The next LV Strip?
U.S.-based tribal casino operator Mohegan Gaming & Entertainment has announced that it will partner with Paramount Pictures Corp. on a Hollywood-themed amusement park at its multibillion-dollar resort, called Inspire, in Incheon, South Korea.
In a news release, the Mohegans called the project “Northeast Asia’s largest IER expansion.” It is now under way at Incheon International Airport.
“We are proud to have Paramount Pictures join us as a strategic partner in the development of our innovative integrated entertainment resort concept,” said Mohegan Chairman Kevin Brown. “With Paramount alongside as we answer the demand of today’s consumers, the Inspire IER model not only displays our commitment to trend-setting in this industry but also demonstrates the Mohegan tribe’s commitment to growing South Korea’s travel, tourism and workforce development goals, while securing the generational sustainability of the Mohegan tribe.”
Kevin Suh, executive vice president of themed entertainment for Paramount, said the iconic Hollywood company “is proud to announce Korea as one of the first locations for a world-class Paramount-branded theme park. Paramount looks forward to its partnership with Inspire and to be part of one of the world’s premiere entertainment destinations at Inspire.”
Phase I of Inspire, to be located on 420 acres at Incheon International Airport, will include a five-star resort hotel with more than 1,250 rooms, suites and villas; a 15,000-seat concert and sports arena; a casino with 150 table games and 700 slots; an climate-controlled hemispherical dome with indoor pools, rides, dining and retail. Groundbreaking is scheduled for May 2019 and the official opening planned for 2022.
Phase I-B will include the 99-acre Paramount Picture-branded theme park with connecting entertainment and retail village, which are scheduled to open in 2025.
According to Casino.org, Incheon International on Yeongjongdo Island is envisioned to become “South Korea’s version of the Las Vegas Strip.” Along with Inspire, Chinese real estate developer LongRunn International is building a $4 billion-plus casino complex called Diamond City that also will include schools, hospitals, homes and “K-pop theme parks” as well as a “seven-star hotel.” In addition, U.S.-based Caesars Entertainment and Philippines casino developer Bloomberry Resorts also are said to be looking at Incheon as IR sites; both companies have purchased land near the airport.
An airport official told Donga.com that Incheon International will become “a global tourist city that can compete with Singapore and Macau.”
