Lanky134
07 May 2003, 12:11 PM
Much as I am an avowed American capitalist, the sight of golden arches on the Kop annoyed the hell out of me:
Liverpool Daily Post, 7 May 2003
Big Mac to quit Anfield, so it's back to the pies
By Tony Mcdonough Daily Post Staff
IT'S a return to sausage rolls and meat pies for Liverpool FC supporters next season after McDonald's confirmed its outlet at the club's Anfield stadium is to close.
The burger giant told the Daily Post last night that the restaurant was not generating sufficient profits to justify keeping it open and would close before the start of the new football season in August.
Spokesman Paul Nicholas said: "McDonald's is currently negotiating with Liverpool Football Club to close the Anfield restaurant before the start of next season.
"We currently employ 20 staff who will be relocated to surrounding restaurants in Liverpool."
Mr Nicholas added that while the outlet had been extremely busy on match-days it had been very quiet on other days and the decision was taken to wield the axe.
It was opened in November 1995 as part of Liverpool Football Club's new Kop Grandstand complex and was believed to be Europe's first football ground burger bar.
Reds midfield stars Steve McManaman and Jason McAteer were the first customers - two Macs who have also since left the club.
During matchdays, spectators could buy McDonald's meals across counters inside the stadium. On other days, the restaurant opened outside to the general public.
There were even special "Kop meals" on offer at the venue, one of the smallest outlets in the country, but one which could serve 8,000 fans.
Liverpool Football Club yesterday confirmed that negotiations were taking place with McDonald's in relation to the decision to close the restaurant.
A spokesman said there were a number of contractual matters that still needed to be resolved to the satisfaction of the club and that they were not prepared to discuss what would happen to the site in the future until these issues were sorted out.
The US burger giant, the world's largest restaurant chain, is facing one of the most turbulent periods in its corporate history.
In January, the company posted its first ever quarterly loss after it was hit by the costs of closing hundreds of restaurants worldwide.
It posted a net loss of £212m for the period between October and December last year compared to a profit of around £180m for the same period the year before.
Its 30,000 outlets worldwide, and particularly in the US, have come under increasing pressure from other fast food giants such as Burger King.
Environmental campaign group Friends of the Earth said the loss showed the world was "wising up" to the way McDonald's operated.
Liverpool Daily Post, 7 May 2003
Big Mac to quit Anfield, so it's back to the pies
By Tony Mcdonough Daily Post Staff
IT'S a return to sausage rolls and meat pies for Liverpool FC supporters next season after McDonald's confirmed its outlet at the club's Anfield stadium is to close.
The burger giant told the Daily Post last night that the restaurant was not generating sufficient profits to justify keeping it open and would close before the start of the new football season in August.
Spokesman Paul Nicholas said: "McDonald's is currently negotiating with Liverpool Football Club to close the Anfield restaurant before the start of next season.
"We currently employ 20 staff who will be relocated to surrounding restaurants in Liverpool."
Mr Nicholas added that while the outlet had been extremely busy on match-days it had been very quiet on other days and the decision was taken to wield the axe.
It was opened in November 1995 as part of Liverpool Football Club's new Kop Grandstand complex and was believed to be Europe's first football ground burger bar.
Reds midfield stars Steve McManaman and Jason McAteer were the first customers - two Macs who have also since left the club.
During matchdays, spectators could buy McDonald's meals across counters inside the stadium. On other days, the restaurant opened outside to the general public.
There were even special "Kop meals" on offer at the venue, one of the smallest outlets in the country, but one which could serve 8,000 fans.
Liverpool Football Club yesterday confirmed that negotiations were taking place with McDonald's in relation to the decision to close the restaurant.
A spokesman said there were a number of contractual matters that still needed to be resolved to the satisfaction of the club and that they were not prepared to discuss what would happen to the site in the future until these issues were sorted out.
The US burger giant, the world's largest restaurant chain, is facing one of the most turbulent periods in its corporate history.
In January, the company posted its first ever quarterly loss after it was hit by the costs of closing hundreds of restaurants worldwide.
It posted a net loss of £212m for the period between October and December last year compared to a profit of around £180m for the same period the year before.
Its 30,000 outlets worldwide, and particularly in the US, have come under increasing pressure from other fast food giants such as Burger King.
Environmental campaign group Friends of the Earth said the loss showed the world was "wising up" to the way McDonald's operated.