BBCC developer signs deal for Zepp concert hall

It’s a deal: (from left): Asia Business Development, Sony Music Ent (Japan) senior vice-president Mahito Sakai, Eco World Development Group Bhd executive directors Liew Tian Xiong, and Datuk Voon Tin Yow, Ong, Eco World Development Group Bhd chairman Tan Sri Liew Kee Sin, Satoshi Senoo, UDA Holdings Bhd group managing director Datuk Ahmad Abu Bakar, Employees Provident Fund head of analytics research and investment operation, private markets department Saidatul Hishan Mohammad Salleh, Zepp Hall Network Inc Executive vice-president Sach Tsuchiya and Sony Music Entertainment (Japan) corporate supervisor Keitaro Terasaki.

KUALA LUMPUR: BBCC Development Sdn Bhd, the developer of the Bukit Bintang City Centre (BBCC) project, has signed an agreement to lease (ATL) with Zepp Hall Network Inc (Zepp Hall) for the latter to operate a Zepp branded concert hall at BBCC.

The Zepp concert hall will span over 70,000 sq ft, making it the anchor operator in the Entertainment Hub at BBCC. Slated to open by end 2020, Zepp Kuala Lumpur will have an expected audience capacity of 2,500 pax.

Zepp Hall is a subsidiary of Sony Music Entertainment (Japan) Inc (Sony Music Japan) and its core business is concert venue operations.

Zepp Hall currently has five concert halls spread across Japan which are located in Sapporo, Tokyo (two halls), Nagoya and Osaka with the addition of a new hall in Osaka (Zepp Osaka Bayside) opening next week on 17 February 2017.

“We are thrilled to welcome Zepp Hall, an internationally-renowned brand under Sony Music Japan, the global entertainment and music powerhouse. Zepp Hall’s arrival is poised to be the game-changer for the local live entertainment and music scene supported by their state-of-theart visual and acoustic technology and their drawing power to attract top performers from around the globe.

“Besides bringing a refreshing and unrivalled experience for concert-goers, Zepp Hall will introduce their first-of-its-kind VIP boxes in their venue at BBCC. There will be 8 numbers of VIP boxes with their own private lounge and seating area to cater for corporate booking and to accommodate private parties attending concerts. We are very proud Zepp Hall is putting the first of their VIP box concept in BBCC”, said BBCC Development Sdn Bhd chief executive officer Datuk Richard Ong in a statement yesterday.

“I am pleased to announce we have executed the Agreement to Lease with BBCC.

“We deeply appreciate BBCC and UDA in giving us this opportunity in setting up Zepp Kuala Lumpur in such a prime location. We look forward to its completion and bringing many live entertainment both from within Malaysia and overseas,” said Zepp Hall president Satoshi Senoo.

Together with Zepp Hall, the Entertainment Hub at BBCC will also house a multi-hall Cineplex, the Malaysia Grand Bazaar and a Banquet Hall.

The entertainment hub is directly connected to the 1.4 million square feet lifestyle retail mall.

The combined entertainment hub and retail mall will provide a seamless array of lifestyle-driven retail and entertainment attractions at BBCC.

BBCC sits on 19.4 acres of land and will have a total gross build-up area of 6.7 million square ft.

The planning approval for this project which was obtained in August 2015 comprises six blocks of serviced apartments, a retail and entertainment block, a four-star hotel with branded residences, a strata office and an 80 storey three-in-one signature tower housing a five-star hotel, luxury residences and corporate offices.