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WTF: A $500M (!) Ferris Wheel For New York?

I'm a new yorker and I think this is absurd.

In the early 90's, it cost $2 to go up inside the Empire State Building. All you needed to do was show you were a NY State resident and you got a discount. Currently after a billionaire was mayor, it costs $32 - no discounts for new yorkers. All of upkeep they say.

1600% price increase in 20 years!
 
Indus said:
I'm a new yorker and I think this is absurd.

In the early 90's, it cost $2 to go up inside the Empire State Building. All you needed to do was show you were a NY State resident and you got a discount. Currently after a billionaire was mayor, it costs $32 - no discounts for new yorkers. All of upkeep they say.

1600% price increase in 20 years!
Click to expand...
Seriously?! It's $32 to go to the top now?? Wow, I'm about to start planning a senior class trip. One of the possibilities was NYC to see a lot of the sights. As soon as I mention that that to the students, I can see a lot of them saying, "screw that!"
 
DrPizza said:
Seriously?! It's $32 to go to the top now?? Wow, I'm about to start planning a senior class trip. One of the possibilities was NYC to see a lot of the sights. As soon as I mention that that to the students, I can see a lot of them saying, "screw that!"
Click to expand...

Yes I showed my wife pictures from google of what the view is like upstairs and she's like no need to spend money on that view. Lets just smoke a few ribs instead!

Hard to argue with her!
 
Indus said:
I'm a new yorker and I think this is absurd.

In the early 90's, it cost $2 to go up inside the Empire State Building. All you needed to do was show you were a NY State resident and you got a discount. Currently after a billionaire was mayor, it costs $32 - no discounts for new yorkers. All of upkeep they say.

1600% price increase in 20 years!
Click to expand...

Damn, $32 to go up on the empire state building? That's crazy! I know everything's expensive there in NYC, but damn. I'll pass.
 
The promoter borrowed $195 million at 10% interest for the project plus another $150 million at 2.75%. Who loaned him the money? "Equity investors" get wiped out first in a bankruptcy, right? I will not be investing in this project.
 
The 'London Eye' runs about $25M a year or so if I'm not mistaken. So you'd only need a measly 20 years before making a profit!

Oh, and as the buildings in central London are less high overall and much older than those in central NY, you actually have a view. In NY you'd be staring at the side of the skyscrapers surrounding it.
 
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They expect "up to" 30,000 visitors a day which IMHO is a ridiculous number.

I am sorry, a Ferris Wheel is something "nice" but it's not exactly the latest, sensational thing which would attract 30,000 people every fricking day. It's not that NYC doesn't have plenty of landmarks already where one can see the city, correct me if I am wrong?

I just see this flopping big time respective in no justifying half a billion...for a fricking FERRIS WHEEL? The London Eye by the way cost £70 million.
 
Skyclad1uhm1 said:
The 'London Eye' runs about $25M a year or so if I'm not mistaken. So you'd only need a measly 20 years before making a profit!

Oh, and as the buildings in central London are less high overall and much older than those in central NY, you actually have a view. In NY you'd be staring at the side of the skyscrapers surrounding it.
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From the article it looks like it is being built in Staten Island, so there won't be any tall buildings around it.

I imagine the view from it will be amazing, actually. That being said, it will be in Staten Island, and nobody goes there.

Maybe if it is right next to the ferry terminal visitors will get off the ferry and ride it instead of just getting right back on the ferry as they do now.

Regardless, a $500 million Ferris wheel is stupid.
 
They should build the Ferris wheel on rails and have it glide through a skyscraper canyon in Manhattan as it spins. That would be worth $40 to ride.
 
Indus said:
Yes I showed my wife pictures from google of what the view is like upstairs and she's like no need to spend money on that view. Lets just smoke a few ribs instead!

Hard to argue with her!
Click to expand...

You post a lot of bullshit, but let me just say that you have a damn fine wife sir.
 
They want to build a Ferris wheel the size of the Gateway Arch in Staten Island for $500 million.... Yeah, that's a good use of money.

Granted, it's possible that this is just the Eiffel Tower of our generation; derided as foolish at the time, praised by future generations and unimpeachable today. But I'm jumping on the derision train; a 630 foot Ferris wheel is fucking stupid. I mean, shit, who wants to take an hour long ride on a Ferris wheel, stopping every few feet to load a new group of bleary-eyed tourists who have no recollection of how they ended up in Staten Island? Is their plan to let people ride it for free but charge them if they want to get off?
 
I just checked to see how big the one at Navy Pier is and it seems we are going to be getting a new wheel as well. Should be about 200ft tall and will cost 26 mil.

630 ft ferris wheel is pretty epic LOL but damn that is a lot of money.
 
DrPizza said:
Seriously?! It's $32 to go to the top now?? Wow, I'm about to start planning a senior class trip. One of the possibilities was NYC to see a lot of the sights. As soon as I mention that that to the students, I can see a lot of them saying, "screw that!"
Click to expand...

My guess is you can arrange a discount for your students. Call in advance.
 
eskimospy said:
From the article it looks like it is being built in Staten Island, so there won't be any tall buildings around it.

I imagine the view from it will be amazing, actually. That being said, it will be in Staten Island, and nobody goes there.

Maybe if it is right next to the ferry terminal visitors will get off the ferry and ride it instead of just getting right back on the ferry as they do now.

Regardless, a $500 million Ferris wheel is stupid.
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If so, then it's stupid for a bunch of private investors.

My guess is that this vanity project is meant to revitalize Staten Island's economy. The article mentions an outlet mall being built next door. That's probably just the beginning.
 
Indus said:
I'm a new yorker and I think this is absurd.

In the early 90's, it cost $2 to go up inside the Empire State Building. All you needed to do was show you were a NY State resident and you got a discount. Currently after a billionaire was mayor, it costs $32 - no discounts for new yorkers. All of upkeep they say.

1600% price increase in 20 years!
Click to expand...

Ugh... I am planning on going next month. I have never been and wanted to do all the touristy stuff. That is expensive, but I'll have to pay it. Dammit!

I went to Paris in Dec 2013, the Eiffel Tower was WAYYYYY cheaper. I know not the same thing, but huge attraction as well.
 
But...but it's Noo Yawk! It's gotta be bigger and more expensive than any other ferris wheel!
🙄


Seattle has it's "Great Wheel," built in 2012 at a cost of about $20 million...and is 175' high.
Lots of cities have them...but...meh. If you've been on one oversized ferris wheel...you've been on one. 😛
Personally, I think they're fucking cool as hell...but they should be financed, built, and operated by the builder, not the city where they're located.
 
BoomerD said:
But...but it's Noo Yawk! It's gotta be bigger and more expensive than any other ferris wheel!
🙄

Seattle has it's "Great Wheel," built in 2012 at a cost of about $20 million...and is 175' high.
Lots of cities have them...but...meh. If you've been on one oversized ferris wheel...you've been on one. 😛
Personally, I think they're fucking cool as hell...but they should be financed, built, and operated by the builder, not the city where they're located.
Click to expand...

It is being financed, built, and operated by the builder. I have a hard time thinking it's economically viable due to how hard it is to get to Staten Island, but I guess you never know!
 
eskimospy said:
It is being financed, built, and operated by the builder. I have a hard time thinking it's economically viable due to how hard it is to get to Staten Island, but I guess you never know!
Click to expand...

Then what's the problem? As long as the public is in no way on the hook for the costs...let them build it...if it fails as a business, so be it. (just make sure there's some kind of contingency to protect the public in the event they go belly up.)
 
flexy said:
They expect "up to" 30,000 visitors a day which IMHO is a ridiculous number.

I am sorry, a Ferris Wheel is something "nice" but it's not exactly the latest, sensational thing which would attract 30,000 people every fricking day. It's not that NYC doesn't have plenty of landmarks already where one can see the city, correct me if I am wrong?

I just see this flopping big time respective in no justifying half a billion...for a fricking FERRIS WHEEL? The London Eye by the way cost £70 million.
Click to expand...

And zero visitors in the winter...
 
flexy said:
They expect "up to" 30,000 visitors a day which IMHO is a ridiculous number.
Click to expand...

The London Eye is one of the most popular Ferris wheels in the world, and it attracts about a third of that. And it's smack dab in the center of the city, not shuffled off to some island that no one wants to go to. Hey, want to see what the iconic New York City skyline looks like from 5 miles away across a frigid body of dirty water? No? OK, cool.
 
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