Archive: March, 2007

CoasterBuzz Podcast #69 - March 26, 2007

Download... | Length: 44:54 | Size: 20MB | Downloads: 2921

posted by Jeff | Monday, March 26, 2007, 7:30 PM | comments: 0

Jeff, Mike and Pat review this week's news in the amusement industry.

  • Dollywood auctions off first rides on Mystery Mines. Great publicity for the park, great benefit for charities. A good trend among the amusement parks.
  • This week in the Conneaut Lake saga: Land sale might proceed if conditions are met, but local business owners don't want to see the sale.
  • Disney and local business owners want to take the Anaheim low-income housing issue to the voters. We explain why.
  • The old Chippewa Lake property may be redeveloped as a public park.
  • A new Marvel themed park is coming to Dubai. What a great property for a huge potential market.
  • The Alton Towers clowns complain about noise again. Who cares? They're allegedly guilty of the same thing with a factory in another town.
  • Six Flags launches a new Web site, and it's better, but generally average.
  • Johnny Rockets is coming to a Six Flags near you. This deal clearly benefits the parks more than the restaurants.
  • Cold Stone versus Dippin' Dots. Like that's a real contest.

CoasterBuzz Podcast #68 - March 19, 2007

Download... | Length: 46:10 | Size: 21MB | Downloads: 2845

posted by Jeff | Monday, March 19, 2007, 9:16 PM | comments: 0

Jeff, Catherine and Pat review this week's news in the amusement industry.

  • The gang hits the Blue Man Group show in Dayton. Something for the whole family.
  • Kennywood introduces technology into the queues. Does it interfere with the classic feel of the park?
  • US borders are unfriendly to tourists. Frankly, "secuirty" is mostly a feel good effort.
  • Cedar Fair ups the distribution slightly, and the execs make a nice dime from their holdings.
  • More on the fear from Disney's value resort plans in Orlando.
  • Six Flags VIP program is way under-priced.
  • Wet 'n Wild gets a tornado. What's next for ProSlide?
  • Six Flags loss beats analysts slightly, and call 2006 a transition year. We're with them on that, but that excuse won't last forever.

CoasterBuzz Podcast #67 - March 12, 2007

Download... | Length: 30:25 | Size: 13MB | Downloads: 2854

posted by Jeff | Monday, March 12, 2007, 11:57 PM | comments: 0

Jeff, Greg and Pat review this week's news in the amusement industry.

  • Dubai Capital sells Tussauds to Blackstone in a relative quick flip.
  • Surprise! Mesa wins development project.
  • Joyland in trouble financially under new ownership.
  • Universal Orlando teases new Blue Man Group theater, starting in June. Blue Man fans might be more freakish than coaster geeks.
  • Safety Braking Corp. is suing everyone using magnetic bakes on their rides. Smells like SCO.
  • Developers back Anaheim in Disney suit against low-income housing in the neighborhood. Gonch is still on the fence.
  • If you have diarrhea, don't get in the pool. Some people got sick after visiting Great Wolf Lodge in Mason, for unknown reasons.
  • Pavilion rides will live on in Myrtle Beach.
  • Six Flags New Orleans still isn't going to open, and we wonder if it makes sense for it to ever open.
  • Kennywood gets hip with in-park video information system, and there will be text message stuff and interaction with guests.
  • No BeastBuzz this year, unfortunately.

CoasterBuzz Podcast #66 - March 5, 2007

Download... | Length: 41:59 | Size: 19MB | Downloads: 26356

posted by Jeff | Monday, March 5, 2007, 8:25 PM | comments: 0

Jeff and Pat review this week's news in the amusement industry.

  • Lake Compounce wants state to pay for road relocation. A classic case of finding the balance between a business being self-sustaining and looking at bigger picture economic impact.
  • Disney pulls the NIMBY card in Anaheim. Pat says it does go both ways.
  • Georgia wants to offer tax incentives to bringing new tourist stuff to the state. It worked for Kentucky.
  • Geauga Lake is not in a "death spiral." Can people over-react a little?
  • Is the smoke free in Ohio a business choice, or part of the new law?
  • Mall of America nails the Nickelodeon license. The locals miss the Peanuts, but we agree the new licensing is a win.
  • SeaWorld Orlando wants in to the water park action. It might be a market underserved in town.
  • Disney about to expand its hotel empire by thousands of rooms. Do you want to be a hotel on International Drive right now? There's your death spiral.