IStillPlayRCT2 Posted August 18, 2009 Share Posted August 18, 2009 Finally, Ill have a theme park close to me again. I dont care what the park is , as long as its open. Also, they were approved for the Go Zone Bonds! Here's that news story: http://www.nola.com/business/index.ssf/2009/08/southern_star_amusement_grante.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldJJman Posted August 19, 2009 Share Posted August 19, 2009 Finally, Ill have a theme park close to me again. I wouldn't get my hopes too high. Also, they were approved for the Go Zone Bonds! No they weren't. Read the article. Nevermind. I'll save you the time, and post the quote here: "The bond allocation is still subject to the approval of the state bond commission." Good luck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Alex Posted August 19, 2009 Share Posted August 19, 2009 Well, I'll be damned. This is farther than I thought it would go. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldJJman Posted August 19, 2009 Share Posted August 19, 2009 Well, I'll be damned. This is farther than I thought it would go. C'mon Alex, you're smarter than that!! Look at the facts surrounding the history of this venture: SSA gets formed, and hunts for private investors - NO takers. SSA goes through proper channels and tries to get the city of New Orleans to get bonds and/or other financing - Denied by the city. SSA goes through proper channels and applies to a professional investment firm, AMVEST, and gets denied. Fast forward to now: SSA is going through proper channels, and applying for financial bond backing from the government. Results - pending. See a trend here? Now, before you say "But look, now they have Nickelodeon on board", think about it: What REAL experience does Nickelodeon have in the amusement park industry?? Face it. They bought an established, semi-successful, open-year-round park, that acts as a babysitter for a couple of hours while parents are shopping in one of the largest malls in the world. Entrance is FREE, and rides are pay-per-ride OR Pay-One-Price. They also have a really nice "fast food" food court. They didn't try and resurrect a failed park that was done in by a hurricane. Something else to consider: In the beginning, SSA (Danny Rogers et.al.) first was looking for about $30 million to revive the park. Then, SSA was asking for bonds somewhere between $30-$50 million dollars. Then, SSA asked a private investment firm for (reportedly) $30-100 million. Now, SSA is looking for $165 million from the government in Go Zone bonds. One last thing to consider: IF Nickelodeon is so on board with this project, why are they not (apparently) financing any of it?? Think about it. JJ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ccron10 Posted August 19, 2009 Share Posted August 19, 2009 Let's say everything gets approved and starts to rebuild the park. What is salvagible? - Mega Zeph has been sitting away rusting and rotting for almost 5 years now. They don't have trains anymore and the coaster is probably a safety hazard. - The buildings probably have mold and haven't been cared for. - The other rides and coasters are probably the same way. My guess is that whatever is left would have to be removed or majorly refurbished. If this does happen, my guess is that everything will be torn down and will be built from scratch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
larrygator Posted August 19, 2009 Share Posted August 19, 2009 My guess is that whatever is left would have to be removed or majorly refurbished. If this does happen, my guess is that everything will be torn down and will be built from scratch. I would go as far as to say that is not a guess, but FACT! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stingrock23 Posted August 19, 2009 Share Posted August 19, 2009 Again I'll reiterate, but this just won't work. Not only will it be tough to get backers, but it's in a really bad area and this market will never support it. The only thing worth building would be a water park. Just too much to invest for a park that probably won't survive anyway. I know some of you guys are optimistic, but it's time to be realistic. As nice as it was to have a big park down here, I've accepted the fact that the only local park I'll be able to go to is Dixie Landin/Blue Bayou. Speaking of which, I need to get up there and get those credits before the season's over. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PriestofSyrinx Posted August 19, 2009 Share Posted August 19, 2009 Nickelodeon gets on board. So what? That area will probaly turn into a work live play type development. Maybe an outlet mall, who knows, but a rebulit theme park there that wasnt even sucessful in the firstplace, probaly is not the best Idea. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IStillPlayRCT2 Posted August 19, 2009 Share Posted August 19, 2009 They were approved for the first part, they are still waiting for the state or whatever. Yall arent very optimistic here at TPR. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Alex Posted August 19, 2009 Share Posted August 19, 2009 Mega Zeph has been sitting away rusting and rotting for almost 5 years now. They don't have trains anymore and the coaster is probably a safety hazard. Danny has said before that Martin & Vleminckx, the crew behind the construction of the Boardwalk Bullet, has done inspections and has said they will be able to restore Zephy. Danny has also said that, if the coaster goes live, it will be running two Gravity Group Timberliners. The buildings probably have mold and haven't been cared for. I think SFI gutted the buildings sometime within a year or two ago. Someone correct me if I'm wrong. The other rides and coasters are probably the same way. The remaining coasters (Vekoma Hurricane, Vekoma Boomerang, Vekoma Kiddie, and the wild mouse) are all repairable, and will be if the park opens. He said some of the flats are repairable, but I'd just buy new ones. SSA goes through proper channels and applies to a professional investment firm, AMVEST, and gets denied. I believe it was that they were supported by AMVEST, but then they backed out right before the economy tankage happened at full tilt. And so you know, I'm not 100% supporting this again Jeff. I meant that I'm surprised they've gotten this far along in trying. I still have major doubts about this project succeeding. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PriestofSyrinx Posted August 19, 2009 Share Posted August 19, 2009 They were approved for the first part, they are still waiting for the state or whatever. Yall arent very optimistic here at TPR. Well I want to be, but for something like this, its good not to get your hopes up. You may argue that the demand for a park is too great; Let me give you an example... I live on the Northeast side of Metro Atlanta, where the majority of the middle and upper class citizens live in the Metro area. You think there would be enough demand for a second park in Atlanta (Six Flags can be a real hassel with traffic, also is in a bad neighborhood). Well any plans for a park (or a park like project) over here have died many times in the stages that SFNO is in now. Im still waiting on that Great Wolf Lodge.lol. The demand might be there, but the management is not. Which is the case with SSA and numerous projects for my side of Atlanta. Nick "Wants a Park on Lake Lanier" Wells Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Orient Wolf Posted August 19, 2009 Share Posted August 19, 2009 ...What REAL experience does Nickelodeon have in the amusement park industry?? Face it. They bought an established, semi-successful, open-year-round park, that acts as a babysitter for a couple of hours while parents are shopping in one of the largest malls in the world... No they didn't. Mall of America owns and operates Nickelodeon Universe. Mall of America pays Nickelodeon to use their names and characters in the park. IF Nickelodeon is so on board with this project, why are they not (apparently) financing any of it?? Nickelodeon is "on board" because it means they will get paid for it. Nick is in no way making an investment in this property. Southern Star is making an investment in Nickelodeon's licenses. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IStillPlayRCT2 Posted August 19, 2009 Share Posted August 19, 2009 At priestofsyrinx, I gotcha, Im just gonna be as optimistic as possible since we dont have a major themepark in LA, lol. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ParkTrips Posted August 20, 2009 Share Posted August 20, 2009 Danny has said before that Martin & Vleminckx, the crew behind the construction of the Boardwalk Bullet, has done inspections and has said they will be able to restore Zephy. Danny has also said that, if the coaster goes live, it will be running two Gravity Group Timberliners. boy, if that doesn't sound promising Dont you understand he is willing to say whatever it takes to get the place approved? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Alex Posted August 21, 2009 Share Posted August 21, 2009 Dont you understand he is willing to say whatever it takes to get the place approved? After blindly following him once before, I'd be an idiot for not paying attention the second go-round. Yes, it sounds too nice. Yes, he just might be making it up. Yes, I know. Thanks for checking. Alex Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Alex Posted August 24, 2009 Share Posted August 24, 2009 Quick update. A few nights ago, random threads on the SFNO site forum would pop up. We're talking two-year old threads from the very beginning of the whole Southern Star saga. Why, you ask? All of the posts in these threads made by Danny Rogers have been edited so they contain no information Nothing to quote him by. Nothing to dig up. Anywhere. Nothing. This went on for a period of around two days, and now every post made by Rogers has been wiped. The SSA website has also been taken down for some sort of "redesigning" work. Sketchy? You bet your mother's pancakes. Some of the people have figured out how to retrieve some of the posts, via searching cached data files using search engines. So all of the terribly-penned posts and promises are there if you dig for it. Hmmmm........ Maybe the new "merge" (for lack of a 100% appropriate term) with Viacom's Nickelodeon has some catch where all of the memories of "Old Danny" have to be wiped to prepare for the "New Danny". Or not. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
larrygator Posted September 10, 2009 Share Posted September 10, 2009 Article from a New Orleans TV station To me, the most interesting aspect of this article is that Nickelodeon seems to be solidly on board with quotes from a Nickelodeon spokesman. I had not seen that in the press previously. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ginzo Posted September 10, 2009 Share Posted September 10, 2009 Baited breath here on this one. Everyone book your plane tickets! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
larrygator Posted September 10, 2009 Share Posted September 10, 2009 ^Joe - I hope they can succeed, but I'll believe it when I see it also. For know I'm just bringing the news to the masses. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
typo86 Posted September 10, 2009 Share Posted September 10, 2009 A member of SFNO.com has posted pics of the plans. They are screen caps from a television but it looks like they plan to change a lot at the former SFNO... Scroll to the Bottom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jew Posted September 10, 2009 Share Posted September 10, 2009 Article from a New Orleans TV station To me, the most interesting aspect of this article is that Nickelodeon seems to be solidly on board with quotes from a Nickelodeon spokesman. I had not seen that in the press previously. I personally think they are on board because they will get check regardless of what actually happens to the park. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ginzo Posted September 10, 2009 Share Posted September 10, 2009 ^Joe - I hope they can succeed, but I'll believe it when I see it also. For know I'm just bringing the news to the masses. Wasn't mocking you, just this absurd story. As much as I'd like to see something nice happen in NO, I'm very skeptical that this park would succeed even if it does get rebuilt. But hey, if they can sell 9-figures worth of bonds, then more power to them. Personally, I wouldn't hire this guy to wash my car. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
typo86 Posted September 19, 2009 Share Posted September 19, 2009 Interesting Update... Mayor's Office Press Release In the press release it says that Six Flags must "vacate and deliver to the City the leased premises, including any improvements in their current condition" pending the bankruptcy court's approval. This may mean rides would be returned to the park but I'll believe that when I see it. New Orleans CityBusiness Article Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spaceace12 Posted September 19, 2009 Share Posted September 19, 2009 I am sure Six flags has no issue with vacating the land....they all but have already. Any rides left on the grounds are not useable or not easily moved. I don't see how the city will get back any rides that have been moved (besides the towers, was batman part of the original group). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
winningfreak Posted September 28, 2009 Share Posted September 28, 2009 I also cannot see Six Flags returning any of the rides back to the park ( could you imagen the slap in the face to SFFT if they had to give up Goliath? ) I think that besides the Mega Zepher all the rides are possible to refurbish but not at a cheap price and if six flags could get them out of there would they be willing to pay the price to get them running and relocated again? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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