Ferris Wheel Wars Vs.Staten Island and Dubai

                                                                           

 Proposed Staten Island Ferris Wheel

New York City this week will officially break ground on a spot near the Staten Island Ferry terminal where the world’s tallest observation wheel will rise — unless Dubai builds a bigger one first.

The Dubai Eye started erecting its 690-foot wheel a week ago. “They’re definitely ahead at this moment in time,” said Will Armstrong, president of Starneth LLC, an engineering firm working on both the Dubai and New York wheels. The 630-foot New York Wheel seeks to dethrone the 550-foot High Roller in Las Vegas as the tallest in the world. 

 High Roller, at 550ft, it's the world's tallest moving observation wheel #lasvegas

But with so many moving parts, the competition could be fierce.

“Anything could happen to delay it,” Armstrong said of Dubai’s lead.

After it opens in the second quarter of 2017, the New York Wheel estimates it will host 3.5 million riders each year, with a likely ticket price of $35 for the 38-minute ride. The $500-million project will include state-of-the-art technology in the climate-controlled cabins, permanent bar cars, a 20-seat dining car, and a nightly light show with its $7.5-million LED lights. The adjacent complex will offer a 4D ride, a beer garden, an amphitheater and a hotel. Naming rights haven’t yet been sold, but they are up for grabs, company officials have said.

Regardless of which project beats Vegas first, others are already queuing up to build higher, Armstrong said. His company alone has 36 potential projects in the pipeline, about one-third for massive “iconic” sizes. And how often do clients ask to build a record-setter? 

 Indeed, New York and Dubai are part of a gold rush of giant observation wheels that have sprung up in the wake of the surprising financial success of the 15-year-old London Eye, which was originally built as a temporary novelty. 

Since 2001, six wheels higher than 150 feet have opened in the United States, with at least two more scheduled to open this year. Proposals have also been put forth for San Diego, Dallas and Jersey City, N.J. Another Las Vegas project, the 500-foot high SkyVue wheel, started construction in 2011 but remains on hold, developer David Baffin told Mashable.

The appeal extends overseas. Of the world’s 20 tallest wheels in operation, the only U.S. appearance is the High Roller. China claims eight spots, followed by Japan’s seven and Singapore, England, Australia, Vietnam with one each. The 400-foot Orlando Eye will eke into the Top 10 when it opens in Florida next month.

The wheel in London, now branded as the Coca-Cola London Eye, has chalked up more than 60 million visitors, according to a company spokeswoman. The standard adult walk-up ticket is about $31 for the 30-minute ride, with add-ons available for fast-track entry, champagne, whisky, chocolate or a private “Cupid’s Capsule” for two people. 

London

 

“The London Eye was kind of like proof of concept - it showed you could make observation wheels a profitable, year-round attraction that doubled as a symbol for your city,” said Nick Weisenberger, the author of the book “Observation Wheels” and the website observationwheeldirectory.com.

New York City is banking on goosing its own tourism numbers — it hosted 56.4 million visitors in 2014 and is aiming for 67 million annually by 2021.

The New York Wheel’s goal is to attract some of the 3.6 million tourists who ride the free Staten Island Ferry each year, according to the calculations of the Independent Budget Office of NYC. Most of them currently take the 25-minute ride over — with excellent views of the Statue of Liberty — only to depart minutes later on the next ferry to Manhattan.

If they can get out of the terminal, Staten Island could lure tourists to its other cultural offerings such as the sprawling Snug Harbor cultural center built at a 19th Century sailors retirement home or the Yankees’ minor league waterfront stadium.

But no one should be waiting for Staten Island to turn into the next Brooklyn, which over the past decade turned into its own tourist destination selling all-things artisanal.

“You can’t compare it to Brooklyn,” said Marty Markowitz, the former borough president of Brooklyn, who is now the vice president of borough promotion and engagement at NYC & Company, the city's official tourism group. Staten Island will need to build on what makes it unique, including its amazing Italian and Sri Lankan food, he said. “Everyone’s got their own schtick.”  

Indeed, New York and Dubai are part of a gold rush of giant observation wheels that have sprung up in the wake of the surprising financial success of the 15-year-old London Eye, which was originally built as a temporary novelty. 

Since 2001, six wheels higher than 150 feet have opened in the United States, with at least two more scheduled to open this year. Proposals have also been put forth for San Diego, Dallas and Jersey City, N.J. Another Las Vegas project, the 500-foot high SkyVue wheel, started construction in 2011 but remains on hold, developer David Baffin told Mashable.

The appeal extends overseas. Of the world’s 20 tallest wheels in operation, the only U.S. appearance is the High Roller. China claims eight spots, followed by Japan’s seven and Singapore, England, Australia, Vietnam with one each. The 400-foot Orlando Eye will eke into the Top 10 when it opens in Florida next month.

The wheel in London, now branded as the Coca-Cola London Eye, has chalked up more than 60 million visitors, according to a company spokeswoman. The standard adult walk-up ticket is about $31 for the 30-minute ride, with add-ons available for fast-track entry, champagne, whisky, chocolate or a private “Cupid’s Capsule” for two people.

Mashable