The £36m i360 set to go ahead

[The Large One]

Yep, when the winter weather is like what we have experienced over the last 3 months I very much doubt any usage during that period. It may be busy during the Easter and the Summer Holidays, but the rest of the time will be dependent on weekend visitors.

And students.
And daytrippers.
And locals.
And conference delegates.
And people on their lunch break.
etc.

 

[shaolinpunk]

How many people would have said - three years ago - that we would be selling 27,000 tickets at the Amex each match?

A large portion of that 27k are there every week - it's not 27k different people each game. Something like the i360 relies on fresh traffic as, while some will, a majority won't go on it more than once.

 

[Westdene Seagull]

How many people would have said - three years ago - that we would be selling 27,000 tickets at the Amex each match?

Utterly irrelevant.

a) BHA is a private enterprise so the risk is taken by BHA shareholders - mainly TB - not unwilling council tax payers.
b) People go to the Amex because of loyalty to their team. Are you really suggesting that we're going to have thousands of i360 supporters buying the i360 strip and loyally turning up at regular intervals ?

 

[Westdene Seagull]

And students. - once at a stretch
And daytrippers. - agreed
And locals. - probably once
And conference delegates. - probably once
And people on their lunch break. - seriously ?? If at all it will only be once
etc.

You really do live in cloud council land - ever thought of standing ? You'll fit in perfectly.

 

[wellquickwoody]

Tories trying to win voters with elections next year

That is what poliyical partys tend to do.

 

[BBassic]

So from this eyesore we'll be able to see what? The sea, the city and the Downs. Great.

 

[symyjym]

Yes, I missed a zero. So Blackpool with nearly 50% more visitors can only 150k LESS people visiting their historic tower ...... yet you think the i360 figures are realistic

The Blackpool tower costs £9.95 Adult, £7.95 Child. I don't know what it will cost for the i360, I can't find this detail, but I thought I heard a few years ago that it will start at the £20 - £25 mark.

 

[The Large One]

You really do live in cloud council land - ever thought of standing ? You'll fit in perfectly.

Holy moly...

I wasn't wrong when I mentioned your blind rage regarding your obsession with the council.

My opinion on the i360 has NOTHING to do with what I think of the council. That really is quite a pathetic leap to make.

 

[TWOCHOICEStom]

I'm all for big, tall, futuristic shizzle. I love it. Sod the cost. But, I just can't help but think that it's ugly. Like REALLY ugly.

 

[Fignon's Ponytail]

No interest in going on this, or the eye tbh...."ooh, look son - there's the sea, & some seagull shit covered roofs..." wow.
Much rather an ice rink.....

 

[TWOCHOICEStom]

So from this eyesore we'll be able to see what? The sea, the city and the Downs. Great.

I agree with the eyesore part. But these give a good idea of what you'll see. The view will be pretty spectacular.

 

[vegster]

I have a revolutionary idea ! Why not build a new pier with the money coming from the West Pier Trust and government and private equity ? We can put attractions on it like Donut kiosks and fruit machines and sell ice creams and people will love walking over the cool water on a balmy summers day.

 

[Ernest]

I can't WEIGHT for it to be BUILT so I can SIT on the top NAKED singing SACK the BORED

 

[TWOCHOICEStom]

I have a revolutionary idea ! Why not build a new pier with the money coming from the West Pier Trust and government and private equity ? We can put attractions on it like Donut kiosks and fruit machines and sell ice creams and people will love walking over the cool water on a balmy summers day.

I was talking with somebody the other day about how amazing it would be to have a replica West Pier built. Exactly as it once was. Imagine how good that would be.

 

[vegster]

I was talking with somebody the other day about how amazing it would be to have a replica West Pier built. Exactly as it once was. Imagine how good that would be.

Yep, and people would buy concessions to trade on there so it would be able to support itself ! And what is the difference between a pier and a Wheel / I 360 ? Once you have been on the wheel / I 360 you have done it, it does not change, but people may go on piers many times in their lifetimes !

 

[The Large One]

A large portion of that 27k are there every week - it's not 27k different people each game. Something like the i360 relies on fresh traffic as, while some will, a majority won't go on it more than once.

Utterly irrelevant.

a) BHA is a private enterprise so the risk is taken by BHA shareholders - mainly TB - not unwilling council tax payers.
b) People go to the Amex because of loyalty to their team. Are you really suggesting that we're going to have thousands of i360 supporters buying the i360 strip and loyally turning up at regular intervals ?

You know that's not the point I'm making. At least I hope you do.

The point was that people were sceptical that we'd get 15,000 week-in, week-out. "No chance..." many said.

Just because YOU don't think it can attract 800,000 a year, it doesn't follow that it won't or can't, yet you're basing your rage on that. It's not blind faith, it's about appreciating that some people like going to Brighton, even if you don't.

 

[Bwian]

Quite. We'll use a dump like Portsmouth as a comparative model instead.


Incidentally, anyone who thinks that going 130 feet higher than Sussex Heights will only be able to see Regency Square isn't someone who's necessarily looking in the right directions.

Portsmouth might well be a dump in places-much like Brighton. What it has going for it is a council regenerating large parts of their city that for years have been eyesores. London Road anybody? Portsmouth also has its Dockyards housing a large number of historic ships and buildings which I imagine looks good from the Spinaker. As would The Solent and views of the Isle of Wight. It isn't quite the dump you'd like it to be.

Looking out over Regency Square will obviously be more than the square but it will still be lots and lots of tightly packed rooftops in most directions. I won't be paying the rumoured £20-£25 to go up the thing.

It will never be self sufficient, no matter how optimistic one is. I'd like to see it be a massive success. Sadly it will be funded by the council for a few years and then get sold for a pound to a private company just to appease the local tax payers and then with no upfront costs they'll make a profit for a while then flog it when it needs money spending on it.

 

[symyjym]

And students.
And daytrippers.
And locals.
And conference delegates.
And people on their lunch break.
etc.

The councils reasoning is to draw more people to Brighton and to spend more money. All of your suggestions are people who are already in, or will come to Brighton anyway, and the i360 will take their money, not local businesses.

I can believe that you will use it in your lunch hour on a regular basis though.

 

[Bwian]

So from this eyesore we'll be able to see what? The sea, the city and the Downs. Great.

The Hanging Gardens of Babylon? Herds of Wildebeasts sweeping majestically across the plains?

 

[Westdene Seagull]

Just because YOU don't think it can attract 800,000 a year, it doesn't follow that it won't or can't, yet you're basing your rage on that. It's not blind faith, it's about appreciating that some people like going to Brighton, even if you don't.

And equally just because YOU think it can attract 800,00 a year, it doesn't follow that it will.

It is irresponsible to commit the taxpayer to such a financial risk when NOBODY can prove the target can be risked ( and that there is no example of a similar attraction managing to do so ).