Kings Dominion (KD) Discussion Thread

[Jerrykoala2112]

I remember we went to Minniapolis for my sisters gymnastic's competition, and we went to Valleyfair that same week. And this was before I became a coaster enthusiast when I was 7, and I surely know that no one else in my family is a coaster enthusiast. Like someone said above, theme parks are good places to sped time together.

[christianscoasters]

Probably not even 5% of the people you'll see at a theme park are coaster enthusiasts. Most of the people at parks are GP.

[Capitalize]

^^^ Actually it may be only twice a year but Richmond does have the raceway which is a huge tourist attraction.

 

Race weekends wouldn't attract people to the park, though. People traveling to the RIR race weekends looks something like this:

 

- Arrive Thursday/Friday - set up camp near track - grill/drink/hoot and holler all day and night. Go to qualifying and first race Friday starting early evening.

 

- Saturday - grill and drink all afternoon in preparation for the race that night. Attend race that evening.

 

- Sunday - leave or if it rained Friday/Saturday attend the re-scheduled race then leave.

 

The track is 30/40 minutes from the park without traffic. If you throw in the race weekend traffic to and from the track its much longer. In my experiences the majority of the people who travel to race weekends will normally just plan on the races.

 

Speak for yourself. People could easily make a long weekend out of it. I went to a Nationwide race in summer of 2008 at Kentucky Speedway and stayed a couple extra days to go to Kings Island. Same concept/idea.

 

When I used to see the Coke 600 at Lowe's I would always go to Carowinds on Saturday and the race Sunday; but was that the norm? Far from it. Most people would go to the races Saturday as well and leave Monday morning for home.

 

As a coaster enthusiast I will normally try to combine amusement parks with a trip to a NASCAR race just to kind of kill two birds with one stone. But I know that the majority of the people traveling to Richmond from out of VA to see a race are not going to stop by the park because the agenda for the weekend is tailgate and see races.

 

I remember we went to Minniapolis for my sisters gymnastic's competition, and we went to Valleyfair that same week. And this was before I became a coaster enthusiast when I was 7, and I surely know that no one else in my family is a coaster enthusiast. Like someone said above, theme parks are good places to sped time together.

 

For the vast majority of race fans coming into town for a race weekend the races are the sole destination of the trip, that is all I'm saying. Between arriving Friday night and leaving Sunday/Monday morning you are spending the vast majority or all of your time on the track premises before during and after races or in traffic driving to it.

 

Races are a full day event. Between arriving in the early morning, grilling food, shopping for souvenirs/driver merchandise, getting autographs, and checking out the various displays set up by different companies, watching the actual race, and finally making your way back to your vehicle/campsite you are literally busy for at least two days out of a weekend on a typical race weekend just with these activities. Do some people extend their trips or substitute a day at the track for other activities like an amusement park? Yes I'm sure some do. But that group is likely in the minority, and many if not most people going to the race are FROM VA or surrounding states and could make a day trip to Kings Dominion any time they wanted. Hence, any attendance boast from the race weekends at RIR is more then likely very small.

[DBru]

When I used to see the Coke 600 at Lowe's I would always go to Carowinds on Saturday and the race Sunday; but was that the norm? Far from it. Most people would go to the races Saturday as well and leave Monday morning for home.

 

Because you asked every person at the race if they would be attending Carowinds the next morning, right? Or did you follow each person home to make sure that they weren't going to the park?

 

 

Don't you just love when people post their assumptions as facts?

[Capitalize]

When I used to see the Coke 600 at Lowe's I would always go to Carowinds on Saturday and the race Sunday; but was that the norm? Far from it. Most people would go to the races Saturday as well and leave Monday morning for home.

 

Because you asked every person at the race if they would be attending Carowinds the next morning, right? Or did you follow each person home to make sure that they weren't going to the park?

 

 

Don't you just love when people post their assumptions as facts?

 

Its far from scientific or a total consensus but I would say talking to the people around me in the stands and the people in hotels/campgrounds I'm staying at about their plans while on race weekends gives me a pretty decent idea as I've only sat around ONE family who had any plans to go to an amusement park on the same trip, and that was going to Orlando to see Disney World for a few days after attending the Daytona 500.

 

And I have been attending race weekends at several tracks for more then a decade now just to clarify.

 

So did you have anything worth while to add or just trying to be snide little creep about nothing?

[FeelTheFORCE]

When I used to see the Coke 600 at Lowe's I would always go to Carowinds on Saturday and the race Sunday; but was that the norm? Far from it. Most people would go to the races Saturday as well and leave Monday morning for home.

 

Because you asked every person at the race if they would be attending Carowinds the next morning, right? Or did you follow each person home to make sure that they weren't going to the park?

 

 

Don't you just love when people post their assumptions as facts?

 

Its far from scientific or a total consensus but I would say talking to the people around me in the stands and the people in hotels/campgrounds I'm staying at about their plans while on race weekends gives me a pretty decent idea as I've only sat around ONE family who had any plans to go to an amusement park on the same trip, and that was going to Orlando to see Disney World for a few days after attending the Daytona 500.

 

And I have been attending race weekends at several tracks for more then a decade now just to clarify.

 

So did you have anything worth while to add or just trying to be snide little creep about nothing?

 

You keep on insisting that "Races wouldn't attract people to parks." like it wouldn't matter if the race was there or not, the same amount of people would be at Kings Dominion that time of year. I have to disagree.

 

If that's true, then what's the point of cities making heavily bidding on the Olympics, the Super Bowl, All-Star games, etc.? They do that because it helps the local economy. Major events, such as the ones I just listed, and Nascar races, attract a LOT of people to that area who spend a lot of money. People visit and spend money at places like museums, hotels, restaurants, bars, AMUSEMENT PARKS, stores, malls, and other various local attractions in the surrounding areas. I know races take up a whole day, I've been to a race before. I was saying that, say the race is a Saturday, I'd be willing to bet most families stay around 5 days or so, making a vacation out of it, and go to other various local attractions in the surrounding area like the Thursday before or maybe Tuesday after, whether that's an amusement park or not.

 

DBru is right, though. 150,000+ (sometimes 200,000) people attend these races. How could you possibly say that NO ONE is going to go to Kings Dominion when referring to that magnitude of people. I have Pittsburgh Steelers season tickets, have gone to EVERY home game since Heinz Field opened in 2001, and I know almost everyone (all the regulars at least) in the surrounding 5 rows behind me and in front of me. There's no possible way, even after all these years, that I even have the slightest clue as to what their intentions are before/after the game, what their plans are for those few days surrounding the game, if they just tailgate all day and night and not do anything else, etc.

[Homeboy23]

Ok, lets put it this way. It might help the attendance one or two days but it is not going to help the overall attendance for the year. Happy?

 

I'm with Chuck to put an end to the attendance talk.

[Capitalize]

^^ I'm not saying NO ONE extends their trip beyond the weekend. But what I am saying is the vast majority do not. Whatever jump in attendance is achieved by parks around tracks with races is likely very small.

 

The point is obviously to make money for the area, and of course the races make their areas money. But how do the races make small towns money? Hotels, camping, parking, gas stations, grocery stores. Why do so many of the areas around race tracks stay such small towns? For one or two weekends a year people go there to watch races. They might buy food or beer if they run out or forgot it. They'll probably need to buy some gas. Maybe they'll stay in a hotel if they don't have a camper or don't want to go tent camping.

 

Based on the traffic going in and out of towns and based on the nature of the majority of towns that have races I'd say your estimate isn't correct, but thats just based on my own guesses and observations so it really doesn't matter. Bigger towns that happen to have tracks around them I could definitely see more people staying a bit longer for a full on vacation such as Charlotte or Daytona. But I still think those people are in the minority. Based on going to Kings Dominion and RIR I really don't see the race tracks providing a particularly large boast to their attendance. But w/e if you choose to disagree with that I can't provide any statistics to back that up so think whatever you want about it.

 

Your last point doesn't even make sense, why did Cedar Point theme Top Thrill Dragster the way they did? Because its an interesting theme that people can relate to probably. (I see this has now been edited and does not exist any more...)

 

Do you talk to the people around you about their plans? We do. We say "Where are you from? When did you get into town? Where are you staying? Do you have any plans after the races?" and so on and so forth.

 

 

edit:"DBru is right, though. 150,000+ (sometimes 200,000) people attend these races. How could you possibly say that NO ONE is going to go to Kings Dominion when referring to that magnitude of people."

 

When did I say NO ONE is going to Kings Dominion? I said the VAST MAJORITY do not. Which is true as far as I'm concerned. I'll go with my observations based on years of being a pass holder there and having season tickets at RIR over your observations and whatever they're based on.

[FeelTheFORCE]

Probably each individual local attraction has small increases in attendance, and extra revenue made for that time of year. But I'd be willing to bet if you add them all up and count them as a whole, there is a decent increase in attendance for local attractions. All that added up is POTENTIAL for Kings Dominion, which is the point of advertising. It's up to KD to get people to take their families there instead of maybe a history center or museum.

 

edit:"DBru is right, though. 150,000+ (sometimes 200,000) people attend these races. How could you possibly say that NO ONE is going to go to Kings Dominion when referring to that magnitude of people."

 

When did I say NO ONE is going to Kings Dominion? I said the VAST MAJORITY do not. Which is true as far as I'm concerned. I'll go with my observations based on years of being a pass holder there and having season tickets at RIR over your observations and whatever they're based on.

 

You said all but one family in a span of 10 years of going to races. I don't know about you, but in my book that's NO ONE...except that one family. It doesn't matter what "passes" you own...the same concept/idea applies to all cities that host major events...I've been to a few major events, and my city has also hosted a few...that's "what I'm basing them on."

 

Anyway, I'm done discussing attendance and revenue.

[Mochtroid]

This debate is just horrible, IMO. Can't we have some good old track speculation?

[cfc]

Enough about the races and any possible bumps in attendance that KD might get from them.

 

Once again, I repeat, no one can prove anything. Let's keep this conversation friendly. I suggest that everyone relax and wait for Friday's announcement. There will actually be something to talk about then.

[chad5871]

^The announcement will be made Thursday, not Friday. Then the REAL speculation can begin.

[KDCOASTERFAN]

But even if they are putting in a new extreme roller coaster is the attendance going to increase to get it into the top 20 due to the giga? Maybe it's just that CW has a bigger attendance from the area its in compared to KD.

 

Just the same as KD having a larger population base to draw from than carowinds....I wouldn't exactly count CWL in this debate since it IS a canadian park,not a continental US one.

[Capitalize]

Enough about the races and any possible bumps in attendance that KD might get from them.

 

Once again, I repeat, no one can prove anything. Let's keep this conversation friendly. I suggest that everyone relax and wait for Friday's announcement. There will actually be something to talk about then.

 

Very true, its gonna be a long week waiting for the announcement.

[cfc]

^The announcement will be made Thursday, not Friday. Then the REAL speculation can begin.

 

Thanks for the correction.

 

Announcement Thrusday. Speculation Friday.

[Homeboy23]

^

 

11:00 AM Thursday: Announcement

11:05 AM Thursday: Bashing of announcement

11:10 AM Thursday: Loving of announcement

11:15 AM Thursday: Debate of love vs hate

11:20 AM Thursday: Debate still goes on

[cfc]

^Hmm--actually, I think the "loving" was scheduled to begin before the "bashing."

[Capitalize]

So then we will have to including some time to debate beginning with loving or hating too...

[coolcalicoaster]

My prediction on the reaction: There will be much more positive support, but the usual B&M fanboys will complain that there will not be enough airtime. You can never satisfy those people unless every hill slams you into your lap restraint.

I on the other hand love a combination of elements. I love fast speed, overbanks, and of course a little air. I am excited for the announcement.

[Homeboy23]

but the usual B&M fanboys will complain that there will not be enough airtime.

 

And after the Carowinds announcement the Intamin fanboys will complain about it not being above 240 feet

[Mochtroid]

Will anyone be streaming the announcement, or at the least, liveblogging/Tweeting the announcement?

[larrygator]

If you guys have nothing better to do than discuss politics in the KD Discussion Thread this thread can be locked.

 

I have deleted all off topic references to politics.

[Capitalize]

Will anyone be streaming the announcement, or at the least, liveblogging/Tweeting the announcement?

 

I think coastercrew will be tweeting/streaming/etc. something that day.

[jarmor]

but the usual B&M fanboys will complain that there will not be enough airtime.

 

And after the Carowinds announcement the Intamin fanboys will complain about it not being above 240 feet

 

Oh I hope and pray carowinds' B&M of over 240 even if its by just 3 feet or so...

[Homeboy23]

Take it for what its worth but a couple of sites are saying that Jeff Steiner and Taylor Earnhardt of Dale Earnhardt Inc. will be at the announcement on Thursday which goes along with the media invite shaped like a car.

 

I haven't seen anything that proves it so it might just be people posting for fun which happens alot.