Red Sox Streak: A Windfall for Kids, a Challenge for Local Eatery

The Boston Red Sox recently ended their impressive 15-game winning streak, much to the relief of a local restaurant chain, 99 Restaurants. This chain, originating in Boston, and with outlets across New England and into New York, found itself in an unexpected predicament due to a long-running promotional offer.

Since 2008, 99 Restaurants has teamed up with the Red Sox on a straightforward promotion: when the Red Sox win, kids eat free. As a result, from July 2 until July 22, a span of nearly three weeks, children enjoyed free meals at the eatery, as the Red Sox maintained their victory streak.

While such promotions are common in the sporting world, often tied to minor league games, the scale of this offer was significant. The restaurant reported distributing “thousands” of free meals, each typically valued at about $8.

The winning streak concluded with a 5-1 loss to the Baltimore Orioles, providing 99 Restaurants a brief respite. However, with another series against the Toronto Blue Jays on the horizon, the potential for more free meals looms.

Writer Matthew Reigle notes that few fans forgot about the opportunity for complimentary meals, leading to substantial participation in the promotion.