# Football-Themed Value Meals SONIC Refreshed Its $7 Big Deal Value Meal for Football Season By Adam Harrie | Published 2026-09-03 | Marketing Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/big-deal-value-meal References: [businesswire](https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260902103361/en/SONIC-Kicks-Off-Football-Season-with-the-%247-Big-Deal-Meal-and-New-Ad-Campaign-Featuring-Baker-Mayfield-and-Bijan-Robinson)  SONIC refreshed its $7 Big Deal Value Meal, replacing the previous Small Premium Chicken Bites with a Vanilla Sundae and pairing the update with a football season campaign called 'My Greatest 7.' The value meal now includes a SONIC Cheeseburger, a medium drink, a choice of tots or fries and the new sundae for $7. The campaign features former SEC athletes Baker Mayfield and Bijan Robinson, who reflect on career-defining moments before revealing that the 'seven' in question is the meal deal itself. SONIC set the campaign around [football fan traditions](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/dave-busters2), from Friday night high school games to weekend game days, framing SONIC as a gathering point for football fans nationwide. SONIC's Big Deal Value Meal shows how [athlete partnerships](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/maxxl-double-el-diablo-combo) can transform a straightforward price deal into a broader seasonal marketing campaign. Image Credit: SONIC ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 8.5/10 - Popularity: 82% | Activity: 81% | Freshness: 92% - Audience gender: 90% men, 10% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Marketing](https://www.trendhunter.com/marketing) > [Branding](https://www.trendhunter.com/branding) ## Key Themes ### Key Themes Behind This Trend - **Seasonal Value Bundles:** Limited-time meal refreshes tied to cultural calendars create room for brands to turn basic discounts into recurring seasonal traffic drivers. - **Athlete-led Promotions:** Sports personalities give everyday offers added narrative value, helping restaurants connect price-conscious deals with fandom and personal achievement stories. - **Fan Occasion Marketing:** Game-day rituals provide a platform for food brands to position affordable meals as part of shared viewing, travel and community traditions. ### Where This Applies - **Quick-service Restaurants:** Competitive value menus are evolving into themed experiences that blend affordability, convenience and entertainment-driven relevance. - **Sports Marketing:** Athlete endorsements increasingly support accessible consumer promotions, expanding sponsorship value beyond apparel, beverages and live event advertising. - **Food and Beverage Retail:** Bundled meals with dessert and drink components reflect growing interest in complete low-price occasions that simplify purchase decisions. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Football Food Delivery Promotions](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/aldi-sos-big-game-bundle.md) - [Value-Driven QSR Meals](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mvp-meal-deal.md) - [Basketball Championship-Themed Convenience Promotions](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/deals-for-march-madness.md) - [Celebratory Low-Cost QSR Menus](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/america-250-menu.md) - [Tiered QSR Pricing Initiatives](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/biggie-deals-menu.md) - [Sports-Inspired Dining Promotions](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/wingstop-boneless-meal-deal.md) - [Value-Driven QSR Meal Deals](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/7-big-deal-meal.md) - [Value-Oriented Meal Deals](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/valueoriented-meal.md) - [Football Season Retailer Snacks](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/7eleven-game-day-snacks.md)