New BEOND tablets include ability to play trivia against players at other Buffalo Wild Wings restaurants, send specific requests to server at the touch of a button
Buffalo Wild Wings, Inc. (NASDAQ: BWLD) today announced that it is partnering with NTN Buzztime, Inc. (NYSE MKT: NTN) to bring the company’s BEOND tablet-based entertainment platform to all of their North America restaurant locations by the end of 2015. Buzztime’s BEOND tablet lets Buffalo Wild Wings Guests order food, request songs and television programming, play games (both multi-player and arcade-style), and pay the bill.
The seven-inch Samsung Galaxy touchscreen tablets are pre-loaded with games and music options. With a mix of complimentary and paid content, the BEOND tablets enable multi-player, multi-location gaming; guests may play popular trivia and poker games against other individuals, another table or even other restaurant locations. The Guest Experience Wingman feature allows Guests to send an alert to their server with pre-defined requests like questions on how to use their Buzztime tablet, set up a Blazin’ wing challenge or requests to have a TV channel changed or get their check.
Already available in approximately 150 corporate-owned locations, it is expected that the tablets will be rolled out to about 500 Buffalo Wild Wings restaurants by the end of 2014 and to all North American locations by late next year.
“Our Guests come to Buffalo Wild Wings for our ultimate sports-viewing atmosphere, flavorful wings and icy beers – but we also wanted to take our personal entertainment platform to the next level,” said Ben Nelsen, Vice President of Guest Experience and Innovation for Buffalo Wild Wings. “We worked closely with Buzztime to customize tabletop tablets that align with our brand, streamline some of our most popular gaming and music features and enhance Guests’ social interaction with the Buffalo Wild Wings brand. Our intention is that the suite of features will evolve as we continue to listen to our Guests and bring them the best possible in-restaurant experience.”
Replacing Buffalo Wild Wings’ existing Buzztime Playmaker trivia consoles, the tablets will include complimentary core games such as trivia and poker, with additional paid games and jukebox selections available for Guests interested in a premium experience. Nelsen noted that he expects an ordering and payment feature will be available on the tablets in the second half of 2014, and will help to connect the entertainment and menu experiences.
“Tabletop technology isn’t just the future – it’s here now,” said Buzztime Chief Development Officer Vladimir Edelman. “We already connect millions of people across the country through our games – now we are going beyond that to create an even more connected experience. We are incredibly proud to be deploying our cutting edge products with Buffalo Wild Wings, which places so much emphasis on customer experience and entertainment.”
The multi-year agreement follows a successful test of the tablets in approximately 30 Buffalo Wild Wings locations. The next-generation technology was very enthusiastically received and widely used by a variety of Guests – ranging from groups of adult sports fans to families with younger children, Edelman said.
Buffalo Wild Wings, Inc. (NASDAQ: BWLD), founded in 1982 and headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota, is a growing owner, operator and franchisor of Buffalo Wild Wings 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 21 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 more than 1,000 Buffalo Wild Wings locations across 49 states in the United States, as well as in Canada and Mexico.
To stay up-to-date on all the latest events and offers for sports fans and wing lovers, like Buffalo Wild Wings on Facebook, follow @BWWings on Twitter and visit www.BuffaloWildWings.com.
NTN Buzztime, Inc. (NYSE MKT: NTN) is a leading bar and restaurant social entertainment and integrated marketing platform. Trusted by over 3,200 bars and restaurants in North America since 1985, Buzztime integrates trivia, card and sports games with in- and out-of-venue messaging and communication tools. With over 4.2 million player registrations on the Buzztime platform and over 52 million games played each year, Buzztime players spread the word and invite friends and family to their favorite Buzztime location to enjoy an evening of fun and competition. With Buzztime entertainment and marketing solutions, bars and restaurants can turn casual visitors into regulars, and give guests a reason to stay longer. For the most up-to-date information on NTN Buzztime, please visit http://www.buzztime.com or follow us on Facebook or Twitter @buzztime.
