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Merlin Entertainments Group Ltd (‘Merlin’) and GCDS Corporation announced the selection of Nagoya as the preferred location for LEGOLAND Japan and will now move forward with formal negotiations with the City. Pending the terms and conditions necessary for them to develop, construct and operate LEGOLAND Japan within Nagoya city limits, the family theme park could open as early as 2015.
Merlin Entertainments Group, the second largest visitor attraction group in the world, and GCDS Corporation, a venture company with exclusive territorial rights obtained from Merlin Entertainments Group Ltd, have been evaluating and discussing several sites in Japan. Based on the results of these discussions, Merlin and GCDS today have confirmed to Mayor Kawamura and other officials of the City of Nagoya, a desire to continue conducting further and more detailed studies including due diligence, consents and final contract terms.
LEGOLAND® is a full day theme park experience dedicated to families with children between the ages of 2 and 12 and features interactive rides, shows and attractions based on the LEGO® toy brand.
Merlin and GCDS are excited by the opportunities this project will create, particularly its potential to contribute in a meaningful way to the vitality and prosperity of the community and economy of Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture and Japan. “We sincerely believe LEGOLAND Japan would make Nagoya an important tourist destination for both domestic and international markets,” said Mr. Frank Stanek, the designated Chairman of the Japanese entity that would develop LEGOLAND Japan. He added that he was convinced this would be Nagoya’s answer to Tokyo’s Disneyland and Osaka’s Universal Studios - both being very successful theme parks that he actively developed in senior leadership roles during his previous corporate career.
John Ussher, Merlin Entertainments’ General Manager of LEGOLAND Development said: “We are very pleased to be working with GCDS and to have reached this agreement in Japan, which illustrates the strength of the LEGOLAND brand and of Merlin’s business model across the globe. The Asia Pacific region provides a great opportunity for Merlin’s continued development across our brands, particularly LEGOLAND. This site, it’s potential as a catalyst to build a major tourist and leisure destination in Nagoya and Japan, and the support of the City of Nagoya, all played a key role in our decision to take this project to the next stage .”
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