Scoring big with March Madness

Greene Turtle Sports Bar & Grill created a $20,000 grand prize bracket challenge for the NCAA college basketball tournament. Pizza Hut and Domino’s Pizza also jumped on the March Madness promotional bandwagon.

It’s not a great leap to think that most people who go to sports bars are fanatical about college basketball and its March Madness tournament to determine the country’s best basketball team. In fact, any restaurant with a big screen television can draw fans. It certainly explains why eateries all over the land are creating promotions to draw in hungry and thirsty basketball fans.

Consider, for example, Greene Turtle Sports Bar & Grill, with 36 units in Maryland; Washington, DC; Virginia and Delaware. Guests of its restaurants can register to participate in its $20,000 Bracket Challenge by visiting TurtleBracket.com. Contestants who fill out brackets on the website can earn points for each correct selection. They’ll get bonus points for watching games at participating Greene Turtle Restaurants.

At the restaurants, customers can also collect scratch-off cards that reveal codes redeemable at TurtleBracket.com. Contestants will also receive coupons via email throughout the tournament as an incentive to watch games at participating restaurants. At the conclusion of the tournament, a winner will be named based on total points earned. A check will be presented to them during the week of April 15th.  

Meanwhile, Pizza Hut is giving a free one-topping medium pizza to members of its loyalty program if all number-one seeds reach the semifinals. Only members of its Hut Lovers program are eligible. If the top seeds come through, Hut Lovers will receive a coupon via email that they can redeem for the free pizza.

“Four number-one seeds have made the semifinals before,” said Kurt Kane, chief marketing officer for Pizza Hut. “But never has this much been at stake for pizza lovers nationwide. If it happens again, we’re prepared to make it the greatest championship in college basketball history with free pizza.”

Domino’s Pizza is also giving fans a special deal as they follow their favorite teams through the first week of the NCAA basketball championship. The company, with more than 10,000 units, will offer 50 percent off on all pizzas for people who use the code 50off at checkout. The special is only available through online ordering.

Some of Domino’s top 10-selling Saturdays typically occur during the tournament. Last year the chain sold more than 1.7 million pizzas during the Final Four and Division 1 Championship.

While Greene Turtle can’t compete on the level of pizza giants Domino’s and Pizza Hut, it is living up to the adage of go big or go home. In addition to its $20,000 prize, the Maryland-based company is aggressively drawing customers to its restaurants.

Even those who don’t participate in the official bracket contest can still win prizes at participating restaurants by just showing up. There will be daily “Pick ’Em” contests and door prizes ranging from a free milkshake to free burgers for the rest of the year. On top of that, scratch-off cards will be handed out that include one of three discount offers, such as a half-price appetizer, valid throughout the tournament. A variety of game-day drink promotions will also be in place.

“The March college basketball season is one of those times of the year when our restaurants become even more popular as gathering places,” says Bob Barry, c.e.o/president of the Greene Turtle. “We want to help build that excitement and reward customers for making us their top pick for great food, fun and, of course, fandom.”