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Universal GB - Archived Post Announcement Discussion

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I think we ought to be clear, government support also doesn't have to be one or the other.

Offering government assistance, essentially state aid, for Universal doesn't mean that it can't be offered to other operators either. The objections also wouldn't necessarily be with the intention of preventing the Universal development.

It's about getting a fair and competitive deal for all parties, and not favouring another.
 
The concept art for Epic Universe turned out to be about 95% accurate so I think you can wager decent money it won't look a lot different to what we have here. I believe the Beijing one did too.

Great news for the UK industry and country as a whole. Spare a thought for the greedy Merlin fat cats who now know they have to spend more money. Hahaha!
 
GooseOnTheLoose said:
I think we ought to be clear, government support also doesn't have to be one or the other.

Offering government assistance, essentially state aid, for Universal doesn't mean that it can't be offered to other operators either. The objections also wouldn't necessarily be with the intention of preventing the Universal development.

It's about getting a fair and competitive deal for all parties, and not favouring another.
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I can see there being a lot of this sort of thing, basically citing precedent.

That shouldn't have any impact on the speed of the universal project though.
 
havaska said:
Everton’s new stadium was originally started with funding and assistance from Liverpool City Council before private finance was later secured.
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I'm a United fan and ST holder and I can assure you that the government aren't going to be paying anything towards the actual stadium. Their involvement is going to be with the massive regen project which will see up to 5,000 new homes built and presumably a new school as well.

Ironically both of these projects could be finished and open in 2031.
 
havaska said:
Everton’s new stadium was originally started with funding and assistance from Liverpool City Council before private finance was later secured.
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With OT it's the infrastructure/regeneration works which are being funded by the government, not the stadium itself. That's why I used the example becaue of the obvious parallels with this project, assuming a deal of sorts has been cut between the government and Universal.
 
Dobba said:
If I'm in Merlin's legal team the very least I'm doing is demanding to know how much Comcast are paying towards the rail infrastructure that accompanies this and then demanding the government pay the same percentage in a deal to build the much talked about road from JCB to Alton Towers.
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The big issue there was JCB refusing to give up land and the councils not being willing to pay the money JCB want for the land.
 
Looking at comments on socials from the non thoosies it seems to be Jurassic World that is getting the most mentions. Probably shouldn't come as any surprise really given how popular it still is. Just something about the GP and dinosaurs isn't there?
 
Dobba said:
Even easier then, the government can just pay for it and 'back the builders, not the blockers'.

Everyone wins.
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Except that’s not the case at all - there’s no evidence that’s ever been put forward a relief road would bring any extra visitors to Towers, the park itself abandoned the idea of funding the road in 2008 saying it wasn’t needed for a few weeks of heavy traffic in the peak summer season, annual attendance is now *lower* than it was back in the late 2000s and crucially local businesses were worried they’d lose out on passing trade if cars stopped driving through Alton village. Separately, there’s no way the government - at a time when it needs all the economic growth it can get its hands on - is going to pick a fight with JCB and start issuing compulsory purchase orders for the land the road would sit on, inevitably ending up in a protracted and costly legal case.

If Merlin challenge the Universal decision as the “BOO STATE AID” crowd here want them to do, that’s their lookout - but they won’t get anywhere. The Department for Transport had already committed to major improvements in rail infrastructure in the Bedford area anyway because of the East-West rail link between Oxford and Cambridge and this will be an important part of that.
 
I expect Champagne and drinks all round at Bedford council. It's like winning the lottery for them, it's not just the theme park but all the related investment that will come from the park. I'd imagine several large hotel operators are already scoping out sites in or around the Bedford area.
 
Aside from the concept art that will probably be like the concept designs for new cars when it all comes to fruition, I’m highly sceptical that they could get national highways to do their work in the time frames stated.

I remain open to surprise but I know what NH are like when it comes to road projects so unless they’ve already had their contractors beavering away and making designs and hiring principal civil engineering companies it’s gonna be delayed..

Having said that come hell or high water I will be there on day 1 for this
 
jon81uk said:
The big issue there was JCB refusing to give up land and the councils not being willing to pay the money JCB want for the land.
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Easy solution; JCB just buys Alton Towers off Merlin and they build the link road with their own diggers. Everybody wins!

They already run a world class golf course and accommodation at their World HQ.

Rebrand to JCB Resort (keeping Alton Towers name for the park), build a JCB land for the kids.
 
havaska said:
Easy solution; JCB just buys Alton Towers off Merlin and they build the link road with their own diggers. Everybody wins!

They already run a world class golf course and accommodation at their World HQ.

Rebrand to JCB Resort (keeping Alton Towers name for the park), build a JCB land for the kids.
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We’ve already got digger land, I want to have a go in their huge mining equipment
 
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