Ah, but that is theming! Have you ever been to a NASCAR race? Getting badly sunburnt is an essential part of the experience!
Project 2022: Pantheon
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With the snack bar nearby selling buds and millers for $10/can (or whatever ridiculous overcharging they do), it only adds to the atmosphere...
But the question is what is the beer of the gods since bud is the king of beers and the beer of kings?
You know, that was surprisingly easy to Google. I don't know if Busch Gardens is interested in a microbrewery in Germany though...
I live about 10 minutes from the Charlotte Motor Speedway and I can’t imagine being out there in the middle of an NC Summer. But apparently fans love it, so your post explains this for me.
Thanks all for the comments/insights about theming. I think it'd be cool to have the station look like the actual Pantheon structure or if that's feasible/allowed, perhaps a generic temple type building of some kind. Then once you're inside they have a pre-show video story. Maybe something like you're joining forces with Jupiter, Mars, Mercury, etc. to fight off a great evil (Pluto maybe?) that threatens to destroy ancient Rome.
Maybe something somewhat similar to what they've done with Cobra's Curse at BGT. I think that might be kind of cool. But probably not what will actually happen given budget restraints and the like.
Maybe something somewhat similar to what they've done with Cobra's Curse at BGT. I think that might be kind of cool. But probably not what will actually happen given budget restraints and the like.
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Ok, once we see full testing, how much longer until Pantheon reaches IG levels of ready? May? June?
I don’t think it’s anywhere near that straightforward. At this point, it’s all about how quickly BGW wants it done if you ask me. They’ve been taking their sweet time for months now. Even if Pantheon was done, they wouldn’t be opening it right now anyway—so why rush to finish it?
With previous projects, estimating an opening based on current progress was reasonable because we knew BGW was pushing to get whatever project it was up and running ASAP. That’s not the case here at all.
With previous projects, estimating an opening based on current progress was reasonable because we knew BGW was pushing to get whatever project it was up and running ASAP. That’s not the case here at all.
I understand that, especially with Northam not really giving BGW the platform to be able to draw in crowds right now even if it was open. However; since SEAS is supposedly drowning in debt it would make sense that they get their product ready so that when the time is right in what is hopefully the next few months, they can open it when they get the thumbs up.
It’s not a Virginia issue—Iron Gwazi is done, Florida has no capacity restrictions, and SEAS isn’t opening Iron Gwazi yet entirely on their own assessment of the current economic and demand conditions.
I’m no expert, but it seems to me that SEAS is in a much better financial position than many thoosies tend to give the company credit for. Also, slow construction projects almost always cost less than fast ones.
I’m no expert, but it seems to me that SEAS is in a much better financial position than many thoosies tend to give the company credit for. Also, slow construction projects almost always cost less than fast ones.
Yeah, that makes sense and I agree with that. I’m just wondering from my little point of view that based on trends if SEAS is trying to open their rides when they can expect the most “normal” numbers from guests, then they would 1. Hope for that ASAP, and 2. Be ready for that timeframe ASAP, so if theoretically most of the country is at like a 60-70% vaccination rate by June or July, then we would see opening then. But it just seems like with the “anticipated” opening of 2021, that SEAS might not see it that way.
Here’s something to keep in mind: If a huge rebound in park demand naturally occurs as restrictions evaporate and we near vaccine-induced herd immunity, it’s possible that opening a massive new investment won’t make sense because COVID is over. That may initially sound counterintuitive, but if high demand exists regardless of Pantheon, saving Pantheon for a time when demand is lower is likely just good business. We could legitimately find ourselves in a world where COVID is over, the park is packed, and that brings about a further delay in opening Pantheon.
Slow-rolling construction and remaining noncommittal on a 2021 opening allows SEAS to remain flexible. It’s much easier to justify delaying a ride when it’s still “under construction” than it is to keep a completed ride shuttered (see: Iron Gwazi). Pair that with the likely cost savings of BGW taking their time to finish Pantheon and I think this “slow and steady” approach makes some sense to me.
Slow-rolling construction and remaining noncommittal on a 2021 opening allows SEAS to remain flexible. It’s much easier to justify delaying a ride when it’s still “under construction” than it is to keep a completed ride shuttered (see: Iron Gwazi). Pair that with the likely cost savings of BGW taking their time to finish Pantheon and I think this “slow and steady” approach makes some sense to me.
Could they? Definitely. Will they? Doubt it. “Construction delays due to the pandemic” is a very straightforward card BGW can play to much the same effect.
SEAS just announced a new ride opening via email this morning, and here is the link...
All-New Riptide Race – Water Slide - Opening April 3 | Aquatica Orlando
Well I’m thinking something along the lines of: like you say, they could just open at 100% and let the crowds roll in and hope for a packed park and then delay Pantheon for next spring, or let’s say VA says that BGW can open 100% starting June 1, then BGW says May 10 that Pantheon will open June 1. In that scenario I think that BGW would have a lower risk of fluctuation because the masses are returning, and more new people come for the brand new ride, and probably have a higher constant attendance.
There are way too many variables for us to make a clear call on Pantheon’s opening, but I think the biggest one is how the general public (Spring Break crowd) reacts to the current state of park operations in the next few weeks. If there’s a sense that the park might receive bad word of mouth for how things sit currently (limited lineup, etc.) then there may more concern that there will be a need for a marketing boost come Summer proper.
And while I agree that there may be a circumstance where it no longer feels necessary to open the coaster because pent-up demand releases “post-COVID” in July (air quotes because no such thing, practically speaking), I think we can’t discount the member backlash to pushing the coaster to 2022. It’s a factor that the other parks in the chain won’t have to deal with the same way, and one that would create a significant risk to that strategy.
And while I agree that there may be a circumstance where it no longer feels necessary to open the coaster because pent-up demand releases “post-COVID” in July (air quotes because no such thing, practically speaking), I think we can’t discount the member backlash to pushing the coaster to 2022. It’s a factor that the other parks in the chain won’t have to deal with the same way, and one that would create a significant risk to that strategy.
I mean realistically I feel that SEAS would be shooting themselves in the foot by not opening Pantheon. If they choose to keep pushing it back, it could be like a bigger Mäch tower, where that thing got pushed back just a few months and it ended up being awful. Eventually there might be a point where the anticipation finally boils over and people stop caring so much
Why does Busch Gardens Tampa need to open Gwazi when they have this?
Vanilla Ice | Physically Distant Concert at the 2021 Food and Wine Festival | Busch Gardens Tampa Bay
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