The craze for the game is growing in India and marketers whet appetites in a variety of ways.
There's just one thing in the world which leads Gautham Srinivas, a prim and proper corporate lawyer, to “misbehave within the realms of acceptability”: Manchester United.
FOOD FUELS INTEREST
Thematic cafés and restaurants are also springing up across the country.
Says Avinandan Banerjee, Operating Partner of Sports Connoisseurs, a franchise partner for Manchester United's diner-cum-bar in Bangalore: “The thematic restaurant, replete with a dug-out area, sky box and a players' tunnel, was set up by Man U to offer a direct touch-point for consumers to relate to the club.”
The 12,000 sq. ft. restaurant in Bangalore is the world's largest Manchester United restaurant. Apart from serving finger food, pasta, pizza and drinks, the restaurant also dishes out various memorabilia and merchandise.
“We usually have 200-300 visitors each day. On Man U match days, it goes up to 400-500,” says Banerjee. New Year's Eve saw the place brim with over 750 people.
Manchester United is considered the most popular premier league club in the world. In India alone, it has an estimated fan base of 20 million. Interestingly, the club's fan base does not have a male skew, says Banerjee, who has hired a woman to head the restaurant's marketing. “Her passion for the game and the club was phenomenal. We just had to hire her.”
Manchester United cafes are also present in Mumbai, Delhi and Goa in association with the Mumbai-based Mirah group. The football club is eyeing Kolkata, Mysore, Manipal, Chennai, Chandigarh and Kochi.
The Liverpool club is also planning to set up cafés and lounges across the country.
There's just one thing in the world which leads Gautham Srinivas, a prim and proper corporate lawyer, to “misbehave within the realms of acceptability”: Manchester United.
FOOD FUELS INTEREST
Thematic cafés and restaurants are also springing up across the country.
Says Avinandan Banerjee, Operating Partner of Sports Connoisseurs, a franchise partner for Manchester United's diner-cum-bar in Bangalore: “The thematic restaurant, replete with a dug-out area, sky box and a players' tunnel, was set up by Man U to offer a direct touch-point for consumers to relate to the club.”
The 12,000 sq. ft. restaurant in Bangalore is the world's largest Manchester United restaurant. Apart from serving finger food, pasta, pizza and drinks, the restaurant also dishes out various memorabilia and merchandise.
“We usually have 200-300 visitors each day. On Man U match days, it goes up to 400-500,” says Banerjee. New Year's Eve saw the place brim with over 750 people.
Manchester United is considered the most popular premier league club in the world. In India alone, it has an estimated fan base of 20 million. Interestingly, the club's fan base does not have a male skew, says Banerjee, who has hired a woman to head the restaurant's marketing. “Her passion for the game and the club was phenomenal. We just had to hire her.”
Manchester United cafes are also present in Mumbai, Delhi and Goa in association with the Mumbai-based Mirah group. The football club is eyeing Kolkata, Mysore, Manipal, Chennai, Chandigarh and Kochi.
The Liverpool club is also planning to set up cafés and lounges across the country.
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