In conjunction with IAAPA 2016 in Orlando, FL, Hollywood-based entertainment design firm Goddard Group has unveiled new details about the company’s roster of upcoming immersive projects across Asia, North America, and around the globe, including five major destinations currently under-construction.
“2016 has been a banner year for us so far, but our sights are really set on 2018 and beyond, when our next generation of highly immersive parks and attractions will be coming online,” says Gary Goddard, Goddard Group Chairman/CEO. “Between the world’s first Cirque du Soleil experience park, the exciting new experiences we are creating with Chimelong in China, and everything else happening in between around the world, there’s quite a bit to get enthusiastic about.”
Of all the Goddard Group projects currently underway, it may indeed be the abovementioned Cirque du Soleil resort that’s garnered the most international attention. Maxim Magazine recently declared the currently under-construction resort as being “the world’s most incredible theme park.” Rising out of the jungle near Vidanta’s sprawling resort in Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico, the park promises to push the limits of what’s possible in immersive experiences.
Goddard adds, “With the Cirque project, we are taking the theme park experience to a new level – we are going to give audiences a new kind of theme park, what I am calling an ‘Experience Park.” I believe it’s as revolutionary today as Walt Disney’s term “Theme Park” was when it replaced the term “Amusement Park” back in 1955. Through our collaboration and partnership with Cirque, we are truly going to change the game. We are thrilled about this.”
“In Cirque du Soleil, we have found the perfect partner,” adds Goddard Group’s Director of Design, Taylor Jeffs. “Working side by side with the Cirque team has enabled us to add a level of interactivity to the park that not only has never been done before, but that is so specialized, it will be virtually impossible for anyone else to replicate.”
In New York, the recently-opened Broadway production of “The Encounter,” which Goddard Group helped transfer from its sold out runs in London and Edinburgh, is the first show of its kind to use binaural sound to immerse the audience deeper into the story than ever before. Forbes Candlish, Goddard Group’s Supervising Producer for Live Entertainment, explains, “To experience ‘The Encounter,’ all 800 audience members don special holophonic headsets, as Simon McBurney weaves a story that will transport every audience member deep into the Amazon – there’s really nothing else like it.”
Following its premiere on September 29th, 2016, the show received rave reviews, with Ben Brantley of The New York Times exclaiming that “The Encounter” is “One of the most fully immersive theater pieces ever created.” Goddard adds, “As creators and designers of immersive experiences and attractions, we knew we simply had to be a part of this extraordinary show.”
Meanwhile in Asia, historically the company’s strongest market, several Goddard Group projects are in the throes of major construction, including the Hengdian Shanghai Bund Movie World project, the Haichang Polar Ocean World project in Shanghai, and the Kingdom of Poseidon project in Harbin.
Concurrently, several other Goddard Group projects are in early stages of planning, including major upcoming projects in Indonesia, Macau, Korea; in other cities across China; and in multiple sites throughout the USA.
Perhaps most significant for Goddard Group is the recent announcement of a strategic partnership with respected developer Chimelong. This new association has already resulted in the creation of several new theme parks and attractions in China. While specific details were not available in time to be released for IAAPA 2016, Mr. Goddard hinted at what could be expected. “The Chairman of Chimelong has his finger on the pulse of the Chinese public in a way I’ve not seen elsewhere in China,” he said. “He is also dedicated to creating quality theme parks, resorts and experiences. This is just one of the reasons we are honored to be working alongside him and his team. Having worked with a number of visionary owners and developers over several decades, I can say that Chairman Su is cut from the same cloth. He has a vision, and he involves himself in every detail of the project. Working together, the Chimelong and GGE teams will create what I believe will become one of the greatest new theme parks in the world. There will be nothing else like it, anywhere.”
In addition to their on-going work, Gary Goddard and Goddard Group’s legacy of success can be seen in the many milestone anniversaries currently taking place around the world during 2016 – anniversaries of acclaimed, high-profile projects he and his team designed and/or produced in the past. These include:
- The Goddard Group designed Studio City Macau Resort, which recently celebrated its first anniversary with the 1,000,000th rider on the iconic Golden Reel figure-8 ferris wheel;
- The Goddard Group designed Galaxy Macau Resort, which just celebrated its highly successful 5th year of operation;
- The Goddard designed Enchanted Kingdom theme park in the Philippines, which just recently passed its 20th year of sustained success;
- Sanrio Puroland, which celebrated its 25th year of successful operations in 2015, while its sister park, Sanrio Harmonyland in Kyshu, just celebrated that same 25th anniversary milestone this year – both parks were designed and produced by Goddard;
- Other Goddard Group attractions are continuing to thrive decades after their initial openings, including “Jurassic Park: The Ride,” “Terminator 2: 3/D,” Universal’s “Islands of Adventure,” and “The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man 3D/4D” ride, all of which premiered at the Universal Studios’ theme parks in the years between 1996 and 1999.
About GODDARD GROUP
Launched by Gary Goddard in 2002, the Hollywood, CA-based Goddard Group has grown to become one of the world’s most successful independent entertainment design firms in the industry today. The company has developed, designed and produced over forty currently-operating attractions and destinations located all over the globe, for a variety of clients, including Cirque du Soleil, Universal Studios, Six Flags, Insomniac Events, Lotte World, Galaxy Entertainment Group, and Melco-Crown, among many others.
While best known for theme parks and attractions, Goddard and his company also specialize in a broad range of mediums, having also designed resorts, casinos, museums, and retail malls, as well as having produced Broadway shows and creating outstanding 3D/ 4D attractions.
Please see: www.garygoddard.com
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