Archive: July, 2007

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

• Houston wants tax incentives to attract a "green" theme park. Jeff points out that there's actually great economic opportunity around environmental concerns.
• British travel firms are jacking up costs for Orlando vacations, and not surprisingly, are being undercut by online agencies.
• Hotel perk programs have way too many strings to be practical or useful (see: Loews First).
• Cedar Fair mandates life jackets for the under-four-foot kids on certain water attractions following drowning. Gonch thinks people get stupid when they go to amusement parks.
• Six Flags stock recommended by S&P, and then the stock takes a dump.
• Merlin does the sell and lease back move to generate some cash.
• New Gerstlauer spinner at Edmonton Mall. Love the custom job there.
• New Dollywood water ride sounds like another sweet addition. Gonch says the park is not more navigable.
• Jeff doesn't care much for New Jersey, but Gonch reminds us that Bon Jovi is from there.
• Rye Playland sure doesn't seem to have much of a future. As for the small parks all disappearing thing, Jeff points out there are plenty that are thriving.
• Kennywood suit for storm death starts backward, with damages determined, but liability yet to come.
• Starliner: Who cared before they threatened to tear it down?
• The flyer is up for the CoasterBuzz Club Fall Affair. Download it now!

Jeff, Pat and special guest Rick Munarriz from The Motley Fool review this week's news in the amusement industry.

• We welcome Rick to explain what the NY Post article could really mean for Cedar Fair.
• Rick first gives a basic explanation of what a private equity firm is.
• How many times EBITDA is too much to pay for a company?
• While the Post article mentions retaining management in a buy-out, it's not a realistic condition of a sale.
• Cedar Fair's quarterly results tend to show stagnation on a same-park basis. Rick thinks that if the company really is looking to sell, it's an admission that the Paramount acquisition isn't going that well so far.
• Where did the 25 cent cotton candy go?
• Jeff needs to complain some more about food pricing, while Gonch says it's not all that bad.
• Rick says his point in saying Disney would be a good buyer is that it would give them a regional marketing position they don't have now.
• Wild West World files for bankruptcy already, and clearly didn't consider start up costs to run it for several years.
• There's opposition to Disneyland's fight against low income housing, but what real chance does it stand?
• The Columbus Zoo picks a terrible name for the former Wyandot Lake.
• Lawsuit filed for Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom, and we'll probably never know how it ends.
• Jeff is annoyed by "journalists" who write stupid columns.

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

• Jeff and Gonch drink too much soda at the parks.
• So long and thanks for all the fish: Question of dolphin exploitation comes up again.
• Expert says that ride maintenance at Japanese parks is sorely lacking.
• Dorney is getting the Impulse from Geauga Lake. Pat doesn't understand why the park doesn't compete more with other parks in that region.
• Hershey Entertainment CEO has big plans for the area, beyond the park itself.
• Newspaper article outlines the inspection habits of Ohio Dept. of Agriculture.
• Universal Studios will bring New Line characters into Halloween events on both coasts.
• Six Flags has some varied and odd deals for season pass holders and the people they want to bring.
• Jeff rants about the "airtime" needs of enthusiasts.
• Jeff also rants about the newsworthiness of deaths on rides not related to the mechanical operation of the attraction.
• Six Flags experiences seem to be generally better this year, except in Dan Snyder's back yard (Six Flags America).
• Lower height requirements make for a better family experience.