BGW 2017

It would be interesting data to have, but pretty hard to collect.

I'm sure there are people who will delay going to a park in year x because they're building something big in x+1, especially in competitive markets with lots of choice. But I'd bet $5 enthusiasts generally overstate / overthink the effect on forums such as this. I just can't imagine it makes that significant and impact on the bottom line.

So essentially while we can't think of any reasons not to promote a year in advance, there's still really no obvious reason to do it either.

I've been scratching my head for a while about this. Not that I'm not glad for the information, but this is sooooo far in advance. I know we, as a subset, will lose interest in the news of this family ride presently, with a pick up closer to opening. But can we assume the park will be able to maintain the interest (through social media I suppose) of an entire vacation-going public for the rest of the time?
If it was a big ride surrounded by history and mystery, like Verbolten, or a really unique family ride like Firechaser was for Dollywood, I could see it.

Maybe it just comes down to an entire department sitting around down there with not much to do these days...

Something for the PR department to talk about given the underwhelming 2016 additions celebrating "40 years of fun"?

Yeah, it just seems like odd timing.

Is it possible that this early marketing effort is an attempt to show investors that they're serious about investing in their parks? Keep in mind that it's not just BGW that is doing this. SeaWorld San Diego is already advertising their new for 2017 Ocean Explorer attraction, and SeaWorld San Antonio has announced the addition of a new roller coaster.