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TBC: SW9 Speculation

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I can see Rita going and being replaced with a flat or two. Then I think they will look to build a coaster to the left of Thirteens queue line entrance. It’s the only way you could potentially build an actual dark forest. A launches coaster going in and out of the trees could be insane if given the correct length
 
Doublethink said:
I'm sad to say it but a lot of the public would rather see a classic like nemesis go than Rita "Coz it like goes realy fast" *sigh*
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I've heard this a few times but I'm not sure I believe it. Remember when they had those votes in the hotel to name their new ride? Nemesis came out streets ahead.
 
Alsty said:
I've heard this a few times but I'm not sure I believe it. Remember when they had those votes in the hotel to name their new ride? Nemesis came out streets ahead.
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I also think that the land around Rita is easier to repurpose than that up at Nemesis - they would really need to back-fill alot!

I also think Nemesis brings more international visitors than Rita ever will. International visitors will be more likely to spend on-site (hotels etc.)
 
ScottishChris said:
Don't know if this is news or not... I was just at the RCCGB Q&A lunch today and the Ops manager (I forget his name) pretty much confirmed SW9 for next year, he was not forth coming with details but did state it is not wood...
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Do you genuinely mean that it's opening next year, or do you mean that they're submitting planning permission or building it next year? The latter option seems more plausible, as I'd imagine that planning would have already been granted by now and Alton would have been hyping it up far more if it was opening in 2020, not forgetting that Wicker Man only opened last year, but stranger things have definitely happened in the theme park industry than SW9 suddenly being announced for 2020. It would certainly make 2020 a very exciting year for both Towers and the UK theme park industry as a whole, though!

However, I could potentially see a 2021 opening for SW9 if Alton files for planning permission fairly soon. 2021 would represent 3 years since Wicker Man was built; this may seem like a short amount of time between major investments, but this is the same amount of time that came between Thirteen and The Smiler, so I certainly wouldn't rule it out. It is also worth remembering that going by Merlin's 4-year CAPEX cycle (peak, low, medium, low), Wicker Man actually came a year late (it was supposed to come in 2017 going by this cycle), so perhaps Merlin is giving Alton SW9 a year early in order to balance things out. I'd also say that Alton Towers is a park that Merlin can justify major investment into; all 3 of Merlin's major investments into the park have been extremely successful.
 
Matt N said:
Do you genuinely mean that it's opening next year, or do you mean that they're submitting planning permission or building it next year? The latter option seems more plausible, as I'd imagine that planning would have already been granted by now and Alton would have been hyping it up far more if it was opening in 2020, not forgetting that Wicker Man only opened last year, but stranger things have definitely happened in the theme park industry than SW9 suddenly being announced for 2020. It would certainly make 2020 a very exciting year for both Towers and the UK theme park industry as a whole, though!

However, I could potentially see a 2021 opening for SW9 if Alton files for planning permission fairly soon. 2021 would represent 3 years since Wicker Man was built; this may seem like a short amount of time between major investments, but this is the same amount of time that came between Thirteen and The Smiler, so I certainly wouldn't rule it out. It is also worth remembering that going by Merlin's 4-year CAPEX cycle (peak, low, medium, low), Wicker Man actually came a year late (it was supposed to come in 2017 going by this cycle), so perhaps Merlin is giving Alton SW9 a year early in order to balance things out. I'd also say that Alton Towers is a park that Merlin can justify major investment into; all 3 of Merlin's major investments into the park have been extremely successful.
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Surely if SW9 was coming next year we would be seeing ground work by now?
 
I doubt SW9 will open next year as the Cloud Cuckoo Land retheme is due (we think). I expect SW9 will be ready for 2021/2022 (as the thread title predicts). We'll just have to wait and see though!
 
SW9 won't open next year. That's not gonna happen. It takes several months to construct a rollercoaster and if they want to open something for next season it would already need to be about half completed by now.
 
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I'm only reporting what he said. I assume it is one of two things:
1. The planning/construction will start next year (I guess this is most likely)
2. He is, for some reason, calling what is happening in CCL a SW

To be fair, he should have been pressed a bit more - but I guess it Is hard when in that situation. He was adamant though - it won't be wood.... Which makes me think Coaster... But I suppose it doesn't mean much since the last SW was a wooden coaster.

He did also talk opening hours - and in a very diplomatic, round-a-bout way said that they aren't changing next year.
 
ScottishChris said:
He was adamant though - it won't be wood.... Which makes me think Coaster... But I suppose it doesn't mean much since the last SW was a wooden coaster.
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He was just confirming that SW9 won't be the cross-valley woodie we've all been waiting years for. :cry:
 
ScottishChris said:
I know. My post was because @skyscraper stated that everyone wants a cross valley woody - I just wanted to raise the bar!
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I don’t personally understand the appeal of RMCs I know I’m in the minority but personally I’d rather have a steel coaster over a hybrid any day.

I think imo towers just needs another star coaster up there with the smiler and nemesis to complete it’s line-up but it will most likely replace a current ride. I like Rita I know I’m probably the only one here but it’s launch is very intense and is probably the only ride at Towers that can offer that sort of feeling.
 
To be fair, If SW9 is due in 2022 (which also falls into the RTP CAPEX cycle), seeing the SW9 planning application in 2020 seems reasonable.

Wicker Man planning application was submitted in 2016 and The Smiler's application was submitted in 2011. So it's around 2 years before opening anyway.
 
elliott said:
I don’t personally understand the appeal of RMCs I know I’m in the minority but personally I’d rather have a steel coaster over a hybrid any day.

I think imo towers just needs another star coaster up there with the smiler and nemesis to complete it’s line-up but it will most likely replace a current ride. I like Rita I know I’m probably the only one here but it’s launch is very intense and is probably the only ride at Towers that can offer that sort of feeling.
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Have you been on an RMC? Personly I feel they offer amazing airtime and unique elements that no other coaster can match (been on Wildfire and Zadra)
 
elliott said:
I don’t personally understand the appeal of RMCs I know I’m in the minority but personally I’d rather have a steel coaster over a hybrid any day.
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Have you ridden one?

There's certainly the opportunity for a steel supported I-Box ride that would be 'steel'.

For all intents and purposes the hybrid definition isn't particularly meaningful in terms of ride experience, only construction method.
 
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