Universal's Epic Universe Construction Thread

[OrlLover]

They're really scrambling to get things started

I'd bet they're working on getting contracts inked and POs signed before any inflation hits due to energy shortages. My (soon-to-be-former company is doing the same thing).

Yep we can literally be in an energy crisis any day now.

Might as well get going as quickly as they can on these various projects.

 

[dmc493]

Yep we can literally be in an energy crisis any day now.

if the current situations turned into large scale impacts on jobs, could very well argue it as being a force majeure type event that protects the contractors from that dollar increase anyway, leaving universal to cover the cost premiums anyway

 

[Jake S]

my friends, if we enter a full blown energy crisis we’re going to have bigger fish to fry than when Epic Universe expands.

 

[PerceptiveCoot]

my friends, if we enter a full blown energy crisis we’re going to have bigger fish to fry than when Epic Universe expands.

Buddy, I've been having a Southern barbecue with all this fried fish!

 

[rageofthegods]

my friends, if we enter a full blown energy crisis we’re going to have bigger fish to fry than when Epic Universe expands.

Look, I like thinking about these things in terms of theme park expansions because otherwise I'd have to think about them in terms of my extremely vulnerable job instead.

 

[Grabnar]

my friends, if we enter a full blown energy crisis we’re going to have bigger fish to fry than when Epic Universe expands.

I work in fine chemicals I’m cooking all day lol

There’s some form of price increase baked, people are trying to lock in favorable pricing now for capital investment

 

[UniversalRBLX]

I'm not too worried about a potential energy crisis impacting the parks (assuming nothing major changes for the worse) yet, as these large projects tend to be confirmed months in advance. I'd imagine with permits in place that most negotiations for supplies are in by now.


One thing I think the parks have realized is that even with some sort of major economic crisis... you need something at the end of it to get folks back into the parks. Universal benefited tremendously from having Velocicoaster ready to go in 2021 post-Covid.

 

[Mad Dog]

The war is proving too troublesome for a country (USA) with a major election in 7 months. The present situation will probably be very short term.

 

[OrlLover]

The war is proving too troublesome for a country (USA) with a major election in 7 months. The present situation will probably be very short term.

Fingers crossed it ends soon.

Too many countries in the Middle East that heavily depend on tourism are being affected.

Also with the Midterms looming I wouldn’t want that happening if I was president because it’s setting yourself up for a major loss.

 

[Tyc00n96]

 

[fryoj]

You have to do land maintenance before you can build on it.

 

[Tyc00n96]

I wonder if they would lean retail heavy for a second "citywalk"

 

[Imperius]

Are there better returns on leasing retail space or creating new restaurant/bars?

 

[Mad Dog]

Universals CityWalk actions during the past decade have nearly eliminated all third party retail, and most of the restaurant/bars are under Universal management now. I wouldn't think they'd reverse course on Epic area properties.

 

[Frank Drackman]

Universals CityWalk actions during the past decade have nearly eliminated all third party retail, and most of the restaurant/bars are under Universal management now. I wouldn't think they'd reverse course on Epic area properties.

or maybe newer CityWalk projects like Category 10 are a test (although I have no clue if the new restaurant is something where UoR operates a franchise?)

No inside info, but I always thought an entertainment area that caters to the Convention Center Visitors/UoR Hotel Guest/I-drive area guest/locals would be the goal --- but I would think that goes w/ another gate and then south becomes like north w/ two parks close to each other for easy 'park hopping'.

Regardless of what they are doing, I am sure Comcast has long term plans for the land they own in the area.

Will we always see Icon park from Epic?

 

[HHN Maddux]

Would be weird to have the 2nd CityWalk not be connected to Epic and an eventual 4th park, but on the other hand, would make sense to have it divert traffic towards the I-Drive area (and in turn towards Epic), while also taking away crowds from going to that tourist trap and instead more Uni. Also wouldn't be shocked if it came with a new hotel.

 

[Mike S]

We better get an actual Nintendo Store out of this so I don’t have to travel to New York lol

 

[Stitch_101]

Would be weird to have the 2nd CityWalk not be connected to Epic and an eventual 4th park, but on the other hand, would make sense to have it divert traffic towards the I-Drive area (and in turn towards Epic), while also taking away crowds from going to that tourist trap and instead more Uni. Also wouldn't be shocked if it came with a new hotel.

Absolutely this. This is just as much about attracting convention center traffic as it is for the theme park guests. I'm more curious what we will see outside of dining and shopping options, if they end up having any.

 

[UniversalRBLX]

I could see that area become a major hotel complex with convention space like Sapphire & Royal Pacific, but would Uni really invest into a new entertainment district?

Just doesn't make sense to separate it from Epic/potential 4th gate and other hotels unless it's a new type of CityWalk-type concept with experiences like Area 51 in Vegas or Meow Wolf that have attractions to draw people in? (e.g. maybe sort of Area 51 complex with Horror Unleashed?)


I think this area is likelier to become a large value resort complex in the style of Dockside/Surfside

 

[RFRees]

About having a Citywalk 2.0 but not directly connected:
1) Disney Springs is already that concept. Not sure how significantly this would differ from that.
2) We don't know Universal's long term plans for transportation. They could end up adding a significant mid-point stop for their own transportation system, and/or add in a public transit stop (like Brightline). All that plus hotel(s) + Citywalk 2.0.