Nemesis: Sub-Terra

[QTXAdsy]

The building is very much designed to house that particular ride, would be very difficult to put anything much in there with the shape and access it has. Maybe an indoor kids play area with some decent sized slides could work.

Actually, correct me if I'm wrong but was the building built mostly with shipping containers bolted together knowing Merlin's love of shipping containers? In theory it could be easy to dismantle or add to it if you needed expansion if that's the case, then again if not and just pretty much a cheaply built green tin shed then either way it could be pulled down fairly straightforward, all that I'm aware of is that there is a big pit in the ground that would need to be filled in.

 

[jon81uk]

The building is very much designed to house that particular ride, would be very difficult to put anything much in there with the shape and access it has. Maybe an indoor kids play area with some decent sized slides could work.

Actually a decent indoor play area for 5-12 year olds would be a decent addition for the area, keep some kind of Nemesis and Phalanax theme with the eggs, alien and military bits. Make it large scale with slides and high climbing structures and it would fill the gap for kids too old for CBeebies. Now that Wobble World got replaced there isn't really anything like that in the park. It would also give those just under 1.4m something to do in the area while waiting for their older siblings.
Then add a flat on the Ripsaw site, maybe with a 1.2m restriction if possible and it would open Forbidden Valley up to being a bit more for families.

 

[James]

I would love to see Sub-Terra reopen, even though it probably won't. I've said it a million times, it would have been great as an upcharge attraction for Scarefest and perhaps Fireworks. Add some military style tents at the end and have a much larger scare maze finale.

I can see either a different flat taking its place, or the ride/building being removed and redeveloped as a part of SW9 (if it will be in Forbidden Valley).

 

[AT86]

Actually, correct me if I'm wrong but was the building built mostly with shipping containers bolted together knowing Merlin's love of shipping containers?

The vast majority of the building is not shipping containers, it’s a purpose built building for that attraction. The shipping containers I believe are only for the small add on that held the live actors and the baggage hold.

If (emphasis on the ‘if’) SW9 is built in FV and takes up the area around Blade, then it is a distinct possibility that the row of F&B outlets will be lost as part of the development. If this happens I wouldn’t be surprised if the NST building was repurposed as a dining location to make up for the lost capacity.

 

[Skyscraper]

The vast majority of the building is not shipping containers, it’s a purpose built building for that attraction. The shipping containers I believe are only for the small add on that held the live actors and the baggage hold.

If (emphasis on the ‘if’) SW9 is built in FV and takes up the area around Blade, then it is a distinct possibility that the row of F&B outlets will be lost as part of the development. If this happens I wouldn’t be surprised if the NST building was repurposed as a dining location to make up for the lost capacity.

There was talk of it being repurposed for SW9's station building, but I think it's too small for that.

 

[jon81uk]

If (emphasis on the ‘if’) SW9 is built in FV and takes up the area around Blade, then it is a distinct possibility that the row of F&B outlets will be lost as part of the development. If this happens I wouldn’t be surprised if the NST building was repurposed as a dining location to make up for the lost capacity.

and more indoor seating for dining would be a good addition to the park I suppose.

But again they still need more flat rides, dark rides, shows and indoor attractions and indoor dining before another outdoor coaster.

 

[Spark]

Indoor seating for non restaurant guests would be idea, but sadly wont happen because it wont provide an income for Merlin

 

[JAperson]

Indoor seating for non restaurant guests would be idea, but sadly wont happen because it wont provide an income for Merlin

Surerly if Sub-terra was converted into a restaurant it would make money for them? I'm not in favour of that though.

 

[pluk]

Surerly if Sub-terra was converted into a restaurant it would make money for them? I'm not in favour of that though.

Non restaurant guests was the point, giving sheltered seating to those not buying. Never gonna happen!

 

[jon81uk]

Oh I don’t expect them to ever offer indoor picnic seating, hardly any tourist attractions do at all (except for school trips).
But they need indoor seating for Burger Kitchen or other fast food. There is still a shortage of indoor “low” priced food, except for the large Burger Kitchen next to the Dungeons.

 

[DistortAMG]

Indoor seating for non restaurant guests would be idea, but sadly wont happen because it wont provide an income for Merlin

But to some extent, neither would a multimillion pound like for like replacement of a rollercoaster, that is extending it's life. It is not offering much in terms of immediate return, as the ride is still there now.

But here we are. I think it is unfair to judge Merlin by their public ownership days, they still have a long way to go, but so far signs have been positive. Likewise, extending opening times like they did last year, would almost have certainly come at an extra cost to Merlin, but under private ownership, it was done.

I expect going forward, we will see more examples of money being spent, without providing an immediate or obvious return on investment.

 

[Spark]

I fully understand the company needs to make money where it can etc but It still cares about guest experience and families too

 

[Matt.GC]

But to some extent, neither would a multimillion pound like for like replacement of a rollercoaster, that is extending it's life. It is not offering much in terms of immediate return, as the ride is still there now.

But here we are. I think it is unfair to judge Merlin by their public ownership days, they still have a long way to go, but so far signs have been positive. Likewise, extending opening times like they did last year, would almost have certainly come at an extra cost to Merlin, but under private ownership, it was done.

I expect going forward, we will see more examples of money being spent, without providing an immediate or obvious return on investment.

I do partially agree with you. I think the culture change is in the way they spend the money as they don't have to market themselves to shareholders every 6 months. I don't think last year's opening hours and events and the Nemesis retrack would have happened under PLC Merlin. Maybe, but I'm doubtful.

But then again, another woeful capacity coaster being installed at Chessington and a 236ft headline grabber being planned at Thorpe that's so short its biggest element seems to be it's brake run. The Leapords PLC spots are still there in places.

 

[jon81uk]

But then again, another woeful capacity coaster being installed at Chessington and a 236ft headline grabber being planned at Thorpe that's so short its biggest element seems to be it's brake run. The Leapords PLC spots are still there in places.

And outsourcing all catering operations.

I don’t think Merlin has changed all that much compared to a few years ago.

 

[Ash]

I’m no ride designer, but surely a half reasonable option could be moving the CATCF lifts to N:ST? Considering they will add more capacity than the current ones and could be located where the current ones are with some modifications to the building. Upgrade the projectors, add a new video and hey presto?

Some current SBNO lifts get a new lease of life and N:ST gets something that appear a little more substantial. Could be really interesting with a horror theme. Maybe with different videos each time.

I look forward to my cheque in the post


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[DistortAMG]

And outsourcing all catering operations.

I don’t think Merlin has changed all that much compared to a few years ago.

Tussauds, when at the peak of their stride outsourced all catering. So I am unsure where you are going with that.

Like I said previously, leave a theme park company to do what they do best, building rides. Leave the food to someone who specialises in that.

As I previously said, this should free up resources within Merlin to concentrate on what they do best. They are not a catering company afterall.

 

[jon81uk]

Tussauds, when at the peak of their stride outsourced all catering. So I am unsure where you are going with that.

Like I said previously, leave a theme park company to do what they do best, building rides. Leave the food to someone who specialises in that.

As I previously said, this should free up resources within Merlin to concentrate on what they do best. They are not a catering company afterall.

except the good theme park companies are also good at food & beverage and entertainment not just building rides.
Also it felt like Tussauds were trying to improve guest experience by bringing in brands that were well known. Whereas now it seems like now they are outsourcing to save money to a company who just provide a service for the lowest possible price.

 

[Trooper Looper]

except the good theme park companies are also good at food & beverage and entertainment not just building rides.
Also it felt like Tussauds were trying to improve guest experience by bringing in brands that were well known. Whereas now it seems like now they are outsourcing to save money to a company who just provide a service for the lowest possible price.

You took the words right out of my mouth!

 

[Squiggs]

Tussauds, when at the peak of their stride outsourced all catering. So I am unsure where you are going with that.

I feel I wouldn't be doing my archivist duties if I didn't point out that Tussauds absolutely did not outsource all their catering. They outsourced their fast food, to companies that are well known specialists in fast food. During that entire time Tussauds continued to offer quite a broad range of catering options.

As I previously said, this should free up resources within Merlin to concentrate on what they do best.

It should.... but it won't. That is not how outsourcing catering works - in reality it will actually involve more effort on all sides because now you're not managing a catering operation, you are managing a relationship with a catering operation. This usually ends up taking more resource, because you no longer have direct control of how things work, and so more time is spent negotiating things that previously were straight forward.

An example - both Gangsta Granny and Wicker Man involved removing catering options - in future this would no longer be an internal affair, so you'd have to negotiate with the external company because it affects their contract. This therefore means that when a new attraction is being developed, there is now an extra non-ride element the team would need to considered, taking time away from developing the ride itself (not to mention the extra cost of actually altering agreements).

 

[JAperson]

I do wonder how long the contract is scheduled to last? Do we know this? I'm just curious as it might well have been made as a temporary 5 year deal so Merlin could focus on other area's of there business before returning to catering. Obviously there is always the potential for a renewal or extension of the contract.