RE: Project 2015: Premier Rides Coaster for Festa Italia
Well somebody wanted me to come up with a ride concept, so here goes.
Gladiator's Gauntlet: Are you ready to challenge the ultimate gladiator's test? - Busch Gardens Williamsburg project 2015
Ride entrance is a well-themed tribute to the gladiators of the past. There are statues of soldiers, columns, and plenty of nice landscaping. The sign is the general Roman theme with the columns and triangle roof.
The queue line takes you into the heart of Rome. There are plenty of details to go around. Posters, graffiti, and other nice touches mark the walls along with the nice landscaping the park is known for. The theming will be extensive like Verbolten's.
There is an indoor section of the queue line that takes you into a dungeon where the gladiators are kept between shows. Guests are invited to take part in the ultimate competition, the Gladiator's Gauntlet. As with the outside queue, there will be plenty of props and theming to go around inside.
The station looks like a holding area for the gladiators to take part in the competition. The theming probably won't be as extensive as Verbolten's, but there will be props and things scattered about.
The all clear is given.
Let's rock!
The ride begins with a rocking launch into a special effects tunnel. Stobes, lights, cheers/sound effects go off as you launch backwards then forwards, then backwards, then forwards again. The faster you go, the more intense the effects become.
After the second kick, you hit the 90 degree hill upwards. You level out in an inverted stall 150 feet in the air. Nothing below you but the ground. Then you roll into an upright position. As with any Busch coaster, it has to have a gimmick, so a holding brake slows you down as you head into the world's steepest drop.
A strategically placed camera sits at the bottom of the drop to get your picture.
Afterwards you hit the first element - a non-inverting loop similar to Rockit and Superman followed by a regular loop. If that's not disorienting enough, the ride throws you into a dive loop before hitting the brake run in the station.
Once you quickly exit the station, you pass the photo stand and into the gift shop at the ride exit (as always).
- Notes
It's not a very long ride, but the steep drop followed by the back to back inversions should give the ride enough punch to satisfy any thrill seeker. The ride should be themed up to Busch standards. After seeing what the park can do with Verbolten, I can't see the park half-assing the theming for project 2015.
Please excuse the overabundance of supports in the picture. I'm an artist, not an architect. Chances are any huge amount of supports will be covered up by the ride station. The pink box indicates the actual station where you get on/off.
I hope the park realizes Festa looks terrible and renovates the entire area for the new coaster.
