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Incident on The Smiler 02/06/2015
- Thread starter spinba11
- Start date
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bluesonichd
TS Member
Ahh ya bringing me down man, bringing me downI will have to finish building it first. But I'm pretty sure it will be complete before The Smiler reopens.
My goal is to have it ready for halloween.
next year.
All im saying is hurry up and finish the build. You have 3 weeks. Nom nom nom
Rob
TS Team
- Favourite Ride
- Steel Vengeance
Posted on our Facebook page:
So there's a new control panel going in around the Staffordshire Knot. I find it very interesting that all of this work, which it would make far more sense to do in the closed season when the park is closed, is taking place now.
So there's a new control panel going in around the Staffordshire Knot. I find it very interesting that all of this work, which it would make far more sense to do in the closed season when the park is closed, is taking place now.
bluesonichd
TS Member
rightbackgranty
TS Member
Maybe they are getting the work done and out of the way now so that they can demonstrated to H&S that changes have been made and the ride is fit to be run. I suppose if they don't do it now you're looking at the new season and that may delay opening further.
I had a sneaky, totally non evidence based suspicion that they would open it un-announced on the last day or 2 of the season to limit the length of the negative PR train that will accompany it re-opening. Get it out of the way for 2 days then close the park - means no further stories can crop up for another 4-5 months or so.
Be very surprised if it opened for longer though.
I had a sneaky, totally non evidence based suspicion that they would open it un-announced on the last day or 2 of the season to limit the length of the negative PR train that will accompany it re-opening. Get it out of the way for 2 days then close the park - means no further stories can crop up for another 4-5 months or so.
Be very surprised if it opened for longer though.
Sm1lingAdvocate
TS Member
If it re opens with reduced capacity near the end of the season, they could do the timed ticketing like they did on vampire at the start of the season, they did sign a deal with acesso who do that sort of stuff
Slugjc
TS Member
I am happy that they are doing things to get this open again. It would be a shame to scrap the ride, it isn't perfect and the theming is well to me the worst at the park. But it looks good for the future.
My concern is not Alton Towers but the press. The press will be all over the ride re-opening. The melee of reporters, photographers will double the attendance of the day for sure. T.V will have there best reporter with the bad haircut interviewing anybody that as A in the queue, or B the person who has just got out of the shop. Im guessing that on the day of re-opening and in the days and weeks after, many a carpet at merlin will be worn out by all the pacing of senior execs waiting and praying that the phone doesn't ring baring bad news. The question I would like to ask is how will merlin announce the ride re-open.
Obviously the park cannot go all guns blazing advertising the ride. In todays market they would get massacred by the press, also after the incident using the ride in any advertising feature would be out of the question as well. People would see it, be reminded and not go. The only thing I think Alton can do this is by one day open the gates. Let the people on the park that day slowly make they way round to oblivion, see that said ride is open, choose what they are doing and let those people using twitter and Facebook to filter the news out slowly. Press realise to the press the day before or on the day to try and give consumers the customers and explain any new safety features.
My concern is not Alton Towers but the press. The press will be all over the ride re-opening. The melee of reporters, photographers will double the attendance of the day for sure. T.V will have there best reporter with the bad haircut interviewing anybody that as A in the queue, or B the person who has just got out of the shop. Im guessing that on the day of re-opening and in the days and weeks after, many a carpet at merlin will be worn out by all the pacing of senior execs waiting and praying that the phone doesn't ring baring bad news. The question I would like to ask is how will merlin announce the ride re-open.
Obviously the park cannot go all guns blazing advertising the ride. In todays market they would get massacred by the press, also after the incident using the ride in any advertising feature would be out of the question as well. People would see it, be reminded and not go. The only thing I think Alton can do this is by one day open the gates. Let the people on the park that day slowly make they way round to oblivion, see that said ride is open, choose what they are doing and let those people using twitter and Facebook to filter the news out slowly. Press realise to the press the day before or on the day to try and give consumers the customers and explain any new safety features.
rightbackgranty
TS Member
I would open it with as little fanfare as possible. Why give the media time to prep anything. Open it up, see how long it takes them to react.
The park still need to be sensible. Record Nick Varney being the first on the ride. Coincide it with a press release from the park about how they are supporting the victims from the crash. Media is all a game.
The park still need to be sensible. Record Nick Varney being the first on the ride. Coincide it with a press release from the park about how they are supporting the victims from the crash. Media is all a game.
bluesonichd
TS Member
If it was me I would go an all guns blazing in your face promo.
Its not pc, people wont like it but I dont care.
Its not pc, people wont like it but I dont care.
Sm1lingAdvocate
TS Member
People will ask them when it's going to re open on Facebook comments, they will one day reply possibly saying, the smiler re open tomorrow, next week, soon or just keep repeating the foreseeable future
phildenholm
TS Member
- Favourite Ride
- Oblivion
There will be no announcement it will just open. The press will be all over it and merlin will give a little reactive statement and that will be it. The press will drag it all up for a week or so but next season all the hype will have died down.
BarryZola
TS Member
Or......they could surprise everyone and provide a press release that it is opening imminently, once again apologize for the incident, but then explain the extra layer of safety that they have added. It might actually be worth courting the media to get the camera's in and get some free publicity whilst showing that it is now safer than ever, that they also have (insert special event) coming up and that they also have 50 other fantabulous attractions at the theme park (ok, resort). Plus, they have some really safe fencing.
U
UserDeleted
AndrewH
TS Member
- Favourite Ride
- The Smiler
I think that this would do them a lot of good as if they don't say anything the media will have a field day with nothing has changed and they are trying to trick everyone into not realising it has opened again
U
UserDeleted
I'd like to see them actually take pride back into the park and show confidence by holding a press release.
Because explaining that they were adding an extra layer of safety worked last time
But at least now they can prepare for the worst interviews and know what to say.
bluesonichd
TS Member
- Status