Bangkok: Indoor stadiums to anchor new Mall Group's properties

Thailand’s The Mall Group will partner with U.S. live entertainment company AEG to develop two world-class arenas, Em Live and Bangkok Arena, that will anchor two new entertainment districts in the city. The two projects will represent a 10 billion baht-plus (US $303 million) investment.

Em Live is part of EmSphere which is scheduled to open in the fourth quarter of 2022 and have a capacity of 6,000 people. Meanwhile, the Bangkok Arena which is located within Bangkok Mall is projected to open at the same time, providing 16,000 seats.

Supaluck Umpujh, chairwoman of The Mall Group, said the company’s mission and goal is “to elevate Bangkok and Thailand to the leading retail and entertainment hub in Asia”. Adam Wilkes, president and CEO at AEG Asia, said Southeast Asia is going through a transformation with rising incomes and spending power leading to consumers demanding more sophisticated entertainment experiences. The Mall Group is endeavouring to continue to expand beyond traditional retail experiences and lead a trend into more immersive lifestyle and entertainment-focused destination experiences, the company said in a statement. The group is operating 12 shopping complexes in Thailand, including Bangkok’s Emporium and EmQuartier malls and the Bluport Hua Hin Resort Mall.

“Over the last decade, Bangkok and Thailand have seen rapid urbanisation and changing consumption trends, and today it is a market with great potential, driven by an expanding middle-class with growing spending power and demand for premium experiences,” the statement said. “Bangkok and Thailand have also been named the world’s most-visited tourism destinations, welcoming more than 38 million international travellers last year, with that number expected to reach 42 million international travellers this year.”

As co-owner and operator of both entertainment venues, AEG will also work with The Mall Group and its partners in offering and marketing a wide range of events including entertainment, concerts, live performances, family shows, sports competitions, Mice and arts and cultural events. Over the past decade, AEG has brought to Asia artists including Justin Bieber, Celine Dion, Katy Perry, Ed Sheeran, Taylor Swift, Metallica and the Rolling Stones.

Source: Inside Retail Asia