Project 2022: Pantheon

[Zachary]

Would I prefer that the park just shoot straight from the start? Yes. Do I expect that? No.

That said, I expect a level of professionalism and thought behind the lies they decide to tell. That's what's lacking here. If someone had sat down for an hour to think about the marketing strategy for this coaster, they would have realized that if they're going to make this grand announcement about an increase to the ride's top speed, that they will actually have to change the speed numbers they're publishing to go along with it.

Lie to me. I know I'm being lied to. Whatever. Just do it in a way that's not completely and totally braindead—a way that manages to acknowledge that I, the viewer, can actually engage in basic reasoning—that I understand how the concept of speed works.

 

[finalcloud]

What bugs me is he said that it would be similar to Apollo, which has 1600/hr theoretical capacity and then said “like 800” c’mon man! Know the difference between Apollo and tempesto!

I know I worked the first two years of Chariot but 1600/hr.......

 

[BGWnut]

Ultimately it won't matter because 2021 will almost certainly take the crown as the fastest multi-launch roller coaster.

 

[GrandpaD]

Lie to me. I know I'm being lied to. Whatever. Just do it in a way that's not completely and totally braindead—a way that manages to acknowledge that I, the viewer, can actually engage in basic reasoning—that I understand how the concept of speed works.

And that, ladies and gentlemen, is why SEAS third-quarter results indicated that $9.7 million more was spent in marketing than what was budgeted.

The Aristocrats!

 

[ControlsEE]

I know I worked the first two years of Chariot but 1600/hr.......

You trying to say that 1600 is impossible, or too low?

 

[BGWnut]

Ultimately it won't matter because 2021 will almost certainly take the crown as the fastest multi-launch roller coaster.

The more that I think about it, knowing that 2021 is coming it seems odd to me that the marketing for Pantheon is so focused on the speed. Why not focus on the other more unique aspects of Pantheon? Then let 2021 just be all about speed and height

 

[ControlsEE]

The more that I think about it, knowing that 2021 is coming it seems odd to me that the marketing for Pantheon is so focused on the speed. Why not focus on the other more unique aspects of Pantheon? Then let 2021 just be all about speed and height

Because since the GP generally cares about height and speed more than ride experience (Don't believe me? Look at how many "Top 10 Best Coasters" lists/videos/blog posts have KK then TTD as the top two), Pantheon will be not as popular with them after 2021 opens.

 

[FoozMuz]

I think there must be some conventional wisdom that people will only respond to records and "firsts".

 

[Zachary]

The more that I think about it, knowing that 2021 is coming it seems odd to me that the marketing for Pantheon is so focused on the speed. Why not focus on the other more unique aspects of Pantheon? Then let 2021 just be all about speed and height

It's the state's first beyond vertical drop! They literally never mention it!

 

[GrandpaD]

It's the state's first beyond vertical drop! They literally never mention it!

So they literally (vertically) dropped the ball?

Thank you! I'll be here all week. Try the veal.

 

[warfelg]

The more that I think about it, knowing that 2021 is coming it seems odd to me that the marketing for Pantheon is so focused on the speed. Why not focus on the other more unique aspects of Pantheon? Then let 2021 just be all about speed and height

more mileage in marketing fastest two years in a row. Fastest park in Virginia is going to be a thing next year.

 

[CarterGee]

If a train is going to get within 10ft of the end of the spike, you bet your butt that they can control the speed of the train by half a mile per hour. I don't think it's scummy or unrealistic that they could beat the speed record by a low delta. I'd prefer an extra whole mph, but whatever. I'm not offended.

Agree that no mention of the beyond vertical drop is bizarre.

Also omfg that video. Major cringe the whole time. You sure you wanted to be there Zach?

 

[madmax]

Those are the same as they gave on the first tour. This is a huge red flag regarding their claim about having "sped up" Pantheon by half a mile an hour, yeah...? We would expect the last launch speed to be slightly higher now than it was at the original announcement, no?

Sounds like to me they intentionally gave out the 72.5 figure initially knowing they’ll switch it to 73 as a marketing gimmick.

 

[Dylon]

Anyway, I think I heard in one of the videos that right after that gorgeous outward bank turn right before the turn into the stall there is a sideways airtime moment? Looking at the profiling it looks pretty neat to me! I really feel that this ride will pack such a bigger punch than most are expecting...

 

[BGWnut]

Because since the GP generally cares about height and speed more than ride experience (Don't believe me? Look at how many "Top 10 Best Coasters" lists/videos/blog posts have KK then TTD as the top two), Pantheon will be not as popular with them after 2021 opens.

That's why I think they should have been focusing on all the other aspects of Pantheon that they could continue to market after 2021. Like @Zachary said it has the steepest drop in VA and yet it is never mentioned. There's so many amazing elements to this coaster that they could be hyping up and yet the only one they really are is the one that will be taken away later in the year when they announce 2021. Just seems so shortsighted to me. I'm not saying to never talk about the speed but it really seems to be the only thing that they are talking about it. Instead of focusing on speed they should be talking about all the things that are new and different that make this coaster truly one of a kind.

 

[warfelg]

That's why I think they should have been focusing on all the other aspects of Pantheon that they could continue to market after 2021. Like @Zachary said it has the steepest drop in VA and yet it is never mentioned. There's so many amazing elements to this coaster that they could be hyping up and yet the only one they really are is the one that will be taken away later in the year when they announce 2021. Just seems so shortsighted to me. I'm not saying to never talk about the speed but it really seems to be the only thing that they are talking about it. Instead of focusing on speed they should be talking about all the things that are new and different that make this coaster truly one of a kind.

Just to counter:
Next year when P2021 is announced, and it’s the fastest multi-launched (if they are smart enough to pull this off), they can start marketing the Pantheon elements (steepest drop, highest outward bank, fast switch) and then the marketing is new, keeping the excitement high.

 

[ControlsEE]

But who markets a ride heavily after its inaugural season?

 

[madmax]

They talked about the 95 degree drop, like multiple times.

 

[warfelg]

But who markets a ride heavily after its inaugural season?

Who’s built two major coasters back to back?

 

[Vigil]

My friend was there (and I had no idea she was going), and she sent me a few videos of the tour. I don't know who the guy talking was, but my first thought was "Wow, he's a robot." They have this huge, new ride, and the guy seemed like he couldn't be bothered to even PRETEND to muster up some enthusiasm. He just rattled off the elements and didn't seem to know much about it. It was kind of strange actually.