House of Dancing Water Best Show in the World?
Melco Crown Entertainment, a joint venture between Mr Packer's Crown and Mr Ho's Melco International, is hoping the hype from its $US250 million
House of Dancing Water in Macau ($266m) House of Dancing Water show can transfer into dollars, bolstering revenues and profits for their flagship City of Dreams casino resort development in Macau.
The water extravaganza, which was five years in the making and had its VIP premiere last night -- attended by Mr Packer -- forms the centrepiece of Melco Crown's bid to diversify its gaming and entertainment offering in line with the Macau government's determination to transform the province into a multi-faceted tourist destination.
The show, which is created and directed by Franco Dragone -- the pioneer of the world famous Cirque du Soleil -- is staged in a 270-degree round theatre.
ts focus is a commercial pool holding about about 15 million litres of water -- more than five Olympic swimming pools.
The theatre has about 260 automated fountains and 11 10-tonne elevators, allowing the stage to be converted from an aquatic to a solid floor venue. "For me, City of Dreams five years ago was built on the proposition that we would offer the best, the most exciting entertainment on earth," Mr Ho said at the opening.
"I think we have put together the best of the best in entertainment and I think we have tailor-made it for Macau and for the Chinese market.
"There are a lot of Chinese mythologies and elements in (the show). So, I think it is a show that, we hope, the Macau people and the Chinese people will be very proud of -- to know that the best show in the whole world is actually happening on Chinese soil in Macau."
Mr Ho claimed the show would also enhance the brand awareness of City of Dreams and continue to diversify the attraction of the business in its key markets of China and the rest of Asia.
City of Dreams, which is on the Cotai Strip of reclaimed land adjacent to the main island of Macau, has delivered a solid performance since opening its doors in June last year.
Its revenues were bolstered in July by a 70 per cent surge in Macau gaming revenue, helped by the soccer World Cup.