Kentucky Kingdom (SFKK, KK) Discussion Thread

[Nwstone]

The interesting thing about the Twins is that they are hybrid coasters. RMC has yet to do a renovation of a coaster with a previously existing steel structure (to my knowledge).

That would be a first, also, if RMC does something I expect them to keep it a wood coaster.

[Midgetman82]

I wish Cardinal Stadium was not on the other side of the Exposition center. Kentucky Kingdom could definitely use that space for better things than would the State Fair Board.

 

I mean 90% of the fairgrounds is just a parking lot. They could list turn the stadium area into a parking lot, and allow KK to build on the parking lot close to them. That way they could expand and keep the same insane amount of parking they already have.

Well, they do use a lot of that parking space up when it comes to the State Fair coming into town. I've had friends with stories of having to park far away or in grass just to go to it. I get what you mean though, as there is still some room for possible expansion. There are some plots of unused land behind T-Cubed and Deep Water Dive.

 

Bottom left, the grassy areas. There's a couple of homes there, but it didn't look like anybody "lived" there.

I think the biggest disadvantage of being there would be the fact that it's directly under the flight path to one of the airport's runway, so the height limit in that area would be super-low.

 

Also, while looking through street view, I noticed the Google car once went behind the park sometime before its closure and still have pics posted of Chang.

[Diamondbacker27]

Lighting run is purple

[Midgetman82]

Erm, I went back to look at the map another time, and it seems Google is having some Back to the Future issues...

Compared to the updated pic I posted on the previous page!

[tidecat]

Given that you would want to build away from the airport, the thing to do would be to move towards Broadbent Arena. Once Cardinal Stadium is out of the way, build Broadbent's replacement near the back of Freedom Hall. Since 99% of the traffic will turn right at the main gate when entering the Kentucky State Fair, put most of the parking in the back.

[lbeeler]

Being that I live here I know there is a lot of useless parking lots that can be used. and when I say a lot I mean it. once the university of Louisville built their own stadiums only time the parking lots get used is during the fair.

[Midgetman82]

FAIR BOARD: What happened to all the Ky. State Fair attendees?

 

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- State officials want an explanation for the low attendance at this year's state fair.

Attendance at this year's fair was down by about 100,000.

 

Fewer than 600,000 people visited the grounds over the 11 days of the 2014 Kentucky State Fair, amounting to the smallest crowd in 30 years.

 

Organizers say the weather may be to blame as there were showers and storms eight of the 11 days and temperatures reached into the triple digits.

 

Despite the attendance drop, fair leaders reported some growth in competitive entries and World's Championship Horse Show.

 

The fair generated roughly $16.5 million for the community and the state, but the Fair Board says it lost more than $200,000 at the August event.

 

The chairman of the Fair Board has named a committee to evaluate the event.

 

Copyright 2014 by WDRB News. All rights reserved.

[kentuckycc]

FAIR BOARD: What happened to all the Ky. State Fair attendees?

 

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- State officials want an explanation for the low attendance at this year's state fair.

Attendance at this year's fair was down by about 100,000.

 

Fewer than 600,000 people visited the grounds over the 11 days of the 2014 Kentucky State Fair, amounting to the smallest crowd in 30 years.

 

Organizers say the weather may be to blame as there were showers and storms eight of the 11 days and temperatures reached into the triple digits.

 

Despite the attendance drop, fair leaders reported some growth in competitive entries and World's Championship Horse Show.

 

The fair generated roughly $16.5 million for the community and the state, but the Fair Board says it lost more than $200,000 at the August event.

 

The chairman of the Fair Board has named a committee to evaluate the event.

 

Copyright 2014 by WDRB News. All rights reserved.

 

I think the state fair is just kind of boring. I didn't go this year because I already had my amusement park fix with KK being open. None of the other stuff interested me enough to battle the hordes of people. Also stinky animals in 100 degree weather sounds pretty awful

[Midgetman82]

I went once this year. My intentions on attending the fair usually revolve around trying out whatever rides they have on the midway. They apparently have a KMG booster-type-ride that they install during the second-half of the fair, and I've missed it two years in a row. Also, Kentucky Kingdom was open later during the fair, so I was able to get some semi-night laps on some rides.

 

The Fireball ride at the fair used to be my favorite ride, but it now has way too short of a ride-cycle (coincidentally, the line always feels too long ). My favorite ride went to Vertigo star flyer ride, but with Kentucky Kingdom getting a 130 foot tall version of it next year...

[mudvayneimn]

I wish Cardinal Stadium was not on the other side of the Exposition center. Kentucky Kingdom could definitely use that space for better things than would the State Fair Board.

 

I mean 90% of the fairgrounds is just a parking lot. They could list turn the stadium area into a parking lot, and allow KK to build on the parking lot close to them. That way they could expand and keep the same insane amount of parking they already have.

Well, they do use a lot of that parking space up when it comes to the State Fair coming into town. I've had friends with stories of having to park far away or in grass just to go to it. I get what you mean though, as there is still some room for possible expansion. There are some plots of unused land behind T-Cubed and Deep Water Dive.

 

I think the biggest disadvantage of being there would be the fact that it's directly under the flight path to one of the airport's runway, so the height limit in that area would be super-low.

 

I'm sure you'd see the rides portion of the park expand in the original direction/plan if the park stays successful; expanding behind the 5D Cinema into the area the current KSF Thrillway/animal trailors lots. There is more than enough undevveloped property at the fairgrounds to make up for the lost spaces (mentioned in the hotel RFP during the time KK was open and doing good) and with Cardinal Stadium coming down there is even more space to work with. I'd imagine with the Chang removal/waterpark expansion, we will probably see HB fill up the rest of land closest to the airport.

 

The interesting thing about the Twins is that they are hybrid coasters. RMC has yet to do a renovation of a coaster with a previously existing steel structure (to my knowledge).

 

Don't know if I'm pulling this out of thin air or not but I think I remember one of the SF RMC announcements mentioning IH treatments being exclusive to SF parks...Could that be a way around an exclusivity contract? Personally I think if RMC redid TT it would keep it's wooden track, kinda like a reversed IH Outlaw Run; whatever happens I hope it's not just retracking the coaster.

[Nwstone]

I wish Cardinal Stadium was not on the other side of the Exposition center. Kentucky Kingdom could definitely use that space for better things than would the State Fair Board.

 

I mean 90% of the fairgrounds is just a parking lot. They could list turn the stadium area into a parking lot, and allow KK to build on the parking lot close to them. That way they could expand and keep the same insane amount of parking they already have.

Well, they do use a lot of that parking space up when it comes to the State Fair coming into town. I've had friends with stories of having to park far away or in grass just to go to it. I get what you mean though, as there is still some room for possible expansion. There are some plots of unused land behind T-Cubed and Deep Water Dive.

 

I think the biggest disadvantage of being there would be the fact that it's directly under the flight path to one of the airport's runway, so the height limit in that area would be super-low.

 

I'm sure you'd see the rides portion of the park expand in the original direction/plan if the park stays successful; expanding behind the 5D Cinema into the area the current KSF Thrillway/animal trailors lots. There is more than enough undevveloped property at the fairgrounds to make up for the lost spaces (mentioned in the hotel RFP during the time KK was open and doing good) and with Cardinal Stadium coming down there is even more space to work with. I'd imagine with the Chang removal/waterpark expansion, we will probably see HB fill up the rest of land closest to the airport.

 

The interesting thing about the Twins is that they are hybrid coasters. RMC has yet to do a renovation of a coaster with a previously existing steel structure (to my knowledge).

 

Don't know if I'm pulling this out of thin air or not but I think I remember one of the SF RMC announcements mentioning IH treatments being exclusive to SF parks...Could that be a way around an exclusivity contract? Personally I think if RMC redid TT it would keep it's wooden track, kinda like a reversed IH Outlaw Run; whatever happens I hope it's not just retracking the coaster.

I think TT will definitely be combined into one coaster, Ed Hart said once that he had a plan to combine twisted twins into the longest wooden coaster.This rules out Iron Horse for me. I think that either RMC will renovate it, or gravity group will renovate it and create a (hopefully better) hades 360 like ride.

[ThemeParkJunkie51290]

Maybe I'm not the only to noticed this, but did anyone else noticed that Kentucky Kingdom changed their opening weekend from Apr.11 to Apr.25? But that's not the catch. Isn't that the same weekend that Holiday World opens for the season? I mean. . . are they trying to keep the crowds in Louisville from going to Holiday World for Thunderbird that weekend? Plus Kentucky Kingdom will be opening their new rides as well. Hmmm. . .that's something to think about IMO.

[lbeeler]

Maybe I'm not the only to noticed this, but did anyone else noticed that Kentucky Kingdom changed their opening weekend from Apr.11 to Apr.25? But that's not the catch. Isn't that the same weekend that Holiday World opens for the season? I mean. . . are they trying to keep the crowds in Louisville from going to Holiday World for Thunderbird that weekend? Plus Kentucky Kingdom will be opening their new rides as well. Hmmm. . .that's something to think about IMO.

 

 

Gotta fight Fire with Fire. but they have Thunderbird we have T3. so odds arent in our favor lol

[larrygator]

Maybe I'm not the only to noticed this, but did anyone else noticed that Kentucky Kingdom changed their opening weekend from Apr.11 to Apr.25? But that's not the catch. Isn't that the same weekend that Holiday World opens for the season? I mean. . . are they trying to keep the crowds in Louisville from going to Holiday World for Thunderbird that weekend? Plus Kentucky Kingdom will be opening their new rides as well. Hmmm. . .that's something to think about IMO.

 

I don't follow your logic. If Kentucky Kingdom wanted to keep people in Louisville, they would open earlier and entice the people visiting the first two weeks to upgrade to season passes. They park shouldn't be trying to keep people away from Holiday World the weekend of April 25th, they should focus on keeping more people in Louisville throughout the season.

 

The change in opening dates is attributable to either when operations can have everything running or a cost analysis showing that the low expected attendance the weekend of April 11th and 18th will not cover the operational costs. Parks lose money when there are not enough guests.

Edited November 28, 2014 by larrygator

[sfkk]

Maybe they are sacrificing these two weekends in April so that they can do a Halloween event this year. It would be a great move for the park, but it probably won't happen.

[Midgetman82]

Didn't they mention somewhere that they still won't do a Halloween event?

 

I was skeptical on the fact that they planned to open on the same weekend as each other, but then I realized that it's a whole weekend to spend at two parks back to back! I assume both parks will be packed on Saturday, creating less-than-favorable lines at both. So I guess you'd have to assume whichever one handles crowds better. My plans would be centered around Kentucky Kingdom on Saturday, and Holiday World on Sunday so hopefully the HW opening day crowds would dissipate by day-two.

[ThemeParkJunkie51290]

Didn't they mention somewhere that they still won't do a Halloween event?

 

I was skeptical on the fact that they planned to open on the same weekend as each other, but then I realized that it's a whole weekend to spend at two parks back to back! I assume both parks will be packed on Saturday, creating less-than-favorable lines at both. So I guess you'd have to assume whichever one handles crowds better. My plans would be centered around Kentucky Kingdom on Saturday, and Holiday World on Sunday so hopefully the HW opening day crowds would dissipate by day-two.

 

You Read My Mind! That was my plan as well! I was going to do Kentucky Kingdom first then Holiday World Sunday. Plus I'm excited for both because I've never been to a park on opening weekend. This will give me a chance to experience it twice just to see if it's worth it. Too bad they don't offer Fast Lane/Flash Pass.

[Nwstone]

So, does anyone want to talk about anything?

[loop-de-loop]

^Nice weather lately, eh?

[ThemeParkJunkie51290]

I'm ready to see the new trains for T3!

[Nwstone]

^Yeah, they'll probably either be the kumbak trains or a completely new type of train.Either way I'm confident they can turn it into a decent ride, the best SLC?

[Midgetman82]

^Nice weather lately, eh?

Anything but.

[tidecat]

Maybe I'm not the only to noticed this, but did anyone else noticed that Kentucky Kingdom changed their opening weekend from Apr.11 to Apr.25? But that's not the catch. Isn't that the same weekend that Holiday World opens for the season? I mean. . . are they trying to keep the crowds in Louisville from going to Holiday World for Thunderbird that weekend? Plus Kentucky Kingdom will be opening their new rides as well. Hmmm. . .that's something to think about IMO.

 

I don't follow your logic. If Kentucky Kingdom wanted to keep people in Louisville, they would open earlier and entice the people visiting the first two weeks to upgrade to season passes. They park shouldn't be trying to keep people away from Holiday World the weekend of April 25th, they should focus on keeping more people in Louisville throughout the season.

 

The change in opening dates is attributable to either when operations can have everything running or a cost analysis showing that the low expected attendance the weekend of April 11th and 18th will not cover the operational costs. Parks lose money when there are not enough guests.

Thunder Over Louisville will be either April 11 or April 18 (usually the latter unless if it falls during a holiday like Yom Kippur or Easter). If the weather is good a crowd that could be as large as 80-110% of the population of Jefferson County will be along the waterfront.

 

Kentucky Kingdom being open on Derby will be a bit of a challenge because of how close the Fair and Expo Center is to Churchill Downs.

[ThemeParkJunkie51290]

Since Kentucky Kingdom opening day has changed to Apr.25, I might skip this park until August, and just go to Holiday World for opening weekend instead. That way it want be as busy (I hope not) in August. I think Sunday should be good. Do anybody if Sundays are good for Kentucky Kingdom in August? Possibly that first Sunday in that month?

[palmerleeberry]

^I couldn't tell you about Sunday, but going to Kentucky Kingdom late in the season is a good idea because you don't want to do what I did and go too early when all the ride attendants are still in school and not being able to go on certain rides until later that day. Plus, when the new rides are operating in this season, they tend to have fewer break downs later in the season than compared to the beginning of the season. And you would want extra time to lose enough weight so you can ride Lighting Run ( unless you're already a skinny-wink, then that won't be a problem ).

 

T3 - IT'S BACK, IT'S RED, AND IT'S AT KENTUCKY KINGDOM!!!