Entertainment City Explained

Development Name:Entertainment City
Location:Tambo, Parañaque, Metro Manila, Philippines
Operator:Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation
Owner:Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation

Entertainment City, also known as E-City (formerly PAGCOR City and Manila Bay Tourism City), is a gaming and entertainment complex under development by PAGCOR spanning an area of 8km2 in Bay City, Metro Manila. It was first envisioned by PAGCOR in 2002. Alongside the Aseana City business development, it lies at the western side of Roxas Boulevard and south of SM Central Business Park (SM Mall of Asia), part of Parañaque.[1]

The project is officially named as the Bagong Nayong Pilipino–Entertainment City through an executive order by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and has been called several other names by the press. The most common name being referenced is "Entertainment City". The site has been declared a PEZA-approved economic zone, and in 2017, President Rodrigo Duterte named Entertainment City Expo Pilipino Entertainment City after the exposition for the centennial celebration of Philippine independence in 1998 called Expo Pilipino.

Hotels and casinos

Five Integrated Resort projects have been qualified to date in accordance with the terms of reference and are under construction by phases.[2]

SMDC Festival Grounds

The SMDC Festival Grounds is a two-hectare[7] urban open space in Entertainment City, directly opposite Solaire Resort. Owned by the SM Development Corporation (SMDC), it can accommodate over 55,000 attendees, making it an ideal venue for large-scale events, including concerts and music festivals featuring both local and international acts.[8]

The grounds' inaugural event, POPstival, occurred on October 21, 2022, showcasing a lineup of K-pop and P-pop performers such as Alamat, BB Girls, Be'O, Bini, Hyolyn, KAIA, Loona, Park Bom, Press Hit Play, SB19, and Viviz.[9] Subsequently, the venue hosted the first multi-day festival, 88rising's Head in the Clouds, on December 9 and 10, 2022, with a lineup including Joji, Got7's Jackson Wang, Niki, Rich Brian, and former Day6 member Jae Park.[10]

Ben&Ben's "homecoming" concert on December 18, 2022, marked the first time a band headlined at the venue, drawing an estimated crowd of 65,000.[11] This record was surpassed just days later on December 22 by the Eraserheads reunion concert, "Huling El Bimbo 2022", attracting around 75,000 attendees.[12]

The final iteration of the Rakrakan Festival took place at the grounds on November 25 and 26, 2023, featuring over 170 rock artists led by Rico Blanco and Ely Buendia.[13] Additionally, the venue hosted a reunion concert for the band Rivermaya on February 17, 2024.[14]

Ed Sheeran performed on March 9, 2024, the first time a solo international artist headlined a concert at the grounds. It was part of his +–=÷× (Mathematics) Tour, with Calum Scott and Ben&Ben opening the show,[15] and the latter performing "Maybe the Night" with Sheeran.[16]

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. $15-B Pagcor casino complex gets off the ground, Philippine Daily Inquirer, April 4, 2008
  2. Las Vegas of the Philippines, Hong Kong Star, March 4, 2008
  3. Web site: $1.2-B City of Dreams Manila to open in November . September 29, 2014 . . September 30, 2014.
  4. Web site: Megaworld hikes capex for Westside City project in Parañaque to P121 B . . Loyola, James . February 27, 2018 . April 10, 2019.
  5. Web site: HK's Landing secures license for Entertainment City casino. July 27, 2018.
  6. Web site: Jeju revenue climbs in 2018 but Landing still in the dark on Philippines IR development . Inside Asian Gaming . Blaschke, Ben . April 1, 2019 . April 13, 2019.
  7. News: Huling El Bimbo Concert 2022: Everything a Final Iconic Show Is . March 4, 2024 . . December 23, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240304074355/https://mytfc.com/news/eheads-huling-el-bimbo-concert-final-show . March 4, 2024 . The Eraserheads once again sealed their position as OPM legends with an epic 3-hour concert attended by a 75,000 strong crowd that brought to life the whole 2-hectare space of the SMDC Festival Grounds. . live.
  8. Web site: Radovan . Jill Tan . 9 Tips to Prepare for a Concert at the SMDC Festival Grounds . . March 4, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221221165116/https://www.esquiremag.ph/culture/lifestyle/smdc-festival-grounds-concert-tips-a2328-20221220-lfrm . December 21, 2022 . December 20, 2022 . The SMDC Festival Grounds in Parañaque City is an enormous outdoor venue that can accommodate at least 50,000 people, making it seemingly ideal for shows headlined by the most popular local and foreign acts and their tens of thousands of followers..
  9. Web site: Chuapoco . Paul . POPstival 2022: When K-pop Met P-Pop . Buzzsetter . March 4, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231004055527/https://buzzsetter.com/popstival-2022-when-k-pop-met-p-pop/ . October 4, 2023 . October 25, 2022 . live.
  10. Web site: Basbas . Franchesca Judine . Castillo . Maddie . Head In The Clouds make their mark with NIKI, Rich Brian, eaJ, Jackson Wang, MILLI, ATARASHII GAKKO!, and more in first Manila edition — festival report . Bandwagon Asia . March 4, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231202032312/https://www.bandwagon.asia/articles/head-in-the-clouds-manila-festival-review-report-jackson-wang-joji-rich-brian-niki-eaj-zedd-yoasobi-sb19-philippines-88rising-december-2022 . December 2, 2023 . December 14, 2022 . live.
  11. Web site: Siazon . Rachelle . Ben&Ben draws "65,000"-strong crowd at homecoming concert . . March 6, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240306093435/https://www.pep.ph/news/local/170404/ben-ben-homecoming-concert-a716-20221220-lfrm . March 6, 2024 . December 20, 2022 . live.
  12. Web site: Palumar . Khyne . Eraserheads' 'Huling El Bimbo' reunion: Pinoy rock vets play up punk spirit and wistful aches in epic set . . March 6, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230417131706/https://www.nme.com/en_asia/reviews/live/eraserheads-huling-el-bimbo-reunion-review-3371816 . April 17, 2023 . December 27, 2022 . live.
  13. News: The Last Rakrakan Festival 2023 bids farewell, wraps up iconic OPM event on a high note . . March 6, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240306130904/https://pop.inquirer.net/353844/the-last-rakrakan-festival-2023-bids-farewell-wraps-up-iconic-opm-event-on-a-high-note . March 6, 2024 . November 30, 2023 . live.
  14. News: Alcantara . Carissa . Rivermaya reunion concert leaves fans hungry for more . March 6, 2024 . . February 18, 2024 . https://mb.com.ph/web/20240306140559/https://mb.com.ph/2024/2/17/rivermaya-reunion-concert-leaves-fans-hungry-for-more . March 6, 2024 . live.
  15. News: Purnell . Kristofer . Ben&Ben joining Ed Sheeran's Manila 2024 concert as special guest . March 6, 2024 . . February 27, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240306145756/https://www.philstar.com/music/2024/02/27/2336542/benben-joining-ed-sheerans-manila-2024-concert-special-guest . March 6, 2024 . live.
  16. News: Alcantara . Carissa . Ed Sheeran fires up 'Mathematics' Asia tour, jams with Ben&Ben on stage . March 11, 2024 . . March 10, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240311165647/https://mb.com.ph/2024/3/10/ed-sheeran-fires-up-mathematics-asia-tour-jams-with-ben-and-ben-on-stage . March 11, 2024 . live.

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