Messi to build brand in China with theme park

The Messi Experience Park, which is being launched by the five times world player of the year in collaboration with Chinese broadcaster Phoenix Group and Spanish media company Mediapro, is set to open in 2019 in the Chinese capital.

Messi to build brand in China with theme park

(Reuters)





The theme park will have 20 indoor and outdoor attractions in a 42,000 square metre space which will "immerse visitors in Messi's universe," a statement from the player's Leo Messi Management group said

Messi, who earned the European Golden Shoe last season by finishing top scorer in Europe's top five leagues, attended a launch event in Beijing this week.

"I hope to provide them with an experience they have never had before and encourage people to play football from an early age," Messi told reporters.

David Xirau, director of Mediapro Exhibitions said the theme park will "use the most advanced technology" to combine attractions with spaces to play the world's most popular sport.

Companies from China have invested heavily in foreign clubs in recent years as President Xi Jinping has called for the country to develop a world-class football industry.

Chinese ambitions for football have also extended to spicing up the domestic league with a clutch of high-profile signings.

Messi is Barcelona's highest paid player, earning an estimated 40 million euros (£35 million) per year, which is set to increase this summer as he is expected to sign a bumper new long-term contract with Barca, where his current deal runs until 2018.

Messi's image rights have come under the spotlight since he was charged with avoiding 4.1 million euros of tax on his commercial earnings between 2009 and 2011.

He was found guilty of tax fraud along with his father Jorge last year, and handed a prison sentence of 21 months and a fine of 2 million euros.

His appeal was rejected by the Supreme Court last month although he is unlikely to go to prison.





(Reporting by Richard Martin; Editing by Keith Weir)


Share
2 min read

Published

Source: Reuters


Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News daily and direct to your Inbox

Sign up now for the latest news from Australia and around the world direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Download our apps
SBS News
SBS Audio
SBS On Demand

Listen to our podcasts
An overview of the day's top stories from SBS News
Interviews and feature reports from SBS News
Your daily ten minute finance and business news wrap with SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves.
A daily five minute news wrap for English learners and people with disability
Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS
SBS World News

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service
Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world
Messi to build brand in China with theme park | SBS News