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Blackpool Pleasure Beach | Icon | Mack Multi-Launch

Is anyone going to Pleasure Beach on Sunday? I'm filming a documentary about Mack Rides and I'll be asking enthusiasts about their views on Icon as well as Mack Rides in general. If anyone is interested please let me know

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I would be interested in where the 100k extra visitors target came from. Anyone know what factors informed this target? Is it linked to the spending on construction and/or marketing or something?
 
A 200'000 decrease is shocking is it not?

Even moreso in a new-ride-year?

Even me in my incessant pessimism can't' see it being that bad.
 
When was this data taken? It could of been before the main summer for all we know, the season isn't over yet.

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Smithy said:
A 200'000 decrease is shocking is it not?

Even moreso in a new-ride-year?

Even me in my incessant pessimism can't' see it being that bad.
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Thorpe had a 200,000 decrease in 2012 when Swarm was built. SeaWorld Orlando also had a 375,000 decrease the year Mako was built, although SeaWorld is admittedly quite a different ball game to Thorpe and Blackpool.
 
Unless I'm massively mistaken, I thought Alton had 2 million visitors in 2017 so a 200k drop for them would be 10%; that's a drastic number for any business and I'd imagine it's an even greater percentage for BPB.

I'm sure there are other factors and it's far, far too soon to draw any confident conclusions from this season just yet.
 
1 Absolute shambles on the trains in the spring through the summer, BPB has its own station, and is used by a great many northerners in the grim mill towns...Colne, Nelson, Burnley, Accrington, Blackburn and Preston have always had direct "beery" trains on a good timetable every year...until this year.
2 **** marketing of the new ride.
3 Cautious punters unhappy to spend on leisure just before brexit...there is a lot of quiet saving going on...just in case.
4 Dead weird weather...extremely wet spring, extremely hot summer.
5 Towers season passes for fifty quid.
6 Dead mouse.
Add them all together, and that covers it I would say.
 
Temleh said:
Giving out names of sources when it would threaten their jobs isn't really my style... You'll just have to take my word for it.
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AAAhhh I get you, so it's all bull****.

I get you. I'm not asking for names, I'm asking for the source for this data to be backed up by evidence. A report, a news article, a representative from the park! Just something instead of someone posting on (may I add, an Alton Towers) forum.

They definitely would not have had had a decline in attendance I can put money on that. I do see them missing their target, the theme park industry is still feeling an impact from the smiler incident, this and wickerman are the first big rides since, there was bound to be some caution from the GP. I would like to read a report though on attendance it would be really interesting as it would shape the future of investment in the market.

So yeah, if you're going to give a dramatic account of the massive failure of a ride which is actually pretty decent. Then please give a shred of evidence.
 
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bob_3_ said:
AAAhhh I get you, so it's all bull:emoji_poop:.

I get you. I'm not asking for names, I'm asking for the source for this data to be backed up by evidence. A report, a news article, a representative from the park! Just something instead of someone posting on (may I add, an Alton Towers) forum.

They definitely would not have had had a decline in attendance I can put money on that. I do see them missing their target, the theme park industry is still feeling an impact from the smiler incident, this and wickerman are the first big rides since, there was bound to be some caution from the GP. I would like to read a report though on attendance it would be really interesting as it would shape the future of investment in the market.

So yeah, if you're going to give a dramatic account of the massive failure of a ride which is actually pretty decent. Then please give a shred of evidence.
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How much?

Whilst I think the amount quoted unlikely, a decline in general isn't all that unlikely given the current market condition.
 
There is no decent source for that data. A blert on another forum doesn't count. Not saying it's not possible, just saying it's hot air until we have some real info. Blackpool as a place has a had a couple of decent seasons with the trend for holidaying in the UK. If Blackpool has done okay again, the Pleas will have too.
 
The "blert" has passed on correct information on a large number of occasions in the past.
The "blert" has good contacts within the organisation, and I have only known him give the wrong information once.
And I don't really know the guy, but he certainly comes across as the right sort on our brief chats in the coaster queues.
 
Okay then.
What was the wrong information though? River Caves to be turned into a sex dungeon level of lies? Or no more free sugar in the bag with doughnuts level?
I confess to being curious.
 
Incorrect costing of this year's (edit...next years!) season passes.
A large number of his previous...early...posts were proved correct.
Can't remember all the examples, but they were spot on.
Including confirming Icons name, but it had been mentioned as a possibility before.
 
sandgrown said:
There is no decent source for that data. A blert on another forum doesn't count. Not saying it's not possible, just saying it's hot air until we have some real info. Blackpool as a place has a had a couple of decent seasons with the trend for holidaying in the UK. If Blackpool has done okay again, the Pleas will have too.
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Not necessarily, since they (arguably) turn away a lot of potential custom through driving online bookings and closing when they want to, not when the public want them to. Blackpool is a busy seaside town yet BPB don't cater for on-the-day visitors at all, and their opening hours do not fit in with the town - especially during illuminations and summer holidays. There are many instances whereby Blackpool as a town is heaving, but Pleasure Beach is quiet.

Based on how quiet the park has been during most of my visits this year compared with previous ones, a drop of 200,000 seems plausible.
 
It's been confirmed today that Blackpool had 400,000 fewer visitors this year than last (mostly day trippers). BPB and Blackpool Council have blamed the train chaos, but that can't be the only reason.
 
Source: https://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/...opportunities-for-blackpool-tourism-1-9431420

Not just the timetable and strike issue but the train prices were noticeably more expensive this year too. Virgin Trains now do a direct link from London but it was over £80 standard return, £120 first.

But, like Robbie mentioned, I don't think that's the entire story. I had a horrible time at Blackpool Pleasure Beach (that's a story for another day) and have no desire to go back despite how great Icon is. I know a few others who have had similar horror stories in Blackpool too. And then there's the botched advertising campaign for ICON and a general lack of advertising for Blackpool itself, I'm sure in years past I've seen more buzz for Blackpool.
 
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