Rougarou a Mistake?

No, I've not yet ridden Rougarou myself, and I realize I type this before many people have. But, was the Rougarou transformation a mistake? More specifically, was it a business mistake?

I'm not suggesting the ride isn't better than Mantis. All of the reviews I've read thus far suggest it is. But how much better is it? It's speculated the transformation cost $1 to $2 million. Are the new floorless trains, paint job, fog machine, and strobe light enough to increase revenue by that amount (either through increased attendance or in-park spending)? Or, will the lingering "headbanging" and familiar layout dampen public interest in this ride within a few month's time?

Could Rougarou's capital have been spent on some other small project that might have produced a more favorable ROI?

Personally, I don't think this transformation is enough to make Rougarou a popular park staple for years to come. On the other hand, does that even matter? Simply the advertisement of a "new coaster experience" is probably enough to sell additional tickets, ride photos, and Rougabrew.

Regardless, if this transformation proves profitable, I'd imagine we could see many more of them in the years to come.

No, it wasn't a mistake. I find the ride to be very enjoyable. I think it was the opposite of a mistake and one of the best decisions the park ever made. They took a ride with low ridership which was uncomfortable to many riders, spent less money than building an entirely new ride and turning it into a good ride. 1-2 million dollars isn't much at all in terms of investments, new coasters usually cost about $25 million. They probably just made that $1-2 million back this weekend alone.

wouldn't this be easier to determine after the season is over and ridership numbers are available? The park is still in "spring training" mode of sorts.

And without all the facts out there, I doubt anyone here could even make a case either way. If speculation is the goal, then I'd say no. Some splash in the media, maybe pull some of the load off of some of the other rides and that's good enough in my book (which doesn't count anyway). I bet this is going to be a rocking ride during halloweekends.

One or two million is pee pee poo poo to a park like Cedar Point.

If the cost of the transformation was less than two million dollars, I will eat my wallet. Assuming the cost of each new train is in the neighbourhood of one million dollars, we are already talking about a three million dollar investment. We can not forget to take in account the costs of the changes to the station, changing out the drive motors, painting, new wires and sensors, new signs, new lighting......

I just find it hard to believe that the current CF administration would have made the investment without being pretty darn sure it was a worthwhile investment.

" I don't think this transformation is enough to make Rougarou a popular park staple for years to come."

It doesn't have to be a popular park staple. Like CCMR or Blue Streak, it just has to be a solid park staple.

The ride has been open for what? 3 days and you are already calling it a mistake?

To my knowledge the trains themselves cost around 1 million each. It was in the 5-6 million dollar range total investment wise I believe. Still a worthwhile investment in my mind. My only wish was that the ride would've been able to use the vest restraints as I'm starting to fall in love with those.

Got 2 rides in today and enjoyed both. It is now something enjoyable and ride-able to me compared to Mantis which I may have ridden once every few seasons and only because I may have been with some friend that wanted to ride. I would not be surprised to see this conversion happen elsewhere in the chain.

Less money spent to "replace" Mantis is more money to spend on whatever is going in the big new space behind the fence. I didn't get the chance to ride yesterday because it was down for a while and then the line was long as we were getting ready to leave but a friend has and said it was good. I'm pretty sure I'll like it since my main beef with the ride was the standing up part. I think it will probably turn out to be a good choice.

They took an unpopular waste of space coaster and gave it new life... in no way, shape or form is that a mistake.

I have not yet rode Rougarou but I'm more excited to ride this than I was for Gatekeeper, Rougarou just looks more intense. So I would say it was a good business move. I'll soon find out first weekend in June.

All I know is I got off Mantis last October with the headache and banging that you spoke of and didn't want to get back on it anytime soon. Rode Rogarou opening day this year (7 months later) and all of that pain I remember from last fall was gone and the experience as a whole was a heck of alot more pleasant. So a mistake, I think not.

Top Thrill 182 said:

No, I've not yet ridden Rougarou myself, and I realize I type this before many people have.

This is reason enough to tag this thread as ridiculous.

What we've seen in the last two years is an unprecedented desire to let go of things that suck (Disaster Transport) and embrace things that greatly improve the park, new or old (Hotel Breakers, Rougarou, new midways, significant ride rehabs). Judging by the number of TV trucks parked on the midway last week, I'm going to go with "worth it."

Thank you.
I was going to say something earlier in response to this thread, but I reckoned I'd already been snarky enough around here for one day...

:-)

Knew they should have went to stand up floorless instead.....

I don't think its a mistake. I think its demonstrating the new vision of the park. Rather than ROI and "We'll take a good hard look at it," the park is actively improving the 'guest experience.' They took a ride that was uncomfortable and made it comfortable. In fact, they did it TWICE. (e.g. Maverick). And like Jeff said above, the park is letting go of things that suck in the guest experience department and making it better. Does that mean the new Lake side pavilions require ROI? No. I think the long term benefit is a nicer facility that caters to people and will make the group sales side of things stronger.

IMO your opinion is antiquated and you are thinking of the Cedar Point of the 90's and 00's.

~Rob

I never had a major problem with Mantis headbanging. How ever Rougarou there is less but it huert more to me because the restraints have really hard foam. Manits they were more flat and soft. I still havent learned to avoid the jerks but row 3 felt forceless. My mom, the one who is scared of dragster, thought Rougarou felt to slow. From now on im going to he sitting in the back. I'm not saying its a bad investment. I just loved mantis.

I think Rougarou was a fantastic decision. This is coming from someone who had made fun of it relentlessly ever since it was announced.

It really does feel like an entirely different ride. Mantis hurt me. Rougarou does not.

Today, most of the coasters were closed due to high winds. Rougarou stayed open. So CP now has a fun ride that can stay open when most others are closed.

From a marketing perspective, I don't think it will draw what a "new" ride would. However... In looking at it as a smaller piece of the Cedar Point whole? It's a dramatic improvement.

I rode it twice and I don't know why someone would call it a Mistake!! It was very Smooth and much more comfortable than Mantis Ever Was!! My friend and I loved it!! The park Saved Millions by not tearing out a perfectly great track layout and getting Better Trains!! Home run for cedar point and saved there coaster count too!! Mistake Never!!

I loved what Cedar Point did with this conversion. I always loved the Mantis layout but stopped riding years ago so I could have children lol. They listened to the fan base, voting with their feet, and decided to give us fans something we have talked and dreamt about since the late 90's. The one thing i'm kind of surprised of and disappointed about is the lack of theme with it, it mists a little, has a few new LED lights, and howls & growls every so often. Seems after seeing the awesome audio and lighting package on Banshee, Cedar Fair would've done the same or more with Rougarou, not less. As if CP was ever that good at themes to begin with, nor does a theme have much to do with the quality of said ride. Other than that, I love Rougarou, much smoother, and no trims!! 😊😊