Today may mark the beginning of the end for the Millennium Dome's troubles as former EuroDisney chief Mr Pierre-Yves Gerbeau takes over as chief executive from Ms Jennie Page. Management at the New Millennium Experience Company is hoping that Mr Gerbeau can put an end to the negative publicity and poor attendances which have plagued the dome.
Ms Page, who expected to be working side-by-side with the Frenchman, was shocked when dismissed last Thursday from the u150,000 per annum £150,000 a year post. She was reportedly seen in tears on Friday. She may not be the only member of management to face dismissal as Mr Gerbeau is likely to make further changes.
Many feel Ms Page has been made a scapegoat for the woes of the £758 million attraction, which fell victim to bad fortune from its opening day. The trouble began with a public relations disaster on the dome's Millennium Eve party when thousands of people were kept waiting for hours. The disgruntled crowds included VIPs and a number of newspaper editors.
Further waiting problems followed as queues lengthened for the more popular attractions within the dome. Reviews also proclaimed that the whole venue smelt unpleasantly of fast food. As the teething troubles were gradually rectified, attendances began falling to unacceptably low levels.
Management changes were finally demanded at a meeting of sponsors and NMEC chiefs last Wednesday. "This is a board decision, they took judgments on the basis of business," the Cabinet Office Minister, Lord Falconer, said yesterday, rejecting allegations of government interference. The government, however, is still widely held responsible for the performance of the dome. "The government needs to accept responsibility for the mess the dome is now in," Liberal Democrat dome spokesman Mr Norman Baker said yesterday.
Exactly what Mr Gerbeau will do to reverse the dome's misfortune remains to be seen. A relaunch is expected at Easter but financial pressures make it unlikely there will be any new attractions and the existing zones cannot be altered structurally.
Mr Gerbeau's role in making a success of EuroDisney, where he was vice-president of park operations from 1997, has shown him to be among the most capable figures in the theme-park business.