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The Smiler: What does the future hold?

I have a feeling this is what they'll do, unannounced so that the vultures that are the media aren't swarming around :)
 
Can't see that happening, once the investigation is done they'll get to work fixing things, and they'll want the closed season to make sure it's safe without the public or press seeing it.
 
Poll from an article on todays mirror.

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LordOfDarkness said:
Poll from an article on todays mirror.

umoRxOW.png
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No words. Maybe I should make my own poll just for people on this forum. The question - why should the smiler shut if you don't know why the accident happened. If it is human error then what has this really got to do with the ride safety.
 
These "polls" are easily rigged. I read another one somewhere where it was 53% in favour of keeping it open so I shouldn't worry too much
 
The mirror is a joke of a rag, why even make out its opinions are even important?

There is zero chance of the smiler being closed down, hydro at Oakwood is still running and someone died on that ride.
The Smiler cost 18m no chance of it shutting or in my opinion even rebranding.
 
i think its strange that they have gone to the effort to remove as much of the smiler name/image as possible. I understand around the park, and even to a point the sign on the ride, but to remove it from the base of the ride floor, any mention of the theme in x sector does strike as a little bit odd imo and does hint towards a rethink of the branding.

Would be a shame as people have mentioned rides with other pasts have been kept on by their parks but will merlin want to take the risk of being associated with the smiler brand? Merlin is more than alton towers, its the dungeons, madam tussauds, sealife, blackpool tower and if they become tarnished by this then shareholders will become agitated.

There is bound to be a parent who says no to going up the back pool tower as merlin are perceived as dangerous,
 
Removal of merch for now would be understandable at this stage, but unless this ride was not going to reopen as the smiler, there would be no point in removing all nods to that identity, as it is not just the sign been scrubbed off, but removals of logos in the pit, and anywhere it appears.

I have not been in a while however i recall a smiler logo atop the rehydrator, if that was not gone already, i bet it is now.

This is a senseless waste of money unless the name and theme are to be changed, i think at this point is a best case scenario.

Worst case scenario, i can see Merlin, RELOCATING the ride to one of their european parks, gardaland etc, and taking one of their budgets to place a rushed coaster in its place like an x sector hugging wing rider. Crucially they would never scrap it, but relocation with a new name and theme is a possibility, not a strong possibility, but an option that i would imagine is on the table of consideration.
 
XXBENNXX said:
Worst case scenario, i can see Merlin, RELOCATING the ride to one of their european parks, gardaland etc, and taking one of their budgets to place a rushed coaster in its place like an x sector hugging wing rider. Crucially they would never scrap it, but relocation with a new name and theme is a possibility, not a strong possibility, but an option that i would imagine is on the table of consideration.
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Gerstlauer coasters (Maurer's too) wouldn't be easy to relocate. The sheer complexity of a project such as removing and relocating a coaster like The Smiler, with it's tens of concreted footers would be far too much cost-wise to make it viable.
 
With regards the future of the Smiler, I dont think it will ever be called the Smiler again. It will overgo a complete re-branding. I cant see it opening this year. It may get the sign off to reopen later this year, but I dont think the public are ready for it.

Personally, I think it will quietly open next season under a new name and theme. Gone will be the "ha ha ha" music, and the marmilizer will have new video. The cars will be coloured different, possibly with some modifications, i.e. impact absorbers on the front and back (mainly to reassure joe public) and there will be a lot more CCTV focused on the track.

As for a new theme, I dont know, havent really any thoughts on this one, but this accident is going to cost AT - HUGE! Not just in the compensation, but the scrapping of all the Smiler merchandise, the rebrand costs, etc. Its going to be millions. IN total, with all the compensation payments, and the changes needed, they could be looking at near enough half the cost of the actual ride.

Knew they should have kept the old Black Hole!
 
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Alastair said:
Gerstlauer coasters (Maurer's too) wouldn't be easy to relocate. The sheer complexity of a project such as removing and relocating a coaster like The Smiler, with it's tens of concreted footers would be far too much cost-wise to make it viable.
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They are as easy to move as bolted supports, they pretty much just lift out of the footers.

That said I don't think it will go, I don't even think it will get any major rebrand. The signage had probably gone simply to avoid any silly social media stunts in front of the signs.

It's not that expensive to unscrew a sign.
 
I doubt we will see a rebrand. Removing the signs and park-wide references to the ride just stops people asking any questions about its reopening and allows no opportunity for negative media coverage.

Same reason the logo has been removed from the pit and the signs from the shop and HB Leisure game are gone. Anything in public sight which references the ride is easy, quick and cheap to remove and simply eliminates all chances of negative PR.

Again that's why oblivion will have seen some changes - as it minimises the risk of negative PR. We have to remember that a whole article was made about The Smiler game - it wouldn't take much for someone to write an article about how Oblivion 'mocks' the crash with references to 'eternal darkness' and 'ride cars not coming back'.

In my view, all the changes will be temporary. I believe everything will be reinstated as normal - but it's just an exercise of damage limitation right now.
 
They are removing all visible branding and logos even painted oneson the floor in the pit, that makes no sense to only repaint them in the closed season, no sense at all.

Removing the ride sign makes some sense, but that is it. As you said removing a Gerstlauer is indeed simple.

I do not think removal is going to happen, but if i was having a strategy meeting at HQ i am telling you that they have at least considered relocation to another park outside of the uk as an option, i would consider that and i have a degree in business and business management.

I think an attempt at a rebrand may be the way forward here, i don't see "the smiler" operating again, though they could be ballsy and reopen as is. Though i doubt it.

I imagine the prohibition order is already lifted, as i stated before you can operate a ride during a HSE investigation, as Flamingoland are currently doing with Hero. Which is still under investigation though the prohibition has been lifted and is running again.

Merlin are now deciding how to move forward, and what is the best way to save their reputation as a safe and reputable corporation, removing the smiler branding is honestly a no brainer, they need to separate themselves from the brand as the rides name has hit the media hard and negatively. Expect a new name at the very least.

They may go one step further and rebrand the whole X sector, but i doubt it.

And ultimately the worst case scenario will be to relocate it, if it is indeed doomed in the eyes of the public and they refuse to ride despite a rename or rebrand, it will not be scrapped, that i can guarantee, it can still be a money maker with a new name in a new park that Merlin still own, and i for one could not justify scrapping an expensive major asset.

Look to next season, or even scarefest. The prohibition notice is probably lifted so it is likely down to the head office as to why it remains closed whilst they consider the rides future, the day the ride was operating would have been to get the prohibition order lifted by demonstrating it is safe.
 
Dave said:
They are as easy to move as bolted supports, they pretty much just lift out of the footers.

That said I don't think it will go, I don't even think it will get any major rebrand. The signage had probably gone simply to avoid any silly social media stunts in front of the signs.

It's not that expensive to unscrew a sign.
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They didn't unscrew a sign, the letters were glued on as you can see the residue in a photo ;)
 
XXBENNXX said:
They are removing all visible branding and logos even painted oneson the floor in the pit, that makes no sense to only repaint them in the closed season, no sense at all.
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I'm being slightly picky here but the only painted one that's covered up is the one visible from Oblivion - on top of the Rehydrator.

The one in the pit wasn't painted, it was a kind of vinyl stuck to the floor. It already has had to be replaced at least once during the rides life as the material isn't particularly durable. Equally with the location of it - it would have had to have been disposed of anyway due to the unfortunate likelihood of blood etc having fallen onto it. Morbid I know :/
 
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