Dick Kinzel "coaster war" interview

http://blog.cleveland.com/business/2007/05/coming_sunday_coaster_wars_and.html

I just thought it was very interesting how he said a coaster could go as tall as 800 ft! And that it wasnt in there 5 year plan, but what about there 10 year plan :)

But what i didnt get was how he said Cedar Fair wouldnt build a coaster taller than 430 feet, but isnt the dragster 420? Im assuming he just mispoke, but who knows...

I don't believe Cedar Fair will ever build a coaster taller than Dragster. I truly believe the height war is over. I'm not saying some other park may try to out do Kingda Ka, but I think now the attention will turn to thrilling multi-element coasters, as opposed to simply building to break height records.

I on the other hand believe that Cedar Point will be that first to break the 500 ft. record (considering they did it with the 200, 300, and 400 ones) But i do believe that they will wait for a couple of years to do it.

I also think that most companies will wait until Cedar Point breaks the record to build ones since they will wait to see how it works at cedar point, and then steal the record by only beign a few feet taller (aka Mill, and TTD)

Which part of what Kinzel has said is unclear to you? Sure you can go taller, but what for? Where's the return on investment? Dragster is a ridiculously expensive ride to operate, and now they're stuck with it.

But people still wait hours in line to ride it. And every time I tell someone I've been to CP they ask me if i rode it. Though i do think that MF is a better coaster, by far.

I also think that they chould have ether made TTD a duel racer, or added more hills to it. But I still think that to many people it is the face of CP, and one of there must ride rides.
*** Edited 6/29/2007 2:29:49 PM UTC by cedar point crazy***

LOL! I had to agree with "moosiemom" in the responses to the article. I'm 53 and I'll be riding TTD and any other extreme coasters hopefully well into my 70's.

TTD a duel racer?... and more hills?

Wow... I'm glad you aren't doing capital planning for Cedar Fair...

I agree cedar point crazy. I think that it would have really been good to have racing dragsters. That is how they normally race anyway. But, I like it as is. But I won't wait a hour for it.

I rate Maverick over TTD any day.

I was seriously hoping CP would shoot for 500 ft. But I think the point of TTD was just to be the tallest and fastest and nothing else.

I am a Dragster fan, but there is no way they could have racing Dragsters. That would cost an estimated $60 million dollars! I don't know if Cedar Fair could repay that lone.

cedar point crazy said:
But people still wait hours in line to ride it.

Ditto for Disaster Transport.

2 x 25 = 60?

I guess it should be ok to leave some children behind.

Yeah, but there's air conditioning in that line. :) That's not a fair comparison. ;)

I would like one over 500 ft but not the way of TTD. Maybe have a lift hill like maverick and then have a normal fun coaster.

cedar point crazy said:
But people still wait hours in line to ride it.

Who cares? People ride the carousel too. Should they build a bigger one?

Dragster has a grandstand because as a percentage, fewer people are interested in riding it. The park has a reputation for being very anti-family in terms of its attraction lineup, how ever undeserved as it may be. Building more big rides that few people will ride is not helpful. Attendance they year Dragster opened did not exceed the year Millennium Force opened. In fact, no year since has.

JuggaLotus said:
2 x 25 = 60?

I guess it should be ok to leave some children behind.

I knew someone was going to say that. I have a 3.8 GPA Jugga, I'm not an idiot. :)

What I'm saying is that you'd probably have to knock another ride down which attributes to the park greatly. You would also have to make sure each train departs at the same time so they can race. So let's say 50 million plus a terrible investment for the park. That is what it would be if you made them both in 2003. If you made another TTD right now who knows how much it would cost right now with steel prices going up. Maybe, 35 million dollars. :)

Interesting term, "coaster war" A war with whom? CP owns all the major parks in Ohio. I doubt Six Flags even gets mentioned at planning meetings.

How about this for a prediction:

Soak City is due for an upgrade. So are the kiddie areas, especially if they jump onto the licensing deals Paramount had. How about no new coaster until 2011 or 2012?

What about: "The Family Wars"?

I'm ok with something bigger. If it's not launched and is more than a one trick pony people will ride. Most of the people I talk to are not afraid of the height but the launch on Dragster. A traditional out and back record breaker like Magnum would most certainly do fine.

^^

I dont think the general public wants to hear "Family" and "War" put together. It wouldnt be as good of a promotional strategie as the "Coaster Wars"
*** Edited 6/29/2007 5:14:30 PM UTC by cedar point crazy***