Dome Decade: The man who tried to save it

By Rob Virtue on January 11, 2010 11:38 AM |

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Frenchman P-Y Gerbeau was the man parachuted into the Dome at an early stage of its year as the Millennium Experience following a disappointing start.

P-Y, now chief executive of X-Leisure which owns West India Quay, arrived from EuroDisney and impressed with his management of the ill-fated project.

But P-Y told The Wharf he had not returned to the attraction since he left. Looking back he said: "We took over a bust company and survived and made it a good venture."

"I have fond memories of the fact we survived under incredible pressures but I don't look back. It's not about the building, it's about the people. And they've all moved on."
Under his stewardship, the Dome's fortunes improved.

Even though it only managed half of the predicted 12million visitors, it did achieve thumbs-up from four out of every five customers.

P-Y said the Dome's current role as a concert venue and entertainment centre was ideal.

It was something he was interested in running at the site with Ministry Of Sound in 2001 but could not get a deal finalised.

He said: "I was just disappointed the Government wouldn't sell it to us afterwards as it's been a great success. We planned to do exactly the same as AEG.

"It's doing great now. The challenge is when it is not doing as many shows a year, but they are slick operators they know what they are doing.

"They had bad luck with Michael Jackson but they will recover."

See also - The Past, The Transformation and Opening Night Doom for more.