Movie World’s hyper boost

MOVIE World’s DC Rivals HyperCoaster has delivered Village Roadshow Ltd a 115km/ h turnaround, with the muchanticipated ride landing the park a thundering all-time record September day.

Village Roadshow Ltd chief operating officer Clark Kirby, also CEO of the theme parks division, told investors the magenta coaster had driven ticket sales, length of stay and repeat visitation in the first quarter of the financial year.

More than 11,500 people came through the gates on a single day last month.

The early indications mark a lift from a year when Village Roadshow endured an annual loss of $66.7 million.

Investors heard the new ride had put the brakes on a decline that had been felt since the Dreamworld tragedy a year ago, leading to September figures that were essentially the same as before the devastating accident.

“We are feeling very positive about it,” Mr Kirby told the Gold Coast Bulletin last night.

“Initially after Dreamworld, we were seeing month after month of 20 per cent down, 30 per cent down, 40 per cent down.

“Since the HyperCoaster, we’re actually slightly ahead on last year for September – we’re incredibly buoyed by that.”

Ticket sales exceeded expectations for HyperCoaster launch week, with the attractions logging more than 9.3 million impressions on social media.

“It’s been a phenomenon,” Mr Kirby said.

New concept cinemas, including the kid-friendly Junior Village, and a new virtual reality concept, The XOVR, are also on their way to the Gold Coast.

Both concepts are being tested in Melbourne ahead of a wider rollout.

“The idea of testing them in Victoria is so by the time they get up here they will be perfect,” Mr Kirby said.

“We’re really quite excited by it, so the Gold Coast is definitely on the list.”

A new eight-screen cinema at Coomera, including two gold class and two Max theatres, is due for completion late next year.

Top Golf, currently under construction next to Movie World, remains on track to open in June, with Village Roadshow looking for locations in Sydney and Melbourne to expand that franchise.