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The Retrosquad: General Discussion

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I have some new opinions on this after thinking about it for a while and some other discussion we have had in SW9 discussion. Although some of my opinions are similar to my original post they are more precise and well thought out (in my opinion).
I still think the retro squad will be gone next year for many reasons which I explained in my original post however I have new feelings on some of the replacements.
  • Forbidden valley - I don't see anything being put here anytime soon. I think it's a likely sight of SW9 or even SW10. We may see some temporary shows like the stunt show they did there and to be honest that would be perfectly acceptable.
  • Dark Forest - I think we will eventually see a flat ride here however there is a chance they may want to keep the space for if the decide to put an SW in dark forest after taking out Rita. The space could be quite useful fo I don't know. I think if they did put a flat ride here it should be fairly mild and family friendly.
  • X-Sector - obvious site for a new flat ride a some point within the next few years and I think they will actually put one in. I'm not sure what they'll put there but I think something of the same thrill level as mixtape (just below the thrill level of enterprise) would suite the area very well and I'm sure they could find a way to market it. I think it's marketing would end up being a lot like submissions (which isn't a problem as submissions marketing looks like it was quite good).
  • Walliams World - I don't think they'll add anything here and I think it'll likely be walled off for the forseable future they have other spaces in that area that need catering too first like the theatre (which I really hope gets used).
So effectively I am predicting that in 2022 or 2023 we will see a flat ride in submissions old spot where mixtape has stood for this season.
 
Which coaster would fit in Ripsaw's footprint? Even if you include The Blade and all the associated eateries/arcades and whatnot there is still no space for anything (other than a shuttle loop or a couple of flats...).
 
Yes with the 'run off' track and the trenches/pits they'd have to dig there would be plenty of room to build a brilliant terrain coaster.
 
Retro Squad was a very sensible way to deal with the UKs Covid rules at the start of the 2021 season, where indoor attractions could not operate. AT played a blinder here by giving people "value" when Hex Duel etc. we're closed, something new for 2021 and committing to the full season.

I don't think they will be there for 2022, but I hope it has cemented the idea that buying a few filler rides would be a good move for AT, and have been bidding on eBay or commisioning some.
 
I think Flavio's will remain next season. I hope it doesn't but I can see it staying.

I'd hope the park chucks a flat ride or 5 in during the next few seasons. The need is obvious.
I'm not convinced as I'm sure the showman who owns it will want it back so they can tour it again. Virtually every fun fair has a Sizzler.
 
The problem with removing 3 rides no matter how short-term and how filler the rides are, people are going to feel short changed on the admission price when you are getting less for the same price. So I'd expect at least one flat attraction next year, even if it is recycled elsewhere from the Merlin portfolio. Sorting out N:ST might even be a good option.

Like Blade, I'll believe Enterprise has left when I see pictures of it rotting away in the Heide Park car park!

Whatever happens to the Retrosquad hopefully for all the KPI's, the ROI, the BS, other business waffle all point to an uptick in customer satisfaction and we'll see some interesting flats back at Alton Towers.

Dibs first go on whatever falls out of the Zamperla catalogue.
 
The problem with removing 3 rides no matter how short-term and how filler the rides are, people are going to feel short changed on the admission price when you are getting less for the same price. So I'd expect at least one flat attraction next year, even if it is recycled elsewhere from the Merlin portfolio. Sorting out N:ST might even be a good option.

Like Blade, I'll believe Enterprise has left when I see pictures of it rotting away in the Heide Park car park!

Whatever happens to the Retrosquad hopefully for all the KPI's, the ROI, the BS, other business waffle all point to an uptick in customer satisfaction and we'll see some interesting flats back at Alton Towers.

Dibs first go on whatever falls out of the Zamperla catalogue.
Yes I agree. I think they'll add something next year and hopefully its a flat ride. When would we see plans if they are going to put a flat rise in. Or will they just sort out NST? Yo be honest I'm really not sure what they'll do.
 
If they got 2 flats and placed them in FV and X Sector I’d be happy. One of those climbing walls themed to a tree could work on the DF site if they can’t afford to add a 3rd flat. I seem to remember AT used to have one in Ug Land?
 
To be honest I'd be happy with a show in walliams world and one flat ride either in X-sector or dark forest within the next few years. I would appreciate something happening in NST's spot. I do think they will add something next year and I think there's a good chance it's a flat ride however we'll just have to wait and see. It's nice to know they won't need planning permission as that makes life easy for the park and makes installation cheaper. If they can afford to rent out four flat rides from showman for a whole season on operating costs I'm sure they can find the money for at least one permanent one.
 
Watching a Towers vlog, I noticed that three of the arms on Mixtape were out of action and physically taped off. Hope they get them fixed soon as it doesn't look great.

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Watching a Towers vlog, I noticed that three of the arms on Mixtape were out of action and physically taped off. Hope they get them fixed soon as it doesn't look great.

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He went on to speculate that the number of hours they’ve been operating for might be affecting them as they won’t run like that on the fair circuits. You could see the main “body” if you like of Funk’n’Fly covered up earlier in the video as well during its most recent closure period.
 
He went on to speculate that the number of hours they’ve been operating for might be affecting them as they won’t run like that on the fair circuits. You could see the main “body” if you like of Funk’n’Fly covered up earlier in the video as well during its most recent closure period.
That's a really good point actually. I tend to skip through those vids so didn't see that bit.
 
Sorry to bump this thread but I have been thinking.
Is it just me or does the retro-squad seem somewhat unreliable? Might this actually warn Alton Towers of flat rides? I know overall we've considered it a success but have they really been a success as it always seems that at least one of the retro-squad is broken.
On the exact topic of this thread even if Alton Towers were considering extending their lease (which I don't think they were but I don't have any inside information so I'm just guessing) I doubt with the technical problems they've been having they would bother now.
 
Sorry to bump this thread but I have been thinking.
Is it just me or does the retro-squad seem somewhat unreliable? Might this actually warn Alton Towers of flat rides? I know overall we've considered it a success but have they really been a success as it always seems that at least one of the retro-squad is broken.
On the exact topic of this thread even if Alton Towers were considering extending their lease (which I don't think they were but I don't have any inside information so I'm just guessing) I doubt with the technical problems they've been having they would bother now.

Given their track record with the coasters this year (excuse the pun) I think the problem may well be the park's maintenance of them rather than the hired rides themselves. Don't recall any reliability issues in the early part of the season.
 
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