05/08/2005
Real Madrid plan theme parks in Miami and Beijing
Real Madrid plan to construct branded theme
parks in Miami and Beijing as part of a strategy to expand and develop
marketing opportunities across the globe.
"We are in negotiations with the mayors of Miami and Beijing to create
two theme parks," Real Madrid president Florentino Perez was quoted as
saying in Spanish sports daily AS.
"They will become the focus for the legions of Real Madrid fans in the
powerful and heavily populated countries of the United States and China."
Real are also planning to include a theme park in Madrid at their new
training base which is under construction in Valdebebas near the city's
Barajas airport. AS reported that the club is aiming to have all three
parks in place by 2008.
Real recently returned from an 18-day tour of the U.S. and Asia which
was reported to have earned the club some $25 million.
Last month Perez said that Real Madrid's income had increased by 250
percent since he took over as president five years ago and that the club
had overtaken Manchester United as the biggest earner in world soccer.
