News: Cedar Fair must decide on headquarters site

When I look out of my window, I can actually see the Airport; and when you go about 75 on the highway, and you don't drive like a granny the rest of the time, it takes somewhere around 50-60 minutes to get to the park, not 35.

Man, that was a run-on sentance.

Sorry to quote the same thing, but ROOMS??

Have you been to Sandusky?

Yes I have been to Sandusky. Hell, even lived there for a couple seasons. But everyone seems to think the headquarters needs to be on site. It doesn't and probably won't be.

I'm guessing that eveyone think's ' oh no, they won't care about Cedar Point if the HQ isn't here.' Yeah right. As long as the revenue keeps up, CP will continue to get the best the world offers as far as rides as long as the park keeps up the profits. But with even more parks to budget in, the profits better keep coming. Without large profits, it's hard to explain $25 million dollar rides to stock-holders.

And everyone brings up Kinzel having a house right there. I'm sure it's not the only property he owns and I'm sure he can handle the traveling.

This isn't a matter of opinion but fact. If Cedar Fair moves the atmosphere of Cedar Point moves. Example. Look at any place of employment that doesn't have headquarters nearby. It's not hard to find they're everywhere. You will have an interesting experience with careless employees.

Cedar Point on the other hand isn't just a Cedar Fair Park, it's the corporate headquarters for Cedar Fair. Employees have to look good or else they hear about it. Yes there still are those who don't care, but they usually end up as no rehires anyways. It doesn't take a week to hear from the CEO it takes minutes

Employees arent suprised to see the executives, it's a common everyday hello Joe how are type of experience. The 4 seasons and 2 years I worked at the point I saw Dick every week. Occassionally he would stop by for a quick friendly chat. Ok well usually a "Hi, How are you?" but his presence was noted. Anyone who has an interest in corporate America, is fascinated by that environment. On top of that, Cedar Point is a minitature city. The CEO of Cedar Fair is just the CEO but the Mayor of Cedar Point. I'm sure there are more but the only other corporate campus set up similarly (but very differently because of obvious industry differences) is Microsoft. You can read about the campus at Microsofts website.

It's the same situation too. Dick Kinzel doesnt want to Moved Cedar Fair because of it's history and also because of his family ties to the Sandusky and Toledo area. Bill Gates (though he hasn't been Microsofts CEO in a while) doesn't want to move Microsofts headquarters to any random place because of his family ties to Seattle. Also, imagine how much worse Windows would be if headquarters mved to a separate office.

To say Cedar Fair can move from Cedar Point without anything changed is an insult to the history of Cedar Point. You want proof? Ask the next McDonalds employee why they don't smile and are very slow at making your food fast. They can't tell you but its because they are no where near Corporate McDonalds.

If you want industry comparison... Then why isn't Magic Mountain close to numbers for Worlds Best Amusement park? The Flagship park is on the other side of the continent from it's corporate headquarters and doesn't get the constant attention that Cedar Point receives DAILY by default.
End of Rant.

Ask the next McDonalds employee why they don't smile and are very slow at making your food fast. They can't tell you but its because they are no where near Corporate McDonalds.

It's not that they're making minimum wage and have a crummy job.

(Darn Censors.)
*** Edited 6/18/2006 10:48:26 PM UTC by bholcomb***

Gomez said:
You're right, it's the last house closet to the park.

http://www.pointbuzz.com/Gallery.aspx?i=1947
(Center bottom of the picture)

He lives in the dream home of at least a few of ours.

Yes, right next to the nice private entry... :)

bholcomb said:

It's not that they're making minimum wage and have a crummy job.

(Darn Censors.)
*** Edited 6/18/2006 10:48:26 PM UTC by bholcomb***

*sarcastic* You mean people don't like the fact that one hour of work is equal to a gallon and a half of gas. :)

Ok that was a bad example to use in my explanation above.

Monster Man sorry to disagree with you but Cedar Point employees would care even if the headquarters wasn't around. 99% of the time the higher ups are walking around, they are the full-time CP staff. As an area sup, my staff wanted to keep me happy while I wanted to keep the full-timers happy etc. A chain of command thing. While I have talked to Mr Kinzel and Mr H ( not sure how to spell his name), to see them was a bonus but didn't happen to often. The only exception is at opening when everyone is normally by the front gate to welcome the guests. For those who don't know, that's the best time to find the boss.

To say things would slide and fall apart is an insult to those who do the work. There is pride involved!!

Plus to compare Cedar Fair to Six Flags is also an insult.
*** Edited 6/18/2006 11:09:00 PM UTC by 901liveson***

I never said the employees wouldn't care. I have worked a supervisory position for the point. However the way you described it is no different than the culture is for any company. People do jobs because they are asked to do so or are trying to keep bosses happy. That has almost nothing to do with headquarter location as it does to personal obedience and the need to make money to support oneself or family.

The difference I described was the culture created by headquarters being located at the same point of business conduct.

It makes no sense to say I've insulted Cedar Fair making a comparison to Six Flags. Actually it makes sense, it's the same industry. A person needs industry comparisons to back up their statements. The comparison I made. Cedar Fair is located at Cedar Point. Magic Mountain and Six Flags headquartes are on opposite sides of the continent. A comparison of flagship operations and their headquarters. The real insult would have been if I said Six Flags corporation far out performs Cedar Fair everyday. That I never said.

What I wrote was my opinion. I did start my post with a fact. That fact was based on what other people had already written in this thread. That the the culture of a companies operational location is greatly affected by it's location to the headquarters. In this case the operation of Cedar Point. I would like to say that it shouldn't be a fact. I will gladly be open to any disproving of that as long as you don't try to explain basic employee obedience as the reason why a culture won't diminish.

Honestly, I am more likely to be extremely obedient to an executive as opposed to a basic supervisor. I'm not insulting supervisors in saying that because I would be insulting myself.