Dome Europe - Leisure Development - Transforming the Dome

Date: 31 Jul 2000

Investment of over £800 million to turn the Dome into Europe's first urban entertainment resort.

The Government announced today that Dome Europe has won the competition to take over the Millennium Dome from January 2001. Nomura International plc has underwritten around £400 million to support Dome Europe's plans to radically revitalise the Dome. It is also expected that Dome Europe's development partners will spend a further £400 million on the surrounding site.

Dome Europe plans to create Europe's first urban entertainment resort, through a combination of attractions, entertainment, food, retail, accommodation and high-tech office facilities. This will provide a focal point for the creative arts and offer its visitors the best of European entertainment, culture and cuisine.

Dome Europe will continue with the Dome's current entry price structure. In addition regular visitors will benefit from the opportunity to gain general access for the whole year, via a season ticket, priced initially at £30. This will be of special benefit to people from Greenwich and Greater London.

Guy Hands, Managing Director of Nomura International plc's Principal Finance Group, said:

"This is a great day for the 200 strong team who have worked on the Dome Europe concept, all of whom are thrilled that we have come first out of 70 competitors. Together with our major partner, Hyper Entertainment, we will create a spectacular venue that will, over the next few years, provide a first class urban entertainment resort serving Great Britain and Europe."

Dome Europe's Chairman Peter Middleton, said:
"This is an excellent result, not only for Dome Europe and Nomura, but for the whole of the UK. We will create a fantastic leisure attraction for all to enjoy. This will deliver sustainable jobs and boost regeneration throughout the Thames Gateway."

Michael Swinney Chief Executive of Hyper Entertainment said:
"Over the past seven years we have developed headline visitor attractions in San Francisco, Tokyo and Berlin which now entertain millions of people. We will revitalise the Dome with our partners Dome Europe. We will provide enthralling European based interactive attractions that will celebrate the best of Europe and entertain people, regardless of their age or background."

Inside Dome Europe visitors will experience:
A bustling Hawkers' Market, that will showcase arts and crafts from across Europe
Great restaurants, serving the best of European food and drink
Spectacular shows and unique cultural events in a new amphitheatre and throughout the Dome
Europe's past, present and future brought to life through ftm and exciting attractions celebrating its art, literature, history and culture
Innovations, gadgets and the science of tomorrow, focussing on European technology and the latest in interactive games

Dome Europe is working with English Partnerships and the London Borough of Greenwich to ensure that buildings designed by Britain's top architects and landscape designers occupy the land surrounding the Dome. These will include:
New hotel developments, ranging from spectacular luxury to budget style accommodation
Innovative housing and high-tech offices
The Greenwich Beach complex, made up of theme restaurants, music and performance spaces and unique retail outlets, open and accessible to all

Dome Europe will reach adults and children from all over Britain and Europe through the Internet. Experiences will include:
Learning through the "e-Dome", a fun educational resource linked to the National Curriculum
Playing computer games with a historical European theme
Teenagers talking to friends in Europe via "chat rooms" in other languages
Buying unique products from around Europe "online"

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