Busch Gardens Tampa Bay (BGT Discussion Thread)

[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

[Maximo37]

^^^

Hmmm... No, that is not a new sign on Gwazi... its been there for at least the past couple of years, if I'm not mistaken... and while it's cool that you grabbed more pictures of the Cheetah Hunt track... it probably isn't the smartest idea to brag about breaking into this area and then post the pictures of you sitting on top of it...

[SharkTums]

^Is it a restricted area or is it just in an overflow lot?

 

I know in the past Busch hasn't always had their track in some super secret location.

[The SETGO Guys]

Removed by user

Edited January 5, 2012 by The SETGO Guys

[robbalvey]

Yeah, that's just their overflow parking lot. Sounds like someone is just jealous that they went looking for it!

[Maximo37]

True story... true story... I like the pictures, but be careful... I think there may be a rule on this site of posting pictures like that... I could be wrong though... and just for the record, we love Gwazi so much (yeah, despite it being terribly rough) that we named our cat after it ...

[The SETGO Guys]

BG and I are in a good relationship...

 

Thanks Robb for encouraging us to set off on these adventures!

 

and I like Gwazi...great design....it was actually running Ok yesterday.

Edited October 16, 2010 by The SETGO Guys

[Skycoastin Steve]

The track is kept in a grass field that's fenced in, but the gate to that fence is not always locked. When I was at BGT last Wednesday, that gate was open, but when I was there on Sunday, it was closed. They also don't have any security personnel there, either. Our new poster friend did nothing illegal or wrong.

[The SETGO Guys]

Removed by user

Edited January 5, 2012 by The SETGO Guys

[robbalvey]

Yeah, I know the lot. It's not in a secure area. If *WE* (meaning the people who run this site) thought they did something wrong, we would pull the pics.

 

Seriously, the next person who posts anything accusing these guys of doing something wrong will be banned. STFU and let the moderators do their jobs! And thank you to these guys for posting the pics!

 

--Robb "Enough said!" Alvey

[DBru]

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?

 

No, I absolutely don't believe that, and I never said that they would. I just said, if they don't fully explain the theme, no matter what they put on the ad, A LOT of people will interpret "Cheetah Hunt" to mean hunting cheetahs. Certainly not all of them will...but based on the Facebook page and testimonies in this thread alone, I don't understand how you can disagree...

[larrygator]

No, I absolutely don't believe that, and I never said that they would. I just said, if they don't fully explain the theme, no matter what they put on the ad, A LOT of people will interpret "Cheetah Hunt" to mean hunting cheetahs. Certainly not all of them will...but based on the Facebook page and testimonies in this thread alone, I don't understand how you can disagree...

 

I can argue with you because you are looking at the name in a vacuum.

 

Yes, you words "Cheetah Hunt" can be interpeted two ways. You say those words to somone on the street and it can be interpeted in two ways.

 

However, you put the words in a TV ad that includes:

a visual of the train pimped out as a cheetah

and/or

with a side by side video comparison of Cheetah Hunt and the Cheetah Run

and/or

a voiceover of the announcer exclaiming the thrill of a roller coaster that simulates a cheetah on the prowl

and

the lack of people with rifles

 

The only people that this will not make sense to are people not paying attention. Hopefully, those people will get hit by cars crossing the street while texting.

Edited October 16, 2010 by larrygator

[Ed Farmer]

I agree with DBru that there will be those who interpret the name wrongly. When the name was announced it was clear that it meant to convey a Cheetah's hunt. This is Busch Gardens. C'mon now... Even a family owned park would probably shy away from naming a ride after the concept of hunting ANYTHING. PC is just a fact of life over here. There are those who are thick skulled, however. I would think Busch could clarify matters with the whole you know, Cheetah habitat, conservationist stance they take on things. Not enough?

 

I wasn't thrilled with the name at first, Cheetaka just seemed more fitting in the continuity aspect of things. Then I remembered Rhino Rally and it's lame-ass name. Three days later my worry focuses on the ride opening on time and being reliable. The nine year old Impulse at my home park is about as reliable as a crack addict paying his rent on time.

[cfc]

Am I the only person who thinks that "Cheetaka" sounds made up and silly? I was actually relieved that they decided not to go with this name.

[paiging_jen]

^ No. I wasn't a fan of Cheetaka either. But it's been 4 days, can we get over the name thing already?

[larrygator]

Am I the only person who thinks that "Cheetaka" sounds made up and silly? I was actually relieved that they decided not to go with this name.

 

 

No you're not, it is stupid and silly because it is made up. At least with Sheikra there is a translation for the word.

For those who Cheetah Hunt is a bad name because the words alone can be miscontrued, what the hell does Cheetaka mean to someone. Sounds like a lady of the night working the red light district of some urban neighborhood.

[larrygator]

^If we get over the name people will just argue about how disappointed they are in a coaster they have not ridden yet. Oh the fun!

 

Am I the only person who thinks that "Cheetaka" sounds made up and silly? I was actually relieved that they decided not to go with this name.

 

No you're not, it is stupid and silly because it is made up. At least with Sheikra there is a translation for the word.

For those who Cheetah Hunt is a bad name because the words alone can be miscontrued, what the hell does Cheetaka mean to someone. Sounds like a lady of the night working the red light district of some urban neighborhood.

Edited October 16, 2010 by larrygator

[Ed Farmer]

Kumba, Sheikra, Montu or Gwazi sound just as made up and silly. You wouldn't have known any of those hold meaning in another language had the park not made a point of including the information in their respective press release. Ideally I'd love for Busch Tampa to find a translation in Swahili (I think it is) for a Cheetah's Hunt, but I'm willing to bet that 99% of park-goers don't care unless it sounds "cool". That is where we run in to the problem with including "hunt" in the name and the unfortunate "numb skull" populous.