It's not just ironic; it's also a brilliant publicity stunt.
The management of British theme park Alton Towers Resort has announced that its state-of-the-art roller coaster, "TH13TEEN," will be closed on Friday, August 13 because a public opinion poll determined that 1 in 10 Britons are too superstitious to ride a roller coaster on Friday the 13th.
Fans of the thrill ride expressed skepticism when the announcement was made on Facebook a few weeks ago, but Alton Towers PR manager Elizabeth West insists the plan to close the ride is real. "This decision follows in-depth research we have undertaken into superstition and people's behavior on the day," she explained via email.
I don't buy it. They're shutting down one of their most popular attractions for a day because a poll says that ridership would be down by a measly 10 percent? It just doesn't make good business sense — unless, of course, the real reason for the closure is publicity.
If superstition was a real concern, one wouldn't name one's roller coaster "TH13TEEN" in the first place.
Read more:
• Alton Towers Will Close Th13teen Roller Coaster on Friday 13th August
• PR News: THI3TEEN to Be Closed on Friday 13th
• Why Friday the 13th Is Unlucky
Comments