Find great staff ™ Jobs start on page 27 MANAGEMENT NEWS 30 MAY 2018 ISSUE 105 www.attractionsmanagement.com Europa Park blaze destroys historic ride A major fi re broke out at Germany's Europa Park over the weekend, destroying a historic ride and consuming a large part of the park's Scandinavia and Norway-themed areas. Starting on the Pirates of Batavia water dark ride, the fi re created a huge plume of smoke that could be seen for miles. According to local police, seven fi refi ghters were slightly injured during the operation, and were treated for smoke inhalation. No park visitors or employees were injured during the event, with more than 25,000 people safely evacuated. Created by Mack Rides, Pirates QThe fire created a thick plume of in Batavia opened in 1987 and smoke that could be seen for miles was situated in a large hall in the park's Dutch themed area. information yet regarding the exact "The cause of the fi re is still unclear, amount of damage. It is in the millions. The cause of the fi re is however the police have started their 200 employees are employed in the still unclear, however investigation," said the park in a damaged Dutch and Scandinavian theme the police have started statement to Attractions Management areas. They all will keep their jobs." their investigation News. "Europa-Park cannot give any MORE: http://lei.sr?a=w4e2C_T Europa Park IAAPA THEME PARKS ANALYSIS IAAPA breaks ground Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge Disney's day, worldwide on new Orlando HQ 'cleared for arrival' splash and Paris' ressurgence Andreas Andersen is p2 Disney sets opening dates p11 TEA and AECOM release p14 looking to the future for hotly-anticipated lands latest Theme Index report Attractions people IAAPA chair Andreas Andersen looking forward as association breaks ground on new Orlando headquarters AAPA chair Andreas "This is the place we all go I Andersen has expressed his to for inspiration and events to hope that the organisation's see everything in the industry new international headquarters which is new and exciting. in Orlando, Florida, will act Orlando is also the home to the as its home for at least the IAAPA Attractions Expo, which next 100 years, following the takes place every November." project's groundbreaking. The new headquarters will Covering 22,000sq ft feature dedicated member (2,000sq m), the site on space, with meeting rooms, Vineland Road is slated to special event space and a be completed by the third lounge, as well as a library for quarter of next year, with the association's archives. development costing US$14m "This is not just an office, (€11.8m, £10.4m). IAAPA QThe organisation broke ground on the headquarters in May it's a home," said Andersen. announced its move from "I think a lot of our members Washington, DC, to Orlando in "I do hope that this will will visit the headquarters – not 2016, setting up temporary become IAAPA's home for only our committees but also headquarters last year the next centennial" because we will have our new ahead of the organisation's member events space and permanent move in 2019. the international members attractions industry," said library. I do hope that this "I think it makes a lot of IAAPA because Orlando Andersen, speaking following will become IAAPA's home of sense, especially to all is really the heart of the the groundbreaking ceremony. for the next centennial." Ferrari Land delivers for Fernando Aldecoa as PortAventura targets 5 million visitor mark ortAventura has expanded "The figures for the year so far demonstrate P its offering at Ferrari how the park has already established itself Land, introducing a new as a dynamic force within PortAventura" children's area for visitors to the popular destination itself as a dynamic force Featuring five new rides as it attempts to reach within PortAventura World’s manufactured by Italian 5 million visitors in 2018. offering," said Fernando company the SBF Visa Group, In 2017, PortAventura World Aldecoa, managing director the new kids' area is anchored reached 4.7 million visits, of PortAventura World. by Junior Red Force – a steel with growth of 19 per cent "The park also strengthens family rollercoaster sitting compared to 2016. This our existing position as within the shadow of the season, the forecast is a world-class holiday record-breaking Red Force QFernando Aldecoa is expected to grow and destination that currently launch coaster. PortAventura's managing director of surpass 5 million visits. offers three theme parks, five Ferrari addition has also had a PortAventura World “The figures for the year themed hotels, a convention significant effect on hotel stays so far demonstrate how the centre, three golf courses for the operator, with a 27 per park has already established and a beach club." cent increase in bookings. 2 attractionsmanagement.com ©Cybertrek Ltd 2018 ISSUE 105 JOBS START ON PAGE 27 >>> MANAGEMENT NEWS Contents issue 105 02 IAAPA breaks ground on new Orlando HQ IAAPA chair Andreas Andersen is looking to the future 06 Comcast throws wrench in Disney-Fox deal Comcast emerges as a late contender for Fox's assets 08 A Jurassic evolution Universal Studios Hollywood is revamping its Jurrasic Park area 11 Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge 'cleared for arrival' Q Alan Shearer is Newcastle United FC's record goalscorer Disney sets opening dates for hotly-anticipated Star Wars lands "It’s just what the city needs – a new 14 Disney's day, worldwide iconic attraction that celebrates splash and Paris' ressurgence our rich history and culture" TEA and AECOM release latest Theme Index report Iconic Newcastle footballer Alan 20 £16.25m Icon launches Shearer backs 'Whey Aye' wheel New rollercoaster comes to Blackpool Pleasure Beach lan Shearer, former year – a pedestrianised area A Newcastle and England with bars, restaurants and a footballer and current brand new visitor attraction will CLASSIFIED & JOBS TV pundit for the BBC, has be built. The attraction, Giants backed plans to build Europe’s of the North Experience, will Job opportunities 27 tallest observation wheel use state-of-the-art technology in the heart of Newcastle. to tell the stories of some Called the Whey Aye, the of the northeast’s greatest Sign up to Leisure Opportunities: 140-metre-tall (459-foot) citizens, including sports Online: www.leisuresubs.com attraction, which will be stars, musicians and artists, Email: [email protected] located at the east end of and pioneers of industry. Tel: +44 (0)1462 471930 the city’s Quayside and offer "It’s just what the city needs,” Annual subscriptions: UK £34, 30-minute “flights”, will be five said Shearer – the Premier UK students £18, Europe £45, RoW £68 metres taller than the London League's all-time record goal Leisure Opportunities is published 26 times a year by The Leisure Media Eye and takes its nickname scorer. “A new iconic attraction Company Ltd, Portmill House, Portmill Lane, Hitchin, Herts SG5 1DJ, UK. The views expressed in this publication are those of the author and do from the oft-heard Geordie that celebrates our rich history not necessarily represent those of the publisher. All rights reserved. No phrase, “Whey aye, man”. and culture, while creating jobs part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by means, electronic, mechanical, recorded or Around the observation wheel and income for the people. A otherwise, without the prior permission of the copyright holder, Cybertrek – which is expected to welcome development like this would Ltd. Printed by Warners Midlands PLC. Distributed by Royal Mail Group Ltd and Whistl Ltd in the UK and Total Mail Ltd globally. ©Cybertrek Ltd 2018 800,000 guests in its first have my full support.” ISSN 0952/8210 (Print). ISSN 2397-2394 (Online). ISSUE 105 ©Cybertrek Ltd 2018 attractionsmanagement.com 3 Attractions people Six Flags acquires five new US parks as CEO Jim Reid-Anderson hails 'milestone' for company ix Flags is expanding its "These are all fantastic properties that S US reach, announcing complement our existing portfolio and the acquisition of provide tremendous added value" five new parks to bring its North American portfolio with an additional 20 million out park acquisitions that up to 25 properties. guests within a 100-mile expand our addressable The operator has a radius of a Six Flags park, market,” said Six Flags purchase agreement with significantly expanding the chair, CEO, and president, Premier Parks, acquiring company’s national footprint. Jim Reid-Anderson. the lease rights to operate On completion of the “These are all fantastic the five attractions, located acquisitions, Six Flags will properties that complement in Texas, Arizona, New York become the largest waterpark our existing portfolio and QJim Reid-Anderson, chair, State and Oklahoma. operator in North America. provide tremendous added president and CEO, Six Flags With the five additional “This represents value and cross-visitation properties, Six Flags will another milestone in our opportunities for our increase attendance by strategic North-American extensive membership roughly two million visitors, growth initiative to seek and season pass base.” Kalahari Resorts Owner Todd Nelson celebrates with groundbreaking for US$550m waterpark and resort in Texas alahari Resorts and centre will also be included K Conventions has finally in the development. It broken ground on its will also offer a spa, five US$550m (€464m, £407.7m) restaurants and 10,000sq ft African-themed waterpark (929sq m) of retail space. and resort in Round Rock, “When we design our Texas – Kalahari’s first venture resorts, we stay focused in the southwest of the US on adding amenities that and fourth property overall.