Legacy Entertainment, a leading theme park and resort design company, is developing new concepts and experiences as part of a new, non-gaming initiative in an area commonly known as the “Las Vegas of Asia”.
The announcement follows the news that Macau’s “Big Six” casino operators have agreed to extend their gaming licences for ten years in exchange for spending US$14.9 billion over the next decade, of which 90% will go towards non-gaming attractions and experiences.
At the forefront of this initiative, Legacy Entertainment is now working on creating a variety of ambitious theme parks, water parks, and attractions that are especially suited for the Macau market. One of the biggest integrated resorts in the area recently commissioned Legacy to develop a 30,000-square-metre indoor theme park.
Prominent projects
The Legacy team has had a significant presence in the Pearl River Delta for almost 15 years. Its founders acted as main design consultants for Studio City Macau and Galaxy Macau, which made their debuts in 2011 and 2015 respectively. The Chimelong Marine Science Park, a vast 370,000 square metre facility that will later this year claim the title of being the world’s largest indoor theme park, was also designed by the Legacy Entertainment team and is located just across the river.
Legacy Entertainment president and chief creative officer Taylor Jeffs says: “Working shoulder-to-shoulder with icons like Galaxy’s Francis Lui and Melco’s Lawrence Ho has been among the highlights of my career. Together, we’ve helped shape the landscape of modern-day Macau. My entire team and I are thrilled to continue working in one of our favourite markets as Macau enters this new era.”
A flourishing Macau economy
The future seems promising for Macau, the hub of Asian gambling. The six biggest casino operators in the territory experienced revenue growth of up to 36% last month, and it has been estimated that it will take two more years for the sector to fully recover to pre-pandemic levels. Historically, non-gaming revenue has only accounted for less than 15% of the municipal government’s funding, therefore this change in emphasis will radically alter how Macau functions.
“The goal now is different than it was when we started designing Galaxy Macau in 2006, and Studio City Macau in 2011,” adds Jeffs. “Back then, the mandate was to create the world’s most compelling gaming destination. Now we are out to simply create one of the world’s top entertainment destinations for all ages. It is a tall order, but I am confident my brilliant team of collaborators is up to the challenge.”
Legacy Entertainment are also currently working on a number of Asian projects including Batavia: The Floating City at PIK 2, the major resort development in Indonesia.
