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Blackpool Pleasure Beach: Icon - 2018 Mack Double Launch Coaster

Matt N said:
I completely agree. Thinking about it, Alton has actually done something very clever with SW8. Instead of trying to directly compete with Icon, they have made it a wooden coaster, a market that Blackpool already cornered a very long time ago. Also, SW8 is more aimed at the family market and Icon is more aimed at the thrill market.

Admittedly, Icon looks more exciting on face value and from photos and videos, but may I ask why your excitement for SW8 has been declining? Mine has personally been increasing as the year has gone on, because I think Alton will pull off a really nice experience coaster with SW8, and the coaster itself looks vastly superior to the coaster we saw on the initial plans, in my opinion. I personally have optimism and excitement for both projects, however, as GCI woodies and Mack megacoasters are both seen as quality ride types and have both received rave reviews from people who have ridden other rides of those types. I am more excited for SW8 because it is the one I am more likely to ride next year, but who can tell when the rides aren't even testing or open yet?
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I'm getting a bit sick of the stupid and unecessary marketing around SW8. That's what's lowering my excitement for it, nothing to do with the project itself, I still think it'll be a decent ride. I just wish they'd stop beating about the bush and base the marketing on the ride itself like every other park in the world does. There's nothing wrong with having a story to the ride, but translating runes for months on end that end up giving no information whatsoever is getting boring.

Anyway back to discussion on the better coaster.... ;)
 
If you look back at the YouTube video BPB released ages ago with their Technical Director he states they will get the track erected in 4 months and from starting track work it will take 5 months in total.



If that’s true then we should see a pretty much complete ride track by opening weekend. Assuming the station will be pretty much complete by this time there will just be test and commissioning and any landscaping to complete. This all seems to tie into the expected opening in April/May. If it is 5 months total then it could be ready for early April. By that time I’d expect the initial excitement of SW8 to have died down and the spotlight to move to Icon.

Do we think there’s a chance if everything goes well that we may see testing on opening weekend?
 
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In a word, no!
At best, with no weather problems (which seems to have delayed things this week) four months of track building from now means the steel erection will not be complete until the end of March, with the ride being ready by May at the earliest...so the chances of seeing testing on 10th Feb is pushing optimism to the max!
Just look forward to seeing all that new track in about twelve weeks.
I imagine the park will want construction completed for daily opening, which starts usually just before Easter.
 
Yeah, I'd guess track work finishing in late Feb/March unless they get some good weather and really push on with it. April/May for the opening I think.
 
Things have changed a lot since that video was released. The steel installation will be completed by the end of January at the latest (unless weather becomes a major problem which at the moment, despite the high winds, it isn’t being). Landscaping, electrics and other things are different story.
 
Temleh said:
Things have changed a lot since that video was released. The steel installation will be completed by the end of January at the latest (unless weather becomes a major problem which at the moment, despite the high winds, it isn’t being). Landscaping, electrics and other things are different story.
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I trust you Temleh, you're usually right about things. Might this put Icon on track for opening at the start of daily operation at the end of March?
 
I'd thought Blackpool would allow SW8 hype train to die before opening Icon and stealing thunder from back from SW8.

I hope Blackpool's marketing team have something big for Icon's marketing, With what is essentially competing with a big marketing company (Merlin) Icon will need things like national television adverts to gain notice.

I know many members of the general public are aware of SW8 but aren't aware of Icon.
 
Temleh said:
Things have changed a lot since that video was released. The steel installation will be completed by the end of January at the latest (unless weather becomes a major problem which at the moment, despite the high winds, it isn’t being). Landscaping, electrics and other things are different story.
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Will they really only take two months to erect the track though? It's only just gone vertical and it's now the end of November. Also, do you guys think that they will go particularly all out with the Japanese theming? Because I did hear Amanda once mention something about a garden area after the ride where people can relax and watch the ride. I do think that realistically, this will open in May, possibly late April if they're particularly quick with construction.
EDIT: On a side note, how long does Mack normally test rides for before they open? Do they do two/three months, like B&M do? Or are they like Gerstlauer and sign it off in under a month?
 
AstroDan said:
Mack Mega Coasters are the polar opposite of everything currently at BPB.

Smooth, comfortable rides.

This coaster will be top 5 UK.

It should have good capacity...

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You can get pretty snug on Nash & Dipper, they're normally fairly comfortable if you avoid wheel seats. They're much more comfortable than Colossus, Infusion or The Smiler for me. Back row on the Nash though, so wild!
 
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MakoMania said:
You can get pretty snug on Nash & Dipper, they're normally fairly comfortable if you avoid wheel seats. They're much more comfortable than Colossus, Infusion or The Smiler for me. Back row on the Nash though, so wild!
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You can't have ridden the National in the last 3 years if you're attempting in any way to relate it to the word "comfortable." The thing is bone-shakingly, spine-rippingly, excruciatingly rough.
 
I rode the national for the first time in July and I found it to be really painful and I was on the front row. It's put me off older wooden coasters for life I think.
 
Alastair said:
You can't have ridden the National in the last 3 years if you're attempting in any way to relate it to the word "comfortable." The thing is bone-shakingly, spine-rippingly, excruciatingly rough.
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There's a big difference between something being bumpy and something being rough. I rode it 5 times on 4th November, it's not smooth by any means but it's not that bad as long as you don't sit on the back row! If it was painful it wouldn't come anywhere near my number 1 UK coaster.
 
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I would never ever describe the National as smooth or comfortable...I love it, but it is as rough as hell.The Streak is pretty smooth and comfortable, but no other coaster at the Beach is.

The local weather is looking pretty good for the next two weeks after today, so they should start cracking on now, but I still can't see it going up in eight weeks, that would be possible maybe on a flat "car park" site, but access in places is rather tight, to say the least.`
 
Literally round the clock Temleh?
Surely that would mean they are well behind schedule already if they have resorted to night working...massive increase in construction costs.
 
Easter falls late next year, and even so, PBB have always been happy to open things up a little later in the season. They have plenty of time. The impatience lies elsewhere. ;)
 
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