franchise news stories on Newser

Spider-Man 4 Off Because Director Saw Avatar

Harry Kimball — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 13:19:00 CST

The problems with the Spider-Man 4 script were genuine, but the real reason the flick got the ax is that the director saw Avatar . Sam Raimi became infatuated with the advanced computer graphics in the James Cameron blockbuster and wanted to take advantage of them, insiders tell New York . Sony...

Recession Woes Penalize NFL Franchises

Harry Kimball — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 13:55:27 CDT

Tight credit and the recession-driven scarcity of buyers and investors slashed the value of eight NFL teams this year, Forbes reports. It’s the first time in a decade that even one team has seen a decline. Though the average team value held steady at $1 billion, Oakland led the losers,...

Madoff-Burned Owners Must Sell Mets: Author

Harry Kimball — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 14:23:02 CDT

The Wilpon family will have to sell the New York Mets after losing $700 million to Bernie Madoff's Ponzi scheme, according to an author who wrote about the money manager. “It's possible they would have to sell by next year,” says Erin Arvedlund, author of Too Good to Be True...

Canuck Doughnut Standby Supplants Dunkin' in Wary NYC

Harry Kimball — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 14:35:01 CDT

Many New Yorkers met their first Canadian doughnuts today as the Tim Hortons chain took over 12 locations previously occupied by Dunkin’ Donuts, BlackBook reports. “My frantic runs to Canada to buy tins of Tim Hortons ground coffee are over,” a delighted expatriate said. “Everything in New York is fantastic...

McD's Huge Angus Burger To Go National

Harry Kimball — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 12:54:16 CDT

McDonald’s will roll out its deluxe Angus burger nationwide later this year, the Chicago Tribune reports. Until now, the one-third-of-a-pound burger made with premium beef has been available only in a handful of test markets. Though the fast-food chain has said publicly it would delay the launch until next year...

'Breastaurants' Booming as Economy Tanks

Harry Kimball — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 17:23:52 CST

Many restaurateurs are struggling these days, but Hooters and a new crop of imitators are seeing their clientele increase, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports. Hooters revenues went up 2% from 2007 to 2008, and while the chain is secure—“We’re not looking over our shoulders,” said exec Michael McNeil—savvy...

Twilight Director Booted From Sequel

Evann Gastaldo — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 09:05:04 CST

Twilight director Catherine Hardwicke, who smashed the record of biggest opening weekend for a female director, will not return for the sequel, Deadline Hollywood Daily reports. Sources inside and outside Summit Entertainment said the director was “difficult and irrational” and that Summit “didn’t like her.” The official word, released in...

Cubs Brass Hope to Sell By February

Harry Kimball — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 12:33:03 CST

Chicago Cubs brass expects the team to be sold by spring training, the Tribune reports. The chairman of the team, which is in the midst of a century-long title drought, says it is reviewing bids and could have a deal in place by February. Crane Kenney also shot down rumors...

Double Cheeseburger Gets Boot for One-Slice McDouble

Ambreen Ali — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 17:01:02 CDT

Grumbling from franchisees has McDonald’s set to bump the price of its double cheeseburger up to $1.19, the Chicago Tribun e reports. That, of course, would knock it off the popular dollar menu, so plans are to replace it there with the new McDouble—virtually the same burger but...