One of the world’s biggest sports and entertainment companies, Anschutz Entertainment Group (AEG), has partnered up with Thai mall operator The Mall Group to invest THB10 billion (about US$308 million) into the construction of two major entertainment venues in Bangkok.
AEG, the US developer of the Staples Center in Los Angeles, PlayStation Theater in New York and The O2 in London, among many other iconic venus, announced their strategic partnership with The Mall Group, owners of Siam Paragon and The Em-district, yesterday.
The first project is Em Live, a 6,000-seat arena that will be located near the Emporium mall and should be completed in 2022, according a report from Financial Times. Em Live will be the only major concert hall located smack dab in the middle of Bangkok.
The existing GMM Live House, located at CentralWorld shopping mall, only seats 3,000 people, while larger venues such as Impact Arena in Nonthaburi and Rajamangala Stadium in Ramkhamhaeng require a significant commute from the city center.
The group claims that their other project, the Bangkok Arena, will be Bangkok’s largest venue thanks to its 16,000-seat capacity. It will be locate inside the upcoming Bangkok Mall on Bang Na-Trat Road, which is also marketing itself as the “biggest mall in Thailand.”
The venue, which will be able to seat 5,000 more people than the ever-popular Impact Arena, is scheduled to open by 2023.
“We will be a big game-changer for Thailand,” Adam Wilkes, president and CEO of AEG Asia, told Nikkei Asian Review.
He credited Bangkok’s rapidly improving public transportation network and ample accomodations for tourists as the reason for their expansion to Thailand.
Besides being an “outstanding partner” he also praised The Mall Group as an innovative company led by an insightful and forward-thinking leader.
“The company shares our vision for creating best-in-class destination experiences,” Adam stated, adding that he believes their partnership has the potential to “redefine and revolutionize Bangkok’s leisure and entertainment scene.”
In particular, he said the stadium will put Bangkok’s entertainment industry in the leadership position in Southeast Asia.
