As I said before at least Wonderworld had a sign put up. This is never going to happen it will keep going round in circles so people like you can get your hopes up for another few years. It’s far to ambitious that no sane person would throw 3-5 billion at this.
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London Entertainment Resort: All Discussion
- Thread starter Spark
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As I said before at least Wonderworld had a sign put up. This is never going to happen it will keep going round in circles so people like you can get your hopes up for another few years. It’s far to ambitious that no sane person would throw 3-5 billion at this.
KolonelKlink
TS Member
My absolute favourite bit about this thread is that Matt likes most of the posts which completely negate and disprove his misplaced optimism.
No need to give me “thanks for the clarification” etc.
No need to give me “thanks for the clarification” etc.
Themeparksandy1981
TS Member
I think even if it does go ahead then with the price of 3.5 Billion I can’t see families queuing up and paying £200 just for a day out when you got petrol, Food/snacks and I guess parking charges up top.
Will we have another Hard Rock Park here?
Will we have another Hard Rock Park here?
Matt N
TS Member
- Favourite Ride
- Shambhala (PortAventura Park)
I like them because I appreciate people taking the time to listen to me and reply to me, regardless of whether I agree with them or not!
John
TS Member
- Favourite Ride
- Steel Vengeance
I haven't been paying this much attention as after 8 years of nothing much happening there doesn't seem any point but 15 MILLION visitors‽ I'm not sure if they're trying to decieve potential investors or are just completely deluded.
If the business case relies on them getting even a third of that they wouldn't last 5 years, even in a hypothetical universe where they manage to magic up enough money to get the place built.
If the business case relies on them getting even a third of that they wouldn't last 5 years, even in a hypothetical universe where they manage to magic up enough money to get the place built.
Matt N
TS Member
- Favourite Ride
- Shambhala (PortAventura Park)
I reckon they could easily get 5-10 million visitors, potentially more, if they put lots of money into marketing and PR so as to reach a wide audience, but I admit that 15 million did raise my eyebrows a little when I saw it. As I say, though, there might be more to this project than meets the eye...
Also, they keep talking about wanting a second theme park by 2029, as well as Europe’s largest indoor water park, so maybe 15 million is the projected visitation of all 3 gates combined once the project is completed? That would seem a little more plausible to me, but I don’t really know.
I just thought of another thing; if there wasn’t a desire and a means to get the project built (money), then why wouldn’t they have just stopped the project? Most of the failed British projects you’re all referring to only lasted 1 or 2 years before being canned. This has lasted nearly 8 years. Theme park development is a very lengthy process; I heard somewhere that Epic Universe in Orlando had been in development since 2005. It is due to open in 2024 (presumably). Disney was scouting for a theme park in Shanghai in the late 1990s; Shanghai Disneyland opened in 2016. My point is; maybe they’ve just chosen to be a little more public with the early development phases than most projects, which is what gives off the illusion that it’s taken so long in comparison to other projects.
It might also be worth noting that KEH (the Kuwaiti investors providing the project with the money it needs) have reportedly threatened to pull funding if planning permission is not granted by the end of 2020, so that might explain the recent momentum in announcing things.
Also, they keep talking about wanting a second theme park by 2029, as well as Europe’s largest indoor water park, so maybe 15 million is the projected visitation of all 3 gates combined once the project is completed? That would seem a little more plausible to me, but I don’t really know.
I just thought of another thing; if there wasn’t a desire and a means to get the project built (money), then why wouldn’t they have just stopped the project? Most of the failed British projects you’re all referring to only lasted 1 or 2 years before being canned. This has lasted nearly 8 years. Theme park development is a very lengthy process; I heard somewhere that Epic Universe in Orlando had been in development since 2005. It is due to open in 2024 (presumably). Disney was scouting for a theme park in Shanghai in the late 1990s; Shanghai Disneyland opened in 2016. My point is; maybe they’ve just chosen to be a little more public with the early development phases than most projects, which is what gives off the illusion that it’s taken so long in comparison to other projects.
It might also be worth noting that KEH (the Kuwaiti investors providing the project with the money it needs) have reportedly threatened to pull funding if planning permission is not granted by the end of 2020, so that might explain the recent momentum in announcing things.
Ian
TS Team
- Favourite Ride
- Dizz, Bobby’s Yarn Land
The difference between this and the likes of Universal and Disney is that you have two companies there with proven track records. Equally, they are two very big, profitable organisations. It’s a notoriously risky sector, but having one of the worlds largest operators behind it can help give investors some confidence that everything will be ok (Though Disneyland Paris proves this is not always the case). Even if the venture you invested in were to fail, you can offset that risk slightly by knowing that there would potentially be access to the parent companies cash reserves from which you can be repaid (again, pretty much what started happening with Disneyland Paris, where WDC was effectively bailing the park out at points with cash injections to meet the park’s financial obligations).
Let’s not forget though the amount of concepts that pass through those companies and never come to fruition. I can think of at least 3 Disney parks which were “announced” and never built.
You’ve pretty much answered your own question as to why this keeps dragging out. They have already secured some funding. Those people/businesses are going to want something back. As has been said several times already, they’ve supposedly burnt through some £50M to get to this point. That isn’t money that’s just magically appeared. Someone has made a conscious decision to give them that money, with the expectation they will be getting something in return for it. If they halt the project these people will be left out of pocket (a big risk with any investment). Besides effectively burning any bridge with you investors, it may also tarnish the reputation of any companies or developers involved and could make it much more difficult to secure funding for any other future projects they undertake. Think of it like credit (credit cards, loans, etc.); if you don’t pay back what you owe lenders will become uneasy and hesitant to trust you again.
Let’s not forget though the amount of concepts that pass through those companies and never come to fruition. I can think of at least 3 Disney parks which were “announced” and never built.
You’ve pretty much answered your own question as to why this keeps dragging out. They have already secured some funding. Those people/businesses are going to want something back. As has been said several times already, they’ve supposedly burnt through some £50M to get to this point. That isn’t money that’s just magically appeared. Someone has made a conscious decision to give them that money, with the expectation they will be getting something in return for it. If they halt the project these people will be left out of pocket (a big risk with any investment). Besides effectively burning any bridge with you investors, it may also tarnish the reputation of any companies or developers involved and could make it much more difficult to secure funding for any other future projects they undertake. Think of it like credit (credit cards, loans, etc.); if you don’t pay back what you owe lenders will become uneasy and hesitant to trust you again.
They are basically going to drag this out till they go bust. It’s nice to know at least one person is optimistic this will go ahead but in reality it’s a no go. If they had brought the land and made some sort effort in the last 8 years then maybe could be optimistic but they haven’t done anything in 8 years except blow 50mil Quid. So what sort of maniac is going to walk in give them 5 billion to build this fantasy. Honestly I have no idea about numbers but why would this one park have more visitors in one year then the whole of the uk theme park industry has put together in one year.
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Matt N
TS Member
- Favourite Ride
- Shambhala (PortAventura Park)
I don’t see any images? What do they say?EXCLUSIVE: an anonymous source has passed on an updated look at the park layout
KolonelKlink
TS Member
EXCLUSIVE: an anonymous source has passed on an updated look at the park layout
Alastair
TS Team
- Favourite Ride
- Rise of the Resistance
Agreed. Who knows, going by some of the, ahem - far from convincing - replies to comments on their Facebook page, it may be Pierre himself manning the channels...
DistortAMG
TS Member
- Favourite Ride
- POTC Disneyland Paris
Agreed. Who knows, going by some of the, ahem - far from convincing - replies to comments on their Facebook page, it may be Pierre himself manning the channels...
That reply makes it almost sound like whoever's manning that account is not convinced either. Or has lost all hope.
KolonelKlink
TS Member
it may be Pierre himself manning the channels...
I think it probably is - some of the more recent Facebook posts read in technically correct but slightly oddly-phrased English:
You might say it's the work of someone for whom English isn't their first language...
Matt N
TS Member
- Favourite Ride
- Shambhala (PortAventura Park)
I could be reading into this a little too much, but I was just on ThemeParX, a forum that looks to have fairly good industry links, and I noticed on their London Resort topic (http://www.themeparx.com/the-london-resort-paramount-park-london/) that they have actual companies to do with the project listed, such as ride suppliers. Some particular things of note I saw include:
- The operator is listed as MR ProFun, a company who looks to have designed and opened a number of theme parks & tourist attractions across the world.
- Companies like Jack Rouse Associates and Scruffy Dog are listed as theming suppliers.
- Ride suppliers listed include Alterface, Simworx, Huss Rides, Mack Rides and WhiteWater West.
You can have all the intentions in the world and people are paid to pluck these names out. But there’s a chance they haven’t updated that website for many years and it still doesn’t account for where the money’s coming from. The site will be used for housing or a hotel nothing more.
KolonelKlink
TS Member
If they're intending to open a theme park, I should bloody hope suppliers have been identified.
Regardless of where these names came from (and I notice there's a form anyone can click on that website to add this type of detail), it's absolutely no different to the nominal partnerships announced with Radisson or EDF Energy - which were deemed worthy of a press release presumably because a) people might actually have heard of them and b) the desperate pitch to investors continues. It makes zero difference to the likelihood of spades going into the ground.
Matt N
TS Member
- Favourite Ride
- Shambhala (PortAventura Park)
The money is coming from Kuwaiti investment group KEH Holdings. Where is the illusion that they have no money coming from, out of interest, as KEH is providing the funds to build the project? Maybe it’s other obstacles behind the scenes that has dragged out the timeline?
i hardly doubt one group of people will make up to 5 billion quid appear out of thin air. Do they really think it’s a situation of if they build they will come?. Jaysus If they was that serious the land would of been brought years ago as of yet they still don’t own it. 50 million quid wasted on nothing, they keep putting stories out to drum up investment because no one is interested. Think to why no parks have been built in the uk for many many years. It’s the riskiest investment possible. That’s why as a betting man I’ll happy put my money on they will build houses or a big hotel and then it’s no risk investment, to splash 5 billion on a park then hope 10 million people turn up is crazy talk. Alton towers is the most popular park in the uk and that only gets 2 mil visitors a year.
Craig
TS Administrator
Matt, I can't stress this enough. KEH are a majority holder in London Resort Company Holdings at present. However, that does not mean that they are footing the bill for this project in any way, shape or form. LRCH at present are essentially a vehicle for attracting investment for this project. KEH have not stated how much they are putting into the actual theme park project directly.
As for ThemeParkX, as others have mentioned you can add companies to the website as a potential supplier. In the same way I could say I was going to buy a car from a Ford dealer. It doesn't mean I'm going to buy a Ford, just that I've shown interest.
You've stated ThemeParkX have industry links, and that's true across all theme park forums. I would urge you to read the forum posts on that topic as they show the same frustration toward this project and how it is increasingly unlikely to happen.
As for ThemeParkX, as others have mentioned you can add companies to the website as a potential supplier. In the same way I could say I was going to buy a car from a Ford dealer. It doesn't mean I'm going to buy a Ford, just that I've shown interest.
You've stated ThemeParkX have industry links, and that's true across all theme park forums. I would urge you to read the forum posts on that topic as they show the same frustration toward this project and how it is increasingly unlikely to happen.