Case Study
Driving World Cup Diners through Tri-Channel Visibility
A restaurant client challenged us to drive 2026 World Cup fans to their locations. After identifying two primary audiences with an international segment overlapping both, we applied distinct SEO (Facts), AEO (Utility), and GEO (Recommendation) strategies to increase brand visibility. By positioning a Times Square flagship location as a critical transit “Pitstop” for MetLife Stadium matches and establishing the brand nationally as a premier alternative to traditional sports bars and soccer-themed venues, we delivered a comprehensive solution with strong ROI.
The Problem
Competing for Local and National “Share of Stomach”
Earning foot traffic across a national footprint while winning hyper-local transit corridors.
The primary challenge was driving foot traffic during the 2026 World Cup across a national restaurant footprint while simultaneously maximizing the unique logistical advantage of a Times Square flagship located near MetLife Stadium. The brand needed to compete for “share of stomach” against established soccer-themed pubs and traditional sports bars in high-density urban corridors. The goal was to convert temporary tournament hype into measurable visits by solving for two distinct fan behaviors: those traveling to the live matches and those seeking a home base to watch the broadcast.
The Approach
A Tri-Channel Framework for Audience Acquisition
We need to hit three distinct audience segments: Transit Fans, Atmosphere Seekers, and International Travelers; and we needed to hit them no matter where or how they were searching.
Visibility Channels
SEO: The Foundation
Fact-based optimization focusing on Intent + Location to ensure the brand appears in traditional search results.
AEO: The Utility
Using Structured Data + Q&A formatting to secure “Position Zero” answers for voice assistants and featured snippets.
GEO: The Reputation
Audience Identification
Transit Pitstop
Local and visiting fans moving through Midtown Manhattan toward the stadium.
Watch Party
Fans in all market locations seeking a high-energy viewing environment.
International Travelers
The Solution
a Hub-and-Spoke Model
We implemented a “Hub-and-Spoke” strategy to bifurcate marketing efforts. The Times Square “Hub” focused on logistical dominance, while the national “Spokes” focused on atmospheric consistency.
Landing Pages
- The Transit Pitstop (Times Square): A page optimized for logistical gateway status, featuring match schedules, transit proximity to the 42nd St Subway hub, and “Base Camp” group fueling.
- The National Watch Party (All Locations): A page emphasizing the brand as the “Home Base” for fans in every city, highlighting screen visibility, large-table capacity, and the specific “Fan Zone” features of each site.
Supporting Content
A strategic suite of articles was developed to provide semantic depth for AI engines. Topics included Transit Logistics (Times Square to MetLife), Cultural Authenticity (American BBQ 101), Group Blueprints (Large-scale fan club dining), and Competitive Comparisons (Why this brand beats traditional sports bars).
International Integration
Rather than creating a separate funnel, we embedded an “International Layer” into all assets. This included multilingual menu support, currency/payment tips for global visitors, and “Authenticity” badges to establish the brand as a cultural landmark for those seeking the definitive American experience.
the Result…so far
Current Performance: Mid-Campaign Trajectory
So Far, So Good!
The campaign is currently in active execution, with early data indicating strong momentum ahead of the June kickoff. While the tournament has yet to begin, our multi-channel approach is already delivering measurable results.
Steady Channel Growth: Landing pages are experiencing consistent growth in organic traffic across SEO, AEO, and GEO channels.
High-Intent Conversions: Group reservation inquiries have increased significantly, validating the “Base Camp” and “Watch Party” positioning for large-scale bookings.
Generative Visibility: Supporting blog content is ranking for high-intent search terms and is successfully being cited in generative AI results (GEO).
Active Optimization: We are continuously refining technical signals and content based on real-time search trends as the tournament approaches.
June Group Party Reservations (4/12/26)
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