Busch Gardens Tampa Bay (BGT Discussion Thread)

[larrygator]

Now that I have seen the facebook page I have to say that I find the parks response to this issue disappointing- and very un-Busch like. They will not directly address the real concern that fans have about the insensitivity of the word HUNT. Instead they have only stated that they can't believe anyone would think that it refers to hunting cheetahs, and how they are disappointed that this is the attention they are getting from the ride. That is NOT a response

 

A better response would be:

To all complainers: We are a wildlife conservatory, we can't believe anyone would think that Cheetah Hunt refers to hunting cheetahs.

[Skycoastin Steve]

A better response would be:

To all complainers: We are a wildlife conservatory, we can't believe anyone would think that Cheetah Hunt refers to hunting cheetahs.

 

EXACTLY!

[808Freq]

A better response would be:

To all complainers: We are a wildlife conservatory, we can't believe anyone would think that Cheetah Hunt refers to hunting cheetahs.

 

EXACTLY!

 

+1...

"And more to the point, we can't even think of other animals that would even hunt a cheetah."

 

This is what happens when shows like Jersey Shore become more prevalent than say.. school.

[Bonemachine]

Very long time reader/first time poster here. I still have some TPR VHS tapes to give you an idea, hehe. 10 + years and I check the site for updates daily. Robb, Elissa and everyone else, you do a fantastic job.

 

With all due respect to this first time poster, I feel like I need to respond to this.

 

It is more than just a name.

 

I am new to the forums here, and I look forward to becoming a productive contributor in discussions. I have a strong opinion of the name of this attraction, and I hope no one thinks too poorly of me for my first post being a complaint. I will try to explain my position briefly.

 

To begin I would like to remind everyone of a simple concept of communication. It does not matter WHAT you say, but HOW your audience interprets it. In other words BGT may be inferring that we the riders are a cheetah on the hunt; however many people are clearly interpreting the name to mean that we are HUNTING cheetahs. I know when I heard the name that is what I first thought. Therefore to many people, BGT is promoting the hunting of an endangered animal.... O.k... maybe that is being a little dramatic- but at the very least they are equating it to an thrilling adventure.

 

As an Animal Care Specialist working in zoos for the past ten years, I find the name of this attraction offensive and appalling. Our role in zoos is to inspire our guests to want to protect and conserve the animals that they view. We do this by allowing guests to view animals in a safe, up-close setting; therefore allowing them to connect with those animals- and remind them that we share this planet with incredible species of life. To use the word HUNT in any capacity goes against this goal, and is insensitive.

 

I understand that this is a roller coaster site, and coasters are your main focus. However just to emphasize my point- look at how many of you have already proclaimed that the name doesn't matter- it is all about the ride. If the ride is great who cares what the name might insinuate? Well I do, all the other animal keepers in the world do, and I would have thought that BGT did.

 

I don't mean to be over-dramatic over a name, but realize I have chosen animal conservation as my profession, and it means a lot to me. To see another zoo pull something like this is disappointing.

 

Thanks for reading- I hope to be able to have some great positive discussion in the further!

 

MOD EDIT: Link deleted as it violates TPR's TOS that you agreed to in registering on the site.

 

It's first important to realize that language is our servant, not our master. We made it, we agree upon it, and we often change it. We created it and therefore it's our servant, not our master.

 

I've always loved animals and I've often considered becoming an animal care specialist and I'm still relatively young so I may still, yet I don't find this name offensive or appalling in the slightest bit. In the press release they make it perfectly clear that the riders are the cheetah.

it races across a portion of the Serengeti Plain, staying close to the ground to give guests the experience of a cheetah sprinting across the plains. Elements such as over-banked turns, air-time parabolas and a heart line roll inversion imitate the agile creature chasing its prey, leaping and pouncing into the Nairobi area

There is absolutely no confusion there. I don't think any "cheetah hunters" can run 60 mph. The trains are also going to look like cheetahs and I wouldn't be surprised if there's signs in the queue, educating guests about these awesome cats. Busch Gardens is very well known and respected for taking nothing but the best care for their animals, plus cheetahs are only in Africa and hunting them is very illegal. Common sense says there's absolutely no way this park would ever consider an attraction about killing endangered animals.

 

When the ride is finished it will be abundantly clear what the intention is and even if somehow people still interpret it wrong, what's the worst that's going to happen? Are they going to be like, "That ride was so much fun it makes me want to go to Africa and risk my life by hunting cheetahs!" Come on now.

[televisedconfession]

I don't know what people expect. Do you think that by complaining enough, Busch Gardens is going to spend even more money on top of the millions they already spent advertising this ride, and then suddenly rename it? What's the use? Can we please get back to the discussion on the ride itself? Please? I've really enjoyed reading this thread up until now. It's a moot point.

[Hilltopper39]

I dont know if anyone else has mention this yet but that main support column with the wild mouse lookin figure 8 section is prety sweet looking from a visual standpoint. That should be a great centerpiece for the ride hanging over the midway. I wonder how they are going to transition this new Cheetah section into the Egypt section on down the road (maybe the two sections aren't as close as I remember them being).

[themeparkman25]

post deleted by author

Edited January 20, 2011 by themeparkman25

[Bonemachine]

Oh and I think this ride looks absolutely awesome. I finally rode Maverick a few weeks ago and that's in my top ten steel coasters for sure. The trenches and waterfalls on this, three launches, and that unique tower element in the middle ... yes please. I've been to BGW but still haven't been down to BGT. Even if what replaces big bad wolf is very similiar to this, I need to ride it.

[BarryH]

I think Busch should just name it "Maverick: The Next Generation."

[Jay20016]

I think Busch should just name it "Maverick: The Next Generation."

 

How about Maverick: Our bad about the Heartline Cedar Fair --- BITCHES!

[Ehnuk]

After considering many posters opinions I have decided that I need to relax my feelings for the name of this attraction... for now. To be fair to the park I will hold further judgement until the attraction opens, and make a decision about the name after it opens.

 

Overall I like posting on the site so far- I honestly feared many posters would jump down my throat, but everyone has been really respectful here. I have enjoyed reading everyone's thoughts on the matter, thanks!

 

And Bonemachine-- I think it is awesome you are considering a career in the animal care field. If you have any questions, or anything I can help with feel free to message me!

[robbalvey]

Overall I like posting on the site so far- I honestly feared many posters would jump down my throat, but everyone has been really respectful here. I have enjoyed reading everyone's thoughts on the matter, thanks!

That's great to hear. I think everyone just needs to remember (and learn) that people get reactions based on how they present themselves. If their opinions are sound, and presented maturely, most people will respond in kind. If you're one of those loud, boisterous, obnoxious "I'm RIGHT and you're WRONG! WRONG! WRONG!" people...well, you usually find out what "BanTron" means!

 

Thanks for keeping the discussion civil guys. The last few pages have been well presented.

 

--Robb "Weeding out the annoying keeps the posts at higher quality!" Alvey

[Vigil]

So honestly...I'm not too enthralled with this ride. I don't really like the layout. I love launches so I'm sure it will be fun, but it seems like a bunch of random turns and straight sections...and that's about it (save for the random figure-eight thing). I'm more interested in what this means for BGE. Hmmmmm...?

 

On a different note, does anyone else think this would have made a good Vekoma motorbike coaster? Not in a chee(tah)sy way (like the trains would be cheetahs and you would ride them; TPR would have fun with that, I'm sure), but more like the layout. I think it would have been cool.

[cfc]

I think the immersive aspects of the ride (theming and scenery) look as though they're every bit as important as speed and layout. I like what I've seen from the park so far.

[rcg19]

Deleted by user

Edited December 29, 2010 by rcg19

[doom1001]

So honestly...I'm not too enthralled with this ride. I don't really like the layout. I love launches so I'm sure it will be fun, but it seems like a bunch of random turns and straight sections...and that's about it (save for the random figure-eight thing). I'm more interested in what this means for BGE. Hmmmmm...?

 

On a different note, does anyone else think this would have made a good Vekoma motorbike coaster? Not in a chee(tah)sy way (like the trains would be cheetahs and you would ride them; TPR would have fun with that, I'm sure), but more like the layout. I think it would have been cool.

 

 

You just came up with a great backup name and theme for Cheetah Hunt,"Harold and Kumar's Wild Cheetah Ride".

[chemical_echo]

On a different note, does anyone else think this would have made a good Vekoma motorbike coaster? Not in a chee(tah)sy way (like the trains would be cheetahs and you would ride them; TPR would have fun with that, I'm sure), but more like the layout. I think it would have been cool.

But then you would have people arguing that the ride encourages people to go to Africa and jump on a Cheetah's back while it hunts it's prey.

[DBru]

In the press release they make it perfectly clear that the riders are the cheetah.

 

I agree with this...but how many people (who will visit Busch Gardens next year) do you think will actually read the press release for this coaster?

 

Much of park's potential audience may only be exposed to the new addition through a billboard advertisement or something similar, and unless a paragraph explaining the coaster's back-story is provided on the ad, the theme will be left up to interpretation by every individual that sees it. With just a picture of the animal, some track, and a "Cheetah Hunt" logo, more likely than non, a LOT of those people will assume that the coaster is themed to hunting cheetahs.

 

You can make fun of our intelligence all you want, telling us to enjoy our lives as fast-food employees, or to ride the short bus back to school (as some of the Facebook name-defenders have suggested), but there is no denying that for many people, this was/is the first reaction upon hearing the name. Heck, even Robb and Elissa had this initial thought. Do you realize who all you are insulting? When I told my parents, "We have to get to Tampa next spring; Busch Gardens is building a huge new coaster called Cheetah Hunt," their first comment was, "Is it legal to name a ride that?" And yes, I know we're from Kentucky...but we aren't idiots.

 

I personally think this coaster looks great---I'm probably looking forward to it more than any other state-side addition for 2011. It reminds me of Powder Keg (except this has OTSR's...but really, when was the last time Intamin added a major coaster in the US that didn't utilize these restraints?), which is one of my favorite coasters I've ridden. BUT, if "a name is just a name," as many of the defenders, including Busch Gardens, have stated...why not change it? Why risk the bad publicity if the title doesn't really matter?

 

It just doesn't add up to me...

 

 

 

BTW, Bonemachine, this post wasn't aimed at you or anyone in particular. I'm just trying to present my personal view on the matter.

[coasterfreak101]

^Exactly. I feel like being an engineering student straight out of the IB Programme, I'm a relatively intelligent person. I don't understand all the hate for people who have/who don't want others to misinterpret the name, but oh well. The Internet's fantastic.

 

Screamscape reported today that BGT confirmed that the restraints will be the OTSRs used on Maverick.

[larrygator]

Much of park's potential audience may only be exposed to the new addition through a billboard advertisement or something similar, and unless a paragraph explaining the coaster's back-story is provided on the ad, the theme will be left up to interpretation by every individual that sees it. With just a picture of the animal, some track, and a "Cheetah Hunt" logo, more likely than non, a LOT of those people will assume that the coaster is themed to hunting cheetahs.

 

True, most visitors will not see the PR and only be subject to the ads, but the rest of your comments are laughable. Advertisments go through much scrutiny and testing before running.

 

Do you really think the park would approve an ad if the visuals implied or displayed a cheetah being hunted?

[jarmor]

On a different note, does anyone else think this would have made a good Vekoma motorbike coaster? Not in a chee(tah)sy way (like the trains would be cheetahs and you would ride them; TPR would have fun with that, I'm sure), but more like the layout. I think it would have been cool.

But then you would have people arguing that the ride encourages people to go to Africa and jump on a Cheetah's back while it hunts it's prey.

 

Manta didnt encourage people to go sail on the back of a ray lol...and they are closer than africa!

[Skycoastin Steve]

I've said it before, and my stance won't change. How could anyone seriously think that a wildlife preservation park would make a ride themed to hunting cheetahs? Even if it wasn't a wildlife preservation park, why would ANY park make a ride that was themed to hunting cheetahs?

 

My one huge point remains. If the name "Cheetaka" hadn't been leaked early, the backlash for this name would be tenfold less intense. People are just pissy because they were wrong on the inside scoop, and now they're throwing a mega tantrum because of it.

[Skycoastin Steve]

So I've just been sent the leaked billboard ad that will be put up on all major highways in the greater Tampa Bay area advertising Cheetah Hunt. What do you guys think?

[808Freq]

Hollow points are extra. But worth it.

[The SETGO Guys]

Removed by user

Edited January 5, 2012 by The SETGO Guys