An all-ages group of nearly 200 set up camp Sunday night in front of the new Buffalo Wild Wings on South Carson Street in Carson City, each trying to be among the first 100 through the door at 11 a.m. Monday for the grand opening and chance to eat free wings for a year.
The parking lot tent city was alive with plenty of good cheer and spirits, many who worked themselves around a barrel pit fire to keep warm in the 30-degree temperatures. Most brought folding chairs, blankets, sleeping bags, snacks, as well as hot and cold beverages. Some video gamers brought their own flat screen TVs and computers to go along with HDTVs showing football games outside on the patio.
Carson City's newest restaurant, located 3815 S. Carson St., employs more than 130 people, seats 251 inside and 36 on its patio. It features hot wings, 16 signature wing sauces, 5 dry rubs and 30 draft beer taps. For sports fans, the place goes all out with 56 HDTVs measuring up to 13 feet for event and sports viewing. TV packages include network sports channels like the NFL Ticket, NBA and MLB National Packages, Soccer, NHL, UFC and boxing pay-per-view fights and more.
Chris Kaecker, 27, of Carson City won the overall bragging rights as the first person in line, staking out his claim with a tent at 9 a.m. Saturday outside the new restaurant.
"I woke up this morning all alone and now there's 150 people here," said Kaeker. "Everyone's having a great time. We've had football and free wings all day with about the greatest people you'd ever want to party with in Carson City."
To keep track of the first 100 arrivals, restaurant staff assigned Buffalo Wild Wing tokens with numbers. Squeaking in at the last minute to be included among the lucky 100, Justin Thistle of Carson City was number 99. His girlfriend Lynzie Ruecker was 93.
Thistle had a reason for arriving at the last minute, which was around 8:30 p.m. Sunday night. He had worked all day and wanted to be well supplied for the night ahead with Xbox games for his flat screen TV, food, water and supplies.
"I was nervous when I saw all the people and thought for sure I wasn't going to make the cut," said Thistle. "This is great — free wings for a year and a great bunch of people to hang out with tonight."
A staff of four worked the overnight shift, cooking up wings, seeing to it that campers were taken care of with big screen TVs outside the establishment, as well as hosting games, contests and awarding plenty of prizes.
“As a locally owned franchise, we are very excited to bring the Buffalo Wild Wings experience to Carson City," said Buffalo Wild Wings spokeswoman Brittany Ward, noting more than 130 were hired locally. "We look forward to becoming a part of this dynamic community. We couldn’t be more excited to open our franchise’s second Nevada location." In September Buffalo Wild Wings opened a restaurant in Sparks.
Nicole Davis, assistant general manager of the restaurant, noted the large group was especially in good company with a diverse blend of parents with their kids, high school students, young adults and plenty of sports fans with at least one thing in common: They all love zesty deep fried chicken wings.
"We're going to be serving them up all night and into the morning," Davis said. "They deserve it for showing up like this."
Alice Baker of Carson City brought her son and daughter to the camp-out, packing a tent, folding chairs, sleeping bags and blankets. The three were the 34th, 35th and 36th in front of the restaurant to stake their claim, arriving at around 3 p.m. Sunday.
"This is something I wanted to do for my kids," said Baker. "It's one of those experiences, camping out for a contest, where I want them to be able to share with their kids someday."
Dana Judd, 55, of Carson City was the second person in line arriving at the restaurant before 11 a.m. He said he wanted to win the free wings for a year for his son who couldn't attend.
"The camaraderie here is awesome," said Judd. "We all love wings. We all love football and we all love camping."
Minden resident Steve Wilson brought his 16-year-old son Sam and Sam's friend Hannah Harville, 16, to the overnight camp out, arriving at around 1:30 p.m. Sunday. The trio set up their tent, chairs and enjoyed getting to know their neighbors. They ordered takeout from Pizza Factory while watching a Warren Miller ski film on an iPad.
Wilson said it was a sight to see when the delivery driver arrived with a pizza in hand at the parking lot filled with wing revelers.
"It was a little disorienting. He said 'who ordered the pizza?' and everyone said they did," said Wilson.
Alex Cunningham, 18, was the 92nd person in line. "I guess I cut it pretty close," he said, noting that his other friends had arrived a few hours before him. "I was talking to some girls, which is why I was late."
Third in line, arriving at around 11:15 a.m. Sunday, Michael Hays of Carson City said the wings are among the best ever and he's glad he arrived early.
"Free wings for a year and getting to hang out with my friends all night around the camp fire — why not," said Hays.
The Carson City Buffalo Wild Wings is located at 3815 S. Carson St., Carson City It will be open Sunday through Thursday 11 a.m. - Midnight and Friday - Saturday from 11 a.m. - 1 a.m. Open early during football season at 10 am on Saturday and 9:30 am on Sunday.