Having recently acquired the Niagara Falls Hard Rock Cafe, one of Michael DiCienzo’s other companies wants to bring a new attraction that takes guests into the air.
TCB Entertainment, a sister company of DiCienzo’s Live! Inc. and American Niagara Hospitality have proposed plans for an Aerobar in the Cataract City, to be near the Hard Rock location. The nearly $4 million bar can take guests up to 133 feet in the air, giving patrons views of the Falls, the Niagara River, and the neighboring Canadian skyline.
“The Aerobar offers a one-of-a-kind experience that complements the region’s existing attractions while giving visitors a new perspective of one of the world’s most iconic destinations,” the company’s application to Niagara County Industrial Development Agency reads. “As a family-friendly attraction with a proven track record in major tourist markets around the world, it would further enhance the visitor experience and encourage longer stays in Niagara Falls, New York.”
French company Aerophile manufactures the Aerobars, the same company that made the Live! On Air Fallsview helium balloon ride on Main Street. Aerobars have been installed across the world in places like Dubai, Singapore, Seoul, Casablanca, Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia, Dalian in China, and Tulum in Mexico. The first U.S.-based Aerobar opened in Las Vegas in 2022.
Technical specifications on Aerophile’s website state the gondola making up the Aerobar holds 16 passengers and has a 23-foot-wide balloon carrying the passengers. Its structure has three 130-foot-high masts the gondola connects to that can rotate it clockwise and counterclockwise up and down the tower, with the operator serving drinks and operating it with a wireless remote. Each ride takes at least four minutes to complete and the Aerobar can cycle through a maximum of 10 rides per hour.
It can withstand winds of up to 43.5 mph, with all passengers secured by seatbelts. Other emergency measures in place include an auxiliary power generator in the event of a power loss and a parachute system to stop descents if any cables break.
The $4.035 million project would start construction this coming January and be finished by December 2028.
TCB Entertainment applied for $500,000 worth of Cataract Tourism Grant funds to help cover project costs, with that amount covering 12%. At its monthly meeting on Wednesday, the IDA board instead approved $403,500 worth of funds, 10% of the cost, with the caveat that they are provided six-month updates about the project.
TCB Entertainment already has $3.035 million in committed funds and $500,000 from the USA Niagara Development Corporation.
The attraction is expected to create an additional four full-time positions.
Listed project costs include $1.4 million in construction, $2.4 million in machinery/equipment, and $235,000 in other fees and soft costs.
Representatives from TCB Entertainment could not be reached for comment.
The Cataract Grant funding is meant for tourism-related projects in downtown Niagara Falls and is reimbursable when projects provide the IDA with proof of their expenditures.
Aside from the Live! On Air balloon ride, DiCienzo’s Live! Inc. has been working to refurbish the former Howard Johnson hotel at 454 Main St. into a boutique hotel and entertainment venue. It has already received $450,000 in Cataract grant funds and $2.25 million in other tax incentives from the IDA.