So when is NBC/U's Chicago haunted house opening?

Last I heard was a 2027 opening. Anyone in Chicagoland want to tell us the current state of the site (700 W. Chicago Ave.)?

I grew up in Chicago. So I called an old friend and asked him about it. He walked by the site and reassured me that NBC/U had installed a killer effect that simulates the sound of crickets chirping.

If someone walks past the old Cabrini Green and says "Universal Horror Unleashed" three times, will it appear?

The lack of responses to the question posed at the beginning of this thread should generate curiosity among fans of themed entertainment.

Universal's Las Vegas haunted house has enjoyed (at best) a marginal level of success -- meaning it has managed to stay open.

With that harsh reality in mind, the absence of any news regarding the Chicago haunted house could be an indication that NBC/U's interest in the project has gone south.

If the Chicago footprint fails to become a reality, it would be more than a bit of a harbinger related to the future prospects of NBC/U's theme park brand.

Then again I could be wrong ... could be.

I doubt Uni’s struggles in the regional entertainment space tells us anything other than that market is an awfully tough nut to crack. The Mouse had its own set of flops with Disney Quest, ESPN Zone and Club Disney and came out on the other side with its rep intact. I liked the idea of Horror Unleashed a lot more than Uni Kids, but both were big risks. If the interest in the UK park is soft then we can have a conversation about negative brand impact.

I think it's worth noting that both Horror Unleashed and Universal Kids Resort are part of the "New Ventures" division of the Experiences department, which is to say there's some understanding that these things are experimental and I imagine, yeah, greater willingness to cut bait if they aren't working.

And uh, I have not seen any evidence that either of these is working. I think a lot of people around here were skeptical of the Chicago location (and the Vegas one, to be honest) and the Vegas location hasn't done anything to change that.

All that said, I haven't heard anything. As in, not a peep. Which does not exactly fill be with confidence that it is going forward. But I'm not sure that means much of anything for the rest of the division ... well, certainly not compared to the spin-off that's coming down the road.

RIP. Just waiting for the official death notice and obituary at this point.

@Robert: That last post makes me think you might know something we don't know.

Official Death Notice could also be a solid pun for a haunted house’s grand opening as well… (jots down notes on pad)

Don’t mind me I’m just spitballing here folks

Unfortunately it is not a pun in this case.

@Jacob: Are the resident podcasters gonna spill tea or remain (unthematically) cryptic?

Right next to DisneyQuest. Love your thinly veiled rage bait and I'm glad to see Universal still lives rent free.

The same way I live "rent free" in your head, sir?

(Chuckle)

"The same way I live "rent free" in your head, sir?" - Keep telling yourself that, sir. I only visit TPI about once every 30-60 days to confirm my math that Robert keeps the stories Disney centric and positive at at about an 8 to 1 ratio, and always finds something negative to put in the rare Universal front page post.

Then I jump over to see how many times you try and rage bait people in the Discussion. This formula is both predictable and sort of sad at the same time.

The life of a Disney approved media / shill sounds like a sad one to be honest. Every Disney disaster is met with silence on TPI or it is spun to sound positive. My eyeballs will eject out the back of my head one day from all the eye rolling at the predicable spin.

It's a source of entertainment for me. I don't get all bunged up over a competitor's success the way some do. I do love your "I know you are, but what am I?" response. I expected nothing less (at 4:42 AM).

(Chuckle)

NB: "It's a source of entertainment for me."

Me: Living in my head and stalking me "every 30-60 days?"

Um ... okay. I guess I'll read your response to this in 30-60 days ... or minutes.

NEXT!

LMAO... and there is it. The "NEXT!" exclamation like you have won a debate. How's the Universal success induced hypertension and ulcers? That can't be good for your physical and mental health.

There will always be a next. It's my job to entertain the rest.

My understanding is this project is dead. How long until that is officially announced, I do not know.

My understanding is this project is dead. How long until that is officially announced, I do not know.

NB: "The life of a Disney approved media / shill sounds like a sad one to be honest".

Me: "Shill"? Aren't you the guy with the multinational corporate logo as a TPI profile pic?

Hilarious.

I was reading on another site that the Vegas installation is doing very poorly and offering seriously deep discounts. I think Chicago's site is either delayed or done for.

From "another site": "The cuts are fueling rumors that Universal Horror Unleashed is facing low attendance, although nothing has been confirmed. It looks like Universal is hoping lower ticket prices will mean more guests, who will buy food, drinks, and merchandise.

"General Admission (One-Time Access) prices in October remain at a range of $74.99 – $94.99. But after Halloween, prices fall. In November and December, General Admission (One-Time Access) was previously $59 – $89. It’s now $49.99 – $74.99. General Admission (One-Time Access) for Nevada residents is still $64.99 – $84.99 in October, but now ranges from $39.99 – $64.99 in November and December (down from $49 – $79).

"Universal certainly isn’t planning to close Horror Unleashed at this time. They have already shared a schedule of events through the end of 2027.

"The cuts are fueling rumors that Universal Horror Unleashed is facing low attendance, although nothing has been confirmed. It looks like Universal is hoping lower ticket prices will mean more guests, who will buy food, drinks, and merchandise.

"Universal certainly isn’t planning to close Horror Unleashed at this time. They have already shared a schedule of events through the end of 2027."

The article makes no reference to the status of the Chicago version of the attraction.

I had mentioned when the Vegas installation was announced that Universal was overpricing Horror Unleashed even in a market that is known for expensive, underwhelming experiences. While I haven't been to Horror Unleashed, I have been to Area 15, and I think Universal picked a good location for their experience that doesn't necessarily have to independently draw guests, but the place is a bit off the strip and most Vegas visitors need to actively seek out Area 15 attractions.

I think Universal does have a proof of concept with the Vegas installation, but I don't necessarily think the concept works as a permanent installation in any random market like Chicago. Frankly, after the Vegas location started struggling, Universal should have pivoted to working on a traveling experience instead of being tied to a single location. My guess is that Universal is slow-walking the development of the Chicago site while they continue to gather data in Vegas, and will likely come to the realization that they perhaps jumped a bit too soon in expanding the concept beyond traditional tourist markets. It's possible their lease agreement on the space has a termination/eject clause after a certain period of time, and they're just waiting out that clock before officially announcing that they're cancelling the project.

Russell: "Frankly, after the Vegas location started struggling, Universal should have pivoted to working on a traveling experience instead of being tied to a single location".

Me: So ... "The Exorcist on Ice"? (Copyright: TH Creative. All Rights Reserved).

No, more like Harry Potter, Stranger Things, Van Gogh, Jurassic Park/World, and other traveling pop-up experiences that take over event spaces in major cities seasonally. Yes, it is a bit like the circus/Cirque de Soleil, WWE, Monster Jam, or Disney on Ice, but I think that's a legitimate and profitable way forward for the concept in regions where there isn't heavy tourism needed to support a year-round installation in a static location.

Again, that's where I think this concept runs into issues. You're going to be able to print money from late August through the beginning of November in virtually any market, but the other 8-9 months of the year, you're going to have a hard time selling enough tickets from people who have already experienced it 2-3 times to keep the place busy enough to cover your operational costs. So you need a decent influx of out-of-town guests to help augment the local base to make the concept work outside of those peak months.