Earvin “Magic” Johnson Joins Hero Ventures to Support The Marvel Experience
NBA Icon and Legendary Entrepreneur Joins Hero Ventures for Next Generation Touring Entertainment Attraction
LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
Hero Ventures, a Los Angeles-based entertainment company, announced today that Los Angeles Lakers legend and NBA 2-Time Hall of Famer
Earvin “Magic” Johnson joined the team as an investor and Board Member for The Marvel Experience. He joins an accomplished Board that includes, among others, Michael Cohl, Steve Tisch, Stanley Gold, Jere Harris, Maurice Marciano, Basil DeVito of the WWE and Company founders Rick Licht and Doug Schaer.
“Magic Johnson stands for greatness in every way possible. We are thrilled that he is joining The Marvel Experience team. I look forward to working with him again. It's going to be great to take a Step Into Hyper Reality with him on board.”
The Marvel Experience’s massive Dome complex launches
January 10, 2015 in
Dallas, Texas following a preview beginning next month on
December 19th in
Phoenix, Arizona. The singular story line running through the Experience will engage guests for two hours or more in an adventure unlike anything ever before produced. This first-of-its-kind premier touring experience features a dynamic 4D motion ride, the world’s only 360-degree Stereoscopic 3D Dome, a wide range of technologically advanced interactive and immersive elements, state-of-the-art projection techniques and dozens of Marvel’s most popular Super Heroes.
Earvin Johnson is not only an accomplished athlete but also a very successful businessman and philanthropist. His vast business achievements include co-ownership of key sports and entertainment properties, Los Angeles Dodgers, LA Sparks and LA Football Club. Johnson brings a wealth of business knowledge and marketing across multiple industries, and charitable experience to Hero Ventures.
“The Marvel Experience is a traveling destination that not only provides unique high quality entertainment for families and fans of all ages but will create jobs in each city that it visits,” said Johnson. “I’m excited to partner with Hero Ventures and bring this affordable entertainment option around the world; specifically to ethnically diverse communities that over-index as followers of the Marvel Super Heroes. Growing up watching the Hulk as my favorite Marvel character, and this opportunity to work with a team of business all-stars, made this partnership an easy decision.”
“We always felt like there was a bit of ‘magic’ in The Marvel Experience, and now it’s official! From unparalleled success on the basketball court to unparalleled success in the business world – Magic Johnson has done it all at the highest level,” said
Rick Licht, Hero Ventures CEO. “When you look at our Board and partners that we’ve assembled for The Marvel Experience, there aren’t very many people who can measure up to our team, but Magic is in a class by himself and, just like when he played, he does everything possible to make everyone on our team better.”
Executive Producer
Michael Cohl stated: “Magic Johnson stands for greatness in every way possible. We are thrilled that he is joining The Marvel Experience team. I look forward to working with him again. It's going to be great to take a Step Into Hyper Reality with him on board.” Steve Tisch, the first investor in Hero Ventures, added, “I have cheered for Magic the player...and known Magic the executive, Magic the philanthropist, and Magic my friend over the past few decades. No matter what role he is playing, he has continually proven his expertise. We are excited to welcome our own ‘modern day Super Hero’ to our Board to help us build this franchise of the future – The Marvel Experience.”
“Hero Ventures has done a fantastic job in assembling the best and the brightest for this unique experience. Adding Magic, who has a proven track record on and off the court, is a coup in itself and adds even more excitement and credibility to this venture,” said Marvel Studios Senior VP Business Development
Benjamin Hung.
The Marvel Experience lands in Phoenix on December 19, 2014 and runs through January 3, 2015, before the Domes move on to Dallas on January 10, 2015 followed by San Diego and San Francisco, with more cities to be announced shortly. Tickets are available both at Ticketmaster.com and at www.themarvelexperiencetour.com/tickets.
ABOUT HERO VENTURES
Headquartered in Los Angeles, California, Hero Ventures, LLC develops and produces live entertainment experiences that delight and surprise consumers through innovative technology. The Company has brought together the best creative and business minds in animation, interactive technology and the live event space to create dynamic, unparalleled productions to share with audiences around the world in unique and unprecedented ways. Governing Board members include Oscar winning film producer and co-owner of the NFL’s New York Giants, Steve Tisch; WWE Senior Business Advisor, Basil V. DeVito, Jr.; Shamrock Holdings CEO, Stanley Gold; Guess Jeans Co-founder Maurice Marciano; Enlight Media’s David B. Miller; Parker Capital's Junfeng Li as well as Hero Ventures’ founders Rick Licht and Doug Schaer and Partners/Executive Producers Michael Cohl of S2BN and Jere Harris of PRG. For more information, visit www.hero-ventures.com.
ABOUT MAGIC JOHNSON ENTERPRISES
Magic Johnson Enterprises, formed in 1987, is owned and operated by retired NBA 2-Time Hall of Fame legend, entrepreneur and philanthropist Earvin “Magic” Johnson. The Enterprises serves as a catalyst for community and economic empowerment by making available high-quality entertainment, products and services that focus primarily on ethnically diverse and urban communities. Through strategic alliances, investments, consulting and endorsements, Magic Johnson Enterprises has a portfolio of companies that strategically work together to reinforce the organization’s focus on serving emerging, multicultural communities. For more information, visit www.magicjohnson.com.
About Marvel Entertainment
Marvel Entertainment, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company, is one of the world's most prominent character-based entertainment companies, built on a proven library of more than 8,000 characters featured in a variety of media over seventy years. Marvel utilizes its character franchises in entertainment, licensing and publishing. For more information visit marvel.com. © 2014 MARVEL
-----------------------------
