Universal Great Britain - Speculation & Rumors

[yepthatguy]

@Altonsky this was in local news today.

Former Stewartby brickworks sold to developer

The brownfield site has outline planning consent for homes, a school and community facilities.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[Scott W.]

@Altonsky this was in local news today.

Former Stewartby brickworks sold to developer

The brownfield site has outline planning consent for homes, a school and community facilities.

www.bbc.co.uk

They should name the new school Dr. Phillips.

 

[Scott W.]

Something I've been thinking about for this is park. Do you think they will call it Universal Studios Great Britain?

Or is the Universal Studios, movie theme park idea a bit played out at this point? It's never going to be a studios park theme with how they've recently been implementing their IPs into the parks.

You have Universal Kids Resort in Texas, Universal Horror Unleashed in Vegas, all avoiding the studios part.

They could go down an original route park theme like IOA or Epic is doing but having the Universal title in there.

 

[havaska]

Personally, I’m expecting a hybrid between a studio park and something like Epic Universe.

 

[Steeb]

I imagine they will keep the name 'Universal Studios' no matter what the park ends up shaping up like. It's pretty much the brand identity for non-theme park enthusiasts. I even see Orlando vloggers refering to UOR as 'Studios' even now.

My guess is that the studios element will be Main Street with fully themed lands branching off it, pretty much like what Beijing is.

 

[Alicia]

Beijing still being called Universal Studios makes me think they think it’s a requirement for each resort’s first park.

Kids doesn’t count cause it’s not a full scale park so needed separate branding.

 

[rob@rar]

Something I've been thinking about for this is park. Do you think they will call it Universal Studios Great Britain?

Or is the Universal Studios, movie theme park idea a bit played out at this point? It's never going to be a studios park theme with how they've recently been implementing their IPs into the parks.

Completely agree the “fake movie studios” theme is tired and limiting, so I’m hoping that Universal Creative live up to their name in the best ways possible. However, the main brand identity is “Universal Studios”, known equally by theme park fans and families who might not have ever have visited a theme park. So it’s difficult to imagine Universal Studios won’t feature in the name. I just hope they don’t call it Universal Studios United Kingdom, as the acronym U SUK is a bit unfortunate.

 

[Andysol]

Beijing still being called Universal Studios makes me think they think it’s a requirement for each resort’s first park.

Kids doesn’t count cause it’s not a full scale park so needed separate branding.

Exactly. And outside of waterworld, there is zero “studio” element to it.

It will be a “Universal Studios” moniker but not reminiscent of a “studios” park.

Look at Beijing and you’ll get your answer on thematic elements, layout and naming.

 

[DrStarlander]

The "movie studio" concept of a theme park is tired and unproductive at this point, in my opinion. They should move beyond that wherever they can. Movie studios were romanticized in the 20th century -- in the early decades when it was a new industry -- with the history of Hollywood, fabulous sets and backlots, and stars.

Yet nowadays movies are made all over the world in obscure studio and non-studio locations (wherever the tax breaks happen to be) and the public doesn't care or even wonder any more where or how the movie was filmed -- a blockbuster could have mostly been made in a small room with a green screen and a laptop.

 

[Alicia]

It’s more about branding than park concept at this point.

 

[DrStarlander]

It’s more about branding than park concept at this point.

I hear you, but I think the branding is unhelpful because it suggests a dated theme park concept, and people may react "meh, not interested." The Universal logo just says "Universal" so it's just not necessary from a brand integrity standpoint. "Universal" is a great, expansive, simple, word. They are very lucky! It's more useful and applicable than "Knott's" or even "Six Flags" (which is pretty open, as a brand). But you can't be much more open and flexible than "Universal"!

So, Universal Cruises, Universal Hotels, Universal Resorts or Universal Theme Parks, I'd just build on the universality -- literally - of that word and brand. And, yes, a handful of parks will have the "Studios" in the name, and even in the park theme, but the company can go so far beyond that -- as IOA and Epic show.

 

[Jake S]

I hear you, but I think the branding is unhelpful because it suggests a dated theme park concept, and people may react "meh, not interested."

only nerds are thinking this way and we are, thank god in heaven, a small minority of the general population

 

[Cup_Of_Coffee]

It’s more about branding than park concept at this point.

Especially since Beijing opens the park with Hollywood, giving a Hollywood movie studio vibes, it just works. Then leave the studios and enter the worlds of the movies. Keep building these new parks IOA style and they’ll continue to find success.

 

[Chessy]

I’m expecting Universal Studios Great Britain name wise. It cant be Universal London as it’s not close enough to the vicinity of the area.

Other than that I’m not sure if there are many other viable options for naming the resort?….

 

[bedfordmassive]

I think they’ll cash in on the international renown of the host town and call it Universal Bedford

 

[Mike S]

I think they’ll cash in on the international renown of the host town and call it Universal Bedford

I mean hey, it worked for The Beatles and Liverpool!

 

[yepthatguy]

Always the outsider lol, I will put my 2 pence in.

Universal Bedford.

My personal opinion, is it’s marketing genius.

 

[Andysol]

only nerds are thinking this way and we are, thank god in heaven, a small minority of the general population

 

[Elijah Abrams]

Something I've been thinking about for this is park. Do you think they will call it Universal Studios Great Britain?

Or is the Universal Studios, movie theme park idea a bit played out at this point? It's never going to be a studios park theme with how they've recently been implementing their IPs into the parks.

You have Universal Kids Resort in Texas, Universal Horror Unleashed in Vegas, all avoiding the studios part.

They could go down an original route park theme like IOA or Epic is doing but having the Universal title in there.

How about "Universal Studios England"? The overall resort could be named "Universal England Resort".

 

[MangoDance]

How about "Universal Studios England"? The overall resort could be named "Universal England Resort".

It seems highly likely the name will be either "Universal Great Britain" or "Universal Studios Great Britain"

The company that runs the UK project page registered the .co.uk domain, and NBCUniversal already registered the other TLD variants, but what's most interesting is that they haven't purchased any of the other possible names getting thrown about, usually one of the first things you do before you announce any project is buy up all the domains you are considering to avoid squatters, which they haven't done here, so it feels like Universal GB is already in the bag.