Kings Dominion (KD) Discussion Thread

[ABW]

I'm pretty sure BGW has an exclusivity deal that basically says KD can't get an Original B&M coaster.

[attachment=0]brit.gif[/attachment]

 

I'm just stating what I was told in this thread about a year ago.

 

 

"I read it on the internet, therefore it is true."

[bgtlover]

IF they ever do junk Anaconda . . . why not a B&M Dive Coaster . . . (diving into the lake is awesome)?

 

There are 3 B&M Dive coasters in the US. One is about an hour SE of Kings Dominion. That would be an unwise investment no matter how tall or differing the layout may be. If anything, a Wing Coaster (launched or not) could work seeing as there are none nearby. That is unless that's something BGW is working on in the next few years. I could see a B&M Invert or Hyper show up before a Dive...ever. As far as exclusivity? Some say it's 10 years, some say eternity. Then there are those who say # of years before a similar model. I don't think anyone here knows the 100% true answer.

[DoinItForTheFame]

"I read it on the internet, therefore it is true."

 

It could be worse... It could have come from a more credible source. You know... Like the Dip-N-Dots guy.

[steamedturtle]

OMG. People, only five more days until TT!!!

[DILinator]

Just bought my kids' BAF tickets for our trip to KD on April 22! Can't wait to get back to the park for the first time since 2002, and also can't wait for TT!

 

One question I have for the regulars, is whether you can bring in non-Platinum Pass guests at KD with your PP, for early entry? I know Carowinds specifically says you cannot, which is different than how it's always been at Cedar Point, where your entire group can get in early with a PP holder. I'm hoping KD is more sensible about it, al-la CP, so that I can get in early with my kiddos!

[John Peck]

I'm pretty sure there is an exclusivity deal for B&M's (given or sold to) between parks where they can't have the same type of ride within 300 miles. I have read in a few places and it makes sense when you look at what types of rides neighboring parks have. I'm not saying that's true, but again, it makes sense. I just don't want to start a whole discussion on it. Dominion could always get a coaster like Hangtime for a dive. That would be a good fit for that park.

[djackson]

^ That would make sense accept for the fact that Hersheypark, Dorney, and Great Adventure all have Inverts and are less than 300 miles from each other.

[bill_s]

B&M doesn't build but so many coasters a year, used to be 4, and they are a little choosy. There doesn't have to be an official exclusivity deal for the them to limit how much they compete with themselves.

[KDcoasterMAN]

I'm pretty sure there is an exclusivity deal for B&M's (given or sold to) between parks where they can't have the same type of ride within 300 miles. I have read in a few places and it makes sense when you look at what types of rides neighboring parks have. I'm not saying that's true, but again, it makes sense. I just don't want to start a whole discussion on it. Dominion could always get a coaster like Hangtime for a dive. That would be a good fit for that park.

 

Use to be an exclusivity deal with BGW and B&M from 2007-2017... It's a possibility that KD could be a fit for a future B&M, but they usually prefer to not build similar rides to that of BGW.

[coasterbill]

Has this ever been confirmed by any reputable source ever? I've heard it a million times, but the source is always "the internet". Asking for a friend.

[southpuddle]

I think it has much less to do with an “exclusivity clause” and much more to do with parks that are in close proximity not wanting rides that are too similar to each other. But even still, there are plenty of exceptions. Another one being SFMM and KBF only 60ish miles apart, each having B&M inverts. I mean why would B&M want to intentionally limit their sales like that?

[coasterbill]

People really overestimate how much 99.99% of park patrons care about this stuff.

[KDcoasterMAN]

Has this ever been confirmed by any reputable source ever? I've heard it a million times, but the source is always "the internet". Asking for a friend.

 

Only know this info from the time I work at KD. Know a few of the maintenance staff still to this day. It was a few of them who first told me that. Now granted...I also heard from them that KD had the choice between i305 and B&M Intimidator, which would had been within the exclusivity time period..... So... Just telling y'all what I heard.

[grsupercity]

Only thing I have ever read was when Cedar Point built Raptor no other park within 300 miles could build another invert.

[SLCHeadache]

Only thing I have ever read was when Cedar Point built Raptor no other park within 300 miles could build another invert.

Wasn't it a B&M exclusivity, not an invert exclusivity, therefore why Canada's Wonderland got saddled with an SLC?

[CoasterAuditor]

Well if they had the choice between I305 and B&M Intimidator I sure am glad they picked i305!

[thrillseeker4552]

Well if they had the choice between I305 and B&M Intimidator I sure am glad they picked i305!

 

Amen! I love both rides, but I305 is just on a whole different level. I think both rides worked well for their respective parks.

[DILinator]

Has this ever been confirmed by any reputable source ever? I've heard it a million times, but the source is always "the internet". Asking for a friend.

 

[Trackmaster]

People really overestimate how much 99.99% of park patrons care about this stuff.

 

Well, we're all park patrons. We're all the "GP" unless we're executives that work for a park, its corporate office, or are an engineer at a coaster designer firm. I don't see how our preferences would deviate wildly from non-enthusiasts. I can understand what you're getting at to a certain degree. In addition to being a coaster enthusiast, I'm also a cinefile as well, so I care about more about foreign films, awards festival films,artsy indie films, and films by favorite directors than I care about Transformer or Harry Potter movies. But there's still overlap.

 

I don't think that you have to be a coaster enthusiast to be a coaster snob. The parks get thousands of victors, maybe millions in some cases. I'd imagine that many of them nitpick about little things and complain "This Batman is the same as the other park's" or "Why do they keep giving these rides DC names, it doesn't even make any sense to put Wonder Women next to Batman if they're going to call it Gotham City" "Where's my path connecting the park into a loop?"

 

The reason that the 300 mile radius is important is because its assumed that people will travel some locally. If you live in Maryland or Virginia, there's a good chance that you'll be going to KD, BGW, SFA, and Hershey Park in your lifetime. If your signature attraction is the same ride as something that's at another park you're kind of caught with your pants down. And it looks even worse, as casual coaster rider doesn't even go to many parks, and they're probably looking for reasons not to come back.

[DILinator]

I don't think that you have to be a coaster enthusiast to be a coaster snob. The parks get thousands of victors, maybe millions in some cases. I'd imagine that many of them nitpick about little things and complain "This Batman is the same as the other park's" or "Why do they keep giving these rides DC names, it doesn't even make any sense to put Wonder Women next to Batman if they're going to call it Gotham City" "Where's my path connecting the park into a loop?"

 

And to the victors, go the spoils!!! AmIrite???

[Satans Hockey]

 

I don't think that you have to be a coaster enthusiast to be a coaster snob. The parks get thousands of victors, maybe millions in some cases. I'd imagine that many of them nitpick about little things and complain "This Batman is the same as the other park's" or "Why do they keep giving these rides DC names, it doesn't even make any sense to put Wonder Women next to Batman if they're going to call it Gotham City" "Where's my path connecting the park into a loop?"

 

I'm pretty sure I had read that most people aren't even aware of the other six flags parks because they are so regional so the name thing doesn't mean anything to them to begin with.

 

A lot of people go to their local park, get on the rides, have some fun and go home. They don't nitpick everything like most enthusiasts do.

[coasterbill]

People really overestimate how much 99.99% of park patrons care about this stuff.

 

Well, we're all park patrons. We're all the "GP" unless we're executives that work for a park, its corporate office, or are an engineer at a coaster designer firm. I don't see how our preferences would deviate wildly from non-enthusiasts. I can understand what you're getting at to a certain degree. In addition to being a coaster enthusiast, I'm also a cinefile as well, so I care about more about foreign films, awards festival films,artsy indie films, and films by favorite directors than I care about Transformer or Harry Potter movies. But there's still overlap.

 

I don't think that you have to be a coaster enthusiast to be a coaster snob. The parks get thousands of victors, maybe millions in some cases. I'd imagine that many of them nitpick about little things and complain "This Batman is the same as the other park's" or "Why do they keep giving these rides DC names, it doesn't even make any sense to put Wonder Women next to Batman if they're going to call it Gotham City" "Where's my path connecting the park into a loop?"

 

The reason that the 300 mile radius is important is because its assumed that people will travel some locally. If you live in Maryland or Virginia, there's a good chance that you'll be going to KD, BGW, SFA, and Hershey Park in your lifetime. If your signature attraction is the same ride as something that's at another park you're kind of caught with your pants down. And it looks even worse, as casual coaster rider doesn't even go to many parks, and they're probably looking for reasons not to come back.

 

I disagree with essentially all of this, and I would argue that if any of this were true then parks wouldn't routinely be doing all of these things and (in many cases) seeing record profits.

[Intimidator305]

Side question: Anyone know how to find the new 2018 park map? It's not where it always is: Directions & Park Map

[ratdogg68]

Makes no sense to me, No company is going to turn down a 15 + million dollar sale, because a park has something similar 100 miles away. They are in the Business to sell, not limit their product. Could be wrong, but I don't see it when we're talking about Millions of Dollars.

[coasterbill]

Makes no sense to me, No company is going to turn down a 15 + million dollar sale, because a park has something similar 100 miles away. They are in the Business to sell, not limit their product. Could be wrong, but I don't see it when we're talking about Millions of Dollars.

 

It's entirely possible that a coaster company could sell exclusivity to a park for a certain price. For the right price it makes a lot of sense for them to do so.

 

...That doesn't mean any of this actually happened though. I've heard this repeated ad nauseum over the years but never once heard it from a reputable source.