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FITNESS, HEALTH, WELLNESS

Latest news

Georgia's Lionsgate theme park plans 'on hold indefinitely' after funding fails to materialise

Plans for a US$750m (€707m, £590m) Lionsgate theme park in Georgia, US, have collapsed after the project team failed to finance the multi-million dollar attraction.

First announced in March last year, the 700-acre (2.8sq km) Avatron development at Lake Allatoona near Atlanta has been put on hold "indefinitely”, according to the developers.

The plan had been to license Lionsgate IPs including The Hunger Games, Step Up, Divergent, Twilight and Now You See Me, with an opening date of 2019. The park proposal would have included rollercoasters and other rides based on the brands, with The Hunger Games – filmed primarily in Atlanta – anchoring the development.

A technology-driven experience was planned for the park, with promises of a 3D avatar to accompany each guest and immersive and interactive experiences including 3D video, motion capture, 4D sensory technologies, holograms, and augmented reality. Interactivity with RFID wristbands and Kinect sensors was also touted to “transform reality into an intriguing quest of characters, folklore and legends.”

“One of our key partners had to suspend its participation,” said a statement from Avatron CEO David Garrett III, indicating financing the project was the main stumbling block.

“While many would encourage us to look at this as simply a timing situation, we are of the shared belief that no more time can be given or pushed back. Therefore, the Avatron project is being placed on hold indefinitely.”

The failed project was part of Lionsgate’s plan to gain a stronger footing in the theme park market by licensing the Hunger Games and its other film franchises to under-development theme parks. These include a 22,000sq m (236,800sq ft) entertainment centre in Macau, the upcoming Motiongate Dubai and the seemingly failed Georgia project.

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Lionsgate’s travelling Hunger Games exhibition has hit the road, making its long-awaited debut at its ...

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Following news that Lionsgate was “deep into conversation” with potential theme park partners on four ...
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Latest news

Georgia's Lionsgate theme park plans 'on hold indefinitely' after funding fails to materialise

Plans for a US$750m (€707m, £590m) Lionsgate theme park in Georgia, US, have collapsed after the project team failed to finance the multi-million dollar attraction.

First announced in March last year, the 700-acre (2.8sq km) Avatron development at Lake Allatoona near Atlanta has been put on hold "indefinitely”, according to the developers.

The plan had been to license Lionsgate IPs including The Hunger Games, Step Up, Divergent, Twilight and Now You See Me, with an opening date of 2019. The park proposal would have included rollercoasters and other rides based on the brands, with The Hunger Games – filmed primarily in Atlanta – anchoring the development.

A technology-driven experience was planned for the park, with promises of a 3D avatar to accompany each guest and immersive and interactive experiences including 3D video, motion capture, 4D sensory technologies, holograms, and augmented reality. Interactivity with RFID wristbands and Kinect sensors was also touted to “transform reality into an intriguing quest of characters, folklore and legends.”

“One of our key partners had to suspend its participation,” said a statement from Avatron CEO David Garrett III, indicating financing the project was the main stumbling block.

“While many would encourage us to look at this as simply a timing situation, we are of the shared belief that no more time can be given or pushed back. Therefore, the Avatron project is being placed on hold indefinitely.”

The failed project was part of Lionsgate’s plan to gain a stronger footing in the theme park market by licensing the Hunger Games and its other film franchises to under-development theme parks. These include a 22,000sq m (236,800sq ft) entertainment centre in Macau, the upcoming Motiongate Dubai and the seemingly failed Georgia project.

Related news

Lionsgate uses Hunger Games to feed theme park ambitions

05 Nov 2015
Film Studio Lionsgate is planning to gain a stronger footing in the theme park market ...

Hunger Games travelling exhibition makes debut in New York

01 Jul 2015
Lionsgate’s travelling Hunger Games exhibition has hit the road, making its long-awaited debut at its ...

Hunger Games confirmed for Motiongate Dubai as part of Lionsgate Zone

01 Apr 2015
Following news that Lionsgate was “deep into conversation” with potential theme park partners on four ...
Plans for a US$750m (€707m, £590m) Lionsgate theme park in Georgia, US, have collapsed after the project team failed to finance the multi-million dollar attraction.
TAW,VAT
THUMB15719_216866.jpg

Latest news

Preventive healthcare company Neko Health has added body composition analysis to its full-body health scan
Chequan Lewis is the new CEO of Crunch Fitness, taking over from Jim Rowley, who
Sea Lanes Canary Wharf has officially opened. The 50-metre, six-lane pool, which uses the natural
London-based high-performance fitness club, ONE LDN, is raising funds for a multi-site expansion across London,
A new brain clinic has opened in London, which uses non-invasive brain stimulation to treat
Good Boost’s digital exercise programmes are helping adults with MSK at a lower cost than
As healthcare continues to shift towards prevention, there’s a growing focus on helping people stay
With Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, announcing his resignation this morning and Andy Burnham as a
Koru Health Club launched recently within Luxembourg’s multi-experience destination, GRID X, which combines culture, retail
Celebrating its 10th anniversary, Elevate has had its busiest show to date, with almost 200
A new report from Your Personal Training (YPT) suggests UK gym operators could be missing
Eighty-four per cent of consumers now say wellness is a top priority in their lives,
Elevate Arena is underway at London's Excel and the hot topic of AI was the
One of the biggest mistakes operators in the fitness industry still make is advertising almost
PureGym Group has announced that group chief financial officer, Alex Wood, is taking over the
Independent operator, Fitness Worx Gyms, is introducing private blood testing as a service to members.
International industry lobbying associations are calling for physical activity and strength training to be deeply
Global group exercise specialist, Les Mills, is inviting operators to sign up to its Workout
Global luxury hospitality brand, Six Senses, has partnered with longevity healthcare provider, HUM2N, to launch
Premium London health club, KX Chelsea, is gearing up to unveil its most significant redevelopment
CoverMe, the global leader in fitness workforce management, today launches CoverMe PT, an on-demand personal
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Peloton has made the strategic acquisition of Pilates start-up, Skōp, to support the expansion of
1 - 20 of 12,300
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HCM promotional features
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The industry is embracing consumer-facing tech. Now it’s time to streamline back-of-house systems with Orbit4, says Daniel Jones
HCM promotional features
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Active IQ is calling for greater accountability in online fitness advice with the launch of a new trustmark
HCM promotional features
HCM magazine
For every member with a tripod and a big following, there are others irritated at the way equipment is being hogged or wary they’ll be in the background on someone’s Insta feed. Do influencers offer valuable, free marketing or are they just a nuisance? Kath Hudson finds out how operators are responding
HCM magazine
Collaborations with the medical profession and greater aspirations around wellbeing are creating a need for more experts in our sector. It’s time to reboot our thinking around the workforce
HCM magazine
HCM People

Stephen Price

Founder, SP&Co Group
Working in public health over the last few years has lit up parts of my brain again
HCM magazine
Strength training is evolving, driven by changing consumer preferences. Julie Cramer talks to innovators about how their products are meeting this demand
HCM magazine
As the entrepreneur who started Wexer, Fresh Fitness, Fitness DK and Repeat, as well as being a former elite athlete, Rasmus Ingerslev’s life looked perfect from the outside, but onthe inside it was a different story. He talks to Kath Hudson about healing old wounds
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Opinion
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Featured supplier news
Featured supplier news: Reaching the people most gyms miss: Bedford Gym & Swim Campaign delivers 410 new members
One of the biggest mistakes the fitness industry still makes is advertising almost exclusively to people who already look and live like gym members.
Featured supplier news
Featured supplier news: Supporting long-term health: why whole body vibration belongs in clinical settings
As healthcare continues to shift towards prevention, there’s a growing focus on helping people stay active, independent and feeling good for longer.
Company profiles
Company profile: Total Vibration Solutions Ltd (TVS Group)
TVS Group includes TVS Sports Surfaces, TVS Gym Flooring, TVS Play Surfaces and TVS Acoustics. ...
Company profiles
Company profile: Create
Create is one of the UK’s leading fitness training providers dedicated to raising standards through ...
Supplier Showcases
Supplier Showcase - Future-proofing
Catalogue Gallery
Click on a catalogue to view it online
Featured press releases
BLK BOX press release: Inside the build: Salt 
To bring their concept to life, Salt partnered with BLK BOX to design and equip a facility that would deliver a premium training experience while supporting the needs of a diverse and growing community.
Featured press releases
Swimming Teachers' Association (STA) press release: The Ripple Effect delivers first success as learners qualify and secure employment
STA's The Ripple Effect initiative has reached an important milestone after learners completed the charity's first fully funded swimming teacher training programme, resulting in seven newly qualified swimming teachers.
Directory
Fitness tracking platform
SpiviTech: Fitness tracking platform
Water experiences and hydrotherapy solutions
Aquaform s.r.l.: Water experiences and hydrotherapy solutions
Lockers
Crown Sports Lockers: Lockers
Spa and beauty equipment
Living Earth Crafts: Spa and beauty equipment
Hot tubs
MSpa International Ltd: Hot tubs
Industrial washing machines
Miele Company Limited: Industrial washing machines
Property & Tenders
Stratford, East London.
Lee Valley Regional Park Authority
Property & Tenders
Y Felinheli, LL56 4QN
Newmark
Property & Tenders
Diary dates
21-24 Sep 2026
The Langham Huntington Pasadena , Pasadena, United States
Diary dates
06-08 Oct 2026
Messe Stuttgart, Stuttgart, Germany
Diary dates
22-22 Oct 2026
QEII Conference Centre, London,
Diary dates
26-29 Oct 2027
Koelnmesse Exhibition Centre, Cologne, Germany
Diary dates
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