McDonald’s disputes claim of unpaid £2.4m Dome bill

McDonald’s is refusing to make any further payments to the Millennium Dome as part of its promised &£12m sponsorship package, despite a report from accountants Price-WaterhouseCoopers (PWC) that claims it still owes &£2.4m.

The report, commissioned by the new Dome chairman, City troubleshooter David James, says that a number of sponsors still owe &£5m between them.

While most say they will pay the outstanding sums, McDonald’s claims that the report is incorrect and that it has already made full payment.

A McDonald’s spokeswoman says: “As far as we are concerned, there are no outstanding sponsorship payments due from McDonald’s. We made full and final payment to the New Millennium Experience Company [which runs the Dome] in November 1999. We are unclear what it [the &£2.4m] relates to.” But she adds: “We will be getting clarification from NMEC.”

The report says McDonald’s owes the &£2.4m for a “contra claim due to cost over-run in buildings” and says McDonald’s will be listed as a debtor to the attraction.

Last week, Nomura, which pulled out of its &£105m bid to buy the Dome, claimed McDonald’s had an outstanding claim on two buildings next to its restaurant outside the attraction (MW last week). McDonald’s denies this as well.

Tesco, which the report says still owes &£700,000, also claims PWC is incorrect, as the figure is &£500,000 and is part of a staggered payment that will be liquidated by December. Sky says it will pay a further &£1m by December. Roche and L’Oréal, which the report says still owe &£600,000 between them, were unavailable for comment.

British Airways is withholding &£200,000 of its &£6m sponsorship package until the Dome fixes three 15-ft spacecraft which are supposed to hover around the Dome.

NMEC refused to comment.