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TBC: SW9 Speculation

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From what I have read the new surf coaster model has been designed as a two across launched coaster to enable more compact designs with lots of twists /turns etc to have a model that can compete against Intamin blitz coaster and Macks launched coaster. I imagine they will also offer sit down trains with this model.

I do think though this model is something that Alton could go for. Marketing gimmick of being a launched standup coaster (europes first unless someone else builds one first).being a Launched Coaster and the design of the trains allows a more compact track layout that can easily be kept below the tree line,.
 
Can Merlin even afford a proper B&M? They went for one at Chessington which looks set to be tiny and underwhelming. They're forking out on a Mack at Thorpe which seems to crash straight into a brake run half way through the layout, presumably because they ran out of cash to build a proper one.

The only coaster at Towers with a decent length to it is the Smiler and that's only because they went to a less than expensive manufacturer. Perhaps they should be looking through the Vekoma catalogue at one of their new generation launchers with a custom layout?
 
Merlin are a huge company with massive profits, they can afford any coaster they want but like @Poisson it's judged on the risk of what the return on investment will be and how successful the park has been with investments in the past. B&M's have been very popular rides at Towers and have been good for the Towers maintenance team so they would likely be happy to have another one.
 
I wouldn't call them a huge company and in comparison to companies that are genuinely huge, annual profits around the £250m ball park wouldn't be considered massive either. Of course they can buy a B&M if they want to. They can chuck a few themed flats and a world class dark ride into Towers as well if they like and extend the opening hours to acceptable ones. But as we know, they're reluctant to do any of that.

Perhaps "afford" was the wrong word from me. Would they budget for a substantial sized B&M? Would there be appetite for that investment? Should they?

With a B&M they'd get a solid, well engineered machine with a manufacturer they already work closely with. But that quality comes at a cost. Do Merlin think Towers is worth it? Would they fork out B&M prices and scrimp on the theming and ride length instead? I think Towers needs heavy investment on yet another coaster right now like a hole in the head, but if they insist on it, is a potentially poorly themed and/or short coaster the way to go? It just all smacks of really wanting to buy a Merc and settling on an A-Class.
 
Matt.GC said:
I wouldn't call them a huge company and in comparison to companies that are genuinely huge, annual profits around the £250m ball park wouldn't be considered massive either. Of course they can buy a B&M if they want to. They can chuck a few themed flats and a world class dark ride into Towers as well if they like and extend the opening hours to acceptable ones. But as we know, they're reluctant to do any of that.

Perhaps "afford" was the wrong word from me. Would they budget for a substantial sized B&M? Would there be appetite for that investment? Should they?

With a B&M they'd get a solid, well engineered machine with a manufacturer they already work closely with. But that quality comes at a cost. Do Merlin think Towers is worth it? Would they fork out B&M prices and scrimp on the theming and ride length instead? I think Towers needs heavy investment on yet another coaster right now like a hole in the head, but if they insist on it, is a potentially poorly themed and/or short coaster the way to go? It just all smacks of really wanting to buy a Merc and settling on an A-Class.
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You’ve hit the nail on the head there. Perhaps we’ll get the other half of The Swarm?!
 
s_g_k said:
You’ve hit the nail on the head there. Perhaps we’ll get the other half of The Swarm?!
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Let us not forget the are now owned by the makers of Lego…in the personal holding company.

Money is no object therefore….

It depends how Kirkbi now want to run Merlin. I suspect they will spend a while looking at the portfolio, listening to guest opinions etc before making radical change. It does seem clear to me though that budgets across the group have increased
 
Jb85 said:
Let us not forget the are now owned by the makers of Lego…in the personal holding company.

Money is no object therefore….

It depends how Kirkbi now want to run Merlin. I suspect they will spend a while looking at the portfolio, listening to guest opinions etc before making radical change. It does seem clear to me though that budgets across the group have increased
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Don’t forget Kirkby only own 50%.
 
jon81uk said:
Don’t forget Kirkby only own 50%.
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True, but Blackstone are not shy of an investment- and neither are the Canadian Pension fund.

My point being, there doesn’t have to be as much emphasis on short term wins and cost cutting to boost the share price now, so they can focus on overall experience and quality hardware.

Whilst I have no doubt the capex and Thorpe and Chessington have been approved by the new consortium- you’ll probably find plans have been in place pre takeover. I think we will see a clear indication of there the new owners intentions with the next major project planned on the resort / over the next 2/3 seasons with refurbs, etc
 
jon81uk said:
Don’t forget Kirkby only own 50%.
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Aka the majority and controlling stake then. All investments would be spearheaded by Kirkby, as they have the controlling share.

I think we have absolutely seen an increase in budgets in some respects and not in others. For example, while not an SW, there are 3 major coaster projects going on at all 3 UK non IP Merlin parks....at the same time.

Long time since anything close to that has happened..

This could directly impact an SW in a positive way....potentially.
 
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DistortAMG said:
Aka the majority and controlling stake then. All investments would be spearheaded by Kirkby, as they have the controlling share.

I think we have absolutely seen an increase in budgets in some respects and not in others. For example, while not an SW, there are 3 major coaster projects going on at all 3 UK non IP Merlin parks....at the same time.

Long time since anything close to that has happened..

This could directly impact an SW in a positive way....potentially.
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You mean two coaster projects? Thorpe and Chessington? Since Legoland is an IP (although they supposedly have a B&M family invert in the works) and Towers doesn't seem to be adding anything substantial anytime soon.
 
ATI said:
You mean two coaster projects? Thorpe and Chessington? Since Legoland is an IP (although they supposedly have a B&M family invert in the works) and Towers doesn't seem to be adding anything substantial anytime soon.
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I mean three coaster projects. Nemesis having 90% of it's track replaced along with supports, electrical, control systems and possibly even trains, is not that shy off a new coaster and is certainly a bigger project than some of Merlins other coaster projects at other parks. I would even argue it is a bigger and more expensive project than Chessingtons new coaster, as Nemesis is a much bigger ride and there is a larger quantity of new track track and supports being installed at Alton than Chessington.

I cannot imagine it being cheap either, B&M's never are.
 
DistortAMG said:
I mean three coaster projects. Nemesis having 90% of it's track replaced along with supports, electrical, control systems and possibly even trains, is not that shy off a new coaster and is certainly a bigger project than some of Merlins other coaster projects at other parks. I would even argue it is a bigger and more expensive project than Chessingtons new coaster, as Nemesis is a much bigger ride and there is a larger quantity of new track track and supports being installed at Alton than Chessington.

I cannot imagine it being cheap either, B&M's never are.
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Oh sorry, I thought you meant new coaster projects. My bad.
 
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