News Round Up 2017

[dclpluto]

That's pretty cool to get to eat at Jiko for $35

Yes it is I did price checks and you save money this way and you give a dollar for a very good cause.

 

[umichigan10]

That's pretty cool to get to eat at Jiko for $35

Same with the wave. A hidden gem on property (literally and figuratively)

 

[Phicinfan]

That's awesome! I was in Indy for the 2014 (Highest score in World Championship History) and 2015 (the year Carolina Crown got robbed) World Championships. I'm not a Blue Devils fan at all, so lets just say the end of those nights were not fun at all lol.

I have gone the last two years so 15 and 16, and we have tickets for this year as well. My kids are the ultimate band geeks. I too am not a Blue Devils fan, so I feel ya.

I am a bit of a radical, I grew up in the Allentown PA area, so I route for them even though my kids get greatly embarrassed by it.

 

[FredQc]

Cirque du Soleil buys Blue Man Group:

http://montrealgazette.com/entertai...l-acquires-blue-man-groups-production-company

In the biggest move since it was acquired by private equity firm TPG Capital for $1.4 billion in 2015, the Cirque du Soleil announced Thursday that it has acquired New York-based Blue Man Productions. No financial terms of the acquisition were revealed.

This company is best-known for the popular Blue Man Group show, which has been performed in more than 20 countries and has been seen by more than 35 million people since 1991.

It immediately transforms the Montreal-based circus into an even more significant player in the global live-performance industry and it is the first time the Cirque has taken over another major entertainment company. Blue Man has six resident shows, in New York, Boston, Chicago, Orlando, Las Vegas, and Berlin.

“We were always intrigued by the success of the Blue Man Group,” said Cirque du Soleil CEO Daniel Lamarre, in a phone interview from New York City Thursday morning.

“This company has existed for 25 years and we were looking at them and (thinking) they were not dissimilar to Cirque du Soleil, in terms of their history and more importantly in terms of their creativity,” Lamarre said. “Like Cirque, they’ve been very innovative in terms of the content of their shows.”

So the Cirque executives started courting Blue Man co-founders Chris Wink and Phil Stanton several months back and from the start, there was a receptiveness from Blue Man to the idea of a sale to the Cirque.

“The idea here is that we can use the amazing marketing and distribution force of Cirque du Soleil and really take the brand of Blue Man Group and expand it at a much more rapid pace,” Lamarre said.

Lamarre notes that for the new owners of Cirque, the key to growth is diversification.

“We thought that it was important that much as we believe there’s still growth within the circus arts content, we thought that if we wanted to accelerate our growth internationally, we needed two things. We needed to identify some projects organically like the NFL Experience that we’re going to open in November here on Times Square. It opens us to all the sports experiences so it’s a new category of content. And the acquisition of Blue Man is in the same line. When we’re looking at what our ambition is as an organization, we really want to become a global leader of live entertainment and that’s why Blue Man fits 100 per cent in our new strategy.”

Lamarre underlined that the Cirque du Soleil and Blue Man Group will remain two completely distinct brands and the Blue Man management team will remain in place.

And there may well be other acquisitions on the horizon for Cirque du Soleil.

“We are in a situation that we think we can bring the company to the next level,” said Lamarre. “With TPG we are going to look at all the brands that we think could fit in our strategy. But I also want people to understand that a huge portion of our growth in the future is going to come from our creative centre in Montreal. We have a lot of things in our pipeline. We are also working on geographical diversification.”

Lamarre is headed to China next week, where he will announce that they are going to tour in seven cities in China starting this October and they are going to announce the opening of their first big resident show in China that is going to open in 2018 in Hangzhou.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

Cirque du Soleil buys Blue Man Group:

http://montrealgazette.com/entertai...l-acquires-blue-man-groups-production-company

that is interesting (so interesting I just Blue myself)

since Blue Man Group now performs at Universal, right? Wonder if that could mean they would end that and then come to the Cirque Theater at Disney Springs instead

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Cirque du Soleil buys Blue Man Group:

http://montrealgazette.com/entertai...l-acquires-blue-man-groups-production-company

In the biggest move since it was acquired by private equity firm TPG Capital for $1.4 billion in 2015, the Cirque du Soleil announced Thursday that it has acquired New York-based Blue Man Productions. No financial terms of the acquisition were revealed.

This company is best-known for the popular Blue Man Group show, which has been performed in more than 20 countries and has been seen by more than 35 million people since 1991.

It immediately transforms the Montreal-based circus into an even more significant player in the global live-performance industry and it is the first time the Cirque has taken over another major entertainment company. Blue Man has six resident shows, in New York, Boston, Chicago, Orlando, Las Vegas, and Berlin.

“We were always intrigued by the success of the Blue Man Group,” said Cirque du Soleil CEO Daniel Lamarre, in a phone interview from New York City Thursday morning.

“This company has existed for 25 years and we were looking at them and (thinking) they were not dissimilar to Cirque du Soleil, in terms of their history and more importantly in terms of their creativity,” Lamarre said. “Like Cirque, they’ve been very innovative in terms of the content of their shows.”

So the Cirque executives started courting Blue Man co-founders Chris Wink and Phil Stanton several months back and from the start, there was a receptiveness from Blue Man to the idea of a sale to the Cirque.

“The idea here is that we can use the amazing marketing and distribution force of Cirque du Soleil and really take the brand of Blue Man Group and expand it at a much more rapid pace,” Lamarre said.

Lamarre notes that for the new owners of Cirque, the key to growth is diversification.

“We thought that it was important that much as we believe there’s still growth within the circus arts content, we thought that if we wanted to accelerate our growth internationally, we needed two things. We needed to identify some projects organically like the NFL Experience that we’re going to open in November here on Times Square. It opens us to all the sports experiences so it’s a new category of content. And the acquisition of Blue Man is in the same line. When we’re looking at what our ambition is as an organization, we really want to become a global leader of live entertainment and that’s why Blue Man fits 100 per cent in our new strategy.”

Lamarre underlined that the Cirque du Soleil and Blue Man Group will remain two completely distinct brands and the Blue Man management team will remain in place.

And there may well be other acquisitions on the horizon for Cirque du Soleil.

“We are in a situation that we think we can bring the company to the next level,” said Lamarre. “With TPG we are going to look at all the brands that we think could fit in our strategy. But I also want people to understand that a huge portion of our growth in the future is going to come from our creative centre in Montreal. We have a lot of things in our pipeline. We are also working on geographical diversification.”

Lamarre is headed to China next week, where he will announce that they are going to tour in seven cities in China starting this October and they are going to announce the opening of their first big resident show in China that is going to open in 2018 in Hangzhou.

Well now that is interesting.

I've only seen Blue Man Group one time-in Vegas. And after over 8 years going by I'll see them again-in Vegas-in a few months.

I appreciate that at least right now they are keeping them separate brands.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

that is interesting (so interesting I just Blue myself)

since Blue Man Group now performs at Universal, right? Wonder if that could mean they would end that and then come to the Cirque Theater at Disney Springs instead

I wonder though if they have a deal with Universal for X amount of time.

Currently they have been at Universal for just over 10 years (June 2007).

 

[BigRed98]

Well now that is interesting.

I've only seen Blue Man Group one time-in Vegas. And after over 8 years going by I'll see them again-in Vegas-in a few months.

I appreciate that at least right now they are keeping them separate brands.

I saw Blue Man Group in Vegas and they were fun to watch. I would love for them to come to Disney Springs.

 

[dlavender]

that is interesting (so interesting I just Blue myself)

since Blue Man Group now performs at Universal, right? Wonder if that could mean they would end that and then come to the Cirque Theater at Disney Springs instead

 

[TheMaxRebo]

I saw Blue Man Group in Vegas and they were fun to watch. I would love for them to come to Disney Springs.

I've seen them a few times in NYC - it is a great show and a lot of fun and I think would be a good fit for Disney Springs

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I saw Blue Man Group in Vegas and they were fun to watch. I would love for them to come to Disney Springs.

For me I'm torn on that. Because it's doubtful they would have 2 shows in Orlando and I wonder if something would give if they moved it to Disney Springs.

But..a big plus if at Disney Springs is parking is free whereas parking at CityWalk is not.

 

[LSLS]

Cirque is leaving Disney at the end of the year, and I don't think many expected a new Cirque show there unless I missed something. This might be their first step in a post-Disney presence in Orlando.

 

[RAD]

Cirque is leaving Disney at the end of the year, and I don't think many expected a new Cirque show there unless I missed something. This might be their first step in a post-Disney presence in Orlando.

Announced today that Cirque has purchased the Blue Man Group so maybe they might be coming over?

 

[LSLS]

Announced today that Cirque has purchased the Blue Man Group so maybe they might be coming over?

I mean I guess it's possible, but the rumors as of like a month ago was that they were going to demolish the whole building and add more restaurants and adult entertainment.

 

[MissGina5]

I keep seeing Spain & Brazil as new pavilions. Spain with IP tie in for a future movie release.

Hope they do it.

Gigantic most likely

 

[atricks]

For me I'm torn on that. Because it's doubtful they would have 2 shows in Orlando and I wonder if something would give if they moved it to Disney Springs.

But..a big plus if at Disney Springs is parking is free whereas parking at CityWalk is not.

Parking is free for everyone after 6pm when the shows run (Except for when Halloween Horror nights, when the time is 8pm)

 

[crazy4wdw]

The cover and main article for the fall edition of D23 magazine will highlight the 30 anniversary of the Disney Legends award. The magazine will feature all 267 past recipients of the award. I'm really looking forward to this edition, should be out in late July for D23 gold members.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Parking is free for everyone after 6pm when the shows run (Except for when Halloween Horror nights, when the time is 8pm)

That is true, though that just happened in Feb I believe. I was more thinking as a general thing. Someone can go to Disney Springs without restriction at this time (other than preferred parking areas) and not pay. However, at Universal if you want onto their property with your car you would need to pay a parking fee unless you wait til 6pm which is limiting.

And actually they do have shows at 6pm (usually they will have a 9pm show that same night) so technically you would have to pay a parking fee if going to see the 6pm show.

 

[writerguyfl]

If you're there, GO see those corps! It's incredible. I taught drum corps from 2001-2004. Unbelievable activity.

My high school band director was a DCI judge. Money was an issue, so I only got to join a corps and march for one year. It was a crazy, hard, exhausting, and wonderful experience. I marched with Southwind way back in 1993, the first year they moved into Open Class (now called World Class).

Disney operated restaurants join Visit Orlando’s Magical Dining Month for 2017

The linked article didn't give dates, so I looked them up: August 25 - October 1, 2017.

Cirque is leaving Disney at the end of the year, and I don't think many expected a new Cirque show there unless I missed something. This might be their first step in a post-Disney presence in Orlando.

I think the general consensus is that Cirque du Soleil is not leaving Disney Springs. Here's a quote from the press release announcing La Nouba's closure. Note the last line:

"We are incredibly proud of the success that La Nouba has had for nearly two decades," said Jerry Nadal, Senior Vice President of the Resident Shows Division for Cirque du Soleil. "We want to thank Walt Disney World Resort for a wonderful relationship over the years. We look forward to announcing what’s next for Cirque du Soleil."
​

Source: https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/b...nal-disney-springs-performance-this-december/

Given that La Nouba ran for 19 years, my money is on Cirque do Soleil wanting to stay. Clearly Orlando is a market that can sustain a resident show.

As for Blue Man Group moving, I doubt that will happen. I'd imagine that the decision about what will come to Disney Springs (if anything) has already been made. They are simply waiting for the most opportune time to announce that decision.

 

[umichigan10]

Given that La Nouba ran for 19 years, my money is on Cirque do Soleil wanting to stay. Clearly Orlando is a market that can sustain a resident show.

I wouldn't be too surprised if they axed they building. The seem to be looking to get back into some sort of adult entertainment (even though they demoed an entire island devoted to such but let's not get caught up on that tidbit). I just don't know exactly how much space they'd free up over there