Kumba Closing

It had become pretty rough when last I was on it - https://www.themeparkinside...607/12552/

How does BGT have $100MM for capital investment (even if you spread it over several years)???

So who decided that August 2nd was the day that coasters should die?

First ArieForce One and now this?

I'm beginning to dislike 8/2....

Later,
EV

Kumba’s Revenge sounds fun

CreditWh0re:

How does BGT have $100MM for capital investment (even if you spread it over several years)???

What’s $100 million between friends when you’re already in $2.5bn of debt?

They still haven't announced what's replacing the flume and Scorpion. I have a feeling Kumba's Revenge is going to look a lot like a SBNO Kumba for quite a while.

Back in its prine I never would have thought this park would become such a shell of itself.

EchoVictor:

So who decided that August 2nd was the day that coasters should die?

First ArieForce One and now this?

I'm beginning to dislike 8/2...

Clearly it's because they're moving Arie Force One to Tampa on August 3rd.

CreditWh0re:

How does BGT have $100MM for capital investment (even if you spread it over several years)???

I suspect they're multiplying the actual investment cost by at least x2 for marketing purposes.

The park already has a successful RMC conversion, but what about a single-rail, revenge-laden ride for that spot?

A non inverting stateside version of Shambhala has been my dream for a long time. That park is perhaps best suited of any major in America to get one.

they won’t.

That would be great. The park could really use another coaster without inversions. Even after Kumba being removed, 5 out of 7 of the park's non kids coasters have at least 1 inversion.

I'm also hoping, but not expecting, that part of that $100 million investment includes a few flats. With the rapids closed and the sky ride either not running because of weather or closed for the day early there are are almost no other rides that aren't kids rides or coasters. The rest of the rides are just the train, bumper cars, carousel, Serengeti Flyer and Falcon's Fury (when it's not broken down) .

Richard Bannister:

I suspect they're multiplying the actual investment cost by at least x2 for marketing purposes.

$100m is likely across the whole group, the articles are a little ambiguous and avoid saying they're specifically spending it on BGT "this is part of our $100m investment that will elevate Busch Gardens Tampa". Very neat use of words that sounds like spending all in one park but doesn't commit as such

EchoVictor:
I'm beginning to dislike 8/2....

Not from the US, so I could be wrong, but I would guess end of the main school holidays? In August there's still international tourism as UK/EU schools are out through to the end of August but not as many tourists visit BGT from Orlando to make it worth holding it open longer I'd bet.

There's usually at least a couple weeks more of summer vacation here - in Ohio, my nerphs' school resumes August 17. (And Kings Island and Kings Dominion both end daily operations at the end of the previous week.)

I get that Kumba hasn't been in great shape for years, but it stands out as one of the best loopers I've ridden. This one hurts a little.

This one hurts a fair bit for me. Kumba has been my favorite looper since my first ride in ~1997. Perhaps I’m being too dramatic, but it feels like the beginning of the end of an era.

First day of school is 8/11 in the Orange County district. Sometimes it's even earlier. Our spring breaks down here are typically a week earlier, too.

This past week (Last Saturday/Sunday) and this coming Saturday and Sunday, are now some of the busiest summer travel days (if not the busiest). It's the last week that most parents are willing to do the big family vacation . If School starts on 8/8 or around there, no one is taking the family to Florida 7/31-8/6. Yes I know many New England schools and West Coast schools are still anchored to the first Tuesday after Labor Day as back to school date. That is long gone for most of the midwest and South East. As such there's a huge drop off in Florida travel by 7/31.

This is the new normal