[NYguy]

http://www.silive.com/news/index.ssf...neral_man.html

New general manager of NY Wheel helped create Universal Studios

By Tracey Porpora
January 23, 2017

The new general manager for the 60-story observation wheel being built on the St George waterfront wants to make the New York Wheel into an attraction similar in caliber to that of Universal Studios in Hollywood.

Tasked with leading the charge to transform Staten Island into New York City's next "big tourism destination," Joel Ward brings over 25 years of experience in the tourism and attraction industry.

In fact, he began his career with an 18-year tenure at Universal Studios, where he spearheaded the transformation of the Hollywood studio theme park from tourist attraction to what has been touted as a "world-class destination."

Ward said he hopes to replicate this transformation on Staten Island.

"When I look at Staten Island and the New York Wheel project, only one word comes to mind -- potential," said Ward.

"This is such an exciting time for Staten Island, which is rife with new development, new attractions and all the pieces to turn the North Shore into the next big destination," he added.

Projects Ward has worked on include: Twentieth Century Fox World Malaysia; a new tourist complex at the Great Wall of China in Badaling, China; Monkey King Theme Park in Beijing, China; Tianzishan Cultural Park in Hunan Province, China, and more.

Ward will take on new responsibilities in his role as the Wheel general manager for ProFun Management Group, which is the project's operations management company.

"We are thrilled to have a seasoned professional with a worldwide perspective on growing new destinations and attracting constituencies across the globe," said Rich Marin, president and CEO of the New York Wheel.

"Ward's breadth of experience will help to ensure Staten Island's North Shore is a global hot spot for years to come," he added.

NY WHEEL CONSTRUCTION

Scheduled to open in 2018, the Wheel will accommodate up to 1,440 people per ride, and feature a 38-minute ride in one of its 36 capsules. The Wheel's five-acre green roof will host large events, including concerts, food festivals, and corporate gatherings. The Wheel will also be equipped with LED lighting facing Manhattan.

Pieces of the New York Wheel have already started to arrive in New York Harbor, including its four, 500-ton legs which arrived at South Brooklyn Marine Terminal for processing in early October. The legs will be floated over to Staten Island and the Wheel's construction site later this year.

In addition, the four, 100-ton pedestals (base) of the New York Wheel arrived at the construction site via barge from Montreal, Canada, in late fall 2016 and were installed during a brief ceremony in mid-December.

"The installation of the four pedestals is fully complete," said Tiffany Townsend, a Wheel spokeswoman.

"The next steps will be the arrival of the spreader mats and crane to the site in the next two weeks. This is in preparation for the arrival and erection of the Wheel's legs," she added.