A Boston-area restaurant chain faced backlash after its promotion of free meals for children during the Boston Red Sox's 15-game winning streak became unsustainable.

The 99 Restaurants chain, which has offered free food to kids with every Red Sox win since 2008, gave away thousands of meals worth approximately $8 each during the streak.However, the promotion created logistical challenges as the team's winning streak extended for nearly three weeks.

While the chain enjoyed a brief reprieve after the Red Sox lost their first game since July 2, the promotion's scale raised questions about its feasibility.

The article highlights how such promotions, while seemingly generous, can become problematic when tied to high-frequency events like sports winning streaks.

It also underscores the broader debate about the sustainability of corporate sponsorships linked to sports performance, as well as the potential unintended consequences of incentivizing fan engagement through free perks.