"buffalo wild wings" news and stories

The NFL kicks off its regular season in just a couple weeks, and for millions of fantasy football fans again this year, what happens online will be just as important as what happens on the gridiron. A number of restaurant chains are getting in on the act, with deals and prizes aimed at transforming football fantasy into reality.

Here is a round-up of some, as reported by Nation's Restaurant News:

Papa John's:
Winners of Papa John's "Ultimate 'Fantasy to Reality' Experience" will score a trip to the 2011 NFL Draft in New York, while another group of winners will receive free pizzas on Sept. 9 (NFL kick-off day) delivered by Minnesota Vikings all-pro receiver Chris Carter. To enter, log on to Papa John's Facebook page and explain why your fantasy football league is better than all the rest.

Get more deals after the jump...

Photo: Buffalo Wild Wings

A weekly look at the draft selections in beer-friendly establishments across the country.

Craft beer at corporate chains? It may seem a bit like an oxymoron, but a lot of restaurants could learn a lesson from national eatery Buffalo Wild Wings.

Franchises in the Buffalo Wild Wings family are able to stock whichever beers they like, so when Sam Hookway took over as bar manager at the Indianapolis location back in February, he had one thing in mind: "to have the best draft beer selection in the city."

Since the restaurant is part of a large, nationwide chain, Coors, Miller and Bud Light will probably always top the Buffalo sales list, but Hookway saw opportunities in other areas: "I got rid of beers like Peroni and Molson, which aren't that different from the other light lagers we sell."

The plan has worked: About half the beer they sell is craft, enticing patrons who might otherwise not frequent such an establishment. And how about beer lovers who scoff at the notion of sipping indie suds on a corporate-controlled stool? "That's a battle I've been trying to fight," Hookway says.