*NEWSBITES
MOSCOW - Universal Studios is bringing its world-famous amusement park to Russia. "Galactic Park," to be built in Moscow, will include the standard Universal Studios attractions, a water park and a retail-entertainment zone called Universal City Walk.
The whole development is being promoted by businessman Sait-Salam Gutseriev, who plans to invest $2.8 billion on the project. Outside experts consider the estimate low, and say the construction alone could cost as much as $11 billion.
Gutseriev began negotiations with Universal Studios, for whom this would be the first amusement park in Europe, in 2010. At the same time, he also pursued a partnership with Disney, but failed to reach a deal for the creation of a Russian Disneyland. Construction on Galactic Park is expected to begin in 2014. It is slated to open in 2018.
Universal Studios currently has four amusement parks worldwide - in Orlando, Hollywood, Singapore and Osaka. The planned park in Moscow will copy the concept of Universal Studios' other parks, but will be more affordable for visitors. Entrance tickets are expected to cost $34. Universal's amusement park in Orlando charges $85.
Read the full story in Russian by Yekaterina Gerashenko, Khalil Aminov and Evgeniy Khvostik.
*Newsbites are digest items, not direct translations
