• ℹ️ Heads up...

    This is a popular topic that is fast moving Guest - before posting, please ensure that you check out the first post in the topic for a quick reminder of guidelines, and importantly a summary of the known facts and information so far. Thanks.

Merlin Entertainments: General Discussion

Funcone said:
I didn't count the Alton Towers Dungeon. People keep on quoting on here that Merlin has over 140 attractions. Does that include things like The Alton Towers Dungeons and the Warwick Castle Dungeons? It'd be interesting to see a list of what these 140 attractions are. Clearly Merlin has a lot of attractions around the world, but it'd be interesting to have some context on the over 140 attraction figure. Did it include the Alton Towers Spa? I genuinely don't know.
Click to expand...

From the latest set of Merlin accounts - 125 attractions, up to Dec 2023.

Using The Dungeons as an example they list 6 in the UK, so that will include Towers and Warwick, along with London, Blackpool, Edinburgh and York.

IMG_8330.jpeg

 
Skyscraper said:
Layoffs have been announced for Legoland Florida's Entertainments division, with 234 jobs under threat.

floridapolitics.com

Legoland Florida guts entertainment department with 234 layoffs

Out of the employees losing their jobs, about 75% are performers.
floridapolitics.com floridapolitics.com

Got a feeling that these cuts could reach the UK parks eventually 😬
Click to expand...
Think the title is misleading, but it does clarify it further in the article - 234 layoffs across the park, middle management and directors, with entertainment particularly heavily hit.

I don’t see why that would be done at one attraction and not multiple others, so yeh i bet more on this with regards to the wider Merlin will come out soon.
 
Islander said:
Think the title is misleading, but it does clarify it further in the article - 234 layoffs across the park, middle management and directors, with entertainment particularly heavily hit.

I don’t see why that would be done at one attraction and not multiple others, so yeh i bet more on this with regards to the wider Merlin will come out soon.
Click to expand...
Depends if the cuts were made at the park level, regional level, divisional level or corporate level.

Is it Legoland Florida? Is it Merlin America? Is it Legoland Resorts? Is it Merlin Entertainments? I appreciate that all would have been consulted about the cuts and the impact it would have, but this level of cuts at one park necessarily doesn't mean it's going to ripple across the whole business. That's not saying that it can't happen, but it is worth bearing in mind before others start proclaiming that Merlin is on the verge of collapse.
 
GooseOnTheLoose said:
Depends if the cuts were made at the park level, regional level, divisional level or corporate level.

Is it Legoland Florida? Is it Merlin America? Is it Legoland Resorts? Is it Merlin Entertainments? I appreciate that all would have been consulted about the cuts and the impact it would have, but this level of cuts at one park necessarily doesn't mean it's going to ripple across the whole business. That's not saying that it can't happen, but it is worth bearing in mind before others start proclaiming that Merlin is on the verge of collapse.
Click to expand...
I was not saying that Merlin is on the verge of collapse, I was saying that it would not surprise me if those personnel cuts made their way to the UK parks eventually.
 
175 does sound like a very large number for an Entertainments team. And that is assuming the whole team, which I doubt would be the case as that would mean canceling all entertainment.

I havn't read the artical but does it specify this is just Florida and not across all 3 US parks?
 
Tom said:
Expecting a global initiative to reduce workforce worldwide, and that we will hear about UK job cuts imminently.
Click to expand...

They have already done so, they culled studios north.

I don’t think the UK parks are immune from cuts but the benefit UK Merlin has is it’s basically the HQ so a lot of the UK team support the wider group. Quite a lot of Towers estate has Merlin Group staff in it.
 
A worldwide restructure is indicative of something larger than a reaction to local economic uncertainties or difficulties. It strikes me a little as getting your house in order before an initial public offering and a floatation.

It is odd that a company as large as Merlin Entertainments remains private, given that a significant chunk is owned by private equity and investment groups.
 
GooseOnTheLoose said:
A worldwide restructure is indicative of something larger than a reaction to local economic uncertainties or difficulties. It strikes me a little as getting your house in order before an initial public offering and a floatation.

It is odd that a company as large as Merlin Entertainments remains private, given that a significant chunk is owned by private equity and investment groups.
Click to expand...

They floated once before and it didn’t really go well for them so I suspect that’s why.

Not to say they won’t try again. If they did I suspect Lego would be separated out first.
 
Tim said:
175 does sound like a very large number for an Entertainments team. And that is assuming the whole team, which I doubt would be the case as that would mean canceling all entertainment.

I havn't read the artical but does it specify this is just Florida and not across all 3 US parks?
Click to expand...
It’s just Florida - can read the actual notice to the government here.

I imagine it would be the vast majority if not all of the ents team. If it’s a restructure, in the UK at least you’d put the team at risk, and then try and slot those you can into the newly created roles, and let the rest go.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Tim
Dave said:
They floated once before and it didn’t really go well for them so I suspect that’s why.

Not to say they won’t try again. If they did I suspect Lego would be separated out first.
Click to expand...

I did think this myself - maybe some sort of splitting up of the group? Be tough to see how that would work with all the cross selling done via the annual pass. But it does strike of maximising short term profit before selling on.
 
Tom said:
Expecting a global initiative to reduce workforce worldwide, and that we will hear about UK job cuts imminently.
Click to expand...
You weren't wrong:

www.stokesentinel.co.uk

Alton Towers workers face axe in Merlin Entertainments jobs cull

The number of staff at risk has not been disclosed
www.stokesentinel.co.uk www.stokesentinel.co.uk

Alton Towers workers face axe in Merlin Entertainments jobs cull

Alton Towers workers are facing an uncertain future ahead of the 2025 season - as boss Merlin Entertainments looks set to wield the axe. Merlin Entertainments is currently consulting a certain number of staff about possible redundancies.

It comes as Merlin Entertainments - which operates a host of attractions including LEGOLAND, Madame Tussauds, and The London Eye - is looking to consolidate its attractions 'into one united business'. But some staff risk losing their jobs as a result of the proposed shake-up.


One source has told StokeonTrentLive that Alton Towers staff working in marketing, finance, human resources, and entertainment face being caught up in the proposed changes.

It comes as 30 workers within the Alton Towers Merlin Magic Making team were last year placed at risk of redundancy following a review. The under-threat team was based at Alton Towers.

Asked about the latest redundancy consultation, a Merlin spokesperson said: “To continue to grow at scale and deliver a sustainable and thriving future, Merlin needs to adapt, innovate and evolve. Therefore, we have set in motion a transformational strategy, targeting significant growth and expansion. In support of this, we are bringing our attractions around the world together, into one united business.

“To ensure we have the right level of resource and capability in the right areas, we are currently consulting on proposed changes to roles and responsibilities. In the UK, there will be nationally-led teams, which will include employees who would continue to be based locally at our sites. It is proposed that some new roles will be created, alongside reductions elsewhere. Our priority is to keep our teams informed, ensuring their voices are heard and their feedback is carefully considered throughout this process.”
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top