Real Madrid builds large VR entertainment center

On the Chinese island of Hengqin, a huge building complex is being constructed on an area of 1.5 square kilometers, which is expected to attract annual visitors in the double-digit million range, thanks to a nearby amusement park, luxurious hotels and large shopping centers.

Hengqin is located in the south-west of Hong Kong and is just a stone’s throw from the Chinese special administrative zone Macau, which is known for its numerous casinos, known as the “Las Vegas of the East”. The transformation of Hengqin, which is three times as large as Macau, is part of Beijing’s efforts to bolster links between Hong Kong, Macau and nine cities in the Pearl River Delta region, or the so-called “Greater Bay Area,” modelled after other dynamic global bay areas such as Tokyo and San Francisco.

The biggest attraction of the island is “Chimelong Ocean Kingdom”, the largest amusement park in China, which attracted 8.5 million visitors last year. With the so-called “Novotown” project, the region is expected to become an even greater tourist magnet in the coming years.

A virtual football experience

The Spanish soccer club Real Madrid announced last week that they would open an interactive “virtual reality” complex in Novotown, in partnership with Hong Kong – listed developer Lai Sun Group. The 12,000m2 venue, set to open in 2021, is expected to include virtual reality entertainment and a museum showcasing the club’s history.

“Thanks to the latest technology, the football center will offer a highly interactive and personalized football experience. Real Madrid is pushing the next stage of sports entertainment and bringing together a wide range of industries to promote regional tourism, “says John Tse, who heads the Novotown Construction Project.

| Featured Image: Electronic Arts | Source: Taipei Times (Reuters)