robbalvey Posted July 21, 2018 Share Posted July 21, 2018 We need someone who can take decent pictures and write a nice trip report to go to the media event for the opening of Thomas Town on July 27th. If you'd like to volunteer please email me at robbalvey@themeparkreview.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jason Maier Posted July 21, 2018 Share Posted July 21, 2018 I'm liking Steel Curtain. Could this be the beginning of a new generation of Custom Mega Loopers? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jew Posted July 21, 2018 Share Posted July 21, 2018 They should play NFL Films features on Steelers legends on that big screen. I would not expect that to happen. NFL rights fees for video are exorbitant and the NFL is extremely protective of their intellectual property. Along those same lines I would not be surprised if the officially recognized Steelers logo never makes it into the Steeler Country area. It says right in the press release on the Steelers' website that there will be "scores and highlights on Steelers Country’s giant video screen." The full logo is used in almost every concept picture, as well as the script logo, which is trademarked just the same. To Larry's point, the NFL's strict control over the broadcast rights are probably why it is just highlights and scores and not live broadcasts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FeelTheFORCE Posted July 22, 2018 Share Posted July 22, 2018 They should play NFL Films features on Steelers legends on that big screen. I would not expect that to happen. NFL rights fees for video are exorbitant and the NFL is extremely protective of their intellectual property. Along those same lines I would not be surprised if the officially recognized Steelers logo never makes it into the Steeler Country area. It says right in the press release on the Steelers' website that there will be "scores and highlights on Steelers Country’s giant video screen." The full logo is used in almost every concept picture, as well as the script logo, which is trademarked just the same. To Larry's point, the NFL's strict control over the broadcast rights are probably why it is just highlights and scores and not live broadcasts. We'll have to wait and see I guess. Since most seasonal parks are closed the majority of the NFL season, the only example I can think of are cruise ships broadcasting live NFL games over their deck big screens, which happens all the time. Kennywood does broadcast Penguins playoff games live over park speakers and on the stage screen by Potato Patch. And Cedar Point also used to play Indians games on that former giant screen by MF. Two different sports, but still live games. Either way, any games wouldn't start until mid-August, and it'll be a hit with yinzers regardless. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crash1984 Posted July 22, 2018 Share Posted July 22, 2018 Around here most restaurants and bars have televisions that are tuned to various sporting events. During Thursday nights in the fall there will be a few televisions that are tuned to Thursday Night Football. I see no difference between restaurants and bars having NFL games playing on televisions, and Kennywood having the Steelers games on televisions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ytterbiumanalyst Posted July 22, 2018 Share Posted July 22, 2018 I like the look of it. You've got the whole steel theme on top of the football theme, since the football team is named for the steel workers that are really the soul of Pittsburgh. The coaster has this steelness to it that works for me. Yes, there are a lot of steel coasters, but some (especially B&Ms) have a lot of space between supports and seem airy. You look at this and it looks like a skyscraper under construction. It's undeniably steel in its essence. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jew Posted July 22, 2018 Share Posted July 22, 2018 They should play NFL Films features on Steelers legends on that big screen. I would not expect that to happen. NFL rights fees for video are exorbitant and the NFL is extremely protective of their intellectual property. Along those same lines I would not be surprised if the officially recognized Steelers logo never makes it into the Steeler Country area. It says right in the press release on the Steelers' website that there will be "scores and highlights on Steelers Country’s giant video screen." The full logo is used in almost every concept picture, as well as the script logo, which is trademarked just the same. To Larry's point, the NFL's strict control over the broadcast rights are probably why it is just highlights and scores and not live broadcasts. We'll have to wait and see I guess. Since most seasonal parks are closed the majority of the NFL season, the only example I can think of are cruise ships broadcasting live NFL games over their deck big screens, which happens all the time. Kennywood does broadcast Penguins playoff games live over park speakers and on the stage screen by Potato Patch. And Cedar Point also used to play Indians games on that former giant screen by MF. Two different sports, but still live games. Either way, any games wouldn't start until mid-August, and it'll be a hit with yinzers regardless. Cruise ships pay for the right to do that. They purchase the satellite feeds of select games (which are sometimes much more interesting when they are the raw satellite feed without commercials, so you hear the announcers chatter that is usually off air) and are charged based on the audience size. Bars and restaurants are also charged at commercial rates for sports channels based on the amount of people expected to watch. Not sure what current prices are, but In 2015, a venue with a max capacity of 50 people would pay $1,458 for NFL sunday ticket and 10,000+ people was $120,000. The NFL takes its media rights VERY seriously (it's the main profit center of their business)---teams cannot even post highlights to their own social media until AFTER a game. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FeelTheFORCE Posted July 22, 2018 Share Posted July 22, 2018 ^Most definitely, you're absolutely correct. If it does happen, there will only be a handful of games to broadcast before the park closes for the season anyway, and you can probably count out any primetime games. Might not make sense to pay that much for so few games. The original comment was questioning whether NFL Films features would be playing in the area. If the Steelers, and even the NFL themselves are advertising this, I have to believe at least some form of video content will be playing in the area. That'd be like a park announcing they're bringing in Coca Cola, but only the name, and they actually serve RC Cola. There will also be the "End Zone Cafe," which I imagine will have many TV screens like a sports bar, and also be treated as such. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xChris125x Posted July 22, 2018 Share Posted July 22, 2018 Track has arrived! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
805Andrew Posted July 22, 2018 Share Posted July 22, 2018 Steel Curtain looks crazy! It definitely wasn't what I was expecting from the Kennywood announcement but I totally could see the Steelers theme fitting well at Kennywood. Not only will locals embrace it but Steelers fans from across the country are likely to eventually visit Kennywood because of it. I have a friend here in CA who is a Steelers Fan and I believe he has never been to Pittsburgh so I know Steelers fans are all over the place. I know that other sports teams and/or parks near them will be watching this to see how this tie in goes. I could see a 49ers area and ride (or re-theme of Flight Deck) fitting in at CGA since it is literally next door to Levi's Stadium and GoldStriker almost has a 49ers theme in a way. I'm actually visiting Kennywood in August so it will be a little while before I get back to Kennywood to ride this but I will eventually be back when either Hersheypark or Cedar Point has its next big addition to make a trip of it (I'm also visiting Cedar Point in August for Steel Vengeance). I love the S&S coasters I've been on by the way, so I'm totally excited for the ride itself. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
larrygator Posted July 23, 2018 Share Posted July 23, 2018 (edited) They should play NFL Films features on Steelers legends on that big screen. I would not expect that to happen. NFL rights fees for video are exorbitant and the NFL is extremely protective of their intellectual property. Along those same lines I would not be surprised if the officially recognized Steelers logo never makes it into the Steeler Country area. It says right in the press release on the Steelers' website that there will be "scores and highlights on Steelers Country’s giant video screen." The full logo is used in almost every concept picture, as well as the script logo, which is trademarked just the same. To Larry's point, the NFL's strict control over the broadcast rights are probably why it is just highlights and scores and not live broadcasts. We'll have to wait and see I guess. Since most seasonal parks are closed the majority of the NFL season, the only example I can think of are cruise ships broadcasting live NFL games over their deck big screens, which happens all the time. Kennywood does broadcast Penguins playoff games live over park speakers and on the stage screen by Potato Patch. And Cedar Point also used to play Indians games on that former giant screen by MF. Two different sports, but still live games. Either way, any games wouldn't start until mid-August, and it'll be a hit with yinzers regardless. Cruise ships pay for the right to do that. They purchase the satellite feeds of select games (which are sometimes much more interesting when they are the raw satellite feed without commercials, so you hear the announcers chatter that is usually off air) and are charged based on the audience size. Bars and restaurants are also charged at commercial rates for sports channels based on the amount of people expected to watch. Not sure what current prices are, but In 2015, a venue with a max capacity of 50 people would pay $1,458 for NFL sunday ticket and 10,000+ people was $120,000. The NFL takes its media rights VERY seriously (it's the main profit center of their business)---teams cannot even post highlights to their own social media until AFTER a game. Feel the Force - thanks for pointing out the press release, I had not seen it and here are the words verbatim. Throughout Steelers Country, fans will have the opportunity to join in on familiar game day moments, including running through the team’s entry tunnel, seeing how they measure up in practice drills and checking scores and highlights on Steelers Country’s giant video screen. They could be showing scores and highlights of the patrons participating in the practice drills compared to Steelers doing the same drills. Or they could use stills on the large screen with original audio (which is much cheaper) I'm still confused how they are going to get the rights to show Steelers video highlights even if from NFL Films, maybe the Steelers will cover this cost. I'm not saying it won't happen, just that it would be unprecedented. Every professional sport handles their intellectual property differently. In my time in advertising, I worked with the NASCAR logo, Olympics logo, the NFL shield individual NFL teams logos. My last 3 years Sprint was the official NFL cell carrier, yet only the official carrier for 8-10 of the leagues 32 teams. To give perspective about how the NFL protects their logos: have you ever seen a TV commercial with a professional football player in uniform that is a similar color scheme as that players NFL team but you don't see the team logo. Well that just saved the advertiser millions of dollars because the NFL gets paid a rights fee based on the number of people that see it. Again maybe this is something that the Steelers will cover, but the Steelers are not allowed to give their own content away for free. I know the official logo is in all the concept art but that doesn't mean it will be in the final product. If memory serves me correctly the script logo is owned by the team and not the NFL, so the Steelers can waive the rights fee. Again most of my experience with with media, and the static use of the logo is probably available for a much smaller fee. It will be interesting how the images appear in 2019 advertising for Kennywood. The NFL takes its media rights VERY seriously (it's the main profit center of their business)---teams cannot even post highlights to their own social media until AFTER a game. And to add to that, the teams can only post highlights after they are approved by the NFL. It is a lot of bureaucracy. Eventually, all of the game will be released but the NFL controls the message directly after the game. Edited July 23, 2018 by larrygator Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boweryboy Posted July 23, 2018 Share Posted July 23, 2018 The coaster looks like fun although the rest of the sports ball land holds zero interest for me. The inverted drop off the lift hill reminds me of Drakken Fire. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Geek Mojo Posted July 23, 2018 Share Posted July 23, 2018 The Steel Curtain looks amazing! I love football, but not a Steelers fan...But respect the franchise. It'd be kinda cool if Carowinds would retheme Intimidator to the Carolina Panthers...I'd be it's #1 fan. But yeah, can't wait til 2019 to try out Kennywood for the first time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JJLehto Posted July 23, 2018 Share Posted July 23, 2018 Track has arrived! Oh snap. Let the year of salivating begin! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hayzle Posted July 25, 2018 Share Posted July 25, 2018 More truck loads of parts. Parts are being stowed away behind the old Kmart Building so I'm not sure if there are any other pieces back there. Track from a few days ago could not be seen from the street Steel Curtain Parts Steel Curtain Parts Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cyrbuzz Posted July 25, 2018 Share Posted July 25, 2018 The sports complex area looks pretty good. That will keep non riders busy for sure. The coaster is goofy but looks like a lot of fun. I know one thing, you’ll never see a Detroit Lions themed coaster. Like their coaches the ride would be removed after a couple of seasons LOL. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boldikus Posted August 2, 2018 Share Posted August 2, 2018 Not a good week for Kennywood lol Thomas Town ride goes off the tracks at Kennywood https://www.wtae.com/article/thomas-town-ride-goes-off-the-tracks-at-kennywood/22612802 WEST MIFFLIN, Pa. — The newest attraction at Kennywood Park went off the tracks Tuesday. A Pittsburgh's Action News 4 viewer shared photos and a video of Thomas the Tank Engine derailed at Thomas Town. Advertisement No injuries were reported. It's unclear what caused the train ride to derail. Pittsburgh's Action News 4 requested a comment from the amusement park but has not heard back. Kennywood celebrated the grand opening of Thomas Town on Friday. The Thomas and Friends attraction features rides and characters from the popular children's television series. Thomas the Tank Engine runs on the redesigned Olde Kennywood Railroad. Kennywood Pirate Ship Ride Malfunction Leaves Riders Frightened And Sickened Pirate Ride Malfunction Comes One Day After Thomas Town Train Went Off Tracks https://pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/2018/08/01/kennywood-pirate-ship-ride-brake-malfunction/ WEST MIFFLIN (KDKA) — Several people spending the day at Kennywood were shaken up Wednesday afternoon when the park’s popular Pirate ship ride malfunctioned and crews were unable to stop it for about 10 minutes. No injuries were reported, but several of the riders became nauseous. The giant ship swings back and forth like a pendulum, but officials say the malfunction caused the brakes to fail. Kennywood has now shut down the Pirate ship’s operations, but many riders say they’ll never get on the ride again. “I was terrified. My kids are crying. There was people behind us panicking. There was a guy in front of us, he was ready to get sick,” said one rider who did not want to be identified. “It just kept on going, and I just got really scared, and I was feeling really sick, and I was crying. I was just terrified,” said rider Evan Paulick. The ship is supposed to operate with controlled pendulum swings, left and right, up and down. It is set up to have a controlled stop, but the malfunction caused it to keep swinging. “The ride is usually only about a two-minute ride. We were on there at least 15 minutes,” another rider said. He also did not want to be identified, but says when they finally got off, the park was prepared for the worst. “When the ride stopped, there was a team of mechanics out there, escorting us off the ride. Also, EMTs were there, helping anybody that was sick,” he said. A spokesman for Kennywood calls it a relatively minor issue. They say the ride finally stopped using a secondary brake system. The Pirate ship is 35-years-old, and Kennywood says it has a good safety record. This malfunction comes one day after the new Thomas Town train went off the tracks. Kennywood says because of the newness of the ride, it still needs some adjustments. It reopened to the public today. Meanwhile, riders trapped on the Pirate ship may skip the ship next time. “I would never go on that ride again,” Paulick said. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thrillrider Posted August 2, 2018 Share Posted August 2, 2018 The sports complex area looks pretty good. That will keep non riders busy for sure. The coaster is goofy but looks like a lot of fun. I know one thing, you’ll never see a Detroit Lions themed coaster. Like their coaches the ride would be removed after a couple of seasons LOL. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
njcoasterguy34 Posted August 2, 2018 Share Posted August 2, 2018 ^^ I'd love to have a 10-minute ride on a decent pirate ship ride. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alilstronger Posted August 2, 2018 Share Posted August 2, 2018 The over dramatics I am reading that people are saying about the Pirate ship are hilarious! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rai Fox Posted August 2, 2018 Share Posted August 2, 2018 So...the brakes failed and they had to wait for it to swing to a stop on its own...and people are making it out to be a horrific terrifying ordeal. Okay then. These people need to seriously consider not leaving their homes, and leave the big scary world for the adults. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trevor Hamilton Posted August 3, 2018 Share Posted August 3, 2018 Quick question, how crowded is Fall Fantasy usually? I'm going on Wednesday the 8th, looking like scattered thunderstorms weather-wise. Will Fall Fantasy make it crowded? Also what rides are typically the most crowded or give the longest waits? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Schrecken Posted August 4, 2018 Share Posted August 4, 2018 I'm not a Steelers fan either (nor am I a huge sports fan in general), so the rest of the themed area would hold no interest for me. That said, out of all of my most favorite coasters, precious few have inversions. I've only ridden one S&S coaster, Steel Hawg at Indiana Beach, and I found it unimpressive - not rough or painful, but just meh..... Also, the idea of extreme height and inversions makes me think of Alpengeist, which was a blast when it first opened and I was much younger. But not I only ride it if I'm with someone who wants to ride. Some people have mentioned the layout looking like Drachen Fire - ugh! Let's hope it doesn't ride like it - otherwise I'd have a mighty sore neck and a headache upon getting off of it. For me this coaster (no, the name doesn't really bother me - I've seen far worse) will likely be a ride for the credit (maybe with me wearing a Ravens shirt or jacket ) and possibly not much more. But I can see that for the locals the coaster and the whole area will probably be a huge success and it does make sense in being themed to something that represents the city. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thrillrider Posted August 5, 2018 Share Posted August 5, 2018 Not a good week for the park. Another incident took place. This time it involved the little phantom kiddie coaster. The train got stuck on a piece of bent track and came to a sudden stop. No injuries were reported, and everyone was evacuated safely. What the hell is going on at this park? I also hear that there are a bunch of closed rides, and phantoms revenge was stuck on the lift all day today. Not sure who to give credit of the picture to. Not good! You can see the bent track sticking up in the front of the train. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brassinthegrass Posted August 5, 2018 Share Posted August 5, 2018 Def not stuck today. I’m here now on line for the Jack a rabbit! Park seems quite busy and everything is open, except SkyRocket. Black Widow is nuts. We need more of these in the world! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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