Be in Buffalo Hometown Touchdown gives sweepstakes entrants a chance to win a trip to the city plus Buffalo Bills Tickets; Entries accepted from now until November 28
BUFFALO, N.Y. – September 6, 2022 – Be in Buffalo — the regional talent attraction initiative of Invest Buffalo Niagara (InBN), — announced the launch of the ‘Be in Buffalo Hometown Touchdown,’ sweepstakes for a free trip to the region and tickets to a Buffalo Bills home game.
Two winners and a guest of their choice will receive airfare, hotel stay and additional prizes, plus Buffalo Bills versus Miami Dolphins game tickets in Orchard Park, N.Y. Be in Buffalo has mailed promotional boxes to over 50 Bills Backers Bars across the country, highlighting the sweepstakes and touting the region’s resurgence. View a photo of the boxes here.
The Be in Buffalo Hometown Touchdown serves as a celebration of the revitalized city of Buffalo and as a “boomerang” campaign to make Buffalo natives aware of the thousands of career opportunities and lifestyle advantages, that can be found in the region today.
“There are thousands of ex-Buffalonians living across the country today while staying connected to our region every Sunday at their local Bills Backers Bar. This campaign gives our dedicated fan base not just a chance to win a trip back home and not just a celebration of our football team, but awareness of all of the great momentum in our region’s resurgence,” said Jenna Kavanaugh, chief operating officer, Invest Buffalo Niagara.
In the latest Census, Buffalo and Erie Country’s populations grew for the first time since 1950 and 1970, respectively. In 2020 alone, the city invested $20 billion in public and private developments, which complemented the $100 million in streetscape and infrastructure projects that have recently been completed. Redevelopment areas include a total transformation of the Buffalo waterfront, Buffalo’s Central Business District and more.
Industry and job opportunities have followed. The technology and entrepreneurial ecosystems have seen significant success. In 2021, Buffalo startups raised more than $530 million in venture capital. This is due to various tech-focused initiatives including 43North, a tech startup competition and incubator awarding $5 million annually to its winners, ACV becoming Buffalo’s first tech unicorn before a successful NASDAQ IPO, Moog’s globally leading headquarters in Western New York, and M&T Tech’s 1,000 job expansion in Buffalo. Most recently, software companies Odoo and Rural Sourcing have expanded to Buffalo following nationwide searches, creating hundreds of jobs.
With 21 colleges and universities, which enroll more than 105,000 students, educational resources also play a big part in the city’s success. In 2019, there were $424 million in university research and development expenditures.
Not only has the region rebounded, but the team has as well. After a 17-year playoff drought, the Buffalo Bills have made the playoffs four of the last five seasons and are the odds favorite to win the Super Bowl this year, according to FanDuel’s Sportsbook.
“Buffalo and football go together like wings and bleu cheese. We have the best fans in the world – 8 a.m. tailgate arrivals, shirtless December games, loyalty throughout the drought, and millions of dollars in charitable donations,” said Del Reid, Co-Founder, 26 Shirts.
Be in Buffalo Hometown Touchdown also highlights the charitable generosity of Buffalo football fans. After Cincinnati’s Andy Dalton and Tyler Boyd connected on a touchdown that helped send the Buffalo Bills to the playoffs, breaking a 17-year drought, Buffalo fans raised over $500,000 for the player’s charities. Following the passing of Josh Allen’s grandmother, fans raised over $1 million for Oishei Children’s Hospital in her and the family’s name. And every other week, fans express their support and generosity as they flock to the 26Shirts website to purchase the latest merchandise that profit-shares with local causes. The sweepstakes landing page links to multiple opportunities to donate.
“Buffalo boasts a top performing football team, along with the most intense fan base in history of the sport, but the city is also home to a full ecosystem of successful industry sectors, top tier universities and endless lifestyle amenities,” said Kavanaugh “It’s what keeps our fans passionate year after year, regardless of where they reside.”
Here is more information on the transformation of the city. And find the landing page for the Be in Buffalo Hometown Touchdown Sweepstakes here.
ABOUT BE IN BUFFALO
Be in Buffalo, a program of Invest Buffalo Niagara, is the region’s talent attraction initiative focused on recruiting and retaining the workforce needed to build an economy of the future. Buffalo has a story to tell and Be in Buffalo is working to tell that story across the country and globe. Learn more: beinbuffalo.com
ABOUT INVEST BUFFALO NIAGARA
Invest Buffalo Niagara is the area’s leading private sector economic development and business attraction organization, focused on research, marketing, and business development outreach. With exceptional community connectivity, Invest Buffalo Niagara’s staff provides comprehensive services and project management for companies looking to expand or relocate. From research all the way through ribbon-cutting, Invest Buffalo Niagara is the primary point of contact for economic development in the eight-county Buffalo Niagara region. Learn more: buffaloniagara.org.