The partners in the project in Sanshui New Town - which will be Nickelodeon's first branded attraction in China and is estimated to cost $1.85 billion (RMB11.9 billion) — are the Sanshui New Town Management Committee and Elite Global, with a license from Viacom International Media Networks.
The theme park attraction is expected to cost $1.85 billion (RMB11.9 billion) to build and is scheduled to open by 2020. The park is part of a Foshan Cultural and Ecological Coastal Project, which was set out last year as encompassing a culture-oriented city, that fosters inter-industry integration between cultural and six other fields: tourism, sports, science, technology, commerce and traditional industries.
"We are thrilled we will develop our first branded attraction in China, which will open up further opportunities for our recreation business in Asia," said Ron Johnson, executive VP, Nickelodeon and Viacom Consumer Products (NVCP).
"We look forward to working with Elite Global Group and Foshan to create a series of branded attractions that will appeal to kids and families across China, enabling them to connect with some of the most beloved Nickelodeon characters in the world, including SpongeBob SquarePants, Dora the Explorer and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles."
The partners said they plan to include in their development a China Cultural Creativity Base "committed to incorporating Chinese culture, stories and values into world-level works," a China Cultural Product & Derivative Exchange and energy-efficient buildings.
Nickelodeon branded attractions and parks around the world include Nickelodeon Land at Pleasure Beach Blackpool (U.K.), Nickelodeon Universe in Minneapolis' Mall of America, Nickelodeon Land at SeaWorld on Australia's Gold Coast, Nickelodeon Beach at Wet 'n Wild Sydney (Australia), Nickland at Movie Park Germany, Nickelodeon Land at Parque de Atracciones Madrid (Spain) and Nickelodeon Lost Lagoon to open at Sunway Lagoon in Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia). Nickelodeon also has a branded hotel, Nickelodeon Suites Resort, in Orlando, Florida, and plans to open Nickelodeon Hotels & Resorts Punta Cana, Nickelodeon's first-ever international hotel property, in May 2016.
Sources: Variety and The Hollywood Reporter.
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