Berlin's Riesenrad race

Looks like the next step towards building a "Riesenrad" (sightseeing wheel) in Berlin has gone through. According to an Immobilien Zeitung article, World Wheel Berlin Holding AG has signed the purchase agreement last week for the future site, and looks to be committed to the project. It will be 40m higher than the London Eye, and be built in the Zoo Station area with a forecasted opening in 2008.

Here’s the link to a Berliner Morgenpost Story: Sarrazin gibt Grünes Licht für Zoo-Riesenrad

This is one of two ongoing plans for sightseeing wheels of similar size in Berlin, with the Anschutz Entertainment Group (www.aegworldwide.com), who owns the Staples Centre among other properties, also proposing one as a part of its development near the Ostbahnhof which is done in partnership with O2 and includes a new Stadium (future home to the Eis Bären) and Office/Retail/Entertainment/Residential space as well.

The political players seem to be backing the Zoo project, and hoping it will be a much needed pick me up for the area which has been hit hard since the new Hauptbahnhof opened and the ICE trains no longer stop at Zoo Station.

Both groups appear to be intent on going ahead with their respective plans, in what looks like a costly game of chicken. The market won’t support two wheels (in my opinion), but how much money will get thrown at a losing project before someone finally gives in.

Photo above from London Eye - Wikipedia

I always wonder how these things make money. At the beginning such ferris wheels seem to be busy, but after a few months, who would actually go on it? I saw one in Manchester once, but never been on it. Maybe they're hoping for lots of tourists to cover the cost! Has anyone been on the London one? Is it worth it? (How much does that cost anyway?)

Is the one in London commercially successful? Any idea?

but there is a disused wheel near me near treptower park!

now i wonder if i could flog this to them without them knowing they have one already here in berlin?

Yes, exactly, what is wrong with the Wheel at the former Spreepark site near Treptower park? At least it'll have a better view than that of Zoo's junkies and winos.

Astonishing that a city that claims to have no money still manages to find cash for a new Big Wheel (and also the rebuilding of the pointless (um, well, unless you are a Nazi) Schloss).

The Spreepark also has Dinosaurs - albeit that they are a bit dead...

Incidently, the reason why the Spreepark is closed is because one night in 2002 the owner of it buggered off to Chile in the middle of the night with about 35million euros in takings. Chile, not surprisingly, not having an extradition treaty with Germany.

So as far as I understand the ground belongs to the State and now has Denkmal status. Thus they need to keep it maintained, thus why not try and make money from it?

Makes no sense. Like most things here.

In the meantime for those of you have haven't seen it, here are some pics, just don't ask how I got them, ok...