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General Category => Branson Talk => Topic started by: sanddunerider on February 04, 2013, 06:07:41 PM

Title: Grand Palace sold.. ...(maybe)
Post by: sanddunerider on February 04, 2013, 06:07:41 PM
we have all heard and read abouot it...

Reportedly the palace has been sold..  Investors (unamed) will demo the bulding this summer and rebuild onsite...  Thats it! No other details.... 

SOOOOOOOOOOOO   here we go again!!
Title: Re: Grand Palace sold.. ...(maybe)
Post by: Swoosh on February 04, 2013, 07:06:17 PM
Glad it is being demo'd.  The building never really fit the strip.  Way too big.
Title: Re: Grand Palace sold.. ...(maybe)
Post by: Hollwood on February 04, 2013, 07:40:35 PM
Demolish the Grand Palace? I have so many memories in that building. Maybe the Wonder Works people will rehab it like they did the HFE theatre in Pigeon Forge!
Title: Re: Grand Palace sold.. ...(maybe)
Post by: KBCraig on February 04, 2013, 10:14:41 PM
I always thought it was an eyesore. It looked like TBN headquarters or something.

It might have been a fit in Las Vegas, but not Branson.
Title: Re: Grand Palace sold.. ...(maybe)
Post by: sanddunerider on February 05, 2013, 07:50:32 AM
It is a MASSIVE building,  And if you drive out back it just keeps "growing"....
Title: Re: Grand Palace sold.. ...(maybe)
Post by: Junior on February 05, 2013, 08:25:36 AM
I remember seeing the Rockettes one Christmas there. Adeu, Grand Palace!
Title: Re: Grand Palace sold.. ...(maybe)
Post by: shavethewhales on February 05, 2013, 09:54:05 AM
That's unfortunate, the theatre had so much potential to pull in some really big acts into Branson. Sounds like something else is in the works though, so at least that will be better than an empty theatre. I just hope it's not going to be another strip mall.
Title: Re: Grand Palace sold.. ...(maybe)
Post by: rubedugans on February 05, 2013, 10:43:32 AM
Shoot, you all caught on to my plan to rebuild The Diving Bell in Downtown Branson.
Title: Re: Grand Palace sold.. ...(maybe)
Post by: sanddunerider on February 05, 2013, 03:01:18 PM
lets see a new diving bell attraction AND The Dugan motel..!!  yea baby!
Title: Re: Grand Palace sold.. ...(maybe)
Post by: Junior on February 05, 2013, 04:51:16 PM
Funny!  ;D
Title: Re: Grand Palace sold.. ...(maybe)
Post by: Zephon on February 05, 2013, 09:30:44 PM
I'm not sad to see it go.  When the Hershcends built it, their heart was in the right place, but the vision was a little off.  At around 4000 seats, the Palace was too big for the ordinary Branson style acts (cost of operating would be prohibitive), and too small for the big name acts (you need at least 10,000 to be able to pay the act and still keep ticket prices affordable). 

I hope the new owners have a good plan...but please...no new theaters, malls, motels, restaurants, go kart tracks, minigolf, or souvenir shops.  We don't fill the ones we have.  A park might be nice...some kind of a return to nature; course, I don't suppose there's much money in that.
Title: Re: Grand Palace sold.. ...(maybe)
Post by: shavethewhales on February 05, 2013, 11:37:22 PM
It's a prime spot and a prime time for a real attraction. An aquarium, museum, or something else similar would be tremendous right now.
Title: Re: Grand Palace sold.. ...(maybe)
Post by: sanddunerider on February 06, 2013, 05:24:19 AM
zephon, 4,000 seats? yep thats a little much for branson. 

I frequent the RFD theatre, 2100 seat capacity and very seldom see 500-600  peopel, which barely fills the lower level..
Title: Re: Grand Palace sold.. ...(maybe)
Post by: Hollwood on February 06, 2013, 06:21:10 AM
It's a prime spot and a prime time for a real attraction. An aquarium, museum, or something else similar would be tremendous right now.

Branson won't see an aquarium, it's just not a money ,maker. It takes multi millions to build one, and their tickets are traditionally dirt cheap. If you go to the website of an HFE aquarium you will see that their ANNUAL passes are cheaper than a daily pass to any HFE theme park. The problem with that is you then depend on one of two things. 1.) high, repeated local annual pass sells, or 2.) repeated tourist visits. The reason there is not a middle is because of capacity. The Atlanta aquarium is the largest in the world and was built with an initial $250 Million DONATION, and another $110 Million expansion, and only put through 3.6 million people in 2009. The numbers only make sense because of the donation, that is the only reason they are making money. The Georgia aquarium would not fit in the Grand Palace foot print, so in my opinion, no smart investor would build one. HFE would have done it by now if there was any money in it... CC would fit the Georgia Aquarium and then some, perhaps the only plot of land in Branson that is already developed with an infrastructure that is capable of holding something of that size.
Title: Re: Grand Palace sold.. ...(maybe)
Post by: chittlins on February 06, 2013, 03:31:30 PM
It's a prime spot and a prime time for a real attraction. An aquarium, museum, or something else similar would be tremendous right now.

Branson won't see an aquarium, it's just not a money ,maker. It takes multi millions to build one, and their tickets are traditionally dirt cheap. If you go to the website of an HFE aquarium you will see that their ANNUAL passes are cheaper than a daily pass to any HFE theme park. The problem with that is you then depend on one of two things. 1.) high, repeated local annual pass sells, or 2.) repeated tourist visits. The reason there is not a middle is because of capacity. The Atlanta aquarium is the largest in the world and was built with an initial $250 Million DONATION, and another $110 Million expansion, and only put through 3.6 million people in 2009. The numbers only make sense because of the donation, that is the only reason they are making money. The Georgia aquarium would not fit in the Grand Palace foot print, so in my opinion, no smart investor would build one. HFE would have done it by now if there was any money in it... CC would fit the Georgia Aquarium and then some, perhaps the only plot of land in Branson that is already developed with an infrastructure that is capable of holding something of that size.

Quite honestly, this is taken care of with the redo of the WoW museum adjacent Bass Pro in Springfield.

http://www.wondersofwildlife.org/

Merlin bundles their Sealife's with a Lego or Madams
Title: Re: Grand Palace sold.. ...(maybe)
Post by: sanddunerider on February 06, 2013, 08:58:25 PM
your right chittlins the "WOW" will be quite the facility when done...
We have been waiting and following along their pictures for 2 years!! 
sure wish they would get it finished,...
I loved the original building, let alone this new supersized building.
Title: Re: Grand Palace sold.. ...(maybe)
Post by: DianaGail on February 09, 2013, 07:35:30 PM
Drove by today.  The for sale signs are still up.
Title: Re: Grand Palace sold.. ...(maybe)
Post by: chittlins on February 09, 2013, 08:26:59 PM
your right chittlins the "WOW" will be quite the facility when done...
We have been waiting and following along their pictures for 2 years!! 
sure wish they would get it finished,...
I loved the original building, let alone this new supersized building.

It'll have Manatees
Title: Re: Grand Palace sold.. ...(maybe)
Post by: qwed94 on February 10, 2013, 01:14:31 AM
" IT WILL HAVE MANATEES"    ;D

They are kinda cool.  My sister lived in Homasasa Springs, Fl. for many years. (The Manatee capital). There is even a real nice little museum/park/boat tour down there.  They are not real cute, but are definitely neat creatures.
Title: Re: Grand Palace sold.. ...(maybe)
Post by: shavethewhales on October 19, 2014, 07:50:51 PM
The Grand Palace sold to an owner who will actually be able to do something with it earlier this month.

I finally got around to doing a little write up of the situation to get the conversation going again: http://sdcfans.com/whats-next-for-the-grand-palace/

Personally, I'm not sure I see a future for the theatre at this point, but I don't know enough about the industry to really know what it's prospects are.

I think if they get rid of the theatre they'll likely have a master plan that includes a variety of things in a complex. I see them developing something more urban and dense with more shopping and restaurants and then some sort of odd-ball attraction as an anchor. Could be a museum, but there's also been a string of these new "dungeon" attractions in larger cities that are somewhat popular. Not sure if that's the best fit for Branson, but something like it could be. Isn't there some sort of funky ride-through attraction in Pigeon Forge?
Title: Re: Grand Palace sold.. ...(maybe)
Post by: cowboy on October 19, 2014, 08:36:31 PM
The big country acts are selling out arenas that seat 18,000+, I do not ever see Grand Palace doing this. But maybe bigger isn't what is needed?

In Tulsa, in addition to an 18,000 seat arena, we have Cain's Ballroom, Brady, Spirit Bank Center, several Casino's, the PAC 's in Tulsa and Broken Arrow, and the Joint. The Joint seats about 3,000 and is always hosting events...Joan Jett, Dolly Parton, Hall and Oates., Duran Duran...these are not your top acts, but one that could fill a theater of 3000.

Maybe remodel a part of the complex into a "Toby Keith's Bar and Grill" and attach a new hotel or other attraction to the complex as well. Then remodel the theater into a 3000 seat facility and focus on bringing that mid level artist to Branson.

I'm Not real familiar with the theaters in Branson, but there seems to be some other good size venues vacant as well. So, maybe it might be best to just start over.

Jay
Title: Re: Grand Palace sold.. ...(maybe)
Post by: chittlins on October 19, 2014, 11:29:53 PM
The big country acts are selling out arenas that seat 18,000+, I do not ever see Grand Palace doing this. But maybe bigger isn't what is needed?

In Tulsa, in addition to an 18,000 seat arena, we have Cain's Ballroom, Brady, Spirit Bank Center, several Casino's, the PAC 's in Tulsa and Broken Arrow, and the Joint. The Joint seats about 3,000 and is always hosting events...Joan Jett, Dolly Parton, Hall and Oates., Duran Duran...these are not your top acts, but one that could fill a theater of 3000.

Maybe remodel a part of the complex into a "Toby Keith's Bar and Grill" and attach a new hotel or other attraction to the complex as well. Then remodel the theater into a 3000 seat facility and focus on bringing that mid level artist to Branson.

I'm Not real familiar with the theaters in Branson, but there seems to be some other good size venues vacant as well. So, maybe it might be best to just start over.

Jay

Wait, all that's missing a casino.

Title: Re: Grand Palace sold.. ...(maybe)
Post by: cowboy on October 20, 2014, 03:10:41 AM

Wait, all that's missing a casino.



True, but I wonder if the concept could work without the casino part? I know we'd be more attracted to a nice entertainment area that was like a casino but without the smoke and gambling....but I'm not a gambler. My dad on the other hand just needs a gas station with a small casino attached, he could care less if there was any other attraction besides the slots.

i just hope that Branson doesn't ever build a casino. I'm sure it would work out great for the developers, and a lot of people would love it, but it would also be the end of the Branson we all love....

Jay
Title: Re: Grand Palace sold.. ...(maybe)
Post by: runner1960 on October 20, 2014, 08:13:16 AM
How about a theater built specifically for cirque du soleil with a permanent show themed to the area. Surrounded by a entertainment district with Micro breweries shopping and smaller clubs for late night entertainment.