[202X] Project Horizon (SW9?): Planning Approved

[Donkey]

What is going on with any future investments at towers? It’s so strange that it just feels so bleak and nothing to be ‘excited’ about. The dangle of the carrot of project horizon is so frustrating…just wish they gave this park the love and attention it needs.

I get the feeling that they want to sell Towers but only for the right price.

No-one wants to pay that price at the moment and they have already spent a lot on their big projects around the world (Legoland parks etc.) so they don't have the budget for a big investment at Towers that may or may not attract a potential buyer. So it's stuck in a holding pattern for the indefinite future.

 

[Jb85]

I get the feeling that they want to sell Towers but only for the right price.

No-one wants to pay that price at the moment and they have already spent a lot on their big projects around the world (Legoland parks etc.) so they don't have the budget for a big investment at Towers that may or may not attract a potential buyer. So it's stuck in a holding pattern for the indefinite future.

Not so sure they want to sell

The park itself makes money - that I’m sure on - and passively makes money by being on the annual pass.

 

[JAperson]

This is all well and good but i was quite specific in my statement:

I think you have to consider Nemesis reborn a major investment, B&M inverts are not cheap, and they won't have saved much by keeping small sections of track on the lift and breakrun, with all the new theming and marketing I'm sure it cost similar to any other major investment they've done.

 

[Bowser]

I think you have to consider Nemesis reborn a major investment, B&M inverts are not cheap, and they won't have saved much by keeping small sections of track on the lift and breakrun, with all the new theming and marketing I'm sure it cost similar to any other major investment they've done.

Major investment, yes.

MAJOR NEW RIDE.... no.

They will have saved in a number of ways and benefitted from a safe bet compared to a new attraction in that plot but it was certainly the right thing to do.

I haven't once said they aren't investing, i have very specifically said they don't have an appetite for major new rides. We haven't seen one since 2018, if we do see one it will now be at least TEN YEARS since the last one.

Perhaps they're trying to give Disneyland Paris a run for their money.

 

[JAperson]

MAJOR NEW RIDE

They've basically bought a new B&M invert, which is a new ride, but I take your point, in that it's something they already had.

They will have saved in a number of ways and benefitted from a safe bet compared to a new attraction in that plot

Not really, they could have put something far more markatable there then, oh yes we've redone nemesis, the same thing you've been riding since the 90's, come visit us!.

I haven't once said they aren't investing, i have very specifically said they don't have an appetite for major new rides. We haven't seen one since 2018, if we do see one it will now be at least TEN YEARS since the last one.

I think that has more to do with circumstance than no desire to invest. We had covid and Merlin have had a major drop in their credit, which is how they pay for all major investments at their parks. So the cost to build anything just went up for them hugely. I think its likely Project Horizon will be a pretty major addition, and then we could see something else just a few years later, as they know they need to stay on top of their investment game in what will be a hugely competitive market. I think it's pretty obvious they would like to spent lots of money at towers if we judge by efforts made, but I simply don't think they have the sensible financials to massively invest, so instead they are doing it slowly, perhaps hoping for an improvement in said credit rating before they uplift their investments.

 

[Bowser]

I think that has more to do with circumstance than no desire to invest. We had covid and Merlin have had a major drop in their credit, which is how they pay for all major investments at their parks. So the cost to build anything just went up for them hugely. I think its likely Project Horizon will be a pretty major addition, and then we could see something else just a few years later, as they know they need to stay on top of their investment game in what will be a hugely competitive market. I think it's pretty obvious they would like to spent lots of money at towers if we judge by efforts made, but I simply don't think they have the sensible financials to massively invest, so instead they are doing it slowly, perhaps hoping for an improvement in said credit rating before they uplift their investments.

Yet all their other UK parks tell a different story with Chessington and Legoland also seeing significant ongoing future investment on that front.

Obviously all the parks have different operational costs and comparison has its limitations but to me it seems clear Alton Towers is being treated differently... they seem content to try and manage what they have.

I hope you're right, that Horizon does emerge as something special and is swiftly followed by more but personally i have little optimism from what we're seeing the last few years.

And lets face it, if it does happen it'll simply be some form of lesser clone of what they're building at Chessington.

 

[Steve74]

Yet all their other UK parks tell a different story with Chessington and Legoland also seeing significant ongoing future investment on that front.

Obviously all the parks have different operational costs and comparison has its limitations but to me it seems clear Alton Towers is being treated differently... they seem content to try and manage what they have.

I hope you're right, that Horizon does emerge as something special and is swiftly followed by more but personally i have little optimism from what we're seeing the last few years.

And lets face it, if it does happen it'll simply be some form of lesser clone of what they're building at Chessington.

As @GooseOnTheLoose stated in another thread earlier, we appear to be coming to the end of a 3 or 4 year investment run which easily must be about £20million+, I suspect that once whatever they're doing with that area at Thorpe is complete and finish Minecraft at Chessington next year, that we'll see things happen at Towers - in fact with the small things going on with PH at the moment planning-wise, I wouldn't be surprised if we see something happen this season or over next closed season.

 

[James]

Investment hasn't really changed at Alton Towers, it's just perceived differently due to where the investments have been going. The ongoing issue seems to be budgets for park operations and maintenance (or lack of).

If you consider Nemesis Reborn as the last large investment, it would be about right to expect some movement this year with the next large ride, which I feel will be something new (either PH or something else), and perhaps the next 'big thing' coming in 2028/2029.

It will be an incredibly long time since Wicker Man by then, but arguably, Curse and Nemesis Reborn were both essential investments that were needed to keep these areas fresh.