Knotts, Sinister, Dark Harbor, and Fright Fest are major areas, but I actually think Festival of Frights is going to do the most damage to Universal, not just because of IP's, but because of proximity and affordability.
Warner Bros is not even gonna make a small dent in HHN's business! Nobody even knows about that event, not even die-hard Haunt fans. It's way less nights and at $59, that's pretty close to HHN's price on a weekday or first weekend. I went to HHN last year I think for $49 -- TWICE, at the beginning and the end (with college discount, since I work at a college). There's also way less attractions with questionable quality (Neibolt house looked awful, as much as I love IT) -- but I'm willing to bite the bullet to see Arkham Asylum. Last year's event didn't exactly spread positive word of mouth either, unlike HHN did it's first year back, which they started to put a dent in KSF's business in '07-'12, maybe even longer until I think a year or two ago when they finally started having sold out nights again. Also, we both have two mazes announced so far and HHN still wins the popularity vote. We have the BIGGEST thing in pop culture right now with Stranger Things and a long awaited cult-modern classic with TrT. WB already did IT last year which aaaaloooooot of people saw for free (and who knows, HHN may still get it and do it aloooot better - we both had Freddy last year, so it's definitely possible) and Arkham Asylum which is GREAT and one of the best selling games and comic IPs, but at the end of the HHN still has The Mummy, Simpsons, Terror Tram for sure, Transformers, shows, Walking Dead and 6 other mazes which may be great or bad, but at least it'll have more bang for buck.
I think if THIS year does great for WB (and I hope it does), THEN HHN should be worried next year -- also because next year is an odd year and it'll inevitably suck, so word of mouth will drive people to other options. "Oh yeah, doesn't Warner Bros have a Halloween thing now?" "Warner Bros does mazes now? Do they have a theme park?" "No, but it's just mazes on their backlot, they had It and Arkham Asylum last year." "Dude, no way, is it cheaper?" "Yeah, by a little bit and it had great reviews." "WTF WE WAITING FOR BROOOO?!"
I think he's slowly but surely giving up. He put 100 % into this in the beginning. Nowadays it's like whatever. As someone else mentioned they need big names like Jason, leatherface, etc to bring the masses and bring ticket sales.
I liked El cucoy, LA llarona, as original ideas. Why not do something with scarecrows evil harvest etc as a scare zone.
I think, as he rightfully should be, he's a little jaded since no matter what he does, he gets criticized and trolled by fans. He puts in all this work and we're little punks on keyboards telling him how to do his job. It must take all the fun out of it for him.
Will it succeed? I hope so, as the CM are Murdy's treasured characters that he does respect the hell out of.
He did also give us Universal Monsters Remix (TWICE), which besmirched the CM in the most foul way possible. Even Abbott and Costello gave them more respect than that. His reasoning for not bringing Scream was people thought Ghostface was a joke after Scary Movie (literally an almost 20 year old movie now), yet he himself made his monsters a joke in his very own park from his very own design and ideas, two years in a row. And if he wants to bring them back now, then GHOSTFACE NEEDS A CHANCE, I WILL NEVER LET IT GO!!!
