- IT’S BIG! It may sound strange saying this about the former Guinness verified ‘biggest club in the world’ but until the doors opened it was impossible to gauge the new distribution layout over different levels, food court, the bunker, the wild comet, outdoor social areas and the iconic dome. We’ve all seen it now a hundred times on insta. Not only is it impressive, it’s f**king massive!
- IT’S REASSURINGLY EXPENSIVE. After close to a €100M investment it was never going to be cheap however the prices are ‘interesting’. Entrance tickets range from €55 to €100 depending on the artist or how about a VIP entrance ticket at €500 including 5 drinks. Talking of drinks, a 5 drink online package is €100 (not ridiculous) and who doesn’t want chicken strips with caviar at 6am for only 80 EUR? Thinking of going big – call your credit card company, there may be trouble ahead. Nevertheless UNVRS will be in the running for ‘best club in the world’ so what did you expect? You can get a pint of beer in Benidorm for a euro so there are options.
- THE LINE UP IS STELLAR. Regardless of your views the 2025 UNVRS line up is arguably the biggest ever presented in Ibiza. It’s an Ibiza ‘all stars’ dream team and shows that The Night League aren’t taking any chances with their sizeable investment. Guetta, Cox, Prydz, Jones, Elrow & Fisher plus plenty of surprises during the summer. If this was a football team we’d be calling them ‘Los Galacticos’.
- THERE ARE ISSUES. As is usual in Ibiza the paint was drying as the doors opened so the venue is still being fine-tuned. The vastness of the place means it’s not easy to navigate (more signs needed) and the sound is great at the front but not at the back. Cramming in several thousand sweaty people means that claustrophobics should give the busy areas a miss and transporting all those happy clappers every night to a small neighbourhood in the middle of the island won’t come without consequences. The negative online comments might have been deleted (industry standard) but judging UNVRS after a week is pure folly.
- GET USED TO THOSE PANNING SHOTS. On Saturday morning when UNVRS released that 27 second drone shot with amazing visuals (that ceiling!), incredible sound and the sun coming up behind the DJ box with thousands packing the dance floor with hands (and phones) in the air, the internet went into meltdown. Their drone operators and social media manager will be busy this summer. Expect more of these, lots more.
- LAS VEGAS AND DUBAI WILL BE WATCHING. It’s incredible that a small island in the Med can consistently keep raising the bar on a world level while other destinations with deeper pockets look on however Ibiza’s hedonistic legacy and heritage trumps cold hard cash every time (ironic huh). UNVRS is the Robocop of super clubs and The Night League aren’t playing games, they are a clinical, ultra professional, profit driven company, the like that hasn’t been seen on the White Isle previously.
- WE SHOULD BE PROUD. In 2020/21 when Ibiza’s clubs weren’t allowed to open we all saw what happened. A beautiful Island but no USP. Now UNVRS has raised the bar again and Ibiza has solidified its place as the clubbing capital of the world with a gigantic soul. You might not like or agree with the collateral issues but you have to acknowledge the acheivement and take pride that the White Isle is a world leader. Ibiza has what others can only dream of.
- WILL SMITH IS ANNOYING. OK he’s a Hollywood star with an amazing CV and an Oscar on his sideboard but my god he’s irritating. The smug look, the accent mispronouncing words, his cringy social media posts and don’t start me on his wife. Or is it just me?
- THERE WILL BE BLOOD. Other clubs will be following developments closer than anyone (especially any negatives) and it’s inevitable that some will be affected including possibly other venues owned by UNVRS but there will be opportunities. As UNVRS takes Ibiza clubbing stratospheric yet mainstream other venues might go more underground offering back to basics clubbing. All options are open and like every summer there will be winners and losers…but this time the stakes are higher than ever.
- THIS IS ONLY THE BEGINNING. Can UNVRS sustain 7 nights a week? Will the headline acts settle in? Will there be any weak nights? Will there be any legal issues? Will the local residents kick off? Will Hï fall into the background? Will the feedback stay positive after the dust has settled? Will they run out of chicken strips dippers (a 3 euro bargain)? There’s a thousand questions and anybody who follows the Ibiza clubbing scene will know that amongst other things it’s awash with egos, greed and jealousy but that’s what makes it so engrossing. There will be plenty of twists and turns in this saga. As I said THIS IS ONLY THE BEGINNING.
MAN IN SAN AN by Martin Makepeace 
Having been up close to the old club closed, to watching the reconstruction including when it was down to its 4 outer steal beams, finally seeing some vids and hearing some comments, my high expectations have been left blown away with impressiveness….
Now I can’t wait to visit this Mecca to experience it for myself, just got to pick a night, Carl Cox I would love to see but I think it will be the Razzmatazz of Circle Spectacular of Elrow that I will look forward to experiencing.
What a year 2025 is going to be for Brand, Ibiza!
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