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Removal of G-Force at Drayton Manor (2005 - 2018)

CookieCoasters said:
I think you’re right about Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit, and the other ones I can think of that tightened (Formule X, Abismo) are two of the “older” ones so I guess they fixed the issue eventually. Shock is another “newer” one I’ve done and I’m pretty sure that didn’t tighten either.
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Ah, so the tightening might have been a problem that Maurer learnt to fix over time. Thanks @CookieCoasters!
 
An interesting article about the financial difficulties the park has been having in last couple of years.

Losses have deepened at Drayton Manor after a financial year which the theme park said was "one of the most difficult in the group's history". The park suffered a fall in visitor numbers following the tragic death of an 11-year-old girl, and after armed police were stationed at the attraction in the spring and early summer of 2017 following the UK's terror threat level rising to 'critical'.

Newly filed accounts for the park, which is based near Tamworth in Staffordshire, have revealed its pre-tax losses slumped from £1.4m to £4.2m during the year to 28 February 2018.

The company said factors including the tragic death of an 11-year-old girl in May 2017and the presence of armed police at the park, alongside economic uncertainty, contributed to visitor numbers falling to about 70 per cent of expected levels during the summer.

Visitor numbers improved to "near historic levels", Drayton Manor added, but it was unable to recover the shortfall experienced during the late spring and early summer.

As a result, the business underwent a refinancing exercise. A repayment holiday was granted by the company's bank for a loan while its overdraft facility was extended for "the six months of the year when cash is at its tightest".

Drayton Manor's total turnover decreased from £24.9m to £22.9m during the financial year.

Turnover from the theme park, which first opened in 1949, decreased from £19.9m to £18.1m and from £4.9m to £4.8m for the hotel.

Drayton Manor added that it is "pleased to report that the business is operating within these facilities and that all covenants were met at the year end and are forecast to be met at the next year end".

Chairman Colin Bryan said: "Drayton Manor Park’s results have been affected by a number of factors, including the economy’s current state of uncertainty and, following the Westminster Bridge attack, heightened armed police presence at the park.

"However, we’re seeing a return in confidence by visitors, reflected in increased numbers this season."

A statement signed off by the board added: "The financial year has been one of the most difficult in the group's history.

"In May 2017, a tragic incident took place in the theme park which led to a young girl losing her life.

"This event shook the whole of the Drayton Manor family from the board of directors, through to the staff and visitors.

"While the investigations are continuing, we are unable to comment on the likely findings of the investigations or quantify the financial impact that this event has had on the business."

The James and the Balloon ride opened in Thomas Land in April 2017 while other investments in rides and attractions have been "directed towards uplifting the reliability and 'look and feel' of a number of existing rides rather than investing in new rides".

The Accelerator rollercoaster was rebranded from Ben 10 while StormForce 10 was closed for the year while the journey of the boats around the ride was improved.

The Sheriff's Shoot Out ride was upgraded while The Buffalo ride also received a face lift.

The hotel's restaurant was extended with the addition of a Garden Room.

The park was hit at the start of its new financial period, the year to 28 February 2019, by very wet and cold weather which forced it to close for three days during March due to heavy snowfall.

Easter falling early, which coincided with the cold weather, also resulted in visitor numbers for the first two months of the year to be below expectations.

However, in May the weather improved and visitor numbers "regularly exceeded" forecasts which "helped to claw back some of the shortfall from earlier in the year".

Drayton Manor added that the summer period was strong and visitor numbers were in line with its expectations.

The number of people employed by the park rose from 452 to 486.
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https://www.insidermedia.com/inside...after-visitor-numbers-decline?ts=201812041220
 
That's a really interesting and very open article about how they're doing. Will be interesting to see what happens with the park over the next few years.
 
Sorry to bump the thread, but I have heard from a poster on TowersStreet Talk who has visited Drayton Manor recently that G Force's trains have now been removed from the track. Whether the track will follow any time soon I'm not too sure, but take from this what you will.
 
jayjay said:
Sounds like annual maintenance to me.
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Surely that's what the maintenance shed is for?

Sounds like an awful lot of work to remove the train off the track and put it at ground level for maintenance when they've got a purpose-built area for that.

Of course, there's plenty of reasons why they could, so can't really say either way.
 
A key factor to this - do they do this every year? Pretty obvious clue as to whether this is typical stuff or something more serious.
 
Can't remember where - so I know its no help at all - but I did see somewhere (probs twitter) that G-Force is done. Could be starting the strip down now??
 
Apoligies for the bump, but it appears that G-Force has closed for good, the ride is half removed, but that it's been sold and may reappear.
From Coaster Studios discord. Take with large grain of salt of course.Screenshot (213).png
 
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Cranedude said:
Yes, but they also mention a 10 Inversion coaster at Flamingo Land. And that appears to be really happening.
I think photos will come up soon of the coaster removal.
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It doesn't appear to be really happening at all. Just because more and more people are running with the idea doesn't mean that it has any basis in actual truth.
 
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