Steal a Base, Steal a Taco

Steal a Base, Steal a Taco is a marketing gimmick by Taco Bell in which free tacos are offered to all customers in the United States of America to commemorate the first stolen base in Major League Baseball's World Series.

History

Taco Bell first offered the "Steal a Base, Steal a Taco" promotion in 2007. If any player from either team stole a base in the World Series, the company would give away free Crunchy Seasoned Beef tacos to everyone in the United States.[1] After Jacoby Ellsbury of the Boston Red Sox stole a base in Game 2, the company made good on the promotion on October 30, 2007. The company donated $20,000 in Ellsbury's name to the Boys & Girls Clubs of America.[2] The first taco giveaway, at participating restaurants between 2:00 PM and 5:00 PM, attracted large crowds in the Boston area for free tacos that normally would have cost 77 U.S. cents.[3][4] In areas less interested in the World Series, crowds were much thinner.[5][6] The company also set up a web site, Donate Your Taco, for customers to donate the value of their free taco to the American Red Cross.[6]

The company has continued to offer the promotion every year since 2007. Jason Bartlett of the Tampa Bay Rays stole a base in the 2008 World Series, winning free tacos for all U.S. Taco Bell customers on October 28, 2008.[7] The first player to steal a base in a World Series is now called the "Taco Hero"; Taco Bell offers a free soft drink to customers who correctly predict the Taco Hero of the upcoming series.[8] In 2019, Taco Bell partnered with BetMGM to offer real money wagering on who the Taco Hero would be.[9] The most recent Taco Hero is Kyle Schwarber of the Philadelphia Phillies, who stole a base in Game 1 of the 2022 World Series.[10] Every World Series since 2007 has included at least one stolen base; Mookie Betts is the only player to have been a Taco Hero twice.[11]

To avoid crowds, Taco Bell connected the taco giveaway to its loyalty program in 2022. Enrolled customers will have 10 days after the first stolen base of the World Series to redeem their reward.[12]

Although World Series games in the 2010s have drawn lower ratings than in the past, Taco Bell's director of brand partnerships said in 2019 that the promotion has been successful for the chain, which draws new customers into restaurants and encourages them to return.[13]

Taco Bell runs a promotion formerly called "Steal a Game, Steal a Taco", now called "NBA Comebacks", during the NBA Finals. If a team that is losing in the first half of a finals game later wins that game, customers can claim a free taco.[11] After the Milwaukee Bucks came back to win Game 6 of the 2021 NBA Finals, Taco Bell offered free tacos to all customers.[14]

During the 2019 MLB London Series, Taco Bell's restaurants in the United Kingdom offered free tacos if a player for either team stole a base.[15]

References
  1. Rindone, Marisa (October 29, 2007). "Taco Bell's Big Enchilada". Forbes. Archived from the original on October 30, 2010. Retrieved February 9, 2010.
  2. "Free Taco Promotion at Taco Bell". QSR Magazine. October 22, 2007. Retrieved October 18, 2023.
  3. Breitrose, Charlie (October 31, 2007). "Taco Bell serves free World Series tacos". MetroWest Daily News. Retrieved October 18, 2023.
  4. Underwood, Mike (October 31, 2007). "Fans go loco for free tacos". Boston Herald. Retrieved October 18, 2023.
  5. Garver, Lloyd (October 31, 2007). "Feeding America". CBS News. Retrieved October 18, 2023.
  6. Reimink, Troy (October 31, 2007). "Race across GR nets free tacos, pain". mlive. Retrieved October 18, 2023.
  7. Gallagher, Aileen (October 27, 2008). "Free Tacos for Everyone!". Grub Street. Retrieved October 18, 2023.
  8. Molina, Brett (October 18, 2022). "Taco Bell brings back its 'Steal a Base, Steal a Taco' offer for a free taco. Here's how to get it". USA TODAY. Retrieved October 18, 2023.
  9. O'Brien, Kyle (October 14, 2019). "Taco Bell adds wagering to its World Series 'Steal a Base, Steal a Taco' campaign". The Drum. Retrieved October 18, 2023.
  10. Henderson, Cydney. "Kyle Schwarber wins Americans free Taco Bell with first stolen base of 2022 World Series". USA TODAY. Retrieved 2022-10-29.
  11. Wellen, Brianna (October 27, 2022). "Why Taco Bell Gives Away Free Tacos During the World Series". The Takeout. Retrieved October 18, 2023.
  12. Tyko, Kelly (October 28, 2022). "Taco Bell World Series free taco deal back with a change". Axios. Retrieved October 18, 2023.
  13. Santana, Danni (November 4, 2019). "Inside Taco Bell's World Series 'Steal A Base, Steal A Taco' Campaign". Front Office Sports. Retrieved October 18, 2023.
  14. Harper, Mitch (July 21, 2021). "Taco Bell Giving Away Free Tacos After Milwaukee Bucks Win NBA Title". KSL Sports. Retrieved October 18, 2023.
  15. Dixon, Rachel (June 12, 2019). "How to win a free Taco Bell meal". Kent Online. Retrieved October 18, 2023.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.