France: TEA Explores Futuroscope – A Follow-Up Report
From 9 to 11 June 2022, the EMEA division of the Themed Entertainment Association (TEA) organized a study trip tour to Parc du Futuroscope. For this occasion, the French theme park had prepared an extensive program. On the first evening, the around 60 participants gathered at the new “Station Cosmos” hotel in the presence of architect Thierry Rétif for a welcome cocktail, followed by dinner at the associated “Space Loop” restaurant. The next morning, the group had the opportunity to explore the park’s main attractions, including “L’Extraordinaire Voyage” (see EAP 2/2017) and “Objectif Mars” (see EAP 3/2020), during a guided tour. In the afternoon, General Director Rodolphe Bouin and Creative Director Olivier Héral presented to the group in detail the investment plan that Futuroscope had launched last year, which still foresees the opening of a water-based attraction, a second hotel and a water park unique in the world by 2025.
The attendees then headed to the brand-new “Arena Futuroscope” – a 6,000-seat multi-purpose arena that can host shows and sporting events – for a guided tour, after which they met the owner of “zeroGravity”, the indoor skydiving attraction built right outside the park’s gates (see EAP 3/2019). Afterwards, the park had invited the participants to an exclusive preview of its new attraction “Chasseurs de Tornades”, with a look behind the scenes, which will open this summer. Participants were impressed by the quality of this novelty, on which the companies Dynamic Attractions (motion platform) and Atelier Artistique du Béton (theming/decoration) had worked in particular. The day ended with a drink on board of “L’Aérobar” (by Aérophile) and a dinner before the participants enjoyed the evening show “La Clé des Songes” implemented by ECA2. Special thanks go to the organizers of the event, notably to Benoit Spriet (board member of TEA EMEA, director at Compagnie des Alpes Développement) and all the Futuroscope staff for their hospitality. (eap)
