^Almost no one reads retractions/corrections on the back page of the paper....*everyone* reads the headlines on the front page. The update really doesn't carry half as much weight as the original misleading article. Cedar Fair (IMO) pulled some shenanigans and misled the auction people, knowing full well that some "troublemaker(s)" in the crowd would try to argue that the facts aren't exactly as CF spelled them out.
Regardless, there's really nothing ACE could have done by themselves, other than serving potentially as a resource for a potential buyer...the facts of all this probably will never really be known. 
The ONLY good news I can see right now - El Dorado being relocated. Also TRYING to remain optimistic that "the" coaster, Dipper, could sit as a museum piece until some genius figures out it could be a bigger draw *operating*.