Quiet Years without coasters?
Not anytime soon.
I think as long as it's profitable to do so, parks will continue to build - even if at a slower rate than what we have become used to.
Jacob
-------------
http://www.PKIGuide.com
I think as long as it's profitable to do so, parks will continue to build - even if at a slower rate than what we have become used to.
Jacob
-------------
http://www.PKIGuide.com
You could discuss this on so many levels that it would get silly. I'll spare the theories on cycles of popularity, how the internet has effected park/coaster popularity, etc. and leave you with a simple fact:
The last year that no new coasters opened in North America was 1970.
Before that it was 1965, 1962, 1957, 1954, 1953.
So we only have 1 year out of the last 35 that no new coasters opened in North America.
Going back farther, 6 out of the last 51 years saw no new coasters open.
The above fact may not be 100% accurate - if anyone knows of any coasters that opened in North America on any of the above years, then please post the info here.
The last year that no new coasters opened in North America was 1970.
Before that it was 1965, 1962, 1957, 1954, 1953.
So we only have 1 year out of the last 35 that no new coasters opened in North America.
Going back farther, 6 out of the last 51 years saw no new coasters open.
The above fact may not be 100% accurate - if anyone knows of any coasters that opened in North America on any of the above years, then please post the info here.
The building craze of the past few years is the exception, not the rule. I won't go as far as to say we will see a year where no new coasters are built, but we will quite possibly see a "slow down". And of course, when that happens, there will probably be cries of protest from the "enthusiast" community… "We want more… we want bigger… we want faster… we want different!"
As stated in another post somewhere on these boards, it used to be "I wonder when if [insert park name here] is going to get another coaster?" Now it is "[insert park name here] didn't give us a new coaster this year… That stinks…" (and some go complaining to the park and also threaten to never go back there again). The building boom of the past few years is unusual, and many have become spoiled by it. The evidence is on these boards. I can remember reading posts, even before the season began, of not what people were looking forward to this summer, but already trying to speculate (and in some places complain) about what was on its way for 2002.
While browsing these boards, I have come to see a very jaded and spoiled attitude that is spreading out there. "If its steel and not 200 feet tall or does not have 5+ inversions or is no longer a world record holder" it is not worthy. "If it is wood and is not 150 feet tall or is under 4000 feet in length or does not have the perfect type of train or has one too many trims or is no longer a world record holder" it is not worthy. In another post someone was talking about the RUMORED removal of American Eagle next year at SFGrAmr. The statement was made that American Eagle is "old". It was built in 1981… only 20 years ago. Look at all of the wooden masterpieces out there that are much older. In the south central and eastern parts of PA we have 5 wooden coasters that are over 50 years old (one of them is 99 years old). Granted, all have been overhauled or "rebuilt" (and one moved from Texas and rebuilt), but these are all great rides. They are not the 150 foot high, mile + long monstrosities that are built simply to claim a record… monstrosities that are highly anticipated but yet oh so critically blasted by some (and complained about by others because of heavy breaking needed so they do not tear themselves apart).
So… getting back on topic and off my rant… I believe that we will see a slow down in the building frenzy. And with it, I also fear that there were will be a major out cry from some, bemoaning the fact that "the industry is dying" or "[insert park name here] needs a record breaker" or "[insert park name here] has got to build another coaster to reclaim the title" etc etc etc.
When the slow down happens, it is not the end of the world. Don't complain, don't cry, don't boycott. Do go out to the parks and ride the great rides that are already there, do go out to new parks and experience some of the coasters that you have not yet ridden, do (and above all) go out to the parks and have FUN.
-------------
"I wasn't always this cynical, but then I started kindergarden..."
As stated in another post somewhere on these boards, it used to be "I wonder when if [insert park name here] is going to get another coaster?" Now it is "[insert park name here] didn't give us a new coaster this year… That stinks…" (and some go complaining to the park and also threaten to never go back there again). The building boom of the past few years is unusual, and many have become spoiled by it. The evidence is on these boards. I can remember reading posts, even before the season began, of not what people were looking forward to this summer, but already trying to speculate (and in some places complain) about what was on its way for 2002.
While browsing these boards, I have come to see a very jaded and spoiled attitude that is spreading out there. "If its steel and not 200 feet tall or does not have 5+ inversions or is no longer a world record holder" it is not worthy. "If it is wood and is not 150 feet tall or is under 4000 feet in length or does not have the perfect type of train or has one too many trims or is no longer a world record holder" it is not worthy. In another post someone was talking about the RUMORED removal of American Eagle next year at SFGrAmr. The statement was made that American Eagle is "old". It was built in 1981… only 20 years ago. Look at all of the wooden masterpieces out there that are much older. In the south central and eastern parts of PA we have 5 wooden coasters that are over 50 years old (one of them is 99 years old). Granted, all have been overhauled or "rebuilt" (and one moved from Texas and rebuilt), but these are all great rides. They are not the 150 foot high, mile + long monstrosities that are built simply to claim a record… monstrosities that are highly anticipated but yet oh so critically blasted by some (and complained about by others because of heavy breaking needed so they do not tear themselves apart).
So… getting back on topic and off my rant… I believe that we will see a slow down in the building frenzy. And with it, I also fear that there were will be a major out cry from some, bemoaning the fact that "the industry is dying" or "[insert park name here] needs a record breaker" or "[insert park name here] has got to build another coaster to reclaim the title" etc etc etc.
When the slow down happens, it is not the end of the world. Don't complain, don't cry, don't boycott. Do go out to the parks and ride the great rides that are already there, do go out to new parks and experience some of the coasters that you have not yet ridden, do (and above all) go out to the parks and have FUN.
-------------
"I wasn't always this cynical, but then I started kindergarden..."
I think we'll see some refocusing on quality rides. One-upmanship can only go so far before it's too expensive. I think that's part of the reason PKI is spending big bucks on Tomb Raider, to differentiate themselves. Ohio now has three parks with ten or more coasters. I doubt the public cares which one has a few more, it's probably more important that the park nearest to them has a good selection.
In other words, I wouldn't put it past someone like Cedar Point to build a smaller coaster. After all, they already have the tallest steel coaster in the US, and we know they're not crazy about huge wood coasters, so what else can they really do?
The real shame is that, from this point on, any of the parks with major big deal new rides that build something smaller for their next ride (CP, PKI, SFMM, SFWoA, SFGAm, etc.) are likely to catch a lot of crap from enthusiasts because of the aforementioned jadedness that is running rampant. It's like people forget that said parks already have a number of rides that are among the best in their class.
-------------
Jeff
Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com
In other words, I wouldn't put it past someone like Cedar Point to build a smaller coaster. After all, they already have the tallest steel coaster in the US, and we know they're not crazy about huge wood coasters, so what else can they really do?
The real shame is that, from this point on, any of the parks with major big deal new rides that build something smaller for their next ride (CP, PKI, SFMM, SFWoA, SFGAm, etc.) are likely to catch a lot of crap from enthusiasts because of the aforementioned jadedness that is running rampant. It's like people forget that said parks already have a number of rides that are among the best in their class.
-------------
Jeff
Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com
You must be logged in to post
