[🌎 Universal GB] Impact on the UK market

[Matt.GC]

The only logical reason for Comcast to be bringing their cash to this country is that there is a market for what they are building.

They're baking and bringing along their own pie, hence why Merlin shouldn't be too worried about their existing budget brand pie, filled with sweepings off of the apple factory floor and then pushed through a mincer. It'll still be there to buy and pop in the microwave after Universal. Having tried the crispy buttery crust and chunks of Bramley in the Universal pie, Merlin may benefit from people seeking as similar an experience as practically possible but for a significantly lower price.

I really do fail to understand where all this "up their game" stuff comes from? I don't know a single industry in the history of the world under similar circumstances where this has been successful?

And even if it was, where on earth would Merlin raise the cash from? Who would invest in such a strategy? Would any poster on here? Of course you wouldn't.

 

[Hid]

The only logical reason for Comcast to be bringing their cash to this country is that there is a market for what they are building.

They're baking and bringing along their own pie, hence why Merlin shouldn't be too worried about their existing budget brand pie, filled with sweepings off of the apple factory floor and then pushed through a mincer. It'll still be there to buy and pop in the microwave after Universal. Having tried the crispy buttery crust and chunks of Bramley in the Universal pie, Merlin may benefit from people seeking as similar an experience as practically possible but for a significantly lower price.

I really do fail to understand where all this "up their game" stuff comes from? I don't know a single industry in the history of the world under similar circumstances where this has been successful?

And even if it was, where on earth would Merlin raise the cash from? Who would invest in such a strategy? Would any poster on here? Of course you wouldn't.

I do want more rides at their parks particularly Towers where I think it does need more experiences they have not had a new attraction that wasn't a replacement and increased capacity for a long time

 

[flyingguitar]

They're baking and bringing along their own pie, hence why Merlin shouldn't be too worried about their existing budget brand pie, filled with sweepings off of the apple factory floor and then pushed through a mincer. It'll still be there to buy and pop in the microwave after Universal. Having tried the crispy buttery crust and chunks of Bramley in the Universal pie, Merlin may benefit from people seeking as similar an experience as practically possible but for a significantly lower price.

I really do fail to understand where all this "up their game" stuff comes from? I don't know a single industry in the history of the world under similar circumstances where this has been successful?

I would counter this,

I think merlin will have to start investing primarily because there will be a really big comparison between universal and the merlin parks which will drive people away from the merlin parks, you may say they are creating a market but that will be made from the market merlin holds.

people will have a cheaper choice, lets say £40 to go to alton or £120 to go to universal, 3 times the price but if at alton you experience bad service, see some of the poorer quality areas (such as Gal, 13, etc) and if you are much easier to compare to the things from universal (higher quality rides, good customer service, longer opening hours) it becomes very easy to just not go to alton 3 times (do something else) and save for universal.

people will probably still go but I think a lot of people who are currently comming may decide to go to universal due to the higher quality theming, longer opening times etc

I have experience with this, my uncle went to florida (includes disney of course) before covid, when we left covid they wanted to do a theme park so went to thorpe (before they re-did big easy boulevard) and he said he would not go back because he said he found it very worn down, and didn't like it, and probably won't go back.


I think merlin would need to improve their offering, of course not to universals level but I would say the 1990's wardley era level (vampire, nemesis, hex etc)

 

[GooseOnTheLoose]

I don't know a single industry in the history of the world under similar circumstances where this has been successful?

Amusingly, the arrival of the streaming wars and the golden age of television hasn't forced Comcast/Universal to up their game with content for Sky (the prior incumbent).

 

[JT01]

I can gantree a lot of people once they have a taste of what a theme park like Universal will create they won't be that interested in going Alton towers. I can see AT pulling in more regional visitors and Universal will now draw in national visitors which I guess Alton Towers has been doing since the 90s

 

[The_bup]

When it comes to Merlin “upping their game”, I don’t mean building world class attractions and theming, just building a place that’s actually somewhat pleasing. It’s small things, covered queue lines, nice plants, supporting rides to help capacity and of course stopping ripping people off at times.

They just need to be a little more humble and a little more honest and stick to what they can do, it’ll go a long way.

While Universal will inevitably get very busy and have long waits and whatever, Merlin parks could provide maybe a less intense day out? Towers especially has a historical aspect that they just… ignore. They could easily break into the “culture” market if they tried a bit.

 

[Tim]

Opening hours is anouther good point. Once Universal open a park that's open from potentially as early as 8am and as late as 11pm at night (maybe even later during Halloween Horror Nights) it's going to be impossible for our current parks to get away with 10 till 4 openings.
When you think about it let's say that a ticket to Universal costs £100 and Alton £50 (both ignoring discounts). But the former is open 12+ hours and the latter only 6. That makes Universal already a better value proposition without even factoring in the quality of the rides.

 

[Matt.GC]

Amusingly, the arrival of the streaming wars and the golden age of television hasn't forced Comcast/Universal to up their game with content for Sky (the prior incumbent).

Well you joke, but indeed a good example.

Comcast could spend tonnes of cash improving Sky content. Or they could just broadcast their American stuff and continue BSkyB's business model. There's more broadband and streaming competition than they've ever had, but they're doing just fine as they are. No need for expensive productions.

I would counter this,

I think merlin will have to start investing primarily because there will be a really big comparison between universal and the merlin parks which will drive people away from the merlin parks, you may say they are creating a market but that will be made from the market merlin holds.

people will have a cheaper choice, lets say £40 to go to alton or £120 to go to universal, 3 times the price but if at alton you experience bad service, see some of the poorer quality areas (such as Gal, 13, etc) and if you are much easier to compare to the things from universal (higher quality rides, good customer service, longer opening hours) it becomes very easy to just not go to alton 3 times (do something else) and save for universal.

people will probably still go but I think a lot of people who are currently comming may decide to go to universal due to the higher quality theming, longer opening times etc

I have experience with this, my uncle went to florida (includes disney of course) before covid, when we left covid they wanted to do a theme park so went to thorpe (before they re-did big easy boulevard) and he said he would not go back because he said he found it very worn down, and didn't like it, and probably won't go back.

I think merlin would need to improve their offering, of course not to universals level but I would say the 1990's wardley era level (vampire, nemesis, hex etc)

Spend hundreds of millions to get anything close to 1990's levels you mean? For what return exactly? To try and compete with a company that isn't directly competing with you? Why?

I'm sure everything looks crap when compared to the First class offerings of Qatar, Etihad, and BA. People still fly Ryanair, easyJet and Vueling in droves though.