With the World Cup behind us and Argentina’s nail-biting win, followed by Lionel Messi’s announcement he will not retire after all, so attention here in Nanjing turns back toward the footballing legend’s theme park, the Messi Experience Park.
However, the project has been a long time in the works, 5 years in fact. It was back in October of 2017 that plans were initially announced for the Messi Experience Park (MEP) in the Southern Capital.
Back then, it was said that the project’s backers, MediaPro Exhibitions, Phoenix Group and Leo Messi Management, would invest ¥1.3 billion in the design, development and construction of the MEP.
While 2020 was slated as target for the Park’s opening and there appears to have been no change to this commitment, the question is why the delay? The answer by now is obvious; COVID.
When the MEP does reach fruition, however, visitors will be in for quite a treat. Therein, approximately 20 attractions, including robotics with audiovisual productions, virtual reality and mixed reality, synthetic characters and holographic technology. Performing arts events will bring a touch of dynamism, with permanent shows and itinerants. Then there will also be a gastronomy area and a hotel and, oh yeah, a football field.
As to the unusual design of the MEP, inspiration was in fact drawn from one of Messi’s most famous goals, that scored against Getafe, in which he took the ball from the middle of the pitch and dribbled past half of the opposing players.
David Xirau is Director of MediaPro Exhibitions. He says that the park is intended to be a tribute to football in general, not only a homage to Messi.
As Sportsmanor.com reported last week, Xiarau said, “In China, football is growing at an exponential rate, encouraged by the authorities. Nanjing is the football capital here”.
Nanjing makes for a fitting home for the MEP
He has a point. Local government is fond of saying, “Nanjing people have sport in their blood”, and there’s an element of truth to this.
As China.org.cn, notes, “Between 18 and 24 October, 1910, the first Chinese national sports meet was held in Nanjing as part of the country’s effort to participate in and host the Olympics at an early date”.
Later, in August of 1924, the All-China Athletic Association was born in our city as the forerunner to the Chinese Olympic Committee.
Back with the MEP, of that with his name on, Messi himself said, “I hope to provide [the visitors with an] experience they’ve never had before and to inspire them to pick up the sport early on. Hopefully, they will feel that I am around when visiting the park.”
While the Sportsman.com article also states, “The Messi theme park is set to open soon”, as of today, 26 December, this publication has not been able to source any Chinese media making recent reports as to progress with the MEP. So local fans of international football will need to continue to bite their nails, as to when they might get up close and personal with their hero, or at least that which he represents.
