Latest news with #glassfloor
Yahoo
12-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Space Needle Official Addresses Crack in Glass Floor with Wild Football Analogy to Prove the Strength of the Glass
A Space Needle official told PEOPLE that the Seattle attraction is 'absolutely safe to visit' after a video circulated showing a crack in the observation deck's glass floor 'Our glass floor is so strong, you could invite the entire Seattle Seahawks' defense — and all of the offenses they would face in the course of a season — to take a group photo on the glass floor without breaking a sweat,' the official explains The deck's glass floor is about 500 feet above the groundThe 605-foot-tall Space Needle is still 'absolutely safe to visit' despite a video revealing a crack in the Seattle attraction's glass floor. Addressing a visitor's July 1 Instagram video showing the crack on the observation deck, a Space Needle official told PEOPLE that the crack is on a top layer similar to a screen protector on a phone. 'The viral video circulating is old footage that shows a crack in the scuff plate on our glass floor, The Loupe. Scuff plate is like a screen protector on your cellphone,' says Genny Boots, Space Needle's PR manager. 'It's a non-load-bearing, aesthetic protective layer that is meant to scuff, scratch, and even sometimes crack, all while keeping the 10 layers of structural glass clear for a breathtaking view 500-feet down,' Boots adds. 'We replace the scuff plate about twice a year.' The official compared the strength of the glass to the city's football team. 'Our glass floor is so strong, you could invite the entire Seattle Seahawks' defense — and all of the offenses they would face in the course of a season — to take a group photo on the glass floor without breaking a sweat,' Boots explains of the Space Needle, which opened in 1962. The Space Needle was built in 400 days and cost $4.5 billion to build. Safety of the structure is paramount. 'Our technicians and engineers check the building every day for safety, and our team of glasskeepers maintain all 176 tons of glass at the Space Needle so our guests enjoy the 360-degree views of downtown Seattle, Mount Rainier and the Puget Sound,' she explains. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. The red aircraft warning beacon at the top is 605 feet off the ground, and there are 848 stairs from the ground to the observation deck. In May, as part of a years-long modernization project, the Space Needle launched Skyliner, a new floor-to-ceiling glass, double-deck outdoor elevator. Two more elevators will be modernized in 2027 and 2028. 'Construction like this at the Space Needle is like assembling a rocket in the sky,' Karen Olson, Space Needle's chief operating officer, said in a statement at the time. 'We are doing work on the Space Needle that has never been done before, at 500 feet in the air.' Read the original article on People
Yahoo
20-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
NEW glass floor cabin opens at London cable car costing twice a regular ticket
Thrill-seekers can now book a glass floor cabin at London's cable car between Greenwich and the Royal Docks. Transport for London (TfL) has said that from today (June 20), it is possible to book the 'unique' glass floor experience at IFS Cloud Cable Car. Initially opened in 2012, the cable car has attracted a steady stream of visitors, hitting a record 1.5 million passengers last year. This is despite the fact it has failed to entice commuters to use the route. READ MORE - Earlier this year, TfL pushed back its opening hours, claiming only 20 customers a day used the cable car in its first hour of operation. Two of the 34 cabins have been fitted with the glass floor, offering enhanced views of the River Thames and landmarks such as the O2 arena. The cable car offers views of the O2 arena in Greenwich (Image: TfL) Josh Crompton, TfL's head of the IFS Cloud Cable Car, said: 'The cable car has been one of London's leading attractions for more than a decade and is a much-loved landmark in the city's skyline. 'We're excited to offer this new experience to customers, extending the incredible views from the cabin even further thanks to the panoramic glass floor.' TfL has recommended that, 'to avoid disappointment', passengers should book in advance if they want to ride in the glass floor cabin. It will still be possible to buy a ticket at one of the two terminals, depending on availability. Ticket prices are substantially more than the £13 for a trip in a regular cabin. READ MORE - Off-peak tickets cost £25 for an adult, increasing to £35 at peak times, which covers weekends and school holidays. All glass floor cabin tickets come with 'fast track' perks. For those booking online for trips between June 23 and August 31, the code 'GFE20' will provide 20 per cent off the ticket price. In the financial year 2023/24, TfL's revenue from the cable car hit £10 million, which was £1 million higher than the previous 12 months. Freedom of Information (FoI) data suggests that the cable car had an operating surplus of £2.6 million over the same time period.
