Ride Company Contracts

So Huss gave us MaxAir, and before that it was Intamin (TTD), Intamin (MF), Intamin (WT). How often does a park like CP (or have they ever) sign a contract with a company that includes a "package deal", so to speak? Meaning, one ride one year, and another the next year from the same company. Does CP have any history of doing this in the past? I believe our last S & S ride would be Power Tower, correct? Just mulling over the process of how CP plans and "shops" around for developers for rides, and thought it would make an interesting conversation.

The last S&S ride was Vertigo.

During the early 1970's they got package deals from ride importer Morgan Hughes. Most of the rides that occupied the "new midway" for the Centennial year came through him. That would have been the Schwabinchen,(Mack) Bayren Kurve,(Schwarzkopf) Super Himalaya (Mack) and the Giant Wheel(Schwarzkopf). The latter was considered a special order item and was not delivered untill 1972. Both Wildcats, and the Jumbo Jet(Schwarzkopf) were obtained through him also. I'm not positve, but he may have represented VonRoll (Sky Tower, and both lifts)in the pre Intamin days.
*** Edited 1/19/2006 10:31:50 PM UTC by Dutchman***

I would assume they sign a contract to install rides they want to install. If that means 1, cool, if that means 8, cool.

I had forgotten about the Vertigo incident. It seems like they have gone in "phases", like the Hughes of the 70's you pointed out. Then it was Arrow which dominated for awhile; from the Mine Ride to the Magnum (and ID I think?), a little B & M, and then the "Intamin dynasty".

I don't think CP picks a company to build all their rides for the next "x" amount of years. They choose the company who can build what they want or have a product that they have interest in. Intamin was choosen to build MF, since they had develop a lift to fit in the tiny area CP had to build it. WT was choosen because they enjoyed S:UE (Steel Venom now). TTD was choosen because MF was such a sucess that they knew Intamin did a great job, but Intamin was also looking into an advance launch system that used hydraulics and CP just became their first customer. B&M was the same situation. Inverts were the newest most attractive attration on the market in 1992-1993. Mantis (I'm not sure how true this is) was built because CP had looked into other stand up concepts and TOGO didn't appeal to their taste. B&M came out with a much more solid model of a stand up coaster, and with past history with B&M, Mantis (Banshee) became reality.

B&M was the same situation. Inverts were the newest most attractive attration on the market in 1992-1993.

Agreed. So...who has the newest most attractive attraction on the market today? (And i dont mean, OMG 5oo ft. is it, a flyer this or that...etc...)...

Ive spent some time through RCDB looking at the different manufacturers websites, and there are some fairly wild inventive concepts out there. But is there a "buzz" in the industry right now about a certain concept" (Like the inverts on the early 90's, or the "suspended" coaster of the late 80's) Just what is it today?
*** Edited 1/20/2006 3:48:18 PM UTC by Kevinj***

Gomez said:
TTD was choosen because MF was such a sucess that they knew Intamin did a great job, but Intamin was also looking into an advance launch system that used hydraulics and CP just became their first customer.

WRONG TTD was the 2nd rocket coaster. The first stands at knotts Berry Farms called Xcelerator.

arms_down said:

WRONG TTD was the 2nd rocket coaster. The first stands at knotts Berry Farms called Xcelerator.

Well, at least TTD was the first consistently oper.....oh wait, nope, that's Xcelerator as well.

If TTD could run like Xcelerator, I can guarantee you that I would visit Cedar Point at least twice as many times per year. I prefer Xcelerator over TTD for the sole reason of reliability.

Anyways, I do not beleive that Cedar Point will (or has already) sign a contract with S & S. They already own the most popular product from S & S, the space shot/ turbo drop. Beyond that, they really do not produce a great number of rides that I think appeal to Cedar Point in terms of capacity, novelty, etc.

CP was the first to talk about TTD, but CF as a whole liked the idea of the ride and had a spot for a new coaster in KBF. I should have said CF was their first costumer then.

My favorite rocket is Storm Runner at Hershey Park. It has a couple of nice elements. Not just Launch, Top Hat, Break.

I personally prefer Xcelerator over Dragster because of the cooler themeing, more ride, and more gooder (TM) airtime.