USCoaster

Great pics. I take it the roof of the Lucas Oil Stadium opens too? From the exterior pics, it looks like the trusses act as tracks for the center section of roof. My favorite part of the stadium has to be the Big Ass Fans!!! I love them.

Those are pretty cool. I want a yellow one!

George Michael at the HP Pavillion in San Jose on 6/19. It was an awesome show with almost all of his hit songs from both Wham! and his solo career. (no "Wake Me Up Before You Go Go" though)

I am impressed with all of the pictures of Fahrenheit so far. I'm just sad that it will be opening the weekend after I get to visit. I haven't been to Hersheypark since the year Wildcat opened so I have a quick question about park operations. The 10 day forecast on weather.com is saying it will rain on Friday the 16th when I was planning on visiting. How does Hersheypark deal with rain and ride operation? If they don't run the coasters in the rain, I will probably change my plans if the forecast is right.

Goldfrapp at the Warfield in SF on Saturday. Good show but not as glam as their previous shows. While this wasn't a suprise given recent interviews with Allison stating that they wouldn't be a crazy as previous shows, I think that it made the show a bit underwhelming for me. Next shows... Kelly Rowland at Gay Day at CGA, and George Michael at the HP Pavillion.

The ferris wheel looking thing next to the rapids ride was supposed to be a lift for the boats followed by a drop into the upper rapids section. I think these were being designed and built by Hafema, but I don't see any mention of it on their website. It always looked like a cool design, but I'm not sure if they ever got it operating properly.

^^From everything I have heard, SFDK is getting the portable version of the ride so actually ride construction could be done in a couple days. The surrounding infrastructure could be a different story. As for the anchor bolts sticking out of the concrete, I assume that since its supposed to be a permanent installation, the park wants to bolt the ride to the ground to keep if from moving in case of an earthquake or something.

That Thomas Town is so much better than the one they put in at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom last year. I wish SFMM has used the Psyclone spot for a Thomas Town that looked more like this one. The site they are using now isn't big enough for a Thomas Town of this size.

With the value of the dollar right now, I think another El Toro is completely out of the question. As far as I know, the track is all manufactured by Intamin in Europe which means Six Flags would have to pay a lot more for it than getting a wood coaster from one of the American companies. I think that the same would apply to any coaster by a company that manufactures the rides in Europe and then ships them over to the States.

Robyn at the Troubadour a couple weeks ago... Simply amazing!

^ I guess the sale of the land to Six Flags is what kept Vallejo from declaring bankruptcy last year.

I'm a huge LA Galaxy fan (and have been since 2002 so I'm not just a fan because Beckham plays for them...or doesn't play like last season). I have had season tickets since they opened the Home Depot Center and this year will be the first year I haven't renewed since I only made it to two games last year. 500 miles is too far to drive for a game.

Based on the current Six Flags trends and SFMM's current ride collection, if a coaster is installed in 2009, I think it will probably be either a Tony Hawk Big Spin or The Dark Knight. The park could really use another family coaster that doesn't have the high height restrictions that the B&M's have. I think that I would prefer to have a Dark Knight installed just because SFDK is getting Tony Hawk this year.

Note: I typed this up last night but was unable to post it due to the forum being really slow so I will post it now. Wow... I think I may have turned this thread a bit negative. To focus on the positives, as much I dislike the removal of rides, Mark Shapiro has taken on the task of removing the rides that have been just sitting there and rusting. I was one of the few that loved Flashback, but I think it was more painful to see it sitting there rusting away that to watch it torn down. And people have been calling for Psyclone to be destroyed for years... Freefall is a bit of a shame just because Six Flags finally got it running again only to decide to scrap it. While we are on the ride removal subject, I have a couple other suggestions. First, if everything we have been told about Metro is true, tear it out. Most of the track is fairly accessible from the park paths, it could be removed in a couple of weeks. Any sections of track that aren't easy to get to and aren't too visible can be left for a later project. That opens up 2 station locations (Since the mountain tunnel station isn't very useful at this point) and the large area where the maintenance shed is for either park or hurricane harbor expansion. Second, remove all the small backstage buildings along the left side of the path to Scream and move the park boundary out to the large warehouse next to Scream's station. This will make both Scream and Colossus feel like they are better integrated into the park instead of along a dead end path. Third, remove/relocate the go-cart track, thrill shot, and/or the skycoaster and put a real ride in. It will help bring more people to that section of the park. Yes, the pay per ride attractions bring more money to the park, but having all three in one spot means locals and people who don't want to spend the money just walk on through. Even putting one must ride flat ride in the area makes people stop and hang around... It might even convince them to ride one of the upcharge rides. If you want go-carts, put them down under/over/around either Scream or Goliath. There is a lot of room under those coasters that with some thought, fencing, and fiberglass canopies, could be used for a pretty awesome track layout. Fourth, remove Superman the Escape. I know it is a fairly popular ride, but it is an energy hog, a maintenance nightmare I assume, and its really not that great of a ride. And with the new Intamin Rocket design, you don't even have to remove the tower. Intamin should be able to attach a new Rocket Coaster onto the existing tower pretty easily and for less than Top Thrill Dragster or Kingda Ka cost... Depending on what happens after the tower section. I think it could get good use out of Metro's Tunnel Station. I think that is it for the stuff I think should be removed right now. In the future maintenance project list, I think Revolution and Colossus need a lot of love in the next couple years and I really hope they get it. Revolution either needs new lap bars that remove the need for the OSTRs, new trains, or even new track. Colossus needs to be restored and retracked and to be run with its lift running full speed as the trains crest the top. I really don't believe that it can save that much money on maintenance due to wear and tear on the track. Well I guess I can since it seems like the park doesn't spend the money needed to keep the coaster in top form.

Wow... I think I may have turned this thread a bit negative. To focus on the positives, as much I dislike the removal of rides, Mark Shapiro has taken on the task of removing the rides that have been just sitting there and rusting. I was one of the few that loved Flashback, but I think it was more painful to see it sitting there rusting away that to watch it torn down. And people have been calling for Psyclone to be destroyed for years... Freefall is a bit of a shame just because Six Flags finally got it running again only to decide to scrap it. While we are on the ride removal subject, I have a couple other suggestions. First, if everything we have been told about Metro is true, tear it out. Most of the track is fairly accessible from the park paths, it could be removed in a couple of weeks. Any sections of track that aren't easy to get to and aren't too visible can be left for a later project. That opens up 2 station locations (Since the mountain tunnel station isn't very useful at this point) and the large area where the maintenance shed is for either park or hurricane harbor expansion. Second, remove all the small backstage buildings along the left side of the path to Scream and move the park boundary out to the large warehouse next to Scream's station. This will make both Scream and Colossus feel like they are better integrated into the park instead of along a dead end path. Third, remove the go-cart track, thrill shot, and/or the skycoaster and put a real(s) ride in. It will help bring more people to that section of the park. Yes, the pay per ride attractions bring more money to the park, but having all three in one spot means locals and people who don't want to spend the money just walk on through. Even putting one must ride flat ride in the area makes people stop and hang around... It might even convince them to ride one of the upcharge rides. If you want go-carts, put them down under/over/around either Scream or Goliath. There is a lot of room under those coasters that with some thought, fencing, and fiberglass canopies, could be used for a pretty awesome track layout. Fourth, remove Superman the Escape. I know it is a fairly popular ride, but it is an energy hog, a maintenance nightmare I assume, and its really not that great of a ride. And with the new Intamin Rocket design, you don't even have to remove the tower. Intamin should be able to attach a new Rocket Coaster onto the existing tower pretty easily and for less than Top Thrill Dragster or Kingda Ka cost... Depending on what happens after the tower section. I think it could get good use out of Metro's Tunnel Station. I think that is it for the stuff I think should be removed right now. In the future maintenance project list, I think Revolution and Colossus need a lot of love in the next couple years and I really hope they get it. Revolution either needs new lap bars that remove the need for the OSTRs, new trains, or even new track. Colossus needs to be restored and retracked and to be run with its lift running full speed as the trains crest the top. I really don't believe that it can save that much money on maintenance due to wear and tear on the track. Well I guess I can since it seems like the park doesn't spend the money needed to keep the coaster in top form. Thats all I can come up with for now, its late and I'm tired.

Sorry for this post being a little bit long. It is a bit of a rant about both SFMM and the interview. Before I get started, I would like to thank Robb for doing this interview and posting it for us to listen to. I think Robb handled himself a lot better than Mark Shapiro did. For all the positive response to the interview, I thought Mark Shapiro came off slightly arrogant and condescending. It was interesting to hear what he had to say about the park, but the entire time he came off sounding like he was trying to push the fact that "the previous management were idiots and I am so much better than them and I can do no wrong." I can't really argue with the previous management being idiots comments, but I don't think that he has done anything to support the second part of the statement. So far, his decisions have led to the scrapping of two coasters, a freefall ride, and another flat ride. In place of the lost rides, SFMM is getting Thomas Town which will include a rethemed Goliath Jr., a new kids train ride (to replace the granny grand prix) and a water play area. (I may be missing another ride, but I'm not sure) If it is anything like the Thomas Town at SFDK, I think people will be disappointed because it will be nothing more than a slight improvement from what is currently there. I would have also liked to have seen it placed somewhere else in the park to spread out the family friendly rides. The other major change that has been made at the park is the increase in general maintenance being performed. I think that some recognition should be given for the fact that company policy has been changed to include this as an important part of keeping the park looking good, but its hardly a revolutionary idea. The only reason such a big deal is being made about the fact that they are fixing the paint and the paths is because SFMM became very good at ignoring the prblem. Right now, I think that some of the changes are a step in the right direction, but right now, the ride removals have just increased one of the major problems SFMM has had for years. There still aren't enough mid-sized rides to spread the crowds around. While I won't miss the Circus Wheel because it was never run at the proper speed to get the cars to actually spin, replacing it with a basketball game is a waste of a perfectly good space for a replacement ride. If you follow Mark's logic that Circus Wheel is something you can ride at any fair, how long till the Scrambler, Atom Smasher, Grinder Gearworks and Swashbuckler are gone? From the pictures I've seen, the park looks better than it has in years. However for all the optimism people are expressing about this interview, I think it will take a couple years before I'm completely sold on the new direction the park is headed in. I think that a Tony Hawk style coaster would be a great addition to the park (although I think the theme is lame and will be very dated in a few years) but I think that a ride package from HUSS or some other company should be a priority for the park.

From what I've heard, it was originally supposed to be around 400 ft tall but that it was rejected by the FAA. I assume its pretty close to an airport if the FAA has some say in the heights in the area.

So I have been opposed to the plans to put the stadium in Great America's parking lot, however I could see it possibly having an upside. I assume that part of the plans would include a parking garage that would be able to handle the number of cars for normal operation of either the stadium or the park (due to Great America closing on game days). If the garage is made large enough to fit the required number of cars, theoretically, Great America would be able to expand into any remaining parking lot. It might not be a complete new land, but they could run a couple coasters out over any roads, walkways, or other public areas. If they were really ambitious, why not run part of a coaster through part of the stadium (have a hyper turn around somewhere in the structure, or use it to support the Top Hat on an Intamin Rocket, etc.) This is probably just wishful thinking, but hopefully, if the stadium is going to happen, all parties are willing to work together to make the arrangement work for both parties. On the other hand, maybe Cedar Fair could save on paving costs by relocating Great America to the parking lots out at Candlestick Point.

From what I have heard, the reason DLP's Space Mountain is a looping coaster is because Disney decided that they needed some more thrills in the park to appeal to the Europeans the park was catering to. (The addition of alcohol sales after the park opened was a similar decision.) It was originally supposed to be part of a much larger mountain that would have included a bunch of different rides (possibly all of Discoveryland), but was scaled back to enclose just the coaster due to budget cuts. As for using a similar system in Florida as a Space Mountain 2, I don't see it happening due to Disney's wanting to keep the Magic Kingdom as a family park. Space Mountain is still a coaster that most the family can ride together and because it doesn't loop, is a pretty good coaster for anyone who might be a bit scared. I could see them using the system over in one of the other parks due to their wider assortment of rides.

Why spend money on the sign when you are going to try to sell the park to the 49ers in the next couple months? Both Santa Clara and the 49ers have decided that they want to try to go ahead with the stadium in the parking lot and as far as I know, the park is just leasing the land from the city. (can someone confirm or deny that?) It could be a great move for Great America if the team moves down there but only if they can get some regular scheduled public transit service down there from SF. If you could take BART/Caltrain to the park and stadium from anywhere in the Bay Area, it would make a lot of sense. Otherwise, I think that similar to what happened to Astroworld in Houston, the stadium will eventually win out.

Speaking of the Sega locations, does anyone know what a Sega World is? They are supposed to be putting one in the new entertainment mall that is under construction in Reno, NV. I assume it isn't something on the scale of the Sega Joyopolis locations because it is Reno and I would think that Vegas would be first on the possible location list. Then again, we are supposed to be getting the third T Rex restaurant in the country in the same mall so it might be possible.

Now I have another reason I need to go to MOA. Seeing the pics of their Tampico Tumbler ride and their Rotoshake makes me hate Knotts a little bit. I need to go before they decide to remove those rides.

The last two concerts I went to were Spice Girls at the HP Pavilion in San Jose and at Staples Center in LA. It was cool seeing pics of the O2. I guess I haven't been paying attention. I keep hearing about the new O2 Arena in London, but I had no idea it was the old Millennium Dome. Its nice to see they put something in there. I visited the site when I was in London, but I couldn't go in the dome as they were in the process of tearing down all the pavilions inside.

^ My first thought was the Togo death restraints on Manhatten Express in Vegas.

Vortex at CGA (PGA at the time)