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Legoland Discovery Centre Manchester
Merlin Entertainments’ first new standalone attraction in the UK for almost 10 years will open in the northern city of Manchester in time for next Easter. Located inside the Trafford Centre shopping mall, the £7.5 million (€8.7m/$12.8m) development will be the country’s first Legoland Discovery Centre (LDC), one of two opening worldwide in 2010.
Also online this month:
BALPPA confirms new chief executive
Following the recent announcement of Colin Dawson’s planned retirement, the British Association of Leisure Parks, Piers and Attractions (BALPPA) has confirmed that Martin Barratt (pictured) will replace him as chief executive next spring.
Chimelong confirms new park project
The Chimelong Group has been revealed as the developer of a planned marine park, safari and hotel development at Hengqin Island in Zhuhai, part of China’s Guangdong Province.
Free Fly opens in Sweden
The first of what S&S hopes will be a successful line of new coasters debuted late June at the Swedish park Skara Sommarland. Tranan (The Crane) is a Free Fly coaster featuring longitudinally spinning cars suspended from the outside of the track.
iSpeed launches at Mirabilanidia
Promising the “adrenaline of Formula One,” Mirabilandia launched its new iSpeed rollercoaster on June 20 with the appearance of motorcycle champion Mark Simoncelli.
Rip Ride Rockit ...almost ready!
Due to open any day now, Universal Studios in Orlando will soon unveil “one of the most radically innovative rollercoasters ever created” – Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit. Built by Maurer Söhne, the ride combines a number of new coaster moves with a highly sophisticated audio and video system to offer unique ride experience.
Bizzaro debuts in New England and New Jersey
Six Flags Great Adventure, Jackson, New Jersey, has unveiled Bizarro. Themed around the DC Comics character of the same name, this newly-enhanced rollercoaste now features high tech special effects and on-board audio system to assault the senses.
KMG debuts High Swing
KMG, the Dutch ride builder, premiered its new High Swing tower in Antwerp last month. The ride stands 60-metres tall and accommodates up to 24 passengers (12 pairs) at a time in high-flying seats as the central column rotates.
Amazing Asian Animals
Open since late April in Hong Kong, Amazing Asian Animals is the first major new attraction to open as part of Ocean Park’s HK$5.5 billion (US$710m/€508m) Master Redevelopment Project.
Show Time!
Few other offerings keep guests entertained for longer or in such great numbers, which is why shows are essential to most amusement park operators. As more and more park owners begin to re-examine their expenditure on new attractions, is live entertainment now rising to the fore as a cost-effective way to keep guests happy?
Looney Tunes Live - The Experiment
Currently playing at three Butlins holiday parks in the UK, this new hi-tech stage show fuses live action with animation featuring a cast of popular Looney Tunes characters. The show was devised by OddPost Entertainment using motion capture technology from Animazoo/Animalive and has been a big hit with Butlins guests since it debuted in May.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles dark ride for South Korea
4Kids Entertainment and Mirage Studios have approved the first-ever theme park ride based around the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles property, which is “shell-ebrating” its 25th anniversary this year.
Happy Valley Wuhan
The leading Chinese attractions operator OCT has confirmed Wuhan will be the location for its fifth Happy Valley theme park after signing an agreement in late May with the local government.
Eye on the future
The first capsule was removed on June 25 as part of a £12 million upgrade to the London Eye, the UK’s number one paid-for visitor attraction. Since it opened in 2000, the world-famous observation wheel has welcomed over 33 million visitors, and Merlin now wants to “future proof” it and maintain its position on London’s Southbank for many years to come.
The London Eye reinvigorated the Ferris Wheel. What other ride or attraction is ready for renewal and why?
Chuck Bingham, Martin & Vleminckx: I’ve always thought certain old rides should be brought back; one of those is the Flying Scooters. Now I see a guy from New York intends to resurrect the Whip. Some of those old rides were really simple but they delivered a great experience. I remember some years ago talking to Jac Houben and asking why we can’t put the coaster train on the other side of the track and, low and behold, Vekoma did the suspended coaster a few years later. Water rides are another area where you wonder what can be done that’s new, because it’s been the same basic idea for years. Actually, we do have new concept but I can’t tell you about it yet. It’s a twist on an old favourite so look out!
