Busch Gardens Williamsburg Project 2023: DarKoaster (Multi-Lap Intamin Straddle Coaster)

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Now I am sure that many of you have been asking yourselves ok there was an event space update but no DK update why.

Well the answer is I was trying to see if I could get a better picture but sadly could not. I can now say with about 60% certainty that footer work appears to be underway. All pictures taken from guest open areas.
 

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Occasionally, new inspections give some insight on the construction status.

Here they appear to be inspecting 'in slab' electrical for "gates". And yes, I am 100% sure that this inspection is related to DK. The parent permit says as much.

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Jahrules said:
Occasionally, new inspections give some insight on the construction status.

Here they appear to be inspecting 'in slab' electrical for "gates". And yes, I am 100% sure that this inspection is related to DK. The parent permit says as much.

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Looks like they’re chugging along on progress!
 
Thinking timelines for marketing and whatnot, if they are planning on a 2023 opening, when would they start officially teasing the attraction? It has been so many years since we have had a normal attraction development cycle that I can't remember if it is normal for it to still be radio silence this time of year.
 
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Ice said:
Thinking timelines for marketing and whatnot, if they are planning on a 2023 opening, when would they start officially teasing the attraction? It has been so many years since we have had a normal attraction development cycle that I can't remember if it is normal for it to still be radio silence this time of year.
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While it depends on the marketing department at the time. It's not been normal to hear much if anything this early. That said IF we are looking at a winter opening then the time frame is about the same between now and opening and the normal late summer early fall announcement and a spring opening.
 
Highly doubt they would go for a winter opening. Sure it makes sense from a "let's give guests an enjoyable indoor winter attraction" perspective, but all they really care about is drawing crowds in low business months. At the very earliest they may go late January with it, but they already run the park in light mode during Jan and Feb. I am expecting late March or April as it typically goes.
 
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Ice said:
Highly doubt they would go for a winter opening. Sure it makes sense from a "let's give guests an enjoyable indoor winter attraction" perspective, but all they really care about is drawing crowds in low business months. At the very earliest they may go late January with it, but they already run the park in light mode during Jan and Feb. I am expecting late March or April as it typically goes.
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You mean last weekend wasn't the park running in light mode?

Joking aside, I honestly could see them doing a fall/winter opening for this if they get it completed in time. It's a rare scenario where I think it makes sense because of the fact that this coaster will be able to fully run in the winter months. Additionally, it doesn't really take away from the marketing potential for spring/summer 2023 because people just don't travel to distant parks for winter events...... Winter events are really just events that pull the locals in so if you focus the fall/winter advertising in the immediate local market and then go widespread with the marketing in the spring you can capture the best of both worlds.
 
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CoasterTalkBob said:
Additionally, it doesn't really take away from the marketing potential for spring/summer 2023 because people just don't travel to distant parks for winter events...... Winter events are really just events that pull the locals in so if you focus the fall/winter advertising in the immediate local market and then go widespread with the marketing in the spring you can capture the best of both worlds.
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Fall / early winter would absolutely not happen. Even if completed, people absolutely travel to the park from September through early January in immense portions. CT and HoS are the biggest travel-heavy events the park does, they would never open an attraction during a time they routinely hit capacity.

Hence me saying the absolute earliest I see this happening is late Jan. when CT has finished up and the post-holidays spending drought has wrapped up.

You cannot undersell how much the "luring guests through the gates" criteria trumps every other factor of when they may open the attraction, and this lure hits highest when something is brand new and shiny. Pantheon is an obvious example, but if this thing was somehow ready to go come November, it would absolutely sit dormant for months until they see it at highest income potential to open it. Attendance numbers from Sept. through early Jan. would be negligibly impacted by a new ride compared to what could be seen from late Jan. through mid April.
 
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Ice said:
Fall / early winter would absolutely not happen. Even if completed, people absolutely travel to the park from September through early January in immense portions. CT and HoS are the biggest travel-heavy events the park does, they would never open an attraction during a time they routinely hit capacity.
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Just because enthusiasts might travel distances to go to CT or HoS doesn't mean everyone does. People will go to the closest park with a similar event.... I'll give you a tiny bit on the haunt thing but certainly not for Christmas. People just don't plan to travel, get hotels, etc, for a day that the park isn't even open the whole day. Hell, I can barely justify longer day trips for Christmas events.
 
I agree that if the ride is completely built and all of the inspections and permits are approved it should open even during the winter as it's an indoor ride. So why not put it to use.
 
I feel like opening it in January would get people to actually show up for winter weekends, since Virginia isn't exactly warm in the winter months, but Darkoaster would get people going to the park in the winter months. Of course that could not be what they want, and they'll just stick to the March/April opening.
 
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PNDS said:
I feel like opening it in January would get people to actually show up for winter weekends, since Virginia isn't exactly warm in the winter months, but Darkoaster would get people going to the park in the winter months. Of course that could not be what they want, and they'll just stick to the March/April opening.
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As much as I enjoy riding Alpengeist in the 47° rain at 60+ mph, I could use a nice warm indoor ride
 
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Ice said:
Thinking timelines for marketing and whatnot, if they are planning on a 2023 opening, when would they start officially teasing the attraction? It has been so many years since we have had a normal attraction development cycle that I can't remember if it is normal for it to still be radio silence this time of year.
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What is this “marketing” of which you speak? Is this something you expect BGW to try?
 
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