NEWS: Russia seeks Moscow theme park with NBC Universal

[jedimaster1227]

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/04/12/bin-nbc-idUSL2E8FC35S20120412

 

Russian property group BIN wants to create a theme park in the south of Moscow with U.S. media group NBC Universal, although the $2.8 billion cost of the project has yet to receive approval, BIN's co-owner Said Gutseriev said on Thursday.

 

It would be the first theme park in Europe for NBC Universal, whose subsidiary Universal Park & Resorts operates parks in countries including the United States and Singapore.

 

The plans were confirmed by Universal Parks & Resorts global business development head Michael Silver.

 

Gutseriev said an application to Moscow authorities for permission for the park was being prepared.

 

NBC Universal is majority owned by U.S. cable operator Comcast Corp.

Edited December 19, 2012 by jedimaster1227

[larrygator]

On a related note, I'm not sure many Westerners realize that Gorky Park closed last year.

Edited April 13, 2012 by larrygator

[XYZ]

On a related note, I'm not many Westerners realize that Gorky Park closed last year.

 

Wow! That's sad. Well, you were right, not many Westerners realized that.

 

 

Well, with a "news flash" from Larry, I think Russia really needs this, and that country is massive in not only area, but in population and it really never had any amusement parks that enthusiasts ever talked about.

[BeemerBoy]

Does vodka mix well with butterbeer?

[larrygator]

Does vodka mix well with butterbeer?

 

NYET!

[cfc]

The Cossacks would sack and burn your neighborhood for even making such a suggestion, Scott!

[Skycoastin Steve]

"In Soviet Russia, the roller coaster rides YOU!"

[Tanks4me05]

On a related note, I'm not many Westerners realize that Gorky Park closed last year.

 

 

WHAT????? *checks rcdb.*

 

NO!!!! The EuroStar that traveled the German fair circuit was there!! *Cries a little inside.*

[BDG]

Moscow is just about the worst possible location for a European Universal Studios park.

[larrygator]

Moscow is just about the worst possible location for a European Universal Studios park.

 

Why is the most populated city in Europe the worst location? I realize it is distant from many other major cities, but it appears to be undeserved in the area of amusement parks and the economy is relatively stable and growing (not as bad as Portugal, Spain, Greece)

[XYZ]

Moscow is just about the worst possible location for a European Universal Studios park.

 

Why is the most populated city in Europe the worst location? I realize it is distant from many other major cities, but it appears to be undeserved in the area of amusement parks and the economy is relatively stable and growing (not as bad as Portugal, Spain, Greece)

 

I think that Moscow is a really good location, also Legoland is building a park in Malaysia & Disney is building a park in Shanghai, and I count those two places as much worse than Moscow with all the poverty and the government there.

[piers]

Was Port Aventura not a Universal park in Europe?

[Top Thrill Dragster]

^ It was.

 

 

If this happens, It will be interesting to see how Universal designs a park with Russian winters in mind.

[larrygator]

^ It was.

 

 

If this happens, It will be interesting to see how Universal designs a park with Russian winters in mind.

 

Shouldn't be a big concern. They have designed for Florida hurricanes, California earthquakes and Japanese thypoons. Moscow winters are cold but not any more destructive than other elements from Mother Nature.

[BDG]

Why is the most populated city in Europe the worst location?

It's the most populated city alright, but 10 million isn't that many if in the same area in western Europe (for example here in Flanders), you have 50 million people in the same radius.

 

Then there's another very important question. How many of those 10 million can afford a visit ?

Probably not even half.

 

Finally, you're 1,500 miles away from the rest of Europe. Will they visit ? Unlikely.

 

Then there's the climate. Winters can be brutal, so you're looking at 3 or 4 months of closure... or at least the outdoor rides will be closed.

Potentially lots of maintenance costs. Can the scenery handle the freezing temperatures ?

 

And that's ignoring the reputation of the city. Corruption, piracy, violence. Or Russia itself, always anti-America. Not a good place for an American pop culture park.

 

The investors should consider a smaller park, something the size of a small Six Flags. Moscow deserves a theme park - and so do many eastern European and former Soviet countries - but a Universal Studios is not the right park. Not for Moscow, not for Universal.

Edited April 13, 2012 by BDG

[BeemerBoy]

If this happens, It will be interesting to see how Universal designs a park with Russian winters in mind.

Minus HRRRRRRR, a kiddie coaster, and a couple outdoor stages, couldn't you basically copy and paste Universal Orlando in Moscow? I mean, it basically consists of indoor attractions, no?

[jedimaster1227]

^Just build two more Twister preshows where Rockit is and that sounds like a solid business model for success.

 

"Fhew chave vitnessed an Eff-Five and livved to tale the tale... I'm Bill Paxxxton."

[larrygator]

Why is the most populated city in Europe the worst location?

It's the most populated city alright, but 10 million isn't that many if in the same area in western Europe (for example here in Flanders), you have 50 million people in the same radius.

 

Then there's another very important question. How many of those 10 million can afford a visit ?

Probably not even half.

 

Finally, you're 1,500 miles away from the rest of Europe. Will they visit ? Unlikely.

 

Then there's the climate. Winters can be brutal, so you're looking at 3 or 4 months of closure... or at least the outdoor rides will be closed.

Potentially lots of maintenance costs. Can the scenery handle the freezing temperatures ?

 

And that's ignoring the reputation of the city. Corruption, piracy, violence. Or Russia itself, always anti-America. Not a good place for an American pop culture park.

 

The investors should consider a smaller park, something the size of a small Six Flags. Moscow deserves a theme park - and so do many eastern European and former Soviet countries - but a Universal Studios is not the right park. Not for Moscow, not for Universal.

 

Thank you for explaining your point of view. Some points are valid.

Edited April 13, 2012 by larrygator

[_koppen]

It's the most populated city alright, but 10 million isn't that many if in the same area in western Europe (for example here in Flanders), you have 50 million people in the same radius.

 

You do realize that there are 143 million people living in Russia, and the majority of them living in the west?

And no theme pars to speak about, exept Divo Ostrov in St: Petersburg. Compare that to the Flanders are where you have about 50 other parks to compete about for visitors.

 

 

Then there's another very important question. How many of those 10 million can afford a visit ?

Probably not even half.

 

Have you ever seen traveling Russians? They are everywhere!

Russia is one of the fastest growing nations in comes of welfare.

 

Finally, you're 1,500 miles away from the rest of Europe. Will they visit ? Unlikely.

 

Actually Russia have eased up the visa rules for a lot of European country's, there are a lot of people going to Moscow for a short holiday trip.

 

Then there's the climate. Winters can be brutal, so you're looking at 3 or 4 months of closure... or at least the outdoor rides will be closed.

Potentially lots of maintenance costs. Can the scenery handle the freezing temperatures ?

 

Because this would be the only seasonal theme park with could temperatures in the world..

 

And that's ignoring the reputation of the city. Corruption, piracy, violence. Or Russia itself, always anti-America

 

The reputation of the city? I seriously don't think that Russians are caring that much about the reputation of their own capital..

After all, Moscow must be the only big city in the world with a bad rep according to you?

 

Not a good place for an American pop culture park.

 

And you don't think the Russians want's to experience the American pop culture they are watching on TV and the internet?

 

The investors should consider a smaller park, something the size of a small Six Flags. Moscow deserves a theme park - and so do many eastern European and former Soviet countries - but a Universal Studios is not the right park. Not for Moscow, not for Universal.

 

If all people were thinking the same way as you, there would be no big parks in the world..

 

This thing could be a huge hit for Universal, it's always good to be first with something.

Have you seen the theme park market in China recently?

You don't think the same thing will happen in Russia in a smaller scale soon?

[BDG]

I'm not the only one doubting this project's location and accessibility:

The ambitious project of Universal and Bin Group would cost about $2.8 billion, while the theme park alone needs $500 million investment, according to Sait-Salam Gutsiriev, the co-owner of Bin Group. But experts say, the construction will need up to $11 billion as the road infrastructure needs upgrading and additional interchanges should be built in the area.

(and that's just for roads)

 

 

I wasn't aware of the following facts, but they confirm the doubts I had...

 

...regarding the wallets of the locals...

The entrance fee for the Moscow park would be about $34, the lowest in the world, compared to the $85 fee for the park in Orlando or $54 in Singapore.

 

...and the weather...

Universal Parks & Resorts is planning to build an indoor theme park in Moscow as part of a massive sports-and-entertainment complex announced Wednesday by a Russian developer.

Apparently, it will be completely indoors and pretty small. Not a true Universal Studios park, which could tarnish the brand if people visit it and think "Is this it ? Is this what Orlando is about?"

 

 

 

Again, I'm not against a theme park for Moscow.

I'm only saying Universal Studios and Moscow aren't a good match.

 

The combination of expensive licenses with questionable locations rarely works out.

 

Space Park and Hard Rock Park couldn't even survive a single season because of their expensive themes and rather poor location.

Warner Bros Madrid has been performing far below expectations and Ferrari World is in serious trouble.

[larrygator]

Here is a little more info on the proposed project.

 

NBC/Universal is not investing any money

The theme park (or at least a large part of it) will be enclosed.

 

http://en.gazeta.ru/news/2012/04/13/a_4344674.shtml

 

Universal to build amusement park in Moscow

 

Sait-Salam Gutseriev, the co-owner of the BIN group of companies, in cooperation with Universal are planning to build a "Galaxy park" in Moscow, the businessman told journalists on Thursday. The project is take up around 650-700 thousand square meters. Approximately 150 thousan sq. meters will be allotted for an enclosed theme park. The project space will also include an aqua park, hotels, and malls. It is planned to be built by 2018, in the southern part of the city.

 

According to Gutseriev, the project will cost about $2.8 bln, from which $500 mln will be used for the amusement park. The rest of money will be used to build roads and transportation infrastructure. Universal is not planning to invest anything into the Moscow project.

 

"Russia is a very significant and attractive market for us, we see big potential for amusement parks here," said Michael Silver from the Universal Parks & Resorts.

 

"Park attendance will be 5-6 million people a year, of which two million will foreigners," Gutseriev said.

The Moscow park will be the first project by NBCUniversal in Europe. The company now has four theme parks in the USA, Singapore and Japan.

Some attractions will be projected especially for Moscow, Silver mentioned.

Gutseriev's structures own some 22 hectares of land in the south of Moscow.

 

Moscow authorities have not yet approved the project. The companies are holding negotiations with the Moscow building complex to pass the plan to the city land commission.

"Construction of the Universal theme park will be a good sign for the Russian market and the Walt Disney Corporation," Konstantin Kovalev from Blackwood said

[gisco]

I need a reason to go to Moscow. I hope this thing goes and they put in a good coaster!

[disneyfan1313]

I would love to be positive about this, but you still hear a TON of stories out of Russia about deep corruption, money laundering, etc. I kinda have a bad feeling that this will be a Hard Rock Park type of situation.

[Jew]

^So long as Comcast can collect their licensing fee, seems like a smart business decision.

Edited April 23, 2012 by Jew

[jedimaster1227]

http://indrus.in/articles/2012/12/15/universal_studios_to_build_giant_theme_park_in_moscow_21041.html

 

Earlier, is was reported that a plot of 22 hectares in the area was to be used by the Bin group of companies for theme park construction, and Universal Studios was to be in charge of the project’s management when it starts operating.

 

A representative of Moskomstoiinvest, the city’s committee for investment in development projects, confirmed that the city’s commission for urban planning and land had approved the construction of a hotel and business complex on Varshavskoye Shosse, Vedomosti reported.

 

First in Europe, fifth in the world

 

The Universal Studios park is to take some 150,000 square meters, according to the publication, and Michael Silver, president of global business development for Universal Parks & Resorts, earlier confirmed the company’s readiness to take over.

 

For Universal, the project is to become its fifth theme park, and its first installment in Europe.

 

The whole $3-billion project planned for the area of 1.2 million square meters will also include a winter garden, an aqua park and a musical theater together with hotels, malls and a business center.

 

Plans to build a giant theme park in Moscow have been voiced since the 1990s, but have always been stalled.