Re: Atractiepark Slagharen to Build a New Coaster in 2017
TilenB said:
ignace said:
TilenB said:
The park is owned by the same company (Parques Reunidos) as Mirabilandia is. Why couldn't they afford an iSpeed clone, when there is the original operating in their sister park?
Because Ispeed was build before PR took over
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Parques Reunidos took over in 2006, while iSpeed was built in 2009, so...
Well, there's a chance that only means Parques Reunidos didn't remove iSpeed from the park's existing development plan. iSpeed opened in 2009, but was built duing 2008, and who knows when it was ordered.
As far as I know, Parques Reunidos haven't really been generous with their new additions, and especially so when coasters are regarded. For instance, since the takeover in 2008, TusenFryd has only seen two large investments, with one "new" Vekoma Junior Coaster handed down from Mirabilandia. And upon further research, it seems the situation is similar across the chain:
- Mirabilandia has only got iSpeed since 2006, and arguably DiVertical in 2012 also counts.
- Bobbejaanland hasn't seen a single new coaster since the takeover in 2004.
- Lake Compounce recently opened Phobia after a 16-year drought (8 of which during PR ownership).
- Parque Warner Madrid was bought by Parques Reunidos in 2007, and has since opened one kiddie coaster (in 2009).
- Parque de Atracciones de Madrid was the "original" Parques Reunidos park, and has done reasonably well with their coaster frequency, although it leans heavily towards family coasters.
- Movie Park Germany was taken over in 2010, and has opened only one (Gerst Bobsled) coaster since (in 2011 - arguably commissioned before the takeover), although another is scheduled for next year.
- BonBon-Land was bought in 2007. In 2009 they opened a Zierer Tivoli Kiddie coaster. Since then, a complete drought.
And here, Slagharen. Bought in 2012, it gets its first coaster in 16 years next year.
I only did very superficial research, and don't know how these parks and their coaster schedules compare to what is "normal", but it seems a clear trend that Parques Reunidos is
extremely reluctant to build coasters other than small kiddie/family rides. As far as I can tell, Phobia remains the only coaster with inversions built across the parks (other than iSpeed) outside PdAdM. Not that any of those parks used to build huge rides regularly, but seeing what kind of rides have opened at the Danish and Swedish parks over the past decade, I can't help but feel that Parques Reunidos have some sort of aversion to new coasters.
