Less Thrill Rides

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/tourism/orl-cfbtourism05080502aug05.story?coll=orl%2Dbusiness%2Dheadlines

Has the late '90s wave of building new thrill rides peaked?
An official at Cedar Point LP, the Sandusky, Ohio, amusement park that's widely known for its giant coasters, says yes.
"The current trend is toward adding more small rides more often instead of one big attraction every five years or so," said Brian Witherow, investor relations spokesman at Cedar Point, which owns six amusement parks and five water parks in the United States.

------------------
Rider
RIDE IT OUT!

MF: 5
WT: 0
MAG: Phh... After about 10 at once I stop counting. So take that as it is.

Ok, when I tried to post this yesterday it didn't go through.

Cedar Point LP.... lol...

------------------
Rider
RIDE IT OUT!

MF: 5
WT: 0
MAG: Phh... After about 10 at once I stop counting. So take that as it is.

Of course the boom has lessened. The reason for such an increase in big rides in the 90's was because of the booming economy and stock market. The peak of 1999 when the stock market was at an all time high was signified by the addition of over 60 coasters. There are still a lot built, but not nearly that many in a single season. The stock market and economy has since declined, and building huge coasters really isn't the best business sense for most parks.

That's not to say that some parks will still add the huge thrill rides though...
------------------
June 28th: LocoBazooka Tour (Sevendust headlining)
July 11th: Korn, Puddle of Mudd, and Deadsy

As a financial guy I'm suprised he didn't make the more obvious statement that there comes a time when you just need to sit back and enjoy some return on your investment.

------------------
Jeff
Webmaster/GTTP, Sillynonsense.com
"Let's stop saying 'don't quote me,' because if no one quotes you, you probably haven't said a thing worth saying." - Dogma, KMFDM

Exactly Jeff, that is another reason I happen to believe your getting a smaller ride next year at the Po!nt and not another coaster.

------------------
Comin up to see you guys on the 25th watch out! Beast and Night two peas in a pod?

You can think whatever you want, but you would still be wrong.

------------------
Jeff
Webmaster/GTTP, Sillynonsense.com
"Let's stop saying 'don't quote me,' because if no one quotes you, you probably haven't said a thing worth saying." - Dogma, KMFDM

I dont care what we get next year, the park is still the best.

However, with this philosophy of less thrill rides, it would be a perfect time/lull to put in a world class dark ride.

Maybe they can combine the Earthquake and Pirate ride together and call it Pirates of the Earthquake.
*** This post was edited by Digital Daredevil 8/6/2002 1:40:32 AM ***

Funny to hear this from CP....a park that has an average cap expenditure budget ($13-15 million) higher than its 'big money' years in the late 80s.

-'Playa

------------------
The CPlaya 100--6 days, 9 parks, 47 coasters, 2037 miles and a winner.....LoCoSuMo.

Smaller doesn't necessarily mean wimpy. Just look for more rides like Wicked Twister and Xcelerator to show up instead of MF's or Raptor's.

We have gone almost 6 full seasons without a dark ride. There are plenty of places around the park to build one, and I am sure that they are cheap (in terms of amusement park rides.) There are so many great ones out there like the one at Knoebels. I think that its the one thing that the park is truely missing, unless they want to bring back the Sky Slide, or Fascination, or the ride signs.

------------------
long live the sky slide