Ridership.

Mike is not, and never was an employee of Spehn's.

You know, I can't even tell you how many times he walked me around Geauga Lake showing me what they were doing for the park, even if it was some boring infrastructure thing. No manager will ever be perfect, but to ever suggest that he did anything other than his best for that park is disingenuous and talking out of your ass.

CP's operations are in a much better place with him back. Even Diana noticed the difference from year to year, and she's hardly a big enthusiast.

From an employee standpoint, I like Bill Spehn. He has done very well this year improving operations to a status that has not been seen for at least four or five years. There was this personal connection he gave to all seasonal employess he managed, making him easy to walk up to and talk to about concerns or even for casual talk. He was one of those who made the decision to bring sweeps back into Park Operations this year, which paid off I thought. The park was clearner than I can can remember in recent memory. I can only expect improvement, but only if the real decision makers above him give him room to work with. The impending cuts are not going to help his cause.

Having Bill Spehn back at CP will be an awesome thing. I too have total respect for him and all his hard work that he has done with Cedar Fair.

Jeff, your house, your rules. I acquiesce.

But I do want to clarify a few things in passing:

I have never worked for CF or Bill Spehn. Not sure where that came from.

By all accounts, he has done a super job in every role he's been in -- except insofar as not even his skills could save GL.

What I should have said was this: "I don't know much about the man, but I have a knee-jerk reaction against him, based on his lying to my face the one time I met him." That would have been more accurate, although maybe not much less inflammatory.

Jeff, I don't know who you're friends with at CF, so I don't know where that invisible line that shouldn't be crossed is.

'Nuff said.

It's a shame Bill isn't some type of relative of Kinzel's, then he could really go somewhere in this company!

^I think he will still be going places.

I heard Skyscraper lost power and Bill Spehn came over and spun it for the rest of the day... with his bare hands.

^True story. I was there.

In all seriousness though, Bill is a big improvement over Bob. For real.

Awww but I thought everyone loved Bob?

Ridership for rides are up! All of the coasters jumped up in Riders by a lot. Great work Operators!

Woodstock Express is down... TAER it down!!!1

I'm not the least bit surprised that ridership was up all across the board. Awesome job to the ride ops and their background teams!

~Rob Willi

Here are the numbers listed in order from highest to lowest. Also, is the amount of change compared to the 2007 season. Great looking year by the looks of it. Good job to all crews!

Coaster Ridership for 2008

1. Magnum XL-200 - 1,789,387 - [+264,199; +17.3%]
2. Millennium Force - 1,683,845 - [+203,760; +13.8%]
3. Raptor - 1,609,503 - [+188,248; +13.2%]
4. Iron Dragon - 1,563,269 - [+128,876; +9.0%]
5. Gemini - 1,549,768 - [+67,977; +4.6%]
6. Top Thrill Dragster - 1,210,327 - [+128,109; +11.8%]
7. Maverick - 1,131,319 - [+214,905; +23.5%]
8. Corkscrew - 1,109,256 - [+171,440, +18.3%]
9. Mantis - 1,016,505 - [+33,060; +3.4%]
10. Wicked Twister - 971,470 - [+32,738; +3.5%]
11. Disaster Transport - 944,853 - [+100,146; +11.9%]
12. Mean Streak - 849,746 [+27,763; +3.4%]
13. Cedar Creek Mine Ride - 842,087 - [+62,659, +8.1%]
14. Blue Streak - 791,655 - [+61,806, +8.4%]
15. Wildcat - 302,239 - [-121,388; -28.7%]
16. Woodstock's Express - 226,884 - [-43,194; -16.0%]

Not in the mood to do flats right now... haha

EDIT: Corrected math on percentages for Woodstocks and Wildcat... Sorry ;)

Great numbers! Is this all Bill Spehn or what? Maverick up almost 25% over it's opening year jitters. Dragster up yet again.

Here's the link to Jason's chart which includes last year. Hopefully he'll update it again.

http://www.rollercoasterfreak.com/Cedar_Point/Ridership.bmp

Looks great Schuyler! Thanks! The only one I'm worried about is Wildcat but we all know that coaster had some trouble last year. Great to see Mantis +3.4%...wonderful!

Chuck - yes Mavericks numbers are way up, but it also had a month and half of extra operation this year. Same reason that Wildcat is down, it was closed the first month and a half of the season.

I suspect this is definitely one for The Bill. That guy kicks more ass than Sarah Palin armed in a petting zoo.

I'd also attribute the gain to Bill. It's no secret that the man is all about the numbers, and he constantly challenges everyone to make them go up.

All that hard work from the employies, and they are going to pay them under min wage.

Says who? As has been noted, the wage has been taken down from the site, indicating it is going to change.

Lets not bring that discussion in here, Ok? Thanks.