Red Cross Auction for maXair

^^^I did some research and got the results. Wicked Twister auctioned off 64 seats. The average bid per seat on Wicked was about $251. TTD auctioned off 96 seats. The average bid per seat on TTD was about $362. The average of the first 64 seats was about $430.

Can anyone find MF's results?

*** Edited 4/10/2005 2:07:40 AM UTC by MForce310***

MForce310, thank you for confirming what I anticipated -- that there's a rather significant "ride premium" component of the bid.

I'd expect the MaXair bids to be more in line with those for Wicked Twister.

I predict high bid of maybe 500 dollars, other high bids in the 350-400 dollar range, and bottom bid of 90 dollars or less. If I were to bid, I'd bid at least 105 dollars to be reasonably sure I got on, though. It is a charity, anyway.

Here I am again with the averages!

As of now, 44 bids have been placed. The average for ALL 50 seats (including $0 "bids") is $102.66 (exactly). The average of the 44 is ~$116.66.

I don't think it'll go much higher. I've been successful first ride bidder on Millennium Force, Wicked Twister, and Top Thrill Dragster. For Millennium Force, there was a cool party at the Red Garter Saloon where we had breakfast and were asssigned seats. The winners came from all over the country. It was a real party atmosphere - the proceedings were even interrupted by a wedding proposal! Then, when we went to the ride, we were paraded in front of the waiting crowd, with the Ohio State University marching band playing...I felt like an astronaut heading for the launch pad. The events since then have been significantly lower key...disappointing to me. So, even though I make donations to the Red Cross, I'm not as motivated to bid REALLY high to ensure I get a ride - I do have a season pass after all. And I think I'm not the only coaster freak who feels this way. Furthermore, as has been said earlier, it's not like MaXair is ushering in a order of magnitude change in amusement park rides, the way MF did. Finally, there's no differentiation in the seats. Whereas some people are motivated to bid thousands for the best seat on the train for the first ride...all the seats on MaXair are the same. The person who bids least gets as good a seat as the person who bids most. And that will limit the high end of bidding, I think.

At least that's my prediction. I hope, for the sake of charity, that I am absolutely wrong.

AUCTION CLOSED.

Highest bid: $262.
Lowest: $101
Average: $130.78

What you do not see the park gave the Red Cross another 50 seats for two rides instead of one. I know because I won one seat on the second ride for $91.00 and that was the 56th highest bid.
*** Edited 5/5/2005 2:50:23 AM UTC by Tony***

Well, it seems that I overestimated the high bid, underestimated the low bid (for the first 50) and was just about right regarding the bid to ensure one got on. We were right about it not being a high bidding auction (and that's too bad - the Red Cross is a good charity).

Anyway - Congratulations TONY! Enjoy your ride Saturday. I hope it's thrilling, and that you guys have a great time in the morning before the ride.

I'm sure he'll enjoy his Friday ride(s) better. You know, better company and all that jazz.

Looks like it's more about "bragging rights" (the ride) and not about donating to charity after all.

What are you talking about? Where did you ever come up with that?

Not sure about the bragging rights comment. I would have never put a bid in if it was not going to charity. It is fun to say I will be on the first general public ride but if I had to write the check to Cedar Point - forget it. I'll wait a few minutes and ride it for free, especially when I've already ridden Delirium. For me it is a win/win situation. The Red Cross gets some money and I get to be part of the ride opening experience.

Yeah,I know everyone likes to make themselves feel all warm and fuzzy inside thinking wow,this many people are donating to charity just to donate.

I can almost guarantee if you asked the people on Dragster or MF the first year they opened why they bid on the first ride that it wasn't for charity,it was to brag or look cool to their friends. I know this isn't the politically correct way to think but unfortunately it is a reality. At least the money is going to a good cause.

Well, sure that's a factor. If it weren't, I'd just send money to the Red Cross, and give them a chance to make even MORE money by selling that ride seat to someone else. No, I wanted to be the first to ride this cool new ride. And I was (except for construction personnel, reporters, every pimple-faced park employee, and even members of the AAA [yes, that's true, the automobile association had a special day in the park for it's members, and everyone got to ride Millenium Force before the season opened ] and God knows who else). So that's an exciting event in my life I can look back on with some sense of ...warm fuzziness, because the hundreds of dollars I bid were donated to charity. But that's not the only time I donate to charity, not the only time I donate cash to the Red Cross (in addition to blood - 55 pints and counting). "Bragging Rights" or, more precisely, the chance to be a participant in "an Event" is a factor in my giving, but it's not the only factor, it's not even a significant factor.

And I'm sure I'm not alone in this. Do you thing that $2.00 "Morning Edition" coffee mug really motivates people to donate $100.00 to their local public radio station? Yes, they get something out of it, but it's an incidental benefit.

Don't be such a wet blanket MFJedi2. :P

I know there are exceptions,they are very few. I knew some 'holier than thou' types would come out and say something too.
*** Edited 5/5/2005 10:44:53 PM UTC by MFJedi2***

You shouldn't sound so jealous, MFJedi2.

It's un becoming of you.

MrScott (Who will be no where near until the 13th of May)

LOL

Well, aren't we the great prognosticator? Two for two in the prediction department. Uh...are you my wife???

TTD is sinking too! said:
Looks like it's more about "bragging rights" (the ride) and not about donating to charity after all.

If it were about the "bragging rights", then I would not have made a bid for the rider auction, instead I would just brag about going to Media Day tomorrow at 5:30 am! Watch your local news!

As I hypothesized, a significant portion of the bid is ride-related, the other portion simply a (predictable and constant) annual donation to charity. Now we have a real good feel for what the "charity" portion of the bid is.

Assuming "no" ride premium for MaXair (good assumption), it appears the charity bid is around $80-$100 per person (the extra $30-$50 being for admission to the park + breakfast + medallion), and that probably stays constant year to year. Anything above that is for "bragging rights" (not my phrase, but Jeff's...) related to being first to ride the ride.

It explains why Top Thrill Dragster averaged around $360 and MaXair averaged around $130. That tells you the "bragging rights" for TTD are worth around $230 and those for MaXair $0.

If it was all about "giving to charity," then the average bid per seat would be the same year to year, regardless of the ride. That's obviously not the case -- the ride (as evidenced by the $230 TTD premium) can be as much as 3 times more important than the charity component!

Wow, people donate to charity for something other than the sheer joy of donating to charity? Did you come up with this on your own?