News: CEDAR FAIR, L.P. TO ACQUIRE PARAMOUNT PARKS

^^They have bought out all of the Paramount Parks...

Jeff, you're not suggesting they pack more people into that office space are you? They will become the third largest park operator and neary double their size. Obviously they will not double their management personnel but there will be an increase. It's time they start looking like a company of their size.

Don't underestimate image. No city wants to lose a corporate headquarters especially a smaller city like Sandusky. I think Sandusky will be very interested in hosting the headquarters of the third largest park operator in the country.

As far as the hotel, if you really think that they need more rooms, there is plenty of space to expand BE rather than build a new one and still have room left over for an impressive headquarters.

This is a good move for Cedar Fair. When I first heard about the idea of buying the paramount parks because I thought, Oh No!, because I thought that they would be getting rid of everything Paramount has worked hard for. My opinion now I think this is a good move and the only thing I really wish upon is that the paramount parks keep that first title license agreement which would make the parks still have that first name. For example Paramounts Kings Island, Paramounts Kings Dominion, etc. I think that Cedar Fair will allow Paramount to keep the Nick characters. I also think since the 2 companies are merging they could give each other ideas with stuff like Theming.

Top Thrill 182 said:
As said throughout this forum, many generations know Snoopy. A very small generation of people know the numerous Nikalodean characters. Snoopy is a classick, Nikalodean is not. I don't think CF will remove Snoopy from any of its existing parks, and I wouldn't be surprised if Snoopy was worked into Paramount parks in the coming years.

See the thing is, that CF really doesn't care how many people love Snoopy. The only reason they pay these companies big bucks is for the kids. And, kids today don't know who Charlie is, they don't know who Snoopy is, and they don't know who the rest of the gang is. Charles Schulz is dead, and his product died with him. In 15 years, Snoopy will be next to nonexistant, only alive by reruns in the comic section of the paper.

I am positive that many kids know who Charlie Brown and his gang are. They are still popular with the younger age group.

Walt Disney died over 30 years ago and look at his product.

There are classics and fades. Nick shows are always a fade (some last longer than others). Peanuts are a classic. (Kids will always know Snoopy.)

See, I don't think kids will always know Snoopy. Look at other comic classics at the time. Will someone please tell me what kid would know Popeye anymore? These comic classics will fade very quickly.

As much as I love Peanuts and hope they keep them, Nickelodeon does have more long term value. Snoopy is a classy character to have, but Nickelodeon is far and away the biggest kids network (biggest caple network at all I think). I predict Snoopy staying around for awhile, but eventually leaving. Although he may still have more long term value than any individual Nick character.

Honestly, here's my two cents.

1.) Cedar Fair stays in Sandusky

2.) Paramount Parks switch to Pepsi

3.) Paramount's Management will not shake around much. They have their parks well run and in good shape, and with their intellgience (and knowledge of theming), they're going no where.

4.) Snoopy vs. Nickelodeon. This one really is a pay-per-view event, and overall, the winner is Snoopy. Snoopy, I feel, is more family oriented and can go back several generations. And yes, today's kids does know Snoopy. Nickelodeon, just never been a fan of. And the thought of seeing Spongebob at a CF park, just makes me gag a little. Bad image. I'd really love to see Snoopy at Paramount Parks within the next few years.

5.) Paramount Rides. I hope, that CF names/themes their new rides whatever they want, and not so movie related. They've done nothing short of good on doing this at their current CF parks, and it has more character and identity to them. I could only hope they continue this procedure of theirs over to the new parks.

6.) Canada. International. This just makes me wonder how this will be going to work out. I like the idea big time, that we're in Canada. It's just another step forward, that's never been taken before. So, it will be quite interesting.

I think that's it for the moment.

Thank you,

Brandon James

1) Sure

2) Sure

3) I think we'll see a phase in with the CF mind frame. Those in Paramount management that don't want to do it that way will find themselves without jobs and those that do will rather quickly find themselves running parks. There won't be a wholesale replacement of management (like was done with GL) but there may be some shuffling depending on how many Para-execs decide to leave.

4) I like Snoopy. But Nickelodeon has more marketing power to kids. Sure, each character may not have 25 years of staying power, but every kid in this country knows who SpongeBob and his friends are. Snoopy is that dog. I think we may see a phase in of Nickelodeon over time.

5) We'll see the movie theming on existing rides for however long the agreement is (I heard 10 years). We may even see it renewed. However I'll agree that new rides probably won't get the movie tie-ins.

6) Agreed.

Snoopy is that dog.

Au contraire, mon frere. From the Peanuts web site:

A poll in 2002 found Peanuts to be one of the most recognizable cartoon properties in the world, recognized by 94 percent of the total U.S. consumer market and a close second only to Mickey Mouse (96 percent), and higher than other familiar cartoon properties like Spider-Man (75 percent) or the Simpsons (87 percent).

*** Edited 5/25/2006 2:51:01 PM UTC by Brian Noble***

Now, was that a poll of kids under 7? Or was it a poll of the general US population? Which generally includes more people over 30 than it does kids under 7.

Exactly what I was thinking, John.

Booo... Pepsi should be yanked from Cedar Fair and Coke should be the sole provider of soft drinks...

I don't want to start a war so we can just settle it with this post.

Coke is better than Pepsi.

And that as they say is that. ;)

*** Edited 5/25/2006 3:25:00 PM UTC by Coastern3rd***

Sorry to burst your bubble, but until Coke goes back to original recipe, Pepsi will be better.

Right on.

New Coke?

Thats gone man, since 1986. Peter Jennings even interrupted General Hospital to break the news when Coke brought back the Classic Coke recipe in 86.

It may be the Classic Coke recipe, but it is not the original Coca-Cola recipe.

Oh yeah, I guess unless some laws change or something... then there will be no Coca-Cola...

But I was not even born when that stuff was out, so I don't think I'll ever have something to compare it to. Either way, Pepsi just tastes flat and the only thing they have going for them is Mountain Dew.

You sleep in a bed of lies, Coastern3rd.

;)