Buffalo Wild Wings Makes Training a Team Sport at Second Annual Blazin’ Games

By: Buffalo Wild Wings | 0 Shares 372 Reads

October 10, 2022 // Franchising.com // No one knows competition better than Buffalo Wild Wings team members. It’s what our values - Hustle, Sportsmanship, Spontaneity, Community, and Fun - are built upon, and there’s no better representation than when our teams put them into play at our annual Blazin’ Games presented by Pepsi.

“Blazin’ Games started as an opportunity to engage our teams in training, and it evolved into so much more,” says Rachel Richal, Vice President of Training for Buffalo Wild Wings. “The sports bar teams are so passionate about the legendary experiences they create for our guests all over the country – the Blazin’ Games give them the chance to show off their skills while tapping into the spirit of competition to come together for a common goal. The Games create an electric atmosphere of camaraderie amidst some dynamite competition.”

Established in 2021, the Blazin’ Games Presented by Pepsi is a nine-month competition where Buffalo Wild Wings sports bar teams from all over the country go head-to-head to prove themselves as the ultimate Blazin’ Games Champion. This year, nearly 1,200 teams competed in four rounds testing their will to train, knowledge, and execution, with a focus on learning.

As part of the first two rounds, sports bars earned points based on a series of metrics that tap into learning and the guest experience. To incentivize and reward, the teams received exclusive prizes and experiences from Red Bull. The Top 50 teams then received an in-sports bar visit, assessing how the teams work together across service, food production, bar skills, food safety, teamwork and the guest experience.

The top ten teams with the highest amount of points advance to the final round at the Buffalo Wild Wings Convention. Congratulations to our top ten finalist teams in 2022!

Store #3303 in Dearborn, MI
Store #651 in Fresno, CA
Store #649 in Fort Oglethorpe, GA
Store #3184 in Gilbert, AZ
Store #240 in Hendersonville, TN
Store #3204 in Lake Orion, MI
Store #71 in Memphis, TN
Store #209 in Pewaukee, WI
Store #3521 in Saginaw, MI
Store #644 in Weslaco, TX

The final teams will compete in the ultimate Blazin’ Games Top 10 competition at the Buffalo Wild Wings convention in Nashville, Tennessee, where they will participate in a knowledge bowl, culinary competition, and cocktail competition on the mainstage. In preparation, each team received 1:1 coaching sessions with brand and industry experts like Buffalo Wild Wings VP of Brand Menu & Culinary Jamie Carawan and Director of Beverage Strategy & Innovation Jason Murphy, as well as Blue Moon Brewer John Legnard of Molson Coors, Master Educator Vanessa Leon of Diageo, and USBGA President Kim Haasarud with support from American Beverage Marketers.

SOURCE Inspire Brands

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