEV) will attend the Bowl and partake in official festivities on and off the field to commemorate this partnership.
“We believe every child is a champion, and that we can make a difference by helping kids learn skills like teamwork, sportsmanship and self-esteem that will help them succeed in life,” said Mary Twinem, executive vice president and chief financial officer of Buffalo Wild Wings and leader of the Team Up for Kids initiative. “Our hope is that fans at the Bowl will experience our passion for the game and youth sports, and they will join our efforts in supporting team sports at Boys & Girls Clubs in Arizona and across the country through Team Up for Kids.”
Buffalo Wild Wings expects to donate and raise over $1 million for BGCA through a variety of promotions including donations from sauce and seasoning bottle sales and numerous in-restaurant fundraising activities, supporting 760 teams and 6,500 kids in 2013.
All Buffalo Wild Wings restaurants in the Phoenix/Tempe area will host an “Eat Wings, Raise Funds” day on Dec. 28, donating a portion of their sales to local area Boys & Girls Clubs. Kids in one of the bowl teams’ home markets will win as well when a Wolverine fan and a Wildcat fan compete during the Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl half-time to earn a $10,000 donation on behalf of Buffalo Wild Wings to the Boys & Girls Club in their school’s community. Buffalo Wild Wings expects to donate and raise more than $1 million in 2014 to help 10,000 kids through the All Stars grant program.
