Archive: April, 2009

CoasterBuzz Podcast #138 - April 27, 2009

Download... | Length: 47:39 | Size: 21MB | Downloads: 6112

posted by Jeff | Monday, April 27, 2009, 11:37 AM | comments: 0

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

  • Mike is about to be a dad for the second time. He's not that involved in naming.
  • PointBuzz posts a preview for Cedar Point, including Magnum photos. Magnum is celebrating its 20th anniversary.
  • Six Flags sent to the ghetto of stock trading.
  • A Walt Disney museum is coming together for San Francisco for a price of $110 million.
  • Cedar Fair declares its much lower quarterly distribution.
  • Cedar Fair may have a deal for the excess land sale around Canada's Wonderland.
  • Universal Orlando takes a big attendance hit for the quarter, though a lot of it is the movement of the Easter holiday between quarters. Those parks are streaky in attendance.
  • Alton Towers neighbors complain over Nemesis noise, this time caused by new wheels of a different material. Gonch says they have the right to complain.
  • People gather to do something, or maybe nothing, about Geauga Lake's Big Dipper.
  • Freestyle adds kids rides, Gonch says it will have zero impact on the park. Mike thinks the ride names are dumb.
  • Universal Studios Florida coaster is delayed while they pimp the "new" elements of the ride.
  • An industry exec tells Jeff that a debt-for-equity swap in Six Flags wouldn't be all that bad, since the company certainly is loaded with assets.
  • New Orleans wants the buy-out deal back on the table for Six Flags' lease. Ain't going to happen with Six Flags' future status in limbo.
  • We appreciate your support of CoasterBuzz by joining the club. It's still just $20 per year.

CoasterBuzz Podcast #137 - April 20, 2009

Download... | Length: 1:02:55 | Size: 28MB | Downloads: 6267

posted by Jeff | Monday, April 20, 2009, 3:57 PM | comments: 0

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

  • Recap of the party on a boat, which Gonch missed. Jeff is happily married now.
  • Adventureland suffers from indifferent reviews, and Jeff thinks it was sold completely wrong. Kennywood is more or less just a background for the story.
  • Diamondback opens at Kings Island and it is good. Gonch and Jeff take a number of spins and are surprised at the intensity. Listen for a complete review.
  • Opening day at Kings Island yields enormous lines for Diamondback, and the public appear to love it.
  • CoasterBuzz posts HD video of Diamondback, starring Gonch.
  • Hard Rock Park former owners own the IP? Seriously? Does it matter now that they've changed it to the horrible name, Freestyle Music Park?
  • Six Flags may be facing bankruptcy, but the management team is looking at potential bonuses for getting them through it. The hate toward anyone making a lot of money ignores the skill required to lead a company.
  • Universal Hollywood is getting the Google Maps street view treatment. It's creepy, but incredibly useful.
  • Ghost Town bankruptcy causes a chain reaction to small businesses that served it.
  • Coney Island drama continues, as NYC makes play to buy some of the property owned by Thor Equities.
  • Virginia parks saying things are starting out well. We hate the term "staycation," but are the parks positioned for success in this economy? Gonch thinks so.
  • Researchers put out attendance report but Jeff is annoyed that they don't establish credibility or show their methodology. Busch Entertainment says they're about 10% off.
  • Universal Orlando is trying to sell itself to consumers like it's a used car dealer, according to surveys they're sending out. Jeff is annoyed that they want to compete on price instead of the awesome experiences they can offer.
  • Orlando parks do well over the Easter holiday time. Is this an indication of economic recovery or the heavy discounting?
  • Waldameer's Disk-O is going up, and they're pretty cool rides. The stand-up version is kind of weird.
  • Jeff and Gonch got to ride Diamondback with the mayor of Cincinnati, and it was entertaining.
  • We appreciate your support of CoasterBuzz by joining the club. It's still just $20 per year.