Lionsgate a partner in new plan
Weeks after Melco Crown opened its glitzy, Hollywood-themed Studio City resort on Macau’s Cotai Strip, GGRAsia reports that eSun Holdings Ltd. and Lai Fung Holdings plan to develop and operate a Hollywood movie-themed amusement park on Hengqin Island next to Macau.
The amusement park could be a plus for both destinations, said analyst Grant Govertsen of Union Gaming Securities Asia Ltd. “I suspect that a few years down the road several million more people could be making that trek from Zhuhai airport to Hengqin/Macau and would be likely customers for these entertainment developments,” Govertsen said. “I think this shows eSun’s/Lai Fung’s commitment and belief in themed entertainment in the region.”
Among the firms’ partners in the venture is Lionsgate Location-Based Entertainment Inc., a unit of the Hollywood production giant that created franchises like “The Hunger Games.”
As part of a special economic zone of Zhuhai designated by the mainland, Hengqin has gone from a rural, underdeveloped area to a commercial and tourism hub designed to complement Macau. Hengqin is linked by bridge to the Cotai Strip.
The planned Lionsgate Immersive Experience Center at Hengqin will span 22,000 square meters (236,806 square feet), and include 10 to 15 attractions based on Lionsgate movies, along with food and beverage and retail concessions, according to reports.
