On sale: Bud Light Cleveland Browns ‘Victory Fridges,’ for a limited time only, as in through Wednesday.
The Grand Opening was hosted by WWE superstar and Browns fan Mike ‘The Miz,’ Browns receiver Jarvis Landry and defensive end Myles Garrett. ‘The Miz’ cut the chain and moments later the fridges started to roll out.
The line to purchase one of three sizes of the commemorative fridges formed outside the store on West 25th and wrapped around to Carroll Ave., back to West 28th and to the fence bordering St. Ignatius High School’s football field in Ohio City. They sold out in three hours, but fans were able to order fridges online at the shop.
“It’s crazy,” Landry said. “Traffic’s backed up, the line wraps around the building. People are excited to get in here to get their fridges, all to support the Cleveland Browns. There’s no better feeling.”
A year ago, Bud Light came up with the idea for a Browns ‘Victory Fridge’ and it was nothing short of marketing genius.
It was part tongue-in-cheek fun at the team’s winless drought, which spanned 17 games entering the 2018 season and some 600-plus days, and part celebration for that moment that Browns fans would finally taste victory – literally.
The fridges, which were loaded with free Bud Light bottles, were strategically placed at select bars around Cleveland but chained shut until the Browns won. On Sept. 20, 2018, following a 21-17 come-from-behind victory led by Baker Mayfield, the chains dropped, and the free beer flowed.
This year, with the Browns poised to contend for the division and a playoff spot, the Victory Fridge has taken on a whole new meaning.
“The city is excited and that kinda extends to us as well,” Garrett said. “It’s not unheard. We hear all the noise, whether it’s good or bad. When we get the fans on our side, it’s a different level. [It’s] a different kind of appreciation that we have for [the fans] and how they feel towards us, and they’re the best fans in the league, so were going to try and make them proud.”
Garrett was selected No. 1 overall in the 2017 NFL Draft. The Browns didn’t win a single game that year.
Winning isn’t expected to be a problem for Garrett and the Browns this year.
“It’s a totally different atmosphere than what I had my first year,” Garrett said. “The second year it’s been growing and hopefully we can keep that excitement going with winning [this year].”
As Garrett did his best salesman impression and showed off the fridges Tuesday, he playfully joked about the touchdowns, sacks and victories the Browns are going to rack up this year.
“It’s football,” Garrett said. “You have to have a little bit of fun.”
Net proceeds from the fridge sales benefit "Browns give Back community partners' programming to support various adults throughout northeast Ohio" according to the team's website.