12 May 2016
Ferrari Land hits halfway point as Portaventura gears up for 2017 opening
BY Tom Anstey
A year on from breaking ground on Europe’s first Ferrari theme park, Portaventura has offered an update on the project, coinciding with the symbolic placement of the Ferrari shield on its record-breaking launch coaster.
The 12m-high (40ft) shield, which now sits near the top of the 112m-high (367.5ft) yet-to-be-named rollercoaster by Intamin, can now be seen for miles on a clear day at the resort in the north-east of Spain.
The development is currently at the halfway point, with a projected opening date of April 2017. The vertical accelerator launch coaster will break several records, beating Portaventura’s own Shambhala as Europe’s tallest coaster – a meagre 76m (250ft) in comparison – and will be the fastest rollercoaster in Europe, going from 0-180kmph (112mph) in just five seconds.
“The structure is already finished,” said Portaventura’s Roca Pujol, giving Attractions Management a tour of the Ferrari Land site. “In June we will be bringing in three trains and then in July we will begin ride testing.”
Global design practice PGAV – in collaboration with Ferrari and PortAventura – is behind the design of Ferrari Land. Ferrari have played an active role in the development, keeping an eye on the finer details of the €100m (£76m, US$109m) project, such as making sure the exact shade of red – a Ferrari trademark – has been used for the rollercoaster. Theming will be very strong throughout the park, blending traditional Italian culture with the Ferrari brand and its history.
“We started construction one year ago and it’s progressed very fast. In November the site will be complete. The last few months will be for theming and applying the finishing touches,” said Pujol.
“The park is going to be themed in traditional Italian style. The buildings are a reproduction of the town where Enzo Ferrari grew up.”
Visitors will be able to visit the park on its own as a single experience or on a multi-park pass for all of Portaventura. From the main entrance of Ferrari Land, guests will be able to choose a more traditional experience for the more casual Ferrari enthusiast by heading towards the main street. The thrill seeking piston-head can head in the other direction towards the coaster and rides for a much more high-paced adventure.
The main street of Ferrari Land will resemble an Italian town, with restaurants, retail, family rides and eight Ferrari simulators – six for adults and two for kids. Additionally, the main building opposite, which is the centrepiece of the park, will be the Ferrari Experience.
“The Ferrari Experience is being kept a complete secret as to what it will encompass,” said Pujol. “What we can say is the people that go in will receive a completely unique Ferrari experience, it’s going to be amazing. This will be the emblematic building of the park. Inside will be the Ferrari Experience and outside will be completely themed with Italy and Italian landmarks such as the Coliseum. The street will include a reproduction of the first Ferrari factory and the house where Enzo Ferrari was born. The theming will be amazing – everything Ferrari and everything Italy.”
In addition to the main street and signature coaster, a 1km (0.62m) racing kart track is included, as is a pit stop experience and a Ferrari drop ride.
Ferrari Land is the most important project in the history of PortAventura Resort, with the addition representing the largest single investment in its history. More than 50 companies have been involved in the various phases of the project and it is expected that, once opened, it will generate up to 150 direct and indirect jobs.
Ferrari’s theme park plans go beyond PortaVentura, with the brand saying last year when it filed for its IPO that is was looking at opening “one theme park in each of the main geographic areas where we operate, including North America and Asia.” Since then, the company has inked a non-binding agreement with Chinese property developer BAIC Eternaland Property and the Beijing Automotive Group to build the luxury car-maker’s first theme park in China, while further reports have suggested that in North America, Ferrari is looking at potential sites in Mexico, Las Vegas and Florida, or the possibility of a partnership with an existing park as an immersive land.
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