Comcast Unveils Name And Massive £6 Billion ($8 Billion) Investment For Universal’s First European Theme Park

Get your passports ready, theme park fans. The rumors, land purchases, and regulatory filings have finally culminated in a historic milestone.

In a joint press conference at 11 Downing Street, Comcast NBCUniversal and the UK government officially pulled back the curtain on their highly anticipated British expansion. The massive project now has an official name, a logo, a definitive timeline, and a mind-boggling financial commitment.Welcome to the Universal United Kingdom Resort.

Comcast has committed to investing more than £5 billion ($6.7 billion) to construct the resort over a five-year build phase, with an additional £1 billion ($1.3 billion) locked in for capital investment over its first decade of operation. Paired with a massive infrastructure pledge from the British government, the total initial injection into the project clears £7.3 billion (nearly $10 billion USD)—making it one of the single largest investments in the history of UK tourism.

Here is everything we know about Europe's highly anticipated new entertainment capital.

Where and When Is It Opening?

The resort will be built from the ground up on a massive 476-acre site in Bedford, located in Bedfordshire—roughly 45 to 55 miles north of London.

The site was specifically chosen for its incredible connectivity. It sits right in the heart of the Oxford-to-Cambridge growth corridor and boasts direct, high-speed rail links that can get travelers from central London to the park gates in under 45 minutes. It is also highly accessible from London Luton Airport, making it a breeze for international travelers to visit.

Current Status: Enabling works and initial site preparation are already officially underway.

The Timeline: Major construction is slated to begin shortly, with a firm grand opening target set for 2031.

What Will the Universal United Kingdom Resort Include?

While Universal is keeping its exact movie intellectual properties (IPs) closely guarded for now, they did release the initial blueprint for what the resort complex will look like on day one.

The 476-acre footprint is designed to be a fully integrated vacation destination, featuring:

A world-class flagship theme park split into several heavily immersive themed lands.

A luxury 500-room resort hotel integrated right into the property.A massive, dedicated retail, dining, and entertainment complex (similar to Universal CityWalk in Orlando and Hollywood).

What are the rumor mills saying? While Universal hasn't confirmed specific lands, massive speculation and trademark filings point to British-centric or globally dominant franchises. The biggest rumors circulating include a dedicated Lord of the Rings land, a James Bond experience, Paddington Bear, and potentially a fresh expansion of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter or Super Nintendo World.

The Economic Impact: Jobs and Billions in Growth

This isn't just a win for roller coaster enthusiasts; it's a monumental shift for the British economy. UK Chancellor Rachel Reeves and Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy have thrown the full weight of the government behind the project, describing it as a "huge vote of confidence" in the country.

To ensure the resort can handle the massive influx of people, the UK Government is investing £1.3 billion into regional infrastructure. This money will fund major upgrades to the strategic road network (the A421) and build a brand-new rail station at Wixams.

The projected numbers behind the project are staggering:

Key Metric - Projected Economic Impact -

Construction Jobs~20,000 workers over the 5-year build

Permanent Roles Created~8,000 permanent hospitality & creative jobs
First-Year Attendance - 8.5 million visitors (including 1M+ from overseas)Long-Term Economic Benefit - Nearly £50 billion generated for the UK by 2055

A Historic Milestone for Europe

While Europe is already home to incredible regional parks like Alton Towers and global destinations like Disneyland Paris, the Universal United Kingdom Resort will mark the first time a major U.S. film studio has built a dedicated, massive-scale theme park from scratch on the continent.

"This historic partnership is a special moment for our company as we bring our first Universal theme park and resort to Europe," said Brian Roberts, Chairman of Comcast Corporation. "We look forward to creating a spectacular destination that brings joy to millions for generations to come.

"The countdown to 2031 has officially begun.

Comcast Unveils ‘Eternally Rome’ Video At Center City Headquarters

(Comcast’s current headquarters building, at 17th and JFK Boulevard, in center city Philadelphia. Photo by William Thomas Cain/ Getty Images)

By Mark Abrams

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) — In recognition of the visit of Pope Francis to Philadelphia next weekend, Comcast debuted a new video on Thursday which will play on its “Comcast Experience” wall inside the lobby of its Center City Headquarters.

The 13-minute presentation is titled “Eternally Rome” and was shot throughout the historic city with high-resolution cameras and drones.

It captures St. Peter’s Square and Vatican City as well as the Roman Forum, Colosseum and Pantheon.

Philadelphia Archbishop Charles Chaput, no stranger to Rome because of his management role in the Catholic Church was impressed.

“It gives you a different kind of appreciation for the beauty of the buildings there and the way theyconnected modern reality with drawings from the past I think was very, very clever. It makes me want to go back to Rome and spend a little more time at those individual sites.”

Comcast Chairman and CEO Brian Roberts says the video is aimed at enhancing the community experience of the Francis effect.

“The chance to build on the enthusiasm for the visit for what it means to Philadelphia, the pride we have in our city. We thought, ‘Well, why not take a look at Rome, something that not many of us could ever get a vista like what that wall just showed us.”

The video will be shown hourly daily from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. through Sept. 27.

Looking Ahead: A Dozen Awesome New Hotels Coming To Philadelphia In 2015 And Beyond

Philly’s hotel scene is about to get really hot with the addition of new properties including a W Hotel, a SLS LUX, a new Kimpton and a new Four Seasons atop the new Comcast tower. (Image courtesy Comcast)

Philadelphia’s hotel scene just keeps getting better. After a number of key openings and renovations in recent years – and after Philadelphia saw its highest occupancy rate ever in 2014, a number of high profile hotel projects are on the books to open in Philadelphia in the next few years.

And by “high profile,” we mean high profile. The projects include one of the first SLS LUX brand hotels to open in the U.S., a new W Hotel just off the Avenue of the Arts, a new Kimpton Hotelacross from Logan Circle, a highly anticipated boutique hotel on Frankford Avenue in Fishtown, and a new Four Seasons Hotel atop the under-construction Comcast Innovation and Technology Center.

With all of these developments, there’s never been a better time to check out the awesome hotel scene and stay over in Philadelphia.

Read on for news on a dozen new hotel projects that are coming to Philadelphia in the next few years. As with all large development projects, the timetables, name and other details of the below projects are subject to change.

• Roost Rittenhouse

Fall 2015, 1900 block of Chestnut Street. Travelers seeking to rest their heads in Philadelphia for more than a brief stay will soon have another a brand new option: Roost Apartment Hotel is opening its second Philadelphia location this summer or fall to follow-up the 2014 debut of its first hotel in the historic Packard Building. Designed with visitors staying for 30 days or longer in mind, the apartment-style hotels include all the services of a boutique hotel with the amenities of a luxury apartment.MORE INFO

Chic decor, factory-style windows, hardwood floors and modern electronics give each hotel room at Roost the feel of a luxury apartment. (Photo courtesy Roost Apartment Hotel)

• AKA University City in the FMC Tower

Spring 2016, FMC Tower at Cira Centre South, 30th and Walnut streets. The FMC Tower at Cira Centre South will rise 49 stories on the west bank of the Schuylkill River and the upper floors will hold the new luxury extended-stay AKA University City. Developed by AKA in partnership with Brandywine Liberty Trust, the second property for Korman Communities in Philadelphia will hold 268 residences, 103 for extended stays. In addition to spectacular views, guests will enjoy the building’s 21,000 square-feet of retail as well as “Cira Green,” a breathtaking new rooftop park. MORE INFO

The AKA University City will fill the top floors of the new FMC Tower at Cira South, currently under construction at 30th and Walnut. (Rendering by BLT Architects)

• SLS LUX Philadelphia Hotel & SLS International Residences

Coming in 2016/2017, Broad and Spruce streets. This is a big one. The SLS LUX Philadelphia Hotel & SLW International Residences is going to be the tallest residential building in Pennsylvania when completed. Located at the heart of the Avenue of the Arts at Broad and Spruce streets, the SLS will rise 47 stories, with 152 boutique hotel rooms and 90 luxury condominiums on the higher floors. The hotel will be designed by Philippe Stark and will be one of the first SLS LUX properties to open anywhere in the country. MORE INFO

The SLS LUX Philadelphia Hotel will be one of the first SLS LUX brand properties to open anywhere in the U.S. (Photo courtesy SLS)

For much more on the cool hotel projects coming to Philly, see below.

• The Study University City

Coming in 2017, 33rd and Chestnut streets. Study Hotels, a new brand from Hospitality 3, enters the University City market in 2017 with an urban-style hotel in partnership with Drexel University. The 145,000-square-foot hotel has plans to include 212 rooms, around 7,000 square feet of meeting space, a 105-seat restaurant and a fitness center. MORE INFO

Drexel’s campus will soon see the development of The Study, an urban hotel concept from Hospitality 3 management, at the corner of 33rd and Chestnut streets. (Rendering courtesy Hospitality 3)

• W and Element Hotels

Coming in 2017, 1441 Chestnut Street. Soaring above 15th and Chestnut streets, just behind the Ritz-Carlton Philadelphia hotel, a new Starwood-run W Hotel and Element Hotel are planned to debut in 2017. Chestlen Development is spearheading the project, and the property will hold 295 rooms under the W Hotel brand and another 460 in the Element by Westin. Construction on the project is underway. MORE INFO

A two-for-one hotel will rise on Chestnut Street: Starwood brings both a W Hotel and Element Hotel by Westin to Philadelphia. (Rendering courtesy Brook Lenfest)

• AC Hotel by Marriott

Coming in 2017, 228‐238 N. 13th Street. AC Hotels, an urban-contemporary hotel brand founded in Spain by designer Antonio Catalán, has opened in cities like New Orleans, Chicago and Asheville. Now, the Marriott-operated brand has plans to launch in Philadelphia. Developed by Baywood Hotels and architects spg3, the planned property at 13th and Florist streets just north of the Convention Center will house 140 rooms in the former Warner Brothers building, a two-story, Art Deco-inspired structure that dates to 1947. MORE INFO

The historic Warner Brothers building is going to be transformed into a 140-room hotel by 2017. (Rendering courtesy spg3)

• Aloft Hotel at the Convention Center

Coming in 2017, 101 N. Broad Street. The historic 21-story Liberty Title and Trust building at Broad and Arch was preserved during the construction of the expanded Pennsylvania Convention Center so it could be turned into a hotel. That conversion is scheduled to happen in the form of a 178-room Aloft Hotel by Starwood, slated to open in 2017. The new hotel will be situated right next to the Pennsylvania Convention Center, and will offer its guests direct access to the entrance lobby of the Convention Center right off the Avenue of the Arts. MORE INFO

The Liberty Title and Trust building, located just north of City Hall, will soon be converted into an Aloft Hotel with a direct connection to the Pennsylvania Convention Center. (Image courtesy Realen Properties)

• Kimpton Hotel on Logan Circle

Coming in 2017/2018, 18th and Vine streets. Kimpton will be adding a third property to their Philadelphia holdings in 2017 or 2018 when they open a $85-million, 199-room hotel in the former Family Court building on Vine Street at Logan Circle. This new Philadelphia property will be Kimpton’s third adaptation and renovation of a historic building in Philadelphia — Hotel Palomar and Square 1682 restaurant opened in the former Architects Building in Rittenhouse Square in 2009 and Hotel Monaco Philadelphia and Red Owl Tavern opened in the Lafayette Building overlooking Independence Mall in 2012. MORE INFO

The historic Family Court building on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway will soon transform into a gorgeous new Kimpton hotel. (Image courtesy Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants)

• Hudson Hotel

Coming in 2018, 17th and Chancellor streets. A new $125 million property — a Hudson hotel by Morgans Hotel Group, according to the Philadelphia Business Journal — will rise 12 stories and fill the small parcel of land on 17th Street between Chancellor and St. James streets, replacing the five-story, above-ground parking garage that currently sits there and houses Little Pete’s diner. According to plans from locally based DAS Architects, the new high-rise hotel will feature more than 300 rooms, 40 executive suites, high-end amenities and food and beverage options — including a proposed dining venue on the penthouse floor with panoramic city views. MORE INFO

There are plans for a new $125 million boutique hotel to be built on 17th Street in the Rittenhouse Square neighborhood. (Rendering courtesy DAS Architects, Inc.)

• Unnamed Boutique Hotel In Fishtown

Coming soon, Frankford Avenue north of Girard Avenue. Another super exciting project is on the books in Fishtown. Developer Roland Kassis is a neighborhood fixture, and soon his investment in Fishtown will reach new depths — or, actually, heights. According to The Philadelphia Inquirer’sarchitecture critic Inga Saffron, Kassis has set his sights on developing a boutique hotel on Frankford Avenue in the style of Williamsburg, Brooklyn’s Wythe Hotel. The project – which would be the first hotel in Fishtown and is enthusiastically endorsed by the neighborhood – would include a restaurant, jazz club and rooftop pool as well. MORE INFO

The plans for a boutique hotel on Frankford Avenue in Fishtown include a restaurant, jazz club and a rooftop pool.
(Image courtesy Roland Cassis)

• Live! Casino and Hotel

Coming in 2018-2019, South Philly. After a hotly contested showdown for a Philadelphia casino license, the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board awarded the prize to the Live! Casino and Hotel project in South Philadelphia. Approximately 220 rooms are slated for the hotel, and many details are still yet to be firmed up. Stay tuned. MORE INFO

Though much development is still to come, the Live! Hotel Casino could look something like this. (Rendering by BLT Architects)

• Four Seasons Hotel at Comcast Innovation & Technology Center

Coming in 2018, 1800 Arch Street. This has to be the pièce de résistance of the hotel projects in the pipeline. To be housed within the upper floors of the 1,121-foot Comcast Innovation & Technology Center that is currently under construction on the 1800 block of Arch Street, the new 220-room Four Seasons Philadelphia Hotel is scheduled to open in 2018 when the new tower is completed. The new luxury hotel will include more than 200 rooms, a spa, fitness facilities, event and meeting space, as well as — get ready for it — a breathtaking new restaurant located on the top floor of the building, offering awesome, unparalleled 360-degree views of the city. We literally cannot wait. MORE INFO

The new Four Seasons Hotel in the new Comcast Tower will boast a breathtaking new restaurant located on the top floor of the building, offering awesome, unparalleled 360-degree views of the city. (Image via Comcast)

Posted by Kristina Jenkins, http://www.uwishunu.com/

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