Existential Crisis? Towers and it's future

[Dave]

From: https://youtu.be/77s-usDTWIc?si=XK6WVYI97piu0J5Z


And


From: https://youtu.be/ITQdDrjEANw?si=rtZhIdWPAJ9dry


Thoughts?

FWIW I think Shaun is close to spot on and realistic in his assessments. Here is my take:

2026:
Rides-
Bluey
X Sector add indoor huss breakdance

Infrastructure-
Permanent park lighting continues
Extend all ride closes to 5pm minimum with park gates/towers street facilities open from 9 and closing at 6.
Move water park opening hours 2-8pm and rename Cariba Creek Waterpark

F&B-
Add in carvery offering to Lakeside Hospitality suite

Retail-
Add partial shop in Nemesis: Reborn photo shop

Entertainment-
Add in permanent maze space to X sector

2027:
Rides-
Monorail Refurb
Shutter TWODW

Infrastructure-
New Plaza Security buildings and beautification (Festoon lighting, Fountain etc)
New Towers Street retail/meet & greet in current office space

F&B-

Retail-
Add retail to Oblivion shop

Entertainment-
Semi permanent stages re-added to Courtyard Tavern (Pirate show) & Fountain Square (Henry/Henrietta Hound)
Characters reintroduced (Henry/Henriett Hound (TS), Sir Algenon (ATH), Snorlix (FS), Emily Alton (GW), Phalanx/John Dalton (FV), Dr Kelman (XS))

2028:
Rides-
Retheme/Reopen TWODW as Victorian steam punk themed land connected to the towers
GG rethemed
Carousel relocated to ATH
Driving school relocated to CBeebies land
BB relocated to Mutiny Bay
New indoor playground added

Infrastructure-
Add historical boards to towers and repair gardens

F&B-
Coffee shop added to new Steam Punk land in existing building
Reopen Towers St Family Restaurant with “carvery” offer

Retail-
New retail added to new steampunk land

Entertainment-
Add museum exhibitions inside refurbed parts of
Towers
4D cinema reopened as Algenon/Snorlix character show

2029:
Rides-
Project Horizon opens as steampunk space themed family thrill coaster
Postman pat ride repurposed and added to Katanga Canyon

Infrastructure-
Add new car parking space within meadows parking

F&B-
TWODW burger kitchen rethemed to Victorian steampunk retheme
Reopen Swiss Cottage with “Fine dining” offer

Retail-
Add retail to Oblivion shop

Entertainment-
Permanent stage show facility added alongside extraordinary golf

2030:
Rides-
Family ETF trackless dark ride added to Dungeons building
Galactica rethemed to Aerial Incursion Ride
Shutter Dark Forest (minus Thirteen)

Infrastructure-
Solar panels added to TCAAM, Car Parks

F&B-
RCR relocated to new building near hotels

Retail-
Air shop reopened

Entertainment-
Wraiths reintroduced to dark Forest

2031:
Rides-
Rita removed
Intamin Dynamic Motion Stage (Danse Macabre) added to Dark Forest
Indoor playground added

Infrastructure-
Cover added to Extraordinary golf

F&B-
New dark forest f&b

Retail-
Thirteen retail reinstated

Entertainment-
Fountain show introduced to main lake


Expensive yes, but trying to balance new additions with opportunities for generating returns and reusing as much as possible.

Every geek has their own wish list but the issues with this one:

1) Towers family restaurant doesn’t get enough footfall over lunch due to its location. It’s why it repeatedly fails when they try and open it. Last time was when CBeebies opened and they thought it might pull guests to the top of TS, it didn’t.

2) Oblivion shop wasn’t profitable, they could do better things with that space.

3) Why spend money moving RCR to another location when it does well where it is to reopen a shop that wasn’t that profitable?

4) Why spend money covering the golf? It would be a massive capex for minimum gain and probably wouldn’t get planning permission.

5) Again with Thirteen retail. Wasn’t profitable. Merlin are money driven, they wouldn’t have closed these outlets if they didn’t bring an income. The shops that did are still running (Smiler, Curse, Nemesis, Wickerman etc).

I find it curious Shaun suddenly started to see the flaws at Towers around the same time Towers ended the content creator programme…..

Better late than never I suppose

 

[Mick]

I find it curious Shaun suddenly started to see the flaws at Towers around the same time Towers ended the content creator programme…..

Better late than never I suppose

With over 200k views just three days after posting ‘The Sad Decline of Alton Towers’, flaws pay the bills!

 

[Nerdsticks]

Gotta love the comments advocating for Shawn to be thrust into the MD role. That would be a sight to behold!

 

[Benzin]

Still not adding the needed flats in the empty spaces in X-Sector either for a number of years either. Filling up dead spaces like that should be the first priority as it's simpler in theory.

But it's easy to play with someone else's money.

 

[dave___]

Still not adding the needed flats in the empty spaces in X-Sector either for a number of years either. Filling up dead spaces like that should be the first priority as it's simpler in theory.

But it's easy to play with someone else's money.

Easy to twiddle with things on Rollercoaster Tycoon, less easy in real life.

The fundamental issue is and always has been rides.. bring the rides and you bring the customers, who bring the money. Although expensive the actual spending on incidentals is something that I am happy to swallow if I have a good day and don't have to spend it queuing for things that constantly break.

 

[Josh555]

Every geek has their own wish list but the issues with this one:

1) Towers family restaurant doesn’t get enough footfall over lunch due to its location. It’s why it repeatedly fails when they try and open it. Last time was when CBeebies opened and they thought it might pull guests to the top of TS, it didn’t.

2) Oblivion shop wasn’t profitable, they could do better things with that space.

3) Why spend money moving RCR to another location when it does well where it is to reopen a shop that wasn’t that profitable?

4) Why spend money covering the golf? It would be a massive capex for minimum gain and probably wouldn’t get planning permission.

5) Again with Thirteen retail. Wasn’t profitable. Merlin are money driven, they wouldn’t have closed these outlets if they didn’t bring an income. The shops that did are still running (Smiler, Curse, Nemesis, Wickerman etc).

I find it curious Shaun suddenly started to see the flaws at Towers around the same time Towers ended the content creator programme…..

Better late than never I suppose

He’s been critical of Alton towers for years; it’s nothing new.