Park News
Dream
relationship Universal acquires animation studio
In a move that has been viewed by some to be a mirror of Disney’s 2006 acquisition of Pixar, Comcast is to buy DreamWorks Animation Studio and integrate it with its NBCUniversal division.
The $3.8 billion deal, which will see Comcast receive $41 in cash per share of
stock, will take effect by the end of the year if it passes the necessary regulatory hurdles. Stock in the company soared by as much as 24% when the acquisition was announced late last month on Wall Street. Comcast has confirmed that DreamWorks will become part of the Universal Filmed Entertainment Group, which includes Universal Pictures, Fandango and NBCUniversal Brand Development. Both Comcast and DreamWorks are smaller than Disney and Pixar respectively (whose merger represented a $7.4bn deal nine years ago), but their ambitions are similar: "DreamWorks will help us grow our film, television, theme parks and consumer products businesses for years to come," confirms NBCUniversal CEO Steve Burke. Best known for its Shrek, Madagascar and Kung Fu Panda animated film
franchises, DreamWorks has embarked on a fairly intensive roll out of new theme park attractions in recent years, partnering with operators including Merlin Entertainments, Dubai Parks & Resorts, MAPS Perak in Malaysia and Dreamworld in Australia, in addition to Universal. How some of those other relationships will be affected when the brand owner becomes part of Universal remains to be seen, but evidence from Disney’s acquisition of Marvel a few years back suggest no IP agreements with external operators will be terminated in the short to mid term.
This Puss in Boots coaster is part of the DreamWorks themed land Far Far Away at Universal Studios Singapore
EAS 2016:
bigger than ever! After a dip in attendance last October at the excellent but difficult to reach (for some) Euro Attraction Shows in Gothenburg, Sweden, IAAPA is preparing to present what will be the biggest ever edition of the event this September in Barcelona. More than 435 companies from 60 countries have confirmed their attendance and will feature on a record-breaking 12,000-net-square-metre trade show floor. The accompanying conference programme will feature more than 20 hours of education, including the IAAPA Institute for Attractions Managers, Lunch and Learn seminars, and the Leadership Breakfast – details of which will emerge soon. Tours, post tours and networking events are expected to be held at the parks Tibidabo and PortAventura. Held from September 20 to 22 at the Fira Gran Via Convention Center in
Barcelona, this will be the first Euro Attractions Show held in southern Europe since the well-attended 2010 event in Rome. While EAS continues to be popular with visitors and exhibitors from across Europe, there is also an increase in those coming from the Middle East and Africa, in keeping with the recent move by IAAPA's regional office in Brussels to take in the entire EMEA region. More updates to follow, but in the meantime to see how you could be part of
the proceedings along with a predicted 9,000+ industry colleagues, visit
IAAPA.org/EAS
CLOUD COASTER
A Cloud Coaster has opened at the Margaritaville Resort Biloxi in Mississippi courtesy of Extreme Engineering. Standing up to 22ft (7m) in the air, the attraction offers provides a controlled speed of up to 23 mph (37km/h) over 230ft (70m) of steel track that gives riders the triple sensation of flying, zip-lining and rocketing down a track with smooth turns, uphill racing and zipping around structures.
One of the latest brand extensions of US singer Jimmy Buffet’s restaurant chain,
Margaritaville Resort Biloxi is a tropical oasis rejuvenating the once thriving South Mississippi family beach attraction offerings. The 200 to 300 per hour capacity Cloud Coaster is featured in the resort’s indoor-outdoor entertainment centre along with a lazy river, pool, water slides and hundreds of arcade games. Targetting an older demographic than most Orlando attractions, a Margaritaville Resort is also planned for Central Florida. "We are honored to bring the world’s only tandem ride, cart-less roller coaster to the Margaritaville Resort Biloxi," says Extreme Engineering CEO Jeff Wilson. "Our latest innovation provides an exciting, totally unique ride the entire family can enjoy.”
The Cloud Coaster can be supplied with either
conveyor belts or linear motor technology. This allows tandem riders to be pulled up a track on motors to zip up hills or steep terrain for a unique ride. This streamlined approach ensures riders experience minimal G-forces.
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