This week, a dealership in Michigan has received a significant amount of media coverage from all over the country for offering free cars if their team wins. Headline writers started to have a field day with the small local auto dealer offering free Hondas for a Michigan victory. But as with all things in life, it’s never that simple. Before you decide that a $600 plane ticket is a fair trade for a free $24,000 car, here are the facts. And a precedent that definitely surprised us.
Michigan State doesn’t just have to win for customers to receive free Honda Accords
This is the section of the article where you decide that it’s just not worth the drive to the Sonoma County Airport or SFO since it’s not just about winning the game. In order for people to enjoy the brilliant warming glow of free car happiness, Michigan has to shut out Ohio State, which has happened 27 times in the history of the rivalry between the two teams. The rivalry has been going on for over 110 years, with the last shut out in 1993. One media source compares the possibility of this year’s Ohio State team scoring zero points to the likelihood of a winning PowerBall ticket.
This dealership isn’t the first to mix the possibility of free cars and football
Another dealership in a different state seems to have had the idea first this year, though we’re sure there have been other possibilities of free cars through football wins in history. This year, a dealership in Alabama is offering free cars if Auburn shuts out Alabama in the Iron Bowl, which occurs at the end of November. According to the dealer, others have offered similar deals if Alabama has shut out a rival in the past, but no one has been using their dealer inventory to cheer on Auburn.
So, can you get a free car or not?
We support an organic football rivalry as much as the next man, and a shutout can be incredible to watch in the same way as you’re fascinated by any baseball pitcher when they’re going for a no-hitter. However, the chances of the 2013 edition of “The Game,” a 116-year old football rivalry with only 27 Michigan-led shutouts, leading to a shutout this year and free cars filled with puppies and sunshine is extremely slim. Still, for any Michigan fans reading, we wish you the best, and enjoy your possible new, free Honda Accord.
