Promotions entice students to eat at restaurants

With millions of dollars in prizes available and the nostalgia of a familiar childhood game, students have been flocking to McDonald’s during lunch to participate in the franchise’s “Monopoly” game.

As a way to promote business and reel in customers, McDonald’s annually holds the Monopoly game.

In this game, customers who purchase certain items on the menu obtain game pieces that either contain free food or “properties” just like the ones in Monopoly. After acquiring a complete set of properties, winners can be rewarded with cash prizes up to $1 million or even a new car.

This promotion has appealed to some students who regularly eat off-campus. The rewards and the fun of the game compelled them to eat lunch at McDonald’s.

“It’s something fun to do and a chance to see if I actually can win anything,” senior James Huang said. “Basically, [I’m] just trying my luck.”

Though Huang himself did not obtain any sets of properties, he created a system with his friends to try to work together to gain prizes.

“Whenever my friends and I go to McDonald’s we collect our new pieces and add it to our stash of properties,” Huang said. “This way there are many people looking for properties and if we win, we will split the profit.”

While McDonald’s had its promotion, other restaurants have incentives for students to eat at their business. Junior Tim Park takes advantage of the deals of an Asian fusion cafe called Barcode.

“There’s a promotion going on there that gives customers free Icees during lunch,” said Park. “I guess the promotion draws me in and makes me visit more often.”

With many students going off campus for lunch, restaurant promotions catch the eyes of students and spark more interest in their business.

“Though the food is unhealthy at McDonald’s, I will definitely make another stop if I win some free food,” Huang said.