M.C.A. plans to build park for Europe

Press, 23 September 1987, Page 54

M.C.A. plans to build park for Europe

NZPA-Reuter Los Angeles M.C.A., the big entertainment company which is taking on the Walt Disney Company in the amusement park business, says it plans to build a park in Europe. “We have been looking at a lot of opportunities in Europe,” M.C.A.’s vicepresident, Charles Paul, told Reuters, adding that possible sites had been narrowed to either Paris or the Spanish coast. Mr Paul declined to provide details on the progress of negotiations surrounding the European project, but he said the project would cost more than SUSSOO million ($BlO million), and a target opening date of 1992 was reasonable. A complex in Europe would represent another attempt by M.C.A. to shake Disney’s long-time dominance of the theme-

park business, one of its most lucrative operations. Earlier this year Disney signed a deal with the French Government to build a SUS2 . billion amusement park near Paris. M.C.A., parent of the Universal film studio, has already announced plans to develop a site in Orlando, Florida, near Walt Disney World, as part of a joint venture. It is also expanding its Universal Studio tour in Burbank, California, where Disney has its film studio. “We do very well in the same places as Disney,” Mr Paul said, adding: “We’re recognised as the only world-class alternative to them.” Disney’s success in theme parks has provided a powerful incentive for M.CLA. to move aggressively into the business. In 1986 Disney’s parks at-

tracted an estimated 37 million visitors and generated SUSI.S billion in revenues.