For a town that bills itself as a sybaritic party capital, Macao is oddly short of nightclubs. If you’re more than familiar with Para or DD3 and are looking for a new night out, Paco Chan thinks he can help.
On 16 December, the clubbing entrepreneur opened the sprawling Club MOP – which stands for “Moon on Planet,” apparently, as well as being a reference to the forex code for Macao’s currency, the pataca. Like Para, which is in the City of Dreams, Club MOP is housed in a Melco resort – in this case, Studio City.
The new club will be bigger, at 38,000 square feet (plus 10,000 square feet of outdoor space) compared to the 30,000-square-foot Para, and Chan is touting it not just as a club but “an experience.” He sat down with Macao News to outline his plans.
This interview has been edited for brevity and clarity.
Why are you opening Club MOP?
Post-pandemic, the world has undergone many changes, not just in our daily lives but also in living and consumption habits. I am trying to create a new venue for clubbing and gathering, serving as a platform for different cultures and people to come together. This aligns perfectly with Macao’s culture and heritage. I would not wish for people to see Club MOP as merely a nightclub.
Why the name?
MOP is “Moon on Planet,” which symbolises something out of space, representing a new era and idea. Secondly, MOP is the symbol for Macao’s currency. I may have a vision and idea, but we can’t live without money.
Which DJs do you have lined up?
In December, we had Italian brothers Vinai for the soft opening, followed by a new star from Taiwan, Rayray, for the New Year’s Eve party, Curbi from the UK, along with [the famous Dutch DJ] Quintino.
What’s your music policy?
We will focus on an international sound and play what is currently popular worldwide rather than focusing specifically on Asia. It will be about bringing new genres to Asia for people to experience new music.
As for featured DJs, we will try to bring in upcoming stars along with the standard top 100 DJs, providing a full variety of talent to keep the club fresh.
How are nightclubs evolving beyond the booze and big black rooms to cater to people who want to live more mindfully?
Although it is called a club, deep down, I don’t even want to call it a club. It’s an experience. “MOP Experience” is a more suitable name. I want to wow the people that come here. During the first week when we opened our doors, I specifically remember a customer saying “This is exactly what we were looking for” when seeing our outdoor environment.
What is your goal for Macao’s nightlife?
The nightlife in Macao is old-fashioned and becoming less attractive. A combination of physical and spiritual experiences or “MOP Experience” is what we are working hard for. We want it to become part of Macao’s [cultural scene] and extend it further worldwide.
Why will Club MOP succeed when others have not?
We are trying to build a new [clubbing] culture for Macao. It will be the key to the success of Club MOP … and no longer will Macao be just “the gambling city”!
