EPE Parent Company : CKx Inc : Sold

[KPM]

This was a post by someone else in another thread years ago that supposedly layed out how the "expansion was suppose to proceed" after Sillerman deal and once again Disney seems to be central..........many predictions, many disappointments.....::
First-Bob Sillerman wants to take Graceland and EP to higher levels than ever before. He wants it on par with Disney. But that does not mean it will be turned into an amusement park, but more of a tourist attraction that draws all ages and races. Disney is known for it's beautiful landscaping and stylish buildings and designs. That is what Sillerman wants to do with Graceland and what he means by "on par with Disney". And this is why he has turned to the brilliant and ultimate creative mind of Bob Weiss.

Who is Bob Weiss? He's the genius architecture behind the Disney compound, Epcot Center and MGM Studios all in Orlando, FL. He also redesigned the Rockefeller Center and Plaza in NY. His thoughts, creations and designs are breathtaking and unimaginable before seeing and unbelievable afterwards.

How much land does Weiss have to work with?

By using Google Earth and looking at the property across from Graceland from the main boulevard which EPE now owns to the very back of the property to the neighborhood's back yards, I estimate that it is 60-80 acres of land. There is a medium sized apartment complex right behind the left side of the current plaza. From my understanding EPE owns that complex so relocating residents may not be too much of a problem to shut it down for demolition. From the corner of Craft RD, just to the left of the plaza, all the way down to the far end of the recent purchased Chinese restaurant, it is 650 yards in length. That's over 6 full length football fields wide. And it's 530 yards in depth from EP Boulevard to the back of the property. That's about 1/4 of the entire Epcot Center complex, just to give you an idea of it's enormous size of free space and land.

So what are Sillerman and Weiss looking to build or add to beef up tourism to double it's 600,000 visitors a year to 1.2 million a year? Well think BIG but not too big or too elaborate, but more stylish and unique and with a touch of nostalgia. I think the museum will be the ultimate and main attraction after the mansion tour. Therefore visitors and tourists see more than just the home itself but experience the whole life and times of EP through the mega museum. Priscilla and Lisa have been dreaming of a museum of a cost of around $100,000,000.00 and feature everything possible. They have over 6,000 artifacts currently in storage that they want to display but can't due to lack of exhibit space. They can't do that now as is with the current set up. That's why the exhibits they have now look cluttered and thrown together to save room, and money. But that won't be the case with the new museum and attraction.

So what kind of museum do I see EPE and Sillerman building? A mega multi use facility that rivals the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Museum in Cleveland, OH. That cost $84,000,000.00 when they built it back in 1996. The proposed museum EPE wants would be 16,000,000.00 more than that. I'm thinking Sillerman will want to build the ultimate museum to not only tell the whole story from beginning to end, but to exploit EP and take the EP experience to a whole new level. Here's what I mean.

*A massive 100,000 sq ft 2-level facility, beautifully designed and laid out featuring multiple exhibits to display and add to and change out, using modern day technology. Featuring a large underground storm shelter and basement for storage space.

*An expanded exhibit display of the jumpsuits.

*Bandmates & Songwriters exhibit, to honor the people behind the music.*Inspirations & Influences, to honor his idols.*An expanded car museum featuring many new vehicles not on display and the new Harley bikes being added this year.

*An indoor Aircraft exhibit featuring both planes inside.

*An Art Gallery featuring art work from around the world.*An EP themed restaurant with outdoor observation deck overlooking Graceland.

*Imax and movie theater, to display his Hollywood career and to show his live concerts on Imax screen.*Recording studio, for fans to interact and record their own demo just as EP did at Sun.

*30 ft EP statue to honor the reason the compound exists.

*An outdoor amphitheater for live shows.
*A new 400-room hotel and resort, featuring indoor pool and spa and sports facility including teenis courts, and a conference room for fan club members. The current hotel will be torn down in it's place.*Newly and improved Visitor's Center in the form of a small indoor mall, off to the left of the mansion and gates.In the mall would be:

* EPE MERCHANDISE
A retail store devoted to Elvis Presley Enterprises that sells only EPE marketed items. (it's all about money anyway for them)

* ELVIS THREADS
A store for selling Elvis themed clothes and EPE's new fashion line.

* ELVIS TOP 40
A music store that sells Elvis cds, dvds, imports, posters, and other Elvis related items.

* E-L-V-I-S L-I-V-E-S
A large updated neon lit Billboard of 'Elvis In The News Today' from music, television, media and movies, with modern day Elvis remixes as background music. This is located at the far end between the 2 escalators leading up to the 2nd floor.* WALKING IN MEMPHIS
An introduction of Memphis as EP saw it and highlights Memphis today.

* THIS IS ELVIS A. PRESLEY
An introduction to the legend of Elvis Presley in a 15 minute documentary to prepare visitors for what they are about to experience.

* SIRIUS RADIO
The All Elvis satellite station with a public view of how the show rolls. Watch it live.

Cost and duration?

I predict that Sillerman will go all out (since he has said money isn't a problem or issue) and make it as unimaginable as possible with breathtaking landscaping and designing. I think a price tag for all of this will run around 400,000,000.00. And I see it taking about 18-20 months to complete, which is close to 2 years. When do I expect for a concrete announcement on the plans for Graceland and groundbreaking?

I expect news on a final master plan to be announced before August of this year and groundbreaking to begin by year's end. So look for a grand opening by August 2009 at the latest.

[Jungleroom76]

The immediate area around Graceland will eventually get revamped and transformed into a beautiful tourist mecca that it should have already become. The company knows that it is desperately needed and inevitable.

Let's just hope it's done sooner rather than later, and that it is actually done RIGHT!!!

TCB!
Mike

[Jungleroom76]

This was a post by someone else in another thread years ago that supposedly layed out how the "expansion was suppose to proceed" after Sillerman deal and once again Disney seems to be central..........many predictions, many disappointments.....::
First-Bob Sillerman wants to take Graceland and EP to higher levels than ever before. He wants it on par with Disney. But that does not mean it will be turned into an amusement park, but more of a tourist attraction that draws all ages and races. Disney is known for it's beautiful landscaping and stylish buildings and designs. That is what Sillerman wants to do with Graceland and what he means by "on par with Disney". And this is why he has turned to the brilliant and ultimate creative mind of Bob Weiss.

Who is Bob Weiss? He's the genius architecture behind the Disney compound, Epcot Center and MGM Studios all in Orlando, FL. He also redesigned the Rockefeller Center and Plaza in NY. His thoughts, creations and designs are breathtaking and unimaginable before seeing and unbelievable afterwards.

How much land does Weiss have to work with?

By using Google Earth and looking at the property across from Graceland from the main boulevard which EPE now owns to the very back of the property to the neighborhood's back yards, I estimate that it is 60-80 acres of land. There is a medium sized apartment complex right behind the left side of the current plaza. From my understanding EPE owns that complex so relocating residents may not be too much of a problem to shut it down for demolition. From the corner of Craft RD, just to the left of the plaza, all the way down to the far end of the recent purchased Chinese restaurant, it is 650 yards in length. That's over 6 full length football fields wide. And it's 530 yards in depth from EP Boulevard to the back of the property. That's about 1/4 of the entire Epcot Center complex, just to give you an idea of it's enormous size of free space and land.

So what are Sillerman and Weiss looking to build or add to beef up tourism to double it's 600,000 visitors a year to 1.2 million a year? Well think BIG but not too big or too elaborate, but more stylish and unique and with a touch of nostalgia. I think the museum will be the ultimate and main attraction after the mansion tour. Therefore visitors and tourists see more than just the home itself but experience the whole life and times of EP through the mega museum. Priscilla and Lisa have been dreaming of a museum of a cost of around $100,000,000.00 and feature everything possible. They have over 6,000 artifacts currently in storage that they want to display but can't due to lack of exhibit space. They can't do that now as is with the current set up. That's why the exhibits they have now look cluttered and thrown together to save room, and money. But that won't be the case with the new museum and attraction.

So what kind of museum do I see EPE and Sillerman building? A mega multi use facility that rivals the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Museum in Cleveland, OH. That cost $84,000,000.00 when they built it back in 1996. The proposed museum EPE wants would be 16,000,000.00 more than that. I'm thinking Sillerman will want to build the ultimate museum to not only tell the whole story from beginning to end, but to exploit EP and take the EP experience to a whole new level. Here's what I mean.

*A massive 100,000 sq ft 2-level facility, beautifully designed and laid out featuring multiple exhibits to display and add to and change out, using modern day technology. Featuring a large underground storm shelter and basement for storage space.

*An expanded exhibit display of the jumpsuits.

*Bandmates & Songwriters exhibit, to honor the people behind the music.*Inspirations & Influences, to honor his idols.*An expanded car museum featuring many new vehicles not on display and the new Harley bikes being added this year.

*An indoor Aircraft exhibit featuring both planes inside.

*An Art Gallery featuring art work from around the world.*An EP themed restaurant with outdoor observation deck overlooking Graceland.

*Imax and movie theater, to display his Hollywood career and to show his live concerts on Imax screen.*Recording studio, for fans to interact and record their own demo just as EP did at Sun.

*30 ft EP statue to honor the reason the compound exists.

*An outdoor amphitheater for live shows.
*A new 400-room hotel and resort, featuring indoor pool and spa and sports facility including teenis courts, and a conference room for fan club members. The current hotel will be torn down in it's place.*Newly and improved Visitor's Center in the form of a small indoor mall, off to the left of the mansion and gates.In the mall would be:

* EPE MERCHANDISE
A retail store devoted to Elvis Presley Enterprises that sells only EPE marketed items. (it's all about money anyway for them)

* ELVIS THREADS
A store for selling Elvis themed clothes and EPE's new fashion line.

* ELVIS TOP 40
A music store that sells Elvis cds, dvds, imports, posters, and other Elvis related items.

* E-L-V-I-S L-I-V-E-S
A large updated neon lit Billboard of 'Elvis In The News Today' from music, television, media and movies, with modern day Elvis remixes as background music. This is located at the far end between the 2 escalators leading up to the 2nd floor.* WALKING IN MEMPHIS
An introduction of Memphis as EP saw it and highlights Memphis today.

* THIS IS ELVIS A. PRESLEY
An introduction to the legend of Elvis Presley in a 15 minute documentary to prepare visitors for what they are about to experience.

* SIRIUS RADIO
The All Elvis satellite station with a public view of how the show rolls. Watch it live.

Cost and duration?

I predict that Sillerman will go all out (since he has said money isn't a problem or issue) and make it as unimaginable as possible with breathtaking landscaping and designing. I think a price tag for all of this will run around 400,000,000.00. And I see it taking about 18-20 months to complete, which is close to 2 years. When do I expect for a concrete announcement on the plans for Graceland and groundbreaking?

I expect news on a final master plan to be announced before August of this year and groundbreaking to begin by year's end. So look for a grand opening by August 2009 at the latest.

WOW!!!

We can only hope that the final master plan is anywhere even close to what you just described!!! Perhaps we should get you on the planning board my friend!!!

TCB!
Mike

[KPM]

Let's just hope it's done sooner rather than later, and that it is actually done RIGHT!!!

TCB!
Mike

Exactly my sentiments Mike. Talk is cheap lets see it done RIGHT!

[KPM]

WOW!!!

We can only hope that the final master plan is anywhere even close to what you just described!!! Perhaps we should get you on the planning board my friend!!!

TCB!
Mike

Actually Mike this was someones elses post back in 2006-2007 about what Sillerman was going to do-I only reposted it to show how things were portrayed in reference to the plans for Graceland.......... and we all now know how the plans have gone so far.

[Jungleroom76]

Actually Mike this was someones elses post back in 2006-2007 about what Sillerman was going to do-I only reposted it to show how things were portrayed in reference to the plans for Graceland.......... and we all now know how the plans have gone so far.

Excellent illustration my friend...I completely forgot about this past post!!

TCB!
Mike

[Donut]

Elvis will survive regardless of what Apollo, CKX or even EPE do....I sometimes think when these "business threads" have been started that people lose sight of the very heart of any business venture that involves the image of Elvis-and that is ELVIS. Before EPE, Apollo, or CKX ........Elvis sold.
People lined up to try and get a license agreement to market just about anything-because of ELVIS not because of the parent company or the business partners he had.
ELVIS sells ELVIS-I think it needs to be said once in a while.Sillerman did not shell out the 100 million to just any entertainers family, Perry Comos rights were available, So were many other entertainers whos families would settle for 4-5 million up front and retain no percentage of ownership nor stock in the buying company.
ELVIS sold Sillerman, Elvis's image, his proven selling ability driven by his talent and charisma-that is why he put up so much money to get 85% and to lease Graceland for years.

Can you believe I finally agree on something with you? It only took me 5 years

It's a fact that Elvis sold before EPE, CKX or Apollo. Even if Graceland wasn't open for tours Elvis would still keep his place in music history and continue selling records, which is what he was and is known for around the world. I don't think there's any music store that doesn't have some Elvis CDs, he is an essential and a must have in any music store catalogue and that has little to do with EPE and Graceland.

[KPM]

Can you believe I finally agree on something with you? It only took me 5 years

It's a fact that Elvis sold before EPE, CKX or Apollo. Even if Graceland wasn't open for tours Elvis would still keep his place in music history and continue selling records, which is what he was and is known for around the world. I don't think there's any music store that doesn't have some Elvis CDs, he is an essential and a must have in any music store catalogue and that has little to do with EPE and Graceland.

Well wonders never cease I think you and I probably agree on many things-just not many we discuss here

[vivaelvis]

Jungleroom76, I don't know if you're aware of the Hard Rock Hotel in Orlando at Universal Studios or not. If you aren't, here's a video of the inside of this lovely themed luxury hotel done with class and style. This would be ideal for a new and upgraded HH at Graceland. But I wouldn't hold my breath on it as they've never done anything close to this.

[Jungleroom76]

Jungleroom76, I don't know if you're aware of the Hard Rock Hotel in Orlando at Universal Studios or not. If you aren't, here's a video of the inside of this lovely themed luxury hotel done with class and style. This would be ideal for a new and upgraded HH at Graceland. But I wouldn't hold my breath on it as they've never done anything close to this.

WOW!!!!

Now something like THAT as a lobby to the new HEARTBREAK HOTEL...full of giant monitor's showing Elvis videos and display cases full of Elvis artifacts....THAT would be something to see for sure and would most definitely make a FANTASTIC first impression to anyone walking into that lobby!!!!

I had heard of the Hard Rock in Orlando before, but hadn't seen any pictures or anything like that, so THANK YOU for sharing that with me!! We can only DREAM that EPE has enough foresight to plan something as extravagant as that for the hotel!!!

TCB!
Mike

[debtdbruno]

AWESOME lobby..................

[vivaelvis]

Compare the Hard Rock Hotel to the inside lobby area of the current Heartbreak Hotel at Graceland. Actually there are no comparisons.

[Jungleroom76]

Compare the Hard Rock Hotel to the inside lobby area of the current Heartbreak Hotel at Graceland. Actually there are no comparisons.

After watching that video of the HR in Orlando, the HH lobby video is downright depressing...

THIS IS NOT THE WAY a musical icon like Elvis should be treated...PERIOD!!!

COME ON EPE...spend some of your money and give Elvis the treatment he deserves with a hotel that rivals or beats the Hard Rock...the man deserves that much!!!

TCB!
Mike