Hundreds of Milwaukee bar patrons who hoped to score free drinks through its offer to pay their tabs whenever the New York Jets, and former Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, lose had to pay up after the Jets got an overtime win despite an injury that took Rodgers out of the game.
Jack’s American Pub announced its “Jets Lose, You Win” promotion two weeks ago, offering to pay the bar tabs of all participating customers when the Jets — and Rodgers — lose. Patrons faced conditions, including that Rodgers had to start the game and their tabs had to be opened 15 minutes before kickoff.
During Monday’s game between the Jets and the Buffalo Bills, many customers at the Milwaukee bar cheered, sensing a free night of drinking, when Rodgers left in the first quarter with an injury. That injury turned out to be a torn left Achilles tendon that ended Rodgers' debut season with the Jets. But the team went on to win the game 22-16 in overtime, dashing customers’ free drink hopes.
Following Rodgers’ injury, bar owner Scott Schaefer said people began ordering more drinks because they felt more certain of a Jets loss. He said emotions in the bar were “mixed” when they ended up winning.
Olivia Fallon, a manager at Jack’s American Pub, said about 350 patrons took up the bar’s offer Monday night and the average tab ended up being between $50 and $60.
“But there were some outliers. There was a $160 tab, a $130 tab, here and there," she told WDJT-TV on Tuesday, calling Monday night one of the bar’s biggest nights of the year.
With Rodgers now out for the season, Schaefer said his establishment still wants to do a promotion related to the Jets, but the bar has not yet determined what that will be.
“We’re going to try to do something else. We want to see what happens over the next couple of days,” he told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. "We want to keep the promotion going, but in what form, we don’t know.”
The congressman responded to the school shooting in Parkland, Fla., expressing frustration that Democrats have introduced bills that could prevent mass shootings, but Republicans don't support them.
Karen Crouse, the New York Times sports reporter who broke the story about figure skater Adam Rippon's eating disorder, discusses the future of sports in a space where lean, light figures are encouraged.
What did John Kelly know and when did he know it? Plus, the Olympic gold medal-winning snowboarder sparking controversy. A preview of the Daytona 500, and Happy Valentine's Day! With FanSided, The Root, Moët & Chandon, and Zimbio.
Police in Florida respond to a deadly high school shooting in Parkland. Congressman Joe Kennedy talks about bringing the Democratic message to millennial voters, and President Trump's Infrastructure plan.
Darrell "Bubba" Wallace Jr. says his two favorite platforms are Twitter and Instagram. Ahead of this weekend's 60th running of Daytona 500, he shares what he does the morning of a race.
Models Georgia Gibbs and Chase Carter talk about what it's like to be swimsuit models and inspire a new generation. The magazine's annual swimsuit issue features women with an "In Her Own Words" message.
Cheddar's Patrick Jones interviews NASCAR driver Darrell 'Bubba' Wallace Jr. live from the Daytona International Speedway in Daytona, Florida. The 60th running of the Daytona 500 is on Sunday.
Team USA is dominating the snowboarding field, winning gold at the first four events. Shaun White is the latest, but his big win is stirring up controversy.
NASCAR is set to rev its engines for the 60th running of the Daytona 500. Driver Aric Almirola joins Cheddar from the Daytona International Speedway to reveal how he prepares for the big race.
The racecar driver joined Cheddar ahead of this weekend's Daytona 500. He says he invests so he can preserve the winnings he's been lucky enough to earn, because he doesn't want to up like some lottery winners and professional athletes who go broke.
