EuroAmusement Professional
Source: https://bit.ly/3dDntTE
Soberly entitled “Visions 2025”, in that two-thirds of the investment is to be implemented by 2025, this plan is based on a dual strategy: to significantly increase the theme park’s guest capacity in order to boost visitor numbers, and to invest in the creation of a resort to extend the length of stay and thus offer visitors a fully immersive experience.
The project is supported by the conclusion of a new shareholders’ agreement and the signing of a new lease with Departement Vienne until 2050, both of which were announced in mid-October during a ceremonial event. The company’s capital is now divided as follows: 55% is held by the Compagnie des Alpes (previously 45%), 18 % is owned by Departement Vienne (previously 38%) and 27% by Banque des Territoires, a subsidiary of Caisse des Depots and various other shareholders (previously 17%). Together the shareholders hope that this plan will ultimately generate more than 650,000 additional visitors per year and a 75% increase in turnover. More than 750 jobs, including 300 direct jobs are expected to be created by the end of the investment programme.
As far as the theme park is concerned, the plan includes three strategic focal points: the development of new, “high quality” attractions, the renovation and modernization of the existing attractions, and the improvement of the infrastructure (including shops and restaurants).
Convinced of the need for regular investment to generate public interest and increase repeat visits against a background of increasing competition, Futuroscope intends to expand its offering at two-year intervals by adding three large-scale, high throughput attractions (i.e. with a hourly capacity of at least 1,000 people) at a cost of 20 million euros each.
Construction work on the first of these new attractions has already begun, with the opening to visitors scheduled for spring 2022. “Chasseurs de Tornade” is an immersive, rotating circular theatre designed by the Canadian company Dynamic Attractions. The attraction will combine a dynamic motion seating platform seating 120 with an equally circular screen 17 metres in diameter and eight metres high, as well as action scenes with real backdrops and live actors.
“Mission Bermudes”, a themed boat ride, is to be launched in 2024. The boats will move through acceleration segments and descents in the outdoor area and even through an immersive tunnel in the indoor area, combining real scenery and HD image projections.
It has not yet been final decided what the third attraction planned for 2026 will be. At the moment it looks like a roller coaster.
In the park’s outdoor area the “Vision 2025” plan envisages the development of 22 hectars in the area of the current car park. Two themed hotels, a restaurant and an indoor water park are to be built there.
2022 will see the opening of “Station Cosmos”, a top-class themed hotel with 76 rooms designed like a space station that seems to have spring straight out of a science fiction world. In addition, the hotel will house a looping restaurant with 200 seats under the name “Hyperloop”, which is based on the well known FoodLoop concept. The second hotel, offering an unusual and ecological accommodation in a natural setting, is scheduled for opening in 2023.
Finally, with “Aquascope” Futuroscope will in 2024 open a unique and immersive water park which will clearly stand out from other competitors with its unique facilities. Visual effects, video mapping and other technologies will enable visitors to immerse themselves in a variety of worlds.
The above-mentioned investments are complemented by two partner projects: the indoor skydiving facility “zer0Gravity”, which has opened in the meantime, and the “Arena Futuroscope”, an event and sports hall, which is currently under construction. Futuroscope also aims to be carbon-neutral by 2025.
The six-month closure of the park due to the Corona crisis severely affected the 2020 season. Visitor numbers (1.07 million) and revenues (50 million euros) fell by 44 and 52 per cent respectively compared to the previous year. Despite these unfavorable conditions, the park is pleased that the new attraction “Objectif Mars” was well received by visitors, who rank the coaster among the top favourites among the attractions – the parks first ever roller coaster – is a pleasing success, as Futuroscope’s executive director Rodolphe Bouin emphasizes: “In 2020 it took a great deal of courage not only to open the thrill roller coaster, but also to completely relaunch the park’s communications platform. I’m fortunate to be surrounded by a courageous team.”
So far the projects planned for 2021 have not been postponed. Among other things, Futuroscope plans to offer a new evening show, replacing the one launched in spring 2016 in collaboration with an affiliate of Cirque du Soleil. For the new creation called ” La Cle des Songes” Futuroscope has enlisted the services of French show designer ECA2, with which the park has already collaborated twice in the past. The technical installations on a 7,000-square-metre lake – will feature new visual, aquatic and pyrotechnic equipment. A spectacular fire and water effect in the finale of the performance will be provided by a first-of-its-kind device supplied by Crystal Group which rises up in the middle of the stage at the end of a seven-metre-high articulated arm.
