/ 5 August 2005

Real Madrid to take fans for a ride

The football world has obviously become too small for Real Madrid, with the Spanish giants now planning to open theme parks in the United States and China.

Real president Florentino Perez sees Disneyland in Orlando as the blueprint and told Friday’s AS newspaper that the club have already had talks with officials in Miami and Beijing, where the reaction was ”enthusiastically” received.

The Disney logo will be replaced by the Real one and instead of Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, Pluto or Bambi, there will be Robinho, Ronaldo, David Beckham or Zinedine Zidane, according to the club.

”Just as we have football schools for children in South America, we are now negotiating with the mayors of Beijing and Miami about building theme parks,” said Perez.

”The facilities will become congregation points for Real Madrid fans and bring joy to our large number of fans in the US and China.”

Apart from the usual roller coasters and theme rides, the parks will also attempt to portray the club’s 103-year-old history. It is hoped to have the Real Madrid park in Beijing up and running in time for the 2008 Olympics there. — Sapa-DPA