BEST PARK

JuggaLotus said:
As long as they spend the most in advertising with Amusement Today, they'll get the top spot.

{DING!-DING!-DING!} WE HAVE A WINNER!

JuggaLotus said:
As long as they spend the most in advertising with Amusement Today, they'll get the top spot.

How true. These Golden Ticket Awards are such a joke.

If this is the case, why wouldn't the 2nd place park spend a little more to earn the top spot?

99er said:
If this is the case, why wouldn't the 2nd place park spend a little more to earn the top spot?

Good question.

The answer is simple, it's not the case.

Um, because who cares about the Golden Ticket awards?

Tomorrow, go out in the streets and ask 6,054 people what they think about the results of the GT awards.

No one will know what on Earth you are talking about.

And anyone who actually knows about the GT awards know they are meaningless "self-promoting" advertisements that do nothing but spark little discussions like this on forums. Correct me if I am wrong, but if memory serves me correct, Mean Streak was voted a "top 10 wooden coaster" in this "poll" about 4 years ago. That tells you all you need to know.

Make up an award ceremony in your basement for best restaurant in your town, and announce the winner on Facebook. It will have the same effect on the restaurant business in your town. So that begs the question, why does Cedar Point care so much? Bragging rights in the industry I guess.

I would rather they spend that money on light bulbs.

99er said:
If this is the case, why wouldn't the 2nd place park spend a little more to earn the top spot?

Because that costs money thats not worth spending.

I'm shocked at these aspersions. Next, you'll be telling me that I truly wasn't a Who's Who of American College Students.

Kevinj said:
Um, because who cares about the Golden Ticket awards?

Look at the 5000 people that liked Cedar Points status.

I'm sold now on the Golden Ticket Awards! 5000 people liked CP status on Facebook that might go to the park every couple years, but go to no other park in that amount of time.

Cedar Point's FB page has over 900,000 followers. Those 5,000 "likes" represent about 0.6% of their followers.

I could get 0.6% of my friends to "like" a photo of my cats' dirty litter box. :)

First, as far as I know, real people cast votes for these awards. Regardless of anyone's feelings on the legitimacy or accuracy of the awards, it's not fair to say awards are sold to the highest bidder.

Second, it's true that most people have no idea what the Golden Tickets Awards are. However, I would say the Cedar Point's "best park" claim is well known. This year's award got significant newspaper and television coverage. Cedar Point also promotes the award in marketing materials and inside the park itself. In that regard, the award provides a valuable marketing tool for the park.

For the moment, lets say that the park "bought" the award. Then the media gives them the free press coverage that Walt described. Seems like a pretty good way to go.

I know enthusiasts don't care about the awards but which sounds better on a TV commercial:

...come to our park! or

...come to our park that has been voted the best amusement park in the country for X years straight!

djDaemon said:
Cedar Point's FB page has over 900,000 followers. Those 5,000 "likes" represent about 0.6% of their followers.

I could get 0.6% of my friends to "like" a photo of my cats' dirty litter box. :)

When you have 900,000 friends that post will be relevant. ;)

Wow, a thread full of complaining over a stupid ranking. Who cares? Seriously? Are any of the rides different to you now because it isn't ranked #1 in the world or whatever?

-Ben who will be riding his #1 (Ranked #10) over and over closing weekend

Well Ben, personally, my life is much more fulfilled knowing that I just spent my weekend at the #1 park instead of some loser #3 or #4 park!

Does anybody have the full top 50 list of both wood and steel coasters? I couldn't find that on www.goldenticketawards.com/

They don't usually post the issue until it's mailed out to paid subscribers. I got a copy at the ceremony. If there is a particular coaster you were curious about, I could tell you.

^ Alright tell me what place Maverick and Raptor came in this year when you get the chance.:)

Raptor - 18

Maverick - 21

xfireboyx said:
Well Ben, personally, my life is much more fulfilled knowing that I just spent my weekend at the #1 park instead of some loser #3 or #4 park!

I really hope this was sarcastic.