AndrewRnR

^ They answered that on the call as why to buy a dry park. They can leverage their existing infrastructure to be able to operate the park at a larger margin all the while allowing them to push up season pass sales by making a better value out of having more to offer. They mentioned they aren't looking at failing parks, but rather managing parks where their (Six Flags) large scale CRM, marketing, sales, and built in fan base can be used.

As I mentioned earlier I actually listened to the call and as you mentioned they said they would be willing acquire or lease a theme park. They also explained this is a new strategy for them (on previous calls they said no acquisitions in North America). Yes, the focus is on water parks but as mentioned on the call several times they are also looking at dry parks as well. I don't think anyone is making it a bigger deal - the chain up until yesterday said they had no desire to acquire parks. Now they want to acquire parks. They themselves called it a new strategic pillar for them. In the call they said Mardi Gras would not just be a early season event, but one likely that would be held at various times of the year. I've listened to every Six Flags dating back to Shapiro - they have been transparent about Vietnam. Explaining land issues, payment issues, government issues is far from deflecting questions. Don't think its an embarrassment thing - things happen and it was all out of their control. The analysts were more concerned about if the deal was going to be picked up and thus give the company extra cash so they could adjust forecasts. But they've been talking Vietnam issues for several months now - so saying they all of the sudden decided to add a new strategic pillar because of one international deal is a stretch IMO. As for the REIT there were some tax issues that could present themselves its not like they just decided one day to give it up. It is the latest trend by companies and the analysts pressured them into looking into a year or so ago. They decided it didn't make business sense. And, they said acquiring or leasing new parks would be in North America. Consider they just went the route of Mexico, I would disagree with your statement it isn't happening in the US since they specifically said it would be near to current parks.

Money talks and probably can convince some smaller parks. I really doubt you'll see any "big" parks picked up. Their goal is to create added value to existing parks' tickets/passes - I wouldn't be shocked to see them pick up and gate some medium size FECs. Water parks will be easier - I think there is a lot of water parks out there on the smaller/mid size. And not sure what problems are rampant with SF? From a business perspective they are doing extremely well and have less than half of the debt CF has. There is a reason Wall Street loves SF.

I listened to the earnings call - here's some more details: - It is a play to leverage existing season pass base or to sell combo tickets - Parks would be either bought or leased (managed) - Potential parks would be in same markets, or feeder markets for existing parks I could see them picking up another water park in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, another SoCal waterpark, and/or waterpark in NoCal for SFDK pairing. Theme park wise I think it would be smaller parks but something like an Alabama Adventures (with Birmingham being feeder market for ATL) or some parks along the east coast to give SFA/SFGADv season passes some added value. Maybe Clementon? Dutch Wonderland? A boardwalk park?

I wouldn't get hopes up that the exciting news in the coming weeks would be Hurler. They are still in full on sell 2017 mode.

Maybe I'm in the minority but I prefer the new system over the Q-Bot. The ability to just walk to the next ride and not reserve it appeals to me. Like the freedom of not having to worry about reserving and being to change my plans as I go.

T Express is listed as closed - not sure if it is closed because of the season (don't they close some rides during the winter there?) or because of something else.

Both Maverick and Top Thrill Dragster were nearly complete before they were announced. Building a ride and not announcing it is nothing new. Much like Dragster I fully expect them to ride the hype train - everyone is talking about Cedar Point in the coaster world. The general public will be taking notice once the park opens. As long as people are talking there is no reason to rush to announce. The park has gone on record saying Dragster was going to be announced much earlier but there was so much buzz and news coverage without an announcement they held off.

For few years back in the early 2000s I thought (as well as a lot of people) Sandusky was poised to turn into the next Wisconsin Dells or such with a bunch of indoor waterparks. Now Maui Sands is well... limping along, Castaway Bay struggles in the offseason, etc. I wrote a few guidebooks on the area back then and this might sound crazy but I think the city's tourism almost relies too much on Cedar Point. If you visit say Great Wolf in the offseason there is almost literally nothing else to do then that hotel. It is likely a bit of the chicken or egg situation but I felt a good FEC and/or Ripley's facility would've helped the town a lot. I think the sports complex is a great way of getting that longer (and offseason) visitation. Cedar Point is doing a lot to convince guests a trip is more than a one day visit to the park, but I'm not sure the city is doing a good job of convincing visitors more than one day. One of CP's seasoned PR managers switched to working for local visitors bureau a year or two ago so I'm sure he'll help with that.

^ Good catch its on street view. Looked like it was taken in park.

While it is great to have this "confirmed"... does anyone else find it amusing someone took a photo from where they likely shouldn't have been and plastered their name over it so everyone knows they took it?

Thanks for the tips - good to know about daily maintenance. I've reached out on Facebook a few days ago band didn't get a response.

I'm planning a trip to Edmonton for the West Edmonton Mall in early Feb mainly to ride Mindbender. A few questions for those who have been: - Besides the coasters, what are the other must rides in the park? - In addition to going to Galxayland, are any of the other attractions in the mall worth visiting? - This one is a long-shot but does anyone know how often Mindbender goes down for annual maintenance? The park only post the current month closures on the website. I called the park and while they were super nice they didn't have an idea of the upcoming maintenance schedule. Does the ride usually go down once or year or during a certain month? Flying from Florida I would hate to get there for the ride to be closed for that week. I didn't want to be a coasterboy and push the park for more details but thought maybe someone on here might know something or someone there. Thanks!

Hate to ruin the fun but Tony is speaking on a panel at IAAPA - I would assume that's the reason he is there. I'd highly doubt Mean Streak project will be announced during the conference. Also, the press schedule has already been released for IAAPA. I'm sure things could be added but most of the major announcements are already scheduled.

I've been following the park for over 20 years so I wanted to chime in on why I think its perfect normal for them not have made an announcement yet. 1) They have announced projects late before - both Wicked Twister & Dragster were announced after the season. WT= Late Nov, Dragster = Jan. Both were well under construction before park closed for the season. 2) The park said Dragster was suppose to be announced shortly after track arrived in August but the park got so much free PR and buzz out of the track arriving they decided to wait. Maverick was more than 1/2 complete by the time they announced it. 3) The park's GM said in August when asked about Mean Streak's replacement that they knew everyone was talking about it and they would wait it out 4) Hotel reservations for 2017 haven't opened up yet - hotels are a HUGE part of CP's business model. It would make a lot of sense to announce a new ride when you open up your hotel reservations. Generally they start taking reservations mid-Nov. But most importantly the reason they likely aren't in any rush is because of threads like this. Everyone in the coaster community is talking about, the news media is picking up on it (article in Cleveland's big paper this week). Announcements are suppose to generate buzz - but there is already buzz. They know what they are doing - they got their name in the news for the ride's closure, for the ride's closing day, now for the ride's construction. They'll announce when the buzz starts to die down.

I think KD has already announced Hurler is being done in house.

On Millennium Force's first turn people were hitting their hand on one of the supports so they cut out part of the one beam after the first year. (Last horizontal beam before diving out of the turn).

On a different, but related note. I'm headed to USJ next weekend and plan on going for Express pass. Is the best approach to buy online in advance? I was looking into it but know you have to be on the Japanese site instead of English site to book the Express pass - does that cause any challenges when picking up at park?

Haha, exactly! I've been bugging some friends who will be going out to open the park as part of the project team and for what its worth they said they are being told they'll have a more concrete date in the coming two weeks.

Flights are crazy cheap right now from Orlando to Shanghai for next year - well at least compared to Japan - I'm talking under $1k on Delta. Has anyone started to look into planning a trip to the park? It saves me nearly 900 bucks to fly to Shanghai vs to Tokyo so I'm thinking maybe pit-stop for Disney. But is it worth the hassle to go to China for a day or two?

My question is have new Hulk track shown up at the B&M plant in Ohio? I'd assume to hit a summer opening the track would have to already been in the manufacturing process? Or is it coming from somewhere else? I've heard the rumors of the Dubai Hulk track being used but don't know if I believe there ever was track for Dubai's Hulk.

To piggyback off the FrightFest questions.... how are the ride lines on a Saturday? I'm in LA this weekend but won't be able to make it up to the park until 6pm ish this Saturday (thinking with it being the first night... it might not be as crowded?) and have zero interest in anything fright-related just want to hit the rides.

Don't forget about the Mexican company (name escapes me) that did Rampage last year, Ravine Flyers and I think the Holiday World rides. All the rides they retracked turned out really good.

Hope some locals can shed some light... planning a trip out in Sept and noticed the park is randomly open on Wednesday, Sept 23rd. I may the mistake of going on key club day a few years ago - is this a similar school group day? I can't imagine it isn't open randomly but rather because there is some event going on that day?

On a related but unrelated note - I assume the planned polercoaster in the Atlanta-area is completely dead since we never heard anything after the announcement?