[🌎 Universal GB] General Discussion

[Danscott22]

You have to be joking right? I’ve checked random days and times and there has been loads of occasions where eveything has been open.

I know people love to pretend eveything is shocking 24/7 at towers but this is stretching far too much.

Only just saw your comment, no it wasn’t stretching at the time. It was a fact.

 

[Hid]

What IPs are you hoping to come to Universal Great Britain, I really want a Nintendo themed area there is so much you can do with that IP as there's so many different lands you can theme it round

 

[Tom]

Jaws

 

[Quantum]

What IPs are you hoping to come to Universal Great Britain, I really want a Nintendo themed area there is so much you can do with that IP as there's so many different lands you can theme it round

LOTR
Something Nintendo related
Dark Universe

Most of those would be future expansions though

 

[BarryZola]

Candyman, Child's Play or Street Fighter.

 

[Blackrock]

Jaws

Jaws with the rocking boat system…

 

[Bowser]

Back to the Future.

I know it’s heavily rumoured but that’s still all it is. For it to become reality will be such a dream come true and completely unexpected.

 

[Blackrock]

https://riderater.co.uk/12588/merlin-ceo-calls-for-shared-special-treatment/

Here we go. I agree in some respects and not in others.

I do think the government should be funding the vital relief road for Alton towers for example.

But if Alton towers etc aren’t committed to investing millions into their resorts over a decade why should the government do that?

 

[dave___]

https://riderater.co.uk/12588/merlin-ceo-calls-for-shared-special-treatment/

Here we go. I agree in some respects and not in others.

I do think the government should be funding the vital relief road for Alton towers for example.

But if Alton towers etc aren’t committed to investing millions into their resorts over a decade why should the government do that?

I’m sure if Merlin want to drop half a billion on a new park they could go through the same motions that Comcast are

 

[East Coast Mariner]

What IPs are you hoping to come to Universal Great Britain, I really want a Nintendo themed area there is so much you can do with that IP as there's so many different lands you can theme it round

Nintendo and Jurassic (...something). I think those two are the only ones I'd be disappointed if they weren't there. With Nintendo, it's not the rides, but seeing all the sights and sounds from the games just puts a smile on your face.

 

[BSwiss]

Space Jam.

 

[Dave]

I’m sure if Merlin want to drop half a billion on a new park they could go through the same motions that Comcast are

Let’s put aside its Merlin for a second.

If let’s say you owned a small business that had operated for 100 years making let’s say lightbulbs and another company comes along and gets huge tax cuts to set up another light bulb company down the road that you didn’t get, would you say that’s fair?

As much as I have little tolerance for Merlin, the argument isn’t completely wrong.

 

[Quantum]

Have I missed something, what supposid tax cuts are Universal getting? Merlin are correct in what they are saying but it's a bit rich from a company that's basically dominated the UK theme park industry for decades and and seen off many rival parks.

If they keep loosing money like they have they won't be around to see Universal open anyway

 

[Hid]

Have I missed something, what supposid tax cuts are Universal getting? Merlin are correct in what they are saying but it's a bit rich from a company that's basically dominated the UK theme park industry for decades and and seen off many rival parks.

If they keep loosing money like they have they won't be around to see Universal open anyway

It's more the smaller parks I am more concerned about particularly Wicksteed Park and Gullivers Milton Keynes (Which the latter park is a great family park) two closest to Universal.

More concerned of smaller parks then large parks

 

[John_P]

If Merlin want to build a brand new theme park to help bring jobs, new business, and tourism to an area I'm sure they'd be able to get government help with regards to transport and road infrastructure.

 

[GooseOnTheLoose]

Let’s put aside its Merlin for a second.

If let’s say you owned a small business that had operated for 100 years making let’s say lightbulbs and another company comes along and gets huge tax cuts to set up another light bulb company down the road that you didn’t get, would you say that’s fair?

As much as I have little tolerance for Merlin, the argument isn’t completely wrong.

I'm possibly one of the most outspoken critics here of the government's level of support and involvement in this programme, but as far as I'm aware tax cuts aren't being offered to Universal.

Direct state financial aid is being given, but any preferential treatment to a single entity on the amount of tax that they pay (especially when compared to their competitors) isn't compatible with our current tax system is open to legal challenge.

Any proposal for a selective tax cut for a single company would be subject to intense scrutiny under the UK's subsidy control regime, which replaced EU state aid rules after Brexit. These rules are in place to prevent the government from giving an unfair advantage to one business over its competitors, which could distort the market.

A bespoke tax deal for Universal would almost certainly be challenged by Merlin Entertainments and other competitors, who would argue it creates an unlevel playing field. Especially when compounded with the current level of political support and direct financial aid support the project is being given.

 

[QTXAdsy]

While I can understand some of Merlin's concerns on one hand, on the other though the cynic in me would say that this is some sort of comeuppance after all these years of their handling of the parks and that few will feel anything.

Hell, if we're going by social media which I know we shouldn't take at face value, seem to be salivating at the thought of Merlin going under such has the growing resentment towards them as if some physical representation of Merlin took a piss on their grandparents' grave. In fact I was listening to a radio broadcast on my local station that was talking about the Universal announcement and made a half joke that Towers better start calling in the liquidators saying that they have no chance.

Ironically they might be more accurate with that if Towers has no future.

 

[East Coast Mariner]

It's more the smaller parks I am more concerned about particularly Wicksteed Park and Gullivers Milton Keynes (Which the latter park is a great family park) two closest to Universal.

More concerned of smaller parks then large parks

It's possible that Gulliver's Land might benefit more than any other UK park, with people coming to the Universal resort for a few days and wanting something else to do very nearby.

I do agree about the smaller parks, though, but I think the ones most at risk are the ones that still have the business model of a major park. We'll see if Lightwater Valley has managed to rebrand successfully - I didn't realise how cheap it was until I just checked (from £12 - wow!), but Pleasurewood Hills needs to make itself more appealing. I'm not concerned about the very small parks, but I think the lesser of the "big" parks could get shunted off the end of the list.

 

[DiogoJ42]

I somehow doubt a park with no rides worth going on, that brands all adults as potential nonces, is going to get much tourist traffic.

 

[tech]

I somehow doubt a park with no rides worth going on, that brands all adults as potential nonces, is going to get much tourist traffic.

You've kinda conceded that there's no reason for adults to visit alone, and complained about the no adults visiting alone policy, all in one sentence