A new Starbucks coffee shop has officially opened its doors at Stadium MK, the home of MK Dons.
The opening event on Tuesday saw several local dignitaries present to mark the occasion. These included the Chief Executive Officer of MK Dons, Neil Hart, the Mayor of Milton Keynes, Councillor Paul Trendall, and the club’s captain, Alex Gilbey.
A new community hub
More than 100 customers gathered to witness the ribbon-cutting ceremony. They were keen to be among the first to purchase drinks from the new outlet.
The new Starbucks occupies the space formerly used by the club’s Red Dot bar. This location is noted as being one of the largest Starbucks branches within Milton Keynes.
Significant investment has gone into fitting out the premises with Starbucks’ latest equipment and furnishings, creating a modern environment.
Commercial decision leads to new offering
The decision to partner with Starbucks was driven by a need to improve the stadium’s hospitality offerings. The previous Red Dot bar, described as pub-style, experienced high footfall on matchdays but was less successful during the rest of the week.
Neil Hart explained that the Red Dot bar was not commercially viable, necessitating a change. The partnership with Starbucks was seen as an excellent opportunity to introduce a globally recognised brand to the Stadium MK complex.
This new facility is expected to enhance the existing amenities at the stadium, which include a hotel and event arena. It provides a different type of service for visitors and the wider Milton Keynes community.
Starbucks representatives expressed their long-standing desire to establish a presence at the stadium, with the process taking several years to finalise.
Extended opening hours
The new Starbucks store offers extended opening hours to serve the community. It will be open daily from 7am on weekdays.
On most days, the store will remain open until 6pm, catering to early morning visitors and those attending events later in the day.
This story is based on reporting by MKFM. Read the original coverage: MKFM