The Boston Red Sox recently concluded a 15-game winning streak, a period that proved costly for the New England-based restaurant chain 99 Restaurants. The streak, which tied a franchise record, triggered a promotion that offered free meals to children every time the Red Sox won.
Since 2008, 99 Restaurants has partnered with the Red Sox for this "kids eat free" promotion. However, the team's extended run of victories from July 2 to July 22 meant the restaurant chain gave away "thousands" of free meals. Each meal is valued at approximately $8, indicating a significant financial impact on the company.
The promotion, which extends to locations in New England and New York, became a considerable expense during the nearly three-week winning streak. The streak was broken on Friday with a 5-1 loss to the Baltimore Orioles, providing the restaurant chain a brief reprieve. The Red Sox are scheduled to face the Toronto Blue Jays in a weekend series, which could potentially reignite the free meal giveaways if their winning ways return.