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Which tourist spot is hyped to make more cash than the Empire State Building?

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The developers of Staten Island's New York Wheel see King Kong-sized dollar signs.

Should the giant ferris wheel rake in pre-tax revenues of $127.85 million in 2017, as the developers expect, the mega project would surpass the revenue earned by the Empire State Building's observatory deck, which made $111.5 million last year.

Even though the project is slated for completion in 2017, Laufer, Marin and Ratner are already touting ambitious goals. Here's a breakdown of revenues and interest levels the Wheel operators anticipate in their first year of operation:

Generate $96 million in ticket sales
Bring in $10 million in sponsorship deals
Rake in $8.7 million in gift shop sales
Attract four million customers and 3.5 million tourists each year after opening.

For now, wheel riders will be asked to shell out $35 for each ticket, higher than the Empire State Building asks visitors for $32 a head in order to visit the 86th floor observation deck.By 2021, the attraction could be making as much as $166.52 million in revenues, the developers estimate.

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http://www.bizjournals.com/newyork/n...-building.html