Inside Asian Gaming

IAG JUL 2020年7月 亞博匯 15 OSAKA IR OPENING DELAYED TO 2027 大阪將全面開放IR的日期推遲至2027年 MAYOR ICHIRO MATSUI has revealed that Osaka’s long-planned integrated resort facility won’t open until at least 2027, and possibly as late as 2028, due to delays brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic. At a press conference, Matsui acknowledged Osaka’s IR timeline was now running between one and two years later than first hoped, with the government having previously been pushing to open an IR before the start of the 2025 World Expo. The latest delay was brought about by the inability of officials to meet with Osaka’s candidate consortium, MGM Resorts Japan and Orix, due to global travel restrictions, while the operators themselves had requested the submission deadline for RFP documentation be extended from July and the schedule reviewed. Osaka’s goal remains to open an IR on the artificial island of Yumeshima in Osaka Bay. “I have received a message from the operator asking for a short extension,” Matsui said. “The investment capacity of the operator has taken a blow, and we will consider this when we are determining an opening time. I can foresee an overall delay of between one and two years.” 大阪市長 松井一郎透露，由於新冠疫情造成的 延誤，大阪計劃已久的IR設施最早也要到2027 年開放，也可能晚至2028年開放。 松井在一次記者會上透露，大阪IR時間表 現已比最初預計的時間晚了一到兩年。政府此 前一直努力推動在2025年大阪世博會之前開 業一間IR。 由於全球旅行受到限制，當地官員未能與 大阪的候選財團MGM Resorts Japan和Orix 會面。這是造成最近一次延誤的原因，而這兩 間運營商亦已經要求將概念書徵求（RFP）階段 的文件提交日期延至七月後及要求重新審視 時間表。 大阪市的目標仍然是在大阪灣人工島「夢 洲」上開設一間IR。 「我已經收到運營商稍作延長的請求，」 松井表示，「運營商的投資能力受到打擊，我們 在確定開業時間時將考慮這一點。可以預見的 是，將會有一年至兩年的延遲。」