MGM Mirage
Plans Singapore Cirque du Soleil
MGM Mirage announced in Singapore
today that it will include a permanent Cirque
du Soleil show as part of the hotel-casino it
hopes to build in Singapore.
The
casino company is vying for the right to develop
the Asian city-state's first gaming destination.
MGM
Mirage's announcement came two days after rival
casino operator Harrah's Entertainment said
it would build a 1 million square foot "urban
theme park" to accompany a Caesars-brand
resort proposed for the Marina Bayfront in Singapore.
The Caesars property will feature movie-themed
attractions created by Academy Award-winning
film director James Cameron.
MGM
Mirage has four Cirque du Soleil at properties
in Las Vegas and a fifth scheduled to open this
year. MGM Mirage said Cirque du Soleil, a Montreal-based
entertainment company, has signed an exclusive
agreement to create a show specifically for
Singapore as part of MGM Mirage's proposal.
"Cirque
du Soleil's innovative entertainment plays a
significant role in our company's reputation
for presenting the best possible entertainment
available at our Las Vegas resorts," MGM
Mirage Chairman Terry Lanni said in a statement.
"Our two companies have accomplished some
amazing things together and Cirque enthusiastically
agreed to join us in our commitment to make
Singapore Asia's new entertainment capital."
MGM
Mirage officials said a resident Cirque du Soleil
show would enhance the company's proposal. The
officials say they think the show's avant-garde
acrobats and clowns would draw both residents
and tourists to the project.
MGM
Mirage said Singapore locals have bought more
than 250,000 tickets to past Cirque du Soleil
performances in the city.
Cirque
du Soleil founder Guy Lalibert; said a production
would be created with Asian traveler in mind.
"We
are confident a resident show in Singapore will
quickly prove itself a powerful tourist draw,
even more so than our successful touring shows,"
Lalibert; said. "It will become a new,
world-class landmark on the Singapore entertainment
scene."
Cirque
du Soleil, first developed in 1984, will present
13 shows simultaneously throughout the world
this year. In Las Vegas, Cirque du Soleil has
four permanent shows: Ka at MGM Grand; "O"
at Bellagio; Zumanity, at New York-New York;
and Mystyre at Treasure Island. A fifth show,
based on the music of the Beatles, is scheduled
to open this summer at The Mirage.
The
Singapore Tourism Board has asked companies
to submit plans for the Marina Bayfront, one
of two sites the government has designated for
gaming resort development, by March 29. A winner
is expected to be announced by June.
A
second resort site is on Sentosa Island. The
proposal period is expected to begin soon for
that location and would close approximately
four months after the Marina Bayfront bid is
awarded.
MGM
Mirage is in partnership for its proposal with
CapitaLand, Southeast Asia's largest developer.
Harrah's
and Keppel Land are submitting joint proposals
for two integrated resorts, one for each site.
Las Vegas Sands Corp. is the third Strip gaming
operator bidding on the project. A fourth bid
is coming jointly from Singapore's Genting International
and Star Cruises.
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