Universal Great Britain

[Della]

Eh maybe its because I'm getting older, but I appreciate a nice stage or stunt show at a theme park, it breaks up the day and allows you to "rest" for a little lol

I always enjoy a stunt show. Terminator was amazing/terrifying and the spiel at the start was funny. My little boys loved the Sinbad stunt show at IoA, and loved Motors Action at Paris - the skidding cars, motorbikes and explosions really held their attention. Stunt shows eat up the crowds and are good for the younger and older demographic who need a sit down like my kids and mum and people who don't/ can't go on thrill rides, so I think it does round out a park to have one. I always enjoyed the Indy stunt show even though I knew what was going to happen. I'd enjoy a James Bond stunt show, though I do think Shull was being misleading/vague with his wording deliberately to get people excited and create engagement, as they're not going to start announcing IPs when they haven't even made the announcement of going ahead yet.

Do any UK theme parks currently have a stunt show? The only one I can think of is the Pirates bay one in Legoland and that's really just for the kids, the only stunts is the pirates diving into the water. So maybe the UK needs a good high tech stunt show.

 

[EllieB]

I also love a stunt show. I imagine a Bond stunt show could make good use of bikes, cars and physical stunts. Of course, a stunt show could make good use of a covered or indoor arena which makes the attraction weather proof. Useful in the UK.

I would have thought Bond is a great fit for USGB, both as an iconic "British" brand and one that doesn't really have much of a theme park presence anywhere else.

Thinking of some of the things Universal does well elsewhere, you could have an interactive trail/game where you're a spy on a secret mission, I bet people would love that. A high speed car chase launch coaster, perhaps? A marksmanship based shooting dark ride where you are testing Q's latest armed vehicle that looks like a tour bus but has hidden infrared pistols hidden in the side panels?

Or in the realms of the more fantastical, how about a spinning poker chip flat ride? Cello toboggan run? Glider flight around the world dark ride?

I think there's a lot of possibilities in Bond.

Edit: Also regarding Legoland Windsor, it's possible that the pirate stunt show was one of the casualties of Merlin's recent job cuts sadly, as entertainments staff at the park were certainly in the firing line.

 

[LPCaptainDeath]

the Indy Stunt Show not much better especially when you know that the audience members called on to stage are planted cast members

The schtick has always been that ONE of the FIVE people is a cast member for Marian to "knock out."
As someone who has been called up, i can confirm i am not nor have ever been a Disney cast member.

 

[masekwm]

Went for a walk through the "Core Zone" along the public footpath yesterday, some fencing has now been delivered to the area near Coronation Pit/Broadmead Road Farm. Location - 52°04'40.7"N 0°30'17.3"W

 

[xtpower]

It looks like they're fencing off the whole zone in stages. So, if they fence off the public footpath, then time to get excited cos I think that means we're full steam ahead.

 

[masekwm]

It looks like they're fencing off the whole zone in stages. So, if they fence off the public footpath, then time to get excited cos I think that means we're full steam ahead.

The footpath hasn't been closed yet, I wonder if the SDO can remove all public access rights to the land?

 

[bedfordmassive]

Bedford MP asks a question at Prime Ministers Question Time about Universal Studios. I presume this is choreographed (i.e. Labour selected the question - Rob will know more about how this works). The response was non-specific ("He's right to raise this important project which we are working for ...[goes on to talk about infrastructure]") but I think we can assume this is a positive signal.

Re: planting of questions at PMQ, chatGPT says "most PMQs questions are submitted in advance and often coordinated by party whips. When a Labour MP questions a Labour PM, it’s usually part of a pre-arranged effort to reinforce the government’s message rather than an off-the-cuff challenge. That said, there’s occasionally some spontaneity involved."

Again, positive.

 

[rob@rar]

If a government Backbencher gets selected in the ballot for PMQs they will often inform No.10 of the topic of their question so the PM has some briefing notes, so as not to be caught out in the weekly Pointlessly Moronic Questions session. In this particular case Mohammad Yasin’s question was so fawning and long-winded that the PM didn’t even respond to the actual point he was trying to raise. So, pointless question asked, pointless answer given. Move on now, nothing to see here.

I’m not a fan of PMQs as they so rarely provide anything of interest or substance, as was the case here. We might have more luck teasing a bit of info out of the government at tomorrow’s Westminster Hall debate on “government support for tourism” which is being raised by fellow a Bedfordshire MP, and hopefully answered by the Minister for Tourism.

 

[Luke Hutchinson]

If a government Backbencher gets selected in the ballot for PMQs they will often inform No.10 of the topic of their question so the PM has some briefing notes, so as not to be caught out in the weekly Pointlessly Moronic Questions session. In this particular case Mohammad Yasin’s question was so fawning and long-winded that the PM didn’t even respond to the actual point he was trying to raise. So, pointless question asked, pointless answer given. Move on now, nothing to see here.

I’m not a fan of PMQs as they so rarely provide anything of interest or substance, as was the case here. We might have more luck teasing a bit of info out of the government at tomorrow’s Westminster Hall debate on “government support for tourism” which is being raised by fellow a Bedfordshire MP, and hopefully answered by the Minister for Tourism.

I have a strong feeling that because Blake Stephenson is obviously of the opposition he’ll at least not be asking questions which are 90% platitudes, my hope is that Chris Bryant will be able to shed some light on how the negotiations are going as we were previously told that the negotiations were at a position where they could be ended if they so wished so why haven’t they…

 

[Altonsky]

Reeves to reveal biggest UK spending cuts since austerity in spring statement

Labour MPs uneasy as chancellor prepares even deeper reductions that economists say will harm key services

www.theguardian.com

‘The Department for Transport, for example, has submitted plans for cuts to the proposed rail line between Oxford and Cambridge, which Reeves herself confirmed funding for just two months ago.’

This is the east west rail project, it runs through Bedford and whilst it’s not the stations that are being discussed for universal directly it’s slightly worrying if they’re putting forward proposals to scrap it in order to save money.

Obviously it’s just a proposal and nothing has been decided but it surely would have helped Universal in the long run.

 

[bedfordmassive]

It just says cuts rather than scrap - perhaps reducing number of stations would fit under that.

 

[Altonsky]

The phases through Bedford haven’t been given the full go ahead yet I don’t think, waiting for the go ahead from government

 

[rob@rar]

Chris Bryant, Minister for Tourism, responded to the debate in Parliament today on government support for tourism. The debate was initiated by Blake Stephenson, Conservative MP for Mid Bedfordshire, who has the Universal site in his constituency. The Minister didn’t reveal any news about the current state of discussion between government and Universal in respect of the proposed theme park. Negotiations seem to be ongoing, not least because the Minister said that he met a couple of weeks ago senior executives from Universal who were visiting the UK from the US and hoped to meet them again soon. As before, the Minister said he “very much hoped to get it over the line”.

 

[JT01]

I am hoping they are not saying anything because universal want to break the news when they are ready but also in the back of my mind I have zero faith in this government so it wouldn't surprise me if they still have not got this over the line.

 

[rob@rar]

From today’s Financial Times

Reeves will be anxious to present some good news in her statement and has been looking for announcements to raise the spirits of Labour MPs. She has been rushing to finalise a financial package to secure the construction near Bedford of Europe’s biggest theme park, as she looks for good news to announce in next week’s Spring Statement. People briefed on negotiations between the Treasury and Universal Destinations & Experiences, owned by the US media group Comcast, say the discussions are “progressing well”. But other government officials cautioned that the deal had not been nailed down and was unlikely to be ready by next Wednesday.

Full article.

 

[bedfordmassive]

Too soon for detailed Universal train station plans says senior Borough Council officer - Bedford Independent

Detailed plans for a Universal Studios version of Wixams Station do not exist, a senior council officer has told councillors. After an...

www.bedfordindependent.co.uk

Minor update on train station. Mostly saying that the larger version of the station they would build if Universal happens still not planned out, but sounds like some work is due to report soon:

“So we can’t overlay one on top of the other and see what fits and what doesn’t. What we have done though is work with Network Rail. And they have done some work which is coming to fruition in the next couple of weeks.”

 

[Altonsky]

Spring statement today. I doubt we’ll hear anything directly about the park as they will want to do that themselves but maybe there could be some nods to infrastructure.

 

[rob@rar]

As expected by many, no reference to the Universal proposals in today’s Financial Statement from the Chancellor, but it was encouraging to hear Rachel Reeves say that she intends to increase the government’s capital investment funds beyond what was already forecast for the rest of this Parliament. Perhaps that makes it easier for the Treasury to find the funds it needs for infrastructure investments around the theme park in Bedford.

 

[UniversalRBLX]

(Let me know if I should move to Blue Sky).

Placing as a reference for scale. The Theme Park area is the size of IOA excluding the lagoon. We'd probably see a smaller lagoon (if any) to maximize land here. The only exception I made here was using MotionGate Dubai's version of their DreamWorks land for sizing reference. Likely, we'll see some sort of indoor land here.

You can ignore the choice of IP/lands/rides, I chose these as benchmarks for what is possible here. Same goes for the hotels.

 

[yepthatguy]

View attachment 25706
(Let me know if I should move to Blue Sky).

Placing as a reference for scale. The Theme Park area is the size of IOA excluding the lagoon. We'd probably see a smaller lagoon (if any) to maximize land here. The only exception I made here was using MotionGate Dubai's version of their DreamWorks land for sizing reference. Likely, we'll see some sort of indoor land here.

You can ignore the choice of IP/lands/rides, I chose these as benchmarks for what is possible here. Same goes for the hotels.

That’s amazing artwork!! Great work!!

I like the idea of the north lake zone looking like that, the whole image really gives visualising this a new dimension. Thanks for the awesome contribution!!!

Did it take long to put together?