2017 Worst Year for new coasters in U.S. ?

[nhman93]

After looking at the Rcdb new for 2017 section I came to the realization that this could easily be the worst year for new coasters that we have seen in the U.S. in over 25 years. With Six Flags just adding the three Joker clones and Cedar Fair only adding Mystic Timbers and the anticipated Mean Streak Rmc (which I think wont be until 2018) and even outside of the major chains we have not seen much announced from the smaller and family owned parks. Obviously it's only September and we can and probably will still see a few more surprise announcements but still I think it's safe to say this is the worst year for Coasters we have seen in quite some time.

[SharkTums]

I'm not dorky enough to look it up or remember every year, but I agree with you to a point for sure.

[djackson]

Rescue coaster at Sea World San Antonio was announced. Although it is not great it is another coaster.

[williamj2543]

I just think its a regular down year, but worse than most. Last year Cedar Point got a massive addition and it amazes me that they are even doing expansions after that. Otherwise last year wasn't the BEST year either, I think thats how Valravn got marketed as well as it did, being one of the largest additions. I was kinda thinking it would be smart to bank on stealing away the attention this year by being the only park to release a coaster, however the effects of that are only marginal, not enough to warrant a new coaster when otherwise unncessary.

[larrygator]

I agree but I don't care. It's not a big deal for me. I already have my SF pass, and I'll buying my Cedar Fair Pass soon and also a Dollywood pass. This just gives me a chance to catch up and get to places that have built new coasters over the past 4 years. I'm sure many seasoned enthusiasts will look at it as an opportunity to travel to other areas of the world.

[coasterbill]

I agree but I don't care. It's not a big deal for me. I already have my SF pass, and I'll buying my Cedar Fair Pass soon and also a Dollywood pass. This just gives me a chance to catch up and get to places that have built new coasters over the past 4 years. I'm sure many seasoned enthusiasts will look at it as an opportunity to travel to other areas of the world.

 

This. But it is semi entertaining that there's a legitimate chance that the best new steel coaster in America next year will be at Casino Pier.

[RyanTPM]

Otherwise last year wasn't the BEST year either,

I get that you're saying it wasn't the best year ever this year for coasters, but it was a REALLY good one for sure, so if you're implying it wasn't good then you're very wrong. In the US alone we got two huge B&M's, 3 incredible RMC's, an S&S 4D free spin, Gerstlauer Infinity coaster,Premier Sky Rocket two clone and a Mack spinner. How can that not be a good year? Outside of the US we got so many great coasters as well including two at Phantasialand, countless amounts. 2016 has been a great year!

[larrygator]

I agree but I don't care. It's not a big deal for me. I already have my SF pass, and I'll buying my Cedar Fair Pass soon and also a Dollywood pass. This just gives me a chance to catch up and get to places that have built new coasters over the past 4 years. I'm sure many seasoned enthusiasts will look at it as an opportunity to travel to other areas of the world.

 

This. But it is semi entertaining that there's a legitimate chance that the best new steel coaster in America next year will be at Casino Pier.

 

And the second best could be 55 miles south in Ocean City, NJ. Only 6 more operating days for Playland Castaway Cove.

Edited September 28, 2016 by larrygator

[thrillseeker4552]

2017 is definitely an "off-year" for parks, but maybe it just seems that way because 2015 and 2016 were fantastic years, particularly for the US.

 

2015 (in the US):

-2 huge, innovative B&Ms

-Stand-up to Floorless conversion

-2 great RMCs on opposite ends of the country

-S&S 4D Free Spin (new and innovative at the time)

-Huge custom in-house coaster

-Premier SkyRocket

 

2016 (in the US):

-2 huge B&Ms

-3 awesome RMCs

-S&S 4D Free Spin

-Premier SkyRocket

-Several much-needed restorations (GhostRider, Revolution, Legend, Bizarro/Superman)

-Very unique Mack spinner

-GaleForce (2017?)

-VR (if you count that as a good thing?)

 

I guess a major off-year was expected soon, and 2017 is that year.

[SteelForceless]

Yeah, 2017 will be a bit of a slow year. Here's hoping that this year's drought leads to a great year in 2018!

[Nrthwnd]

Maybe they all ran out of their coaster money budget, and have started saving up for the next one(s)?

 

Just a hunch.

[sdcfan88]

Indeed its unfortunate, at my home park (SDC) there was once so much hype and speculation for a huge B&M installation happening in 2017 at the end of last year and now fast forward nine months and its looking more like a Mack spinner for 2018 instead. It sucks having to wait another year. lol

[robbalvey]

So here's a question for you all just to add some interesting discussion into this mix...

 

Is the disappointment no new additions for 2017 or that past additions have gotten stale and boring already?

 

I ask because, while living here in Orlando, yes, we have a lot of great rides, and yes we got new coasters this year like Mako, etc, but I find myself riding a coaster like "Space Mountain" (1975) over and over again, never getting tired of it, and perfectly content without having a brand new giant ride every year.

 

When I see someone bummed that Silver Dollar City isn't getting a new coaster, and I think to myself "man, I would LOVE to have some of SDC's coaster in my backyard that I can ride over and over again" why is it such a bad thing that 2017 is a slow year for coasters? Do we not already have enough to keep us happy or content through an off-year for new additions?

Edited September 28, 2016 by robbalvey

[tykunkel1031]

^ Getting deep But I do agree to an extent. I get what you're saying with Space Mountain. I have the same deal for Thunderbird at HW. I've probably ridden over 200 times by now, and I still love every single ride, coming off laughing and smiling.

 

However, I can also see the other side. Like this year, tons of people flocked to Dollywood for LR. They probably didn't have plans originally to go specifically there. New coaster openings sometimes can decide on the parks that people go to. Using HW again, there was a massive spike in attendance last year because of Thunderbird. The thread on here also seemed more active. More people just tend to flock to the new rides, so it does kind of stink if you're stuck with the same rides from last year all over the country, not just at your home park, as you have no real definite "I know I for sure want to go to *park* for *new ride* this year". But that does also present the opportunity to try out new parks that you hadn't originally thought of going to, and maybe you'd fall in love. Kind of like what happened to Adventureland this year. For me personally, I had never even heard of it, now this year it seems like all this park gets is praise. So an "off year" can for sure have benefits.

 

Overall, I can definitely see both sides of the argument. Like, who wouldn't love a brand new B&M or RMC?! But also, who doesn't love a few laps on Fury 325, Thunderbird, Maverick, or whatever else floats your boat! Awesome question Robb. This should bring up some good discussion I'd bet.

[robbalvey]

so it does kind of stink if you're stuck with the same rides from last year all over the country, not just at your home park

Yes and no. I mean, we have to be some of the more widely traveled and there are major new rides that we still haven't hit! Next year we will finally get to Fury 325, we'll get to Dollywood again for Lightning Rod, etc. I haven't been out to ride Cannibal or Joker at SFDK yet. Elissa still needs to get on Iron Rattler and Thunderbird. I mean, heck, I still haven't been on one of the S&S free spin coasters outside of the prototype in Utah!

 

So even thought 2017 won't have many "new" coasters, we are still going to hit a lot of 'new to us' coasters that have opened up over the last couple of years.

[DirkFunk]

So here's a question for you all just to add some interesting discussion into this mix...

 

Is the disappointment no new additions for 2017 or that past additions have gotten stale and boring already?

 

People get used to cycles of expansion and tons of construction. That's all. Personally I don't get why anyone would be that up in arms about it unless they somehow managed to ride everything significant on the continent.

[Mrlittle]

Yeah I agree 2017 looks like a down year for new coasters but im planning to hit up some old favorites. Maybe catch a few new ones that have been built in the last few years. I am surprised there's not at least one huge coaster coming to the states. I guess I can't complain to much since Texas might get three (two confirmed) new coasters in 2017.

[mordecai-75]

^^^^^ I understand and and agree with your point. My home park is Dollywood, i visit 30+ times per season. We technically got a new coaster this year (and i guess i may catch a little hell for saying that we kinda really didn't), but i've loved the park long before Lightning Rod was even thought about, or RMC for that matter. Everytime me and my family go, we have fun, there is so much more to take in than LR, if you get bored while your at Dollywood then the problem is with YOU, not the park. They do have their downfalls in certain areas from time to time, like waiting forever for food and such, but you get that everywhere. I don't see another coaster coming for another 3 to 4 years (hope i'm wrong), but that's not gonna stop me from getting our passes each year, and waking up in the mornings the of days we're going feeling excited.

[roflstomper]

Considering the impending recession it makes sense that parks are being cautious.

[tykunkel1031]

so it does kind of stink if you're stuck with the same rides from last year all over the country, not just at your home park

Yes and no. I mean, we have to be some of the more widely traveled and there are major new rides that we still haven't hit! Next year we will finally get to Fury 325, we'll get to Dollywood again for Lightning Rod, etc. I haven't been out to ride Cannibal or Joker at SFDK yet. Elissa still needs to get on Iron Rattler and Thunderbird. I mean, heck, I still haven't been on one of the S&S free spin coasters outside of the prototype in Utah!

 

So even thought 2017 won't have many "new" coasters, we are still going to hit a lot of 'new to us' coasters that have opened up over the last couple of years.

Hit the nail right on the head. I'd love to make it out to some of these coasters next year that everyone raves about, like Fury 325, I305, NTaG, etc. Although I'm obviously not as well-travelled as you guys at 15, I have been to a decent amount of parks. Opening years are overrated anyway. Lines/crowds usually die down after

[DILinator]

I've been struck by the fact that there appears to be so few new coaster additions for 2017. However, after thinking about all the fantastic additions of 2016, more than in most years here, I'd realized that a "down" year was almost a certainty. I think we'll see another banner year in 2018, that may rival 2016, potentially!

[Santa07]

Sure, it's not as great as the past few years, but you can't keep on building more and more coasters per year and it was bound to drop eventually.

[ytterbiumanalyst]

So here's a question for you all just to add some interesting discussion into this mix...

 

Is the disappointment no new additions for 2017 or that past additions have gotten stale and boring already?

 

I ask because, while living here in Orlando, yes, we have a lot of great rides, and yes we got new coasters this year like Mako, etc, but I find myself riding a coaster like "Space Mountain" (1975) over and over again, never getting tired of it, and perfectly content without having a brand new giant ride every year.

 

When I see someone bummed that Silver Dollar City isn't getting a new coaster, and I think to myself "man, I would LOVE to have some of SDC's coaster in my backyard that I can ride over and over again" why is it such a bad thing that 2017 is a slow year for coasters? Do we not already have enough to keep us happy or content through an off-year for new additions?

I for one an perfectly okay with SDC's coaster being in 2018, if that's indeed what's happening. First of all, it's a place where you don't even need to ride a coaster to have a great time. That's evidenced by their not needing to build any coasters for 14 years, and they didn't have a big one until 1993, 33 years after the park's founding. But more than that, the four big ones they have now are all coasters I can ride over and over again. Even Thunderation, the mildest of the 4, is still one of the best mine trains anywhere. I place it just above Adventure Express and just below Big Thunder Mountain Railroad.

 

I would certainly love a new coaster next year. Who wouldn't? Especially with SDC's track record, you know it's going to be great. But if it doesn't come, I'm just going to ride all the other rides there that are very good, and enjoy my time in the park with my family.

[sdcfan88]

^ This.

 

And my statement about SDC was mostly lighthearted. I was merely poking fun in regards to the SDC thread at how the new coaster speculation had changed and evolved so drastically (and the debut timing) after months of hype towards a certain type which is now looking less likely.

(which others had pointed out as well)

[coasterer]

It's definitely a noticeably lackluster year for new rides. It doesn't really affect much, as others are saying, there are still plenty of good rides and new-to-me coasters to hit. But I think the biggest bummer about having a down year is just not having any new projects to follow. Following construction updates, building hype and anticipation, waiting eagerly for new reviews - that's a big part of what makes this hobby enjoyable, especially during the off season. i miss the days when Intamin built new coasters stateside. Those were all a lot of fun to follow.