PW OCT08 P20-21v4.qxd 9/24/08 10:55 am Page 21
Expo Review
www.parkworld-online.com
understandable if people didn’t feel much need to buy
the official, but non-distinctive, official merchandise. I
must mention, however, the official Expo Zaragoza
Expo
condoms in the shape of Fluvi, the event’s water
droplet mascot. What will they think of next? USA?
Unlike many of the World’s Fairs I have been lucky
enough to attend, Expo Zaragoza really took its
North America has not seen a
major Expo for many years. The
theme and ran with it. It has long been my opinion
last such event in the United
that the key role events such as this have to play is to
States was in 1984, in New
generate urban renewal and tourism development. Orleans, which also had a water
While there was little to see outside the Expo site, it theme as I recall, followed by a
has certainly put Zaragoza on the map.
smaller event in Vancouver two
The Cities on Water exhibit
Most of the buildings about to be vacated (the
years later.
Expo finished on September 14) will be soon be
The US, which has not been a
(Man Window). Staged in an aerial theatre, with lots of converted into a business centre and exhibition
member of the Bureau
water and special effects, the show was never the venue. From a tourist angle, plans have already been
International des Expositions
same twice. Again the theme was man’s relationship announced for an ambitious resort development called
(BIE) governing body since
2003, could not get enough
with water and this amazing spectacle was very Gran Scala, which will include a number of theme
interest together to host its own
daring in its staging. So daring, in fact, that one of parks. From this perspective the Expo should viewed a
exhibit this summer in Zaragoza,
the key characters died in an accident in the early success. nor did Canada. Yet these
days of the Expo. But, as they say, “the show must go events are extremely important
on” and after a brief halt in production it resumed Dr Samuels provides diverse
to the leisure industry, as they
with four daily performances. I would love to see this consulting services in
are a chance to develop and
spectacular show picked up by a theme park, where marketing, facility
test new entertainment and
it could continue for many years to come. development, customer service,
amusement technologies.
A second evening spectacular, performed just once safety, event management, plus
But wait… all of a sudden
a night, was “The Iceberg Show”. Perhaps best promotional activities such as
Expo mania seems to be hitting
North America. Hamilton,
described as poetry in motion, it featured a huge birthday parties.
Edmonton, Montreal and
artificial Iceberg that opened up to reveal a great
Ottawa in Canada are all
spectacle. The show provides a warning to mankind, samuelsj@mail.montclair.edu interested in hosting the
emphasising the need for change in the way we 2017/2018 event, with San
interact with the environment.
Francisco, Houston and New
York in the running for 2020.
Free Merchandise
With little competition
A parade was also staged each afternoon featuring
internationally, it seems highly
Cirque de Soleil and a storyline based around a
likely a US site will be
dragon and its mystical powers. The dragon itself was
sanctioned for a future event.
For more information about
an interesting looking piece, but overall the parade
Expos and World’s Fairs past,
was relatively sedate by Cirque de Soleil standards.
present and future see the
Outside of the shows and pavilions were a number excellent website:
of high quality eateries including restaurants in all www.expomuseum.com
price ranges. I’ve also never seen an Expo with so
many souvenirs being given away for free inside the
various pavilions. You needed a small duffle bag to
haul all the free stuff home, and because of this it’s Another exhibit, demonstrating water and energy
OCTOBER 2008 21
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44