AI Playbook for Restaurant Owners
This AI playbook covers restaurant tools for voice ordering, staffing, compliance, menu pricing, inventory, marketing, ChatGPT prompts, and SEO.
May 15, 2026
This AI playbook covers restaurant tools for voice ordering, staffing, compliance, menu pricing, inventory, marketing, ChatGPT prompts, and SEO.
May 15, 2026
Opening a coffee shop in 2026 requires careful cost planning across rent, equipment, labor, technology, menu strategy, marketing, and sustainability.
May 15, 2026
Hardee’s giant Boddie-Noell inks 31-unit Scooter’s Coffee deal for NC and VA, leveraging drive-thru growth and local roots with rollout over 12–18 months.
May 15, 2026
Wingstop turns match weeks into a multi-sensory festival, aligning bold pop-ups with World Cup energy to build brand affinity and measurable momentum.
May 15, 2026
Learn how to develop a memorable restaurant brand identity that stands out in a crowded market, attracts loyal customers, and drives repeat business with actionable strategies and affordable tools.
May 15, 2026
The parent company behind Dunkin', Buffalo Wild Wings, and Arby's has filed for an IPO a move that could reshape how Wall Street views the restaurant sector.
May 15, 2026
Papa Johns has teamed up with Alphabet's Wing for drone delivery of its new sandwich lineup in parts of Charlotte marking the first partnership of its kind between Wing and a national QSR brand.
May 15, 2026
Dirty soda chain Swig is expanding into Colorado through a 10-unit franchise deal, riding a consumer beverage trend that's catching the attention of major QSR players nationwide.
May 15, 2026
A warm, expert-led look at McDonald’s Q1 results, menu makeover, and the refranchise question shaping its growth.
May 14, 2026
A reflective look at Habit Ranch, its immersive desert activation, and what it signals for brand loyalty and mindful, experiential dining.
May 14, 2026
Unlock Exclusive Access To Webinars, Events, And The Latest News For Free!
Applebee’s launches Pick 6 Mondays, offering free wings with a $10 purchase when a Pick 6 occurs on Sundays, driving game-day momentum across dine-in and To Go.
Photo by Kate Trysh
Across the opening weeks of football season, Applebee’s positions itself as a quiet hinge between living-room rituals and the restaurant experience. Pick 6 Mondays is not just a promotion; it’s an invitation to translate a televised moment into a shared, in-person ritual. The wings—six in number—are offered hot from the fryer, with a canvas of six sauces to choose from, providing a simple, balanced centerpoint for a meal that feels indulgent yet thoughtful. The mechanics are clear—a free six-piece with a $10 minimum after a Pick 6 on Sunday—designed to weave game-day excitement into the week. So how does this shape our dining on game day?
Beginning Monday, Oct. 7, and running through the NFL season, the program applies to both dine-in and To Go. A Pick 6 on Sunday unlocks the free six-piece wings for the following Monday. Wings come in six sauces — Classic Buffalo, Honey BBQ, Sweet Asian Chile, Garlic Parmesan, Extra Hot Buffalo, and Honey Pepper — and can be paired with Bleu cheese or house-made ranch dressing. The promo code PICK6 guides online orders where available. "America’s Favorite Boneless Wings at Applebee’s are perfect for celebrating any and all occasions – like running an interception back for a touchdown," said Joel Yashinsky, chief marketing officer of Applebee’s. The quote underscores the campaign’s framing around football moments and shared experiences, anchoring the promotion in a recognizable menu item while signaling a national, sports-fueled moment each week.
An NFL partnership anchored as Official Grill + Bar signals a durable platform for Applebee’s beyond a single promo. Announced in April, the multi-year alliance ensures brand presence across the NFL calendar and supports high-profile advertising campaigns featuring marquee figures such as Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell, Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley, and San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy. The arrangement positions Applebee’s to leverage marquee events and cross-promotions throughout the season, turning a sports property into sustained foot traffic and dining momentum.
Promotional breadth extends beyond one-off games. To deepen engagement, Applebee’s also embraces broad game-day activation, aligning value-driven dining with the league’s rhythm. The initiative is designed to keep fans in the fold across weekends and weekdays, reinforcing the brand as a central hub for football rituals and social celebration.
Ahead of Pick 6 Mondays, Applebee’s rolled out a broader set of football-focused moves, including an NFL kickoff with 50-cent boneless wings and the debut of $10 NFL Bucket Cocktails. In addition, the chain restarted its all-you-can-eat boneless wings, riblets, and Double Crunch Shrimp in late July, emphasizing its role as a premier destination for game-day viewing. These elements illustrate a holistic, value-driven approach to align the brand with fans’ seasonal rituals.
Key lineup details center on accessible, shared experiences: 50-cent boneless wings, $10 NFL Bucket Cocktails, and the revival of all-you-can-eat options—wings, riblets, and shrimp—portraying a thoughtful balance between indulgence and value. The moves together create a sense of ongoing game-day celebration that invites both dine-in and takeout as part of the same ritual.
Direct reactions and the corporate voice frame the promotions as accessible for both dine-in and To Go, with the promo code PICK6 guiding online orders where available. The messaging centers on football moments and shared experiences, anchoring the campaign in a familiar menu item while projecting a national, sports-fueled mood that stretches beyond a single Sunday.
So what’s the takeaway? Applebee’s is using a recognizable food item to become a consistent part of fans’ viewing rituals, pairing convenience with a sense of communal celebration. The approach shows a careful balance—delivering value while maintaining the appetite for shared, chef-ready moments that feel both nourishing and thoughtful.
Gaps, uncertainties, and date talk tracks highlight a date nuance: Applebee’s materials describe a start on October 7, while some industry coverage cites October 6. The exact kickoff day may vary by source or location, but the core mechanism—free six wings with a $10 purchase after a Pick 6 on Sunday—remains consistent. The NFL partnership’s multi-year framing and the official Grill + Bar status are corroborated by multiple sources, reinforcing the strategy’s long horizon even as promotions evolve.
Implications for Applebee’s and the market suggest that if the Pick 6 Mondays program translates into tangible lift in Monday foot traffic and online orders, Applebee’s could reinforce brand affinity during peak football seasons. The integrated marketing approach—tie-ins with a national sports property, chef-ready menu positioning, and high-visibility sweepstakes—offers a playbook for turning fans’ passions into measurable outcomes. The true impact will hinge on sustained interest, efficient execution at scale, and the ability to convert one-off promotions into durable customer relationships across mobile and in-restaurant channels.