Buffalo Wild Wings to feature self-serve beer taps

NEW YORK (FOX 5 NY) - The new owner of the Buffalo Wild Wings restaurant chain has unveiled a new restaurant design.  Two restaurants already feature the enw design and two more are expected to launch next month.

The new design includes free flowing and flexible seating areas and LED lights that automatically adjust depending on sound levels in the restaurant.

"We wanted to have a big variation of seating and allow guests to pull tables together as they please," Jim Cannon, a senior vice president of Inspire Brands said.

The restaurants will also features a "MVP room" with includes two 80-inch TVS, gaming consoles and six self-pour beer taps.  The chain says the self-serve taps might not make it to all restaurants due to local restrictions.  Patrons will have to be 21-years-old to enter that area of the restaurant that can be reserved for private events. 

The chain did not explain how customers are charged using the self-serve beer taps.

In the main room of the restaurant, a microphone inserted into a panel in the ceiling will monitor crowd noise that will activate the lights to celebrate "legendary sports moments" in the restaurant.

It will also allow for lighting combinations to feature color schemes for local pro, college and high school sports teams.

The first two restaurants featuring the new design are open in New Caney, Texas, and Bowling Green, Kentucky. The next two that will open are in Arden, North Carolina, and Fort Worth, Texas.  It was unclear how long it would take to make the changes across the entire chain.

Inspire Brands was formed earlier this year when Arbys bought Buffalo Wild Wings for $2.9 billion.  It also bought the Sonic drive-in hamburger chain this year.