Cirque du Soleil, known for breathtaking acrobatics, and the NFL, known for bone-crushing hits, today announced plans for an NFL attraction in Times Square, a first-of-its-kind attraction in the heart of New York City. The four-story innovative exhibit, located on the corner of West 47th Street and 7th Avenue at 20 Times Square, is set to open Fall of 2017. Cirque du Soleil will spend about $40 million to build the 40,000-square-foot space and pay a licensing fee to the NFL, which will provide memorabilia and access to the NFL Films library. The profits will be shared by both sides.
It may seem an odd pairing, but the two sides say their partnership makes business sense. Cirque gets to align with the country’s most popular sports league, and the NFL, battling bad publicity over concussions, domestic violence and other issues, is uniting with a popular, uncontroversial entertainment brand with a broad, international following. “It’s new for us,” said Daniel Lamarre, the chief executive of Cirque du Soleil. “We try to push the boundaries of new technology in live entertainment. NFL is a huge brand; it’s the number one sport in America… [and] they share our point of view in getting close to the general public,” Lamarre added, “Obviously they have their own issues like any other organizations. But for us we see football in North America as being an amazing event that you see at every level,” referring to how children, teenagers and college students play football and that even non-athletes rally behind a team.
“We see the NFL Times Square experience as an opportunity to leverage our creativity to bring to life another one of the world’s greatest brands and expand our capabilities beyond live productions,” Scott Zeiger, Cirque du Soleil Theatrical President and Managing Director told CNBC. “It will be a hub full of surprises and excitement,” Zeiger said. “NFL Times Square will offer highlights of the previous football season, current and former player appearances and live broadcasts from NFL Network.”
The price point for a ticket will likely ring in somewhere in the $30 range, according to Zeiger. The whole experience will last about an hour. Learn more about this new experience by reading the official press release below. And find the NFL Time’s Square Experience online at:
WEBSITE: https://www.nfltimessquare.com/
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/NFLTimesSquare/
Located in the crossroads of the world, the NFL Times Square experience will be a must-see attraction for football fans in North America and around the world. The revolutionary exhibit will capture fans’ incredible passion for football through an engaging blend of high-tech displays, as well as immersive and interactive elements. Fans will have the opportunity to test their skills to see how they measure up to professional football players, learn game strategy, in addition to experiencing the adrenaline-pumping action of the NFL.
The attraction will include an approximately 350-seat theater. When fans step inside the theater, they will be surrounded by high-definition screens and state-of-the-art technology, and will be treated to an awe-inspiring multimedia experience. The 20-minute show, co-produced with NFL Films, will invite fans to immerse themselves in the NFL and experience what it feels like to be in the game, on the sidelines and behind the scenes.
“The NFL and Cirque du Soleil are two iconic global brands. We are pleased to team with this industry leader to set the new standard of excellence in sports and entertainment,” said NFL Chief Marketing Officer Dawn Hudson. “We are thrilled to re-imagine what it means to authentically engage with fans by providing them an immersive, innovative experience celebrating football and available year-round. We hope to bring fans of all ages and avidity into the huddle and give them an all-access pass to players and teams.”
In addition to the multimedia show and interactive activities, there will also be educational programming on the art of tackling and passing, on-site retail, stadium-style food and beverage offerings and special artifacts on display. Hall of Famers, current and retired players from around the League will be making appearances and participating in fan experiences.
The NFL Times Square experience will mark Cirque du Soleil’s first official experiential sports venture. World renowned for their live show productions, this new exhibit will showcase their extensive capabilities as creative content providers and continue to position them as an industry leader, bringing the NFL to life like never before through their creative vision and innovation.
“Our new venture with the NFL signifies the next phase of Cirque du Soleil, and we see tremendous opportunity in working creatively with the League as well as other world-class brands throughout the world. No other brand in professional sports is as strong and popular as the NFL and we are thrilled to have the opportunity to showcase the NFL from a whole new perspective,” said Daniel Lamarre, President and CEO, Cirque du Soleil.
“We are happy to facilitate an experience that brings NFL players closer to football fans from around the world,” said NFL Players, Inc. President Ahmad Nassar. “This will be a unique and innovative showcase of professional football and an example of how our business can be a unifying force.”
Cirque du Soleil will work closely with the Witkoff Group, a leading global real estate development and investment firm, on the development of the space, located at 20 Times Square. Leading sports and entertainment presenter AEG will also be part of the project as a financial partner. Several other strategic partners involved in the project include world-renowned architecture and design firm Rockwell Group, as well as the Thinkwell Group, a design and production agency that will help develop the custom content-driven experiences within the exhibition. They are going to work under the guidance of Scott Zeiger, Producer, and Jean-François Bouchard, Chief Creative Officer and Creative Guide of Cirque du Soleil.
Steve Witkoff, CEO of Witkoff, added, “This is an exciting time in our partnership with Marriott and Ian Schrager, and we are thrilled to welcome Cirque du Soleil and the NFL to the new EDITION Times Square in New York. It’s incredibly gratifying to add such a unique element to the property that will bring an exceptional experience to millions of football fans and visitors to New York from all over the world.”
{ SOURCE: New York Times, Cirque du Soleil | http://goo.gl/VJ37I7, https://goo.gl/uCVjEI }
