PALE BLUE DOT VENTURES (PBDV) ENGAGES VALLEY OF THE MOON PARTNERS (VOMP) AS STRATEGIC ADVISORS TO SECURE DEVELOPMENT PARTNERS FOR THE CALIFORNIA SPACE ACADEMY (CALSPACE)

​The proposed California Space Academy is an exclusive destination entertainment opportunity sitting on 82 acres of land, 10 miles from the Pacific Ocean in Santa Barbara County, surrounded by first class wineries and golf courses. CalSpace is a destination experience and research facility that will immerse guests in the forthcoming story of future Space Exploration. The property has direct viewshed onto some of the Vandenberg AFB (VAFB) space launch sites, where launches will become more frequent over the next several years. Vandenberg Space Force Base (VSFB; reflects forthcoming name change) is the site of nearly 2,000 launches since 1958 and home to SpaceX, ULA, NASA, and other critical military space operations.

The USA is returning to the Moon and thereafter explore Mars and beyond. CalSpace will tell this epochal story and explain the science and technology of future space exploration. Space is the “frontier” of our generation and will remain as such for the next 20 or more years.

The core pillar of CalSpace is an exceptional location-based entertainment and immersive learning destination combining the best of themed entertainment design with engaging learning and discovery. The Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM) educational content will be woven into the fabric of our guest experience. Onsite lodging, a conference center, “SpaceBase”-a new kind of multi-day Space Academy, and close ties to commercial and government space partners offer additional potential, along with branded media and educational products. See: www.palebluedotventures.com.

CalSpace will generate revenue from ticket sales, special events, concessions, parking, food and beverage, merchandise sales, content, and IP development & distribution. Early research industry benchmarks indicate a stabilized annual attendance of 300,000+ visitors and $40M in annual revenue. 

VOMP is working with PBDV to find strategic and financial partners who share the vision of CalSpace and who are ready to build a national treasure.

There are three primary partnership opportunities available at this time. PBDV is offering these on a first-come, first-served basis, providing exclusive rights at a significant discount to the market, compared to selling the rights when the project is permit-ready.

1. First, we are looking to partner with a hotel developer who will have exclusive development
rights as the only hotel on the 82-acre project property, with an expected 120 to 200 rooms
plus potential dormitories, onsite catering, and F&B operations.

2. Second, PBDV has authorized an unprecedented naming rights option for a significant
component of the project (including the entire venue, presenting status, or a featured
attraction), the value of which likely exceeds the investment alone. Given the importance of
education in the CalSpace project, this opportunity offers potential partners brand exposure
and educational awareness.

3. Third, PBDV is looking to partner with a significant space industry or national industrial
property developer who will have exclusive development rights of the only proposed
Industrial/Manufacturing/Training facility on the 82-acre project property. This approximately
50,000 sq ft facility will be built-to-suit and include a loading dock, conference rooms,
minimum FED STD Class 100,000 (ISO Level 8) thermal & humidity controlled clean room, R&D
workstations and potentially a SCIF (Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility).

Bob Allen, Project Creative Director and Founder of the Brand and Experience Design firm
IDEAS noted: “As we have seen at Flight Works Alabama www.flightworksalabama.com,
Spaceport America www.spaceportamerica.com and our Future Flight project for the Houston
Super Bowl fan experience https://youtu.be/f1NU1zLR-rU, there is significant brand activation
value in showcasing high-tech industrial and technology processes that also help grow the
next generation of rocket scientists, engineers, explorers and adventurers.”

PBDV will grant a Naming Rights Option for a significant project component (including the
entire venue, presenting status, or a featured attraction for timely investment in the
manufacturing and R&D facility). The value of the naming rights option alone (which the
holder can choose to sell before opening) well exceeds the required investment for the
exclusive rights to the manufacturing and R&D facility.

Contact VOMP for more information:
​
Alain Piallat (alain@valleyofthemoonpartners.com) + 1-707-236-2677

I reflected on how the COVID -19 pandemic will impact Tourism, Travel, and Hospitality Industries in some of my previous blogs. Undoubtedly, these industries will change significantly in terms of increased technology use and adapting to the traveling public’s changing behaviors. Some of the changes we will witness will eliminate jobs; some changes will actually herald new opportunities for entrepreneurs and other idea men and women. Renewed interest in space travel is creating such opportunities.

Pale Blue Dot Ventures (PBDV), a Lompoc, California based company, is capitalizing on the future of space travel and has developed a concept for an educational and entertainment venue called the California Space Academy (CalSpace). PBDV believes “that it has an exceptional opportunity to convey the science and story for the future of space exploration.” CalSpace will be built in California’s Central Coast, adjacent to Vandenberg Air Force Base, where future space launches will occur.

As stated by PBDV’s founder, Steven Franck,
“CalSpace is a completely new kind of destination. It is not a theme park, science center, or space camp. Instead, the California Space Academy will offer an entirely new way to educate, inspire, and entertain. The target audience will include students, teachers, industry professionals, and everyone with the curiosity and passion to join the next generation of space exploration. It is a tremendous opportunity to create a destination where one can advance the science and story of space exploration.”
​
I am fortunate to have been asked to work with PBVD to help explore the market for partnerships, specifically with hospitality groups.  Interestingly, any investors or hotel groups that partner with PBDV at this stage will acquire the full or partial naming rights of the completed project. The activation opportunities at a facility like this are exciting enough to entice a forward-thinking company, but this project has real investment potential outside of naming and sponsorship. I have agreed to get involved, as I believe that the project has huge potential. Given its very timely development at the beginning of the 21st Century, CalSpace could very well become the travel destination of the future.

For those interested in learning more, please reach out to me today.