Manchester United to open club-themed entertainment and experience centres across china

- United themed football experience 

- First centres to open in Beijing, Shanghai and Shenyang by the end of 2020

(NYSE: MANU) Manchester United, in partnership with leading Chinese property developer, Harves, has announced that it will open a series of club themed entertainment and experience centres throughout China.

The first Manchester United Entertainment and Experience Centres are scheduled to open in Beijing, Shanghai and Shenyang by the end of 2020. They will use interactive attractions and exhibitions to bring the excitement of the iconic club and its Old Trafford stadium to United’s 100 million followers in China, giving fans a place to celebrate the team they so passionately support and further deepening the special relationship the club has with China.

Bo Zhang (Harves CEO) visits Old Trafford for the first time, to launch the Manchester United partnership

The Beijing centre will be located within the Beijing FUN development, in the historic Qianmen Dashilan area right next to Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City. 

Each venue will feature interactive and immersive experiences, using state-of-the-art technology to bring Manchester United to life. Fans who visit will be able to experience the thrill of a matchday at Old Trafford as well as learn the history and heritage of English football’s most successful and storied club.

Each Manchester United Entertainment and Experience Centre will offer visitors a different experience and will include restaurants, along with a club retail store.

Manchester United Legend Denis Law shares his memories with Bo Zhang (Harves CEO) and Richard Arnold

Manchester United’s Group Managing Director, Richard Arnold comments:

“We’re very excited to be partnering with Harves on the Manchester United Entertainment and Experience Centres concept, offering our millions of Chinese fans the chance to experience the club in a new and innovative way.. We first visited China in 1975 and we’re proud to have seen our fan base in the region grow and develop their passion for United over the years. This new concept will allow them to get closer to the club they love.”

Manchester United Legend Denis Law shares his memories with Bo Zhang (Harves CEO) and Richard Arnold

Harves CEO, Bo Zhang comments:

“Harves is honoured to partner with Manchester United and bring our property development expertise in the creation of these centres. They were the first club to broadcast games in China and I can remember setting my alarm to watch the best players in the world play. Manchester United was also the first to tour China and the first to host fan events in the country.  But they are so much more than a football club. They are always striving for excellence in the way they approach life. We are excited to bring the rituals and emotions of the Manchester United experience to the youth in China, capturing what it feels like to be a member of this elite club.  Rooted in its unique approach to training, its storied legacy and leadership, and its status as the most successful club in the world, we will create a fully immersive experience that entertains, educates, and inspires the next generation of football fans.”

About Manchester United

Manchester United is one of the most popular and successful sports teams in the world, playing one of the most popular spectator sports on Earth. Through our 141-year heritage we have won 66 trophies, enabling us to develop the world’s leading sports brand and a global community of 659 million followers. Our large, passionate community provides Manchester United with a worldwide platform to generate significant revenue from multiple sources, including sponsorship, merchandising, product licensing, new media & mobile, broadcasting and match day.

About Harves

Harves is a premiere Chinese real estate development and investment firm with a growing portfolio of assets. Having developed 55 million square feet of real estate in the last two decades, Harves also owns and operates enterprises across sectors, including airlines, hospitality, and operations management. Focused on the next generation, Harves has partnered with the China Development Bank Capital Corporation Ltd. to build cultural entertainment and education experiences throughout the country. This includes an exclusive partnership with the world’s most valuable sports brand, Manchester United, with whom they will create immersive Entertainment and Experience Centres across China. For additional information on specific projects, visit www.harves.com