Studio City adds a dose of Hollywood excitement to Macau’s casino scene
Integrated resort opens its doors with a full slate of blockbuster options, from a Batman-inspired ride to magic shows, shopping and dining
Macau’s economy may have taken a slight downturn, but that hasn’t dampened Melco Crown Entertainment’s enthusiasm for the city’s tourism and entertainment future. Lawrence Ho’s gaming and resort company has upped its ante in Cotai with the opening of Studio City, a new US$3.2 billion Hollywood-inspired, all-encompassing entertainment complex.
Located close to the Lotus Bridge immigration point connecting Hengqin Island and a future station point for the Macau Light Rapid Transit, Studio City aims to be a game-changer, promising to deliver more world-class entertainment amenities than any integrated resort player in the market.
Ho certainly brought out the big guns for the grand opening in late October. Leading a star-studded guest list were Leonardo DiCaprio, Martin Scorsese and Robert DeNiro, with a musical performance by Mariah Carey during the party.
The new resort’s Hollywood theme is not limited to its opulent art-deco façade, which includes the Golden Reel Ferris wheel – the highest in Asia – straddling two hotel towers 130 metres above the ground. The integrated resort has injected a cinematic vibe into all its attractions and experiences, with resplendent touches reminiscent of the golden age of cinema across its retail, dining and leisure attractions.
These blockbuster offerings include the Studio City Event Center, a 5,000-seat multipurpose entertainment arena that will host concerts, live shows and sporting events. Madonna is booked to perform there in February. There’s also Studio 8, a 300-seat TV studio for shooting reality programmes and game shows.
