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Blackpool Pleasure Beach: 2025 Discussion

This might be a good thing as it could be something to look forward to in the summer but the Grand Prix area's ride hasn't been announced today

It might be something they're saving for later for 2026 or for 2027.
 
The one thing this is going to have in its favour too is that when it's at full swing it's going to advertise itself to the people passing by the park.

The one great mistake they made with ICON for me. It was the correct manufacturer and type of coaster but the layout just doesn't sell it. It wasn't the fastest, tallest or contained the most inversions so it's not going to bring in the punters in huge numbers. Enthusiasts aren't enough.

Far too early to say the place has got its head screwed on again..... however I can't see how this investment won't be a successful one. Everyone is going to want to ride that thing when they see it.....just like people wanted to ride the 'Pepsi Max' as it was known.
 
Benjsh said:
The one great mistake they made with ICON for me. It was the correct manufacturer and type of coaster but the layout just doesn't sell it. It wasn't the fastest, tallest or contained the most inversions so it's not going to bring in the punters in huge numbers. Enthusiasts aren't enough.
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I would agree, but not because it isn't the tallest, etc.

the wickerman (opened the same year) isn't the tallest, longest, most inversions, etc it was technically the first wooden with fire. but it really worked because it was a well themed, really good wooden rollercoaster along with a good marketing campaign.

where as ICON had virtually no marketing campaign (apart from some snake thing) and not many members of the public knew about it. it also isn't very visible from outside the park. I also feel like the coaster is too meandering in sections, I think an intamin blitz style ride would have been much better and probably cheaper.
 
Pleasure Beach could've opened a Taron or a Velocicoaster in 2018 and it wouldn't have made any difference if they'd marketed it as badly as they did Icon.

Felt at the time like they played the hits that worked in the 90s with TV appearances, news, radio etc but without a killer hook, and with the further segmentation of TV viewership in the modern world without the accompanying TV ad campaign it just fell flat.

Even online marketing back in 2017/2018 it seemed like the theme park vloggers were the only ones actually promoting the ride across social media and not the park.
 
John_P said:
Pleasure Beach could've opened a Taron or a Velocicoaster in 2018 and it wouldn't have made any difference if they'd marketed it as badly as they did Icon.

Felt at the time like they played the hits that worked in the 90s with TV appearances, news, radio etc but without a killer hook, and with the further segmentation of TV viewership in the modern world without the accompanying TV ad campaign it just fell flat.

Even online marketing back in 2017/2018 it seemed like the theme park vloggers were the only ones actually promoting the ride across social media and not the park.
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yeah, compare this advert to the wickerman, both were aired at the same time (although I mainly ever saw the wickerman adver on TV as they didn't advertise icon much where I was).

Icon it is hard to tell what it is really abstract, fusing metal??? track under ground hard to tell what you are looking at until you are told it is a rollercoaster (these aren't enthusiasts, they may not know what coaster track looks like), and still don't know much about it.

but the wickerman on the other had, you start with the hall of the mountain king but sung in the wickerman style with the towers street (instantly know it is AT), then some scenes showing the wickerman story, instantly you know it is some cult, with a burning man. then the rollercoaster on the track, with more than half the time showing the ride in action you now know it is a new wooden coaster.


From: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a2G0sUQDSAg



From: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BdGf1wf6ss0
 
flyingguitar said:
yeah, compare this advert to the wickerman, both were aired at the same time (although I mainly ever saw the wickerman adver on TV as they didn't advertise icon much where I was).

Icon it is hard to tell what it is really abstract, fusing metal??? track under ground hard to tell what you are looking at until you are told it is a rollercoaster (these aren't enthusiasts, they may not know what coaster track looks like), and still don't know much about it.

but the wickerman on the other had, you start with the hall of the mountain king but sung in the wickerman style with the towers street (instantly know it is AT), then some scenes showing the wickerman story, instantly you know it is some cult, with a burning man. then the rollercoaster on the track, with more than half the time showing the ride in action you now know it is a new wooden coaster.


From: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a2G0sUQDSAg



From: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BdGf1wf6ss0
Click to expand...


Excellent comparison; it really shows the difference a decent marketing campaign can have when you place them side by side like that.

It wasn’t that big a deal at the time, but only a couple of years ago there was a YouTube ad for BPB that astoundingly didn’t even feature the park’s name in it. That’s how amateurish the marketing was.
 
In theory the ride should be easy to marked as the UKs largest Gyro Swing, I have heard rumours Thorpe may be getting one of these so PB must be hoping it's either false or it opens after Thiers as it will completely snooker marketing plans.
 
Quantum said:
In theory the ride should be easy to marked as the UKs largest Gyro Swing, I have heard rumours Thorpe may be getting one of these so PB must be hoping it's either false or it opens after Thiers as it will completely snooker marketing plans.
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It would be interesting if 2026 is the year of the record breaking Intamin Gyro Swings 😍

Although it could easily be a Top Spin at the same time - it's something we know nothing about at this stage and is pure speculation although a Gyro Swing or Top Spin is the most logical additions along with a Sky Flyer.

2026 does seem to be the year for possible mystery additions at the moment with Paultons, Chessington, Pleasure Beach and possibly other parks too like Thorpe Park 🤔
 
It looks like this will be the most airtime inducing flat ride in the UK. Hell, it might even have the most airtime of any flat ride and coaster in the UK depending on cycle.

Can’t wait to see the youtube creatives mock up animations of it operating in its location on the boladrome site. The top height while operating may even exceed the height of the big ones hills? The entrance to PB will be great next year with valhalla back on good form, a fresh launch pad, giro swing and soon to be joined with river caves. Great to see.
 
rob666 said:
Good game trying to spot any part of Icon from outside the park!
Not easy at all.
Could have looked so good racing next to the Big One on the seafront, proper publicity.
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This is what i was trying to say earlier. TV adverts can be great for marketing but when you're a seaside park with a lot of through traffic......you have to take advantage of it.

ICON is a quality coaster and easily the best at PB but it really failed the 'bring in the GP' test massively. Probably should have had a huge stand out element. A 150ft top hat or something like that.

I do like the move from the park though this time. They lose their height record for the Big One and then build the biggest flat ride in the UK. Makes perfect sense to me and for once they have used their brains.
 
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