Are Parks Selling Themselves Out???

I am not an expert on the financial status of parks, but I really do wonder this:

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Are amusement parks selling themselves out for an extra buck generated from rides sponsored by products or services?

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The reason I mention this is because back when The Boomerang was new at Six Flags Darien Lake, it was sponsored by The Subway. I thought that was kind of cool... if unusual.

Then, I took notice this season when I attended Darien Lake. I looked around, and saw the following:
* Thunder Rapids Log Ride: Sponsored by Aquafresh
* Superman: Ride of Steel: Sponsored by AOL
* The Mind Eraser: Sponsored by Pringles
* The Viper: Sponsored by Stridex?!

Are parks whoring themselves out for an extra buck or two?
Where is the money going? Is it for the up-keep of the ride, or just some extra revenue overall?

Does your local park have rides also sponsored by products or services???
I'm curious on other parks around the country

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The Great Escape... Soon to become Six Flags Adrondiak Escape!!!

Unfortunatly, most parks are owned by mega-greed corporations. So they want all the money they can. Sponsers are a huge turnoff for me. Luckily
my CP only has Snake River Falls presented by Pepsi. The Summer Spectacular is presented by a corporation too. Parks are whoring themselves. Another thing I dispise is chain resteraunts in parks. You go to parks to get away from crap like that, I have been trying to stay clear of chain resteraunts for more than 6 years. Anyway I think going to a park and seeing a McDonalds Resteruant is terrible. It totally ruins the atmosphere. Even naming your rides like Superman and Batman is sponsering something, if not unoriginal.

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ZEPPELIN RULES *** This post was edited by no1 on 6/14/2001. ***

It has always been like that, especilly at Disneyland!

Yes to SFWoA. I hope CP never does this because, uggh, it would just be so terrible I'd never go back. That would just ruin the ride experience!;)

Also, our log ride was re-named to incorporate a comp. Deer Park Plunge, I guess that's bottled water.

One more thing, who really cares about the Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, etc. at SFWoA, they have the WL side that has awesome food, that isn't from a big corporation, guess you all don't need any food if your too fat or lazy to walk over there.

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"Villain-Once You Drop, The Fun Don't Stop!"~SFWoA Rules In 2001~X Marks The Spot In 2001(SFWoA)~With SFWoA ANYTHING Is Possible!

Corporate sponsorship is nothing new, and it's definitely not just a Six Flags thing. Ever go to Hersheypark? Besides Hershey foods several of the rides have corporate sponsors such as Matchbox, and Blue Cross & Blue Shield. Disney has had sponsors for years. If such things bother you, than I suggest that your not excited enough about the ride you're about to board! There truly are better things to get upset about.

You mean the Cuyahoga Logging Co. is now the Deer Park Plunge????? I was at the park today and didn't even notice! That is TERRIBLE! Almost as bad as "Playstation: The Ride."

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Coasters...the best natural buzz available.

Hmmm... at SFGAm-
Roaring Rapids: Aquafresh
Demon: Stridex
Sky Whirl: Delux Paints

I'm sure there are more, but that's all I can remember.

After going to the park today (and paying closer attention to this)-
Ice Mountain Splash (Yankee Clipper): Hmmm... Ice Mountain?
Iron Wolf: AOL *** This post was edited by Long Live The SKY WHIRL on 6/14/2001. ***

And alot of it has to do with BRAINWASHING and bully-ing. Six Flags is GREAT at this. They really should be ashamed of themselves, but I guess the VIPS gotta have those 3 or 4 car garages. I hope they're happy :>

It's actually way past the question if they are selling out or not... It's pretty obvious to me. How many parks truly care about the patron having a good day - and not how much they make. I guess Holiday World and Kennywood are pretty close. Six Flags? hehe :> Oh my!? 3 bux for a bottle of whatever bottled water, right outside a ride that's sponsored by whatever bottled water?

Money's the root of most evil.
Bill :>

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Ow! My lap bar IS down all the way.

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B&M-TYCOON said:
"Yes to SFWoA. I hope CP never does this because, uggh, it would just be so terrible I'd never go back. That would just ruin the ride experience!;)


LOL! I love your sarcasm...


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"Hi, my name is Lara Croft. Welcome to my world".

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What's so wrong with six flags or Cedar Fair making whatever profit they can from the operation of their parks. It's not like anyone is forcing you to go. You should be glad that these companies are making as much money as they are. The profits that these companies make go to pay off stockholders and to buy new rides. It would appear that some people are really spoiled and suffer from a severe case of class envy. Get over it people!

The little plaques at the end of the ride don't really do much to annoy me, so I'm alright with them. The thing that will most likely get on my nerves is that Aflax quack that they're going to play, hopefully not at SFGAm. Or maybe the fact that parks make you exit the queue lines into shops, but then again those are usually air conditioned, so that's probably an advantage. Unless it's the exit to Space Mountain MK, where the first time or two seeing the FedEx showcase is entertaining, but after a couple of times, the long escalator gets to be a detriment.
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"We are no longer the knights who say Ni! We are now the knights who say eckyeckyeckyeckypakungloopoingengzourjin." "Ni"

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PointMan said:
"What's so wrong with six flags or Cedar Fair making whatever profit they can from the operation of their parks... The profits that these companies make go to pay off stockholders and to buy new rides... "

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Actually, that's the problem. With these sponsors plastered all over the ride signs, I haven't noticed a lick of difference over ride improvement or even new attractions since they started (and they started this either this or last year).

It's a very recent occurance at Six Flags, and these parks see a way to make a cheap buck by essentially ruining part of the ride & even park experience (not the ride altogether, mind you) by plastering their sponsor name right on the sign of the ride name or where ever they can.

Will it become the NHL of corporate sponsors and you'll soon be seeing hanging banners of web sites, stores, beverages, and others along the queue lines on the popular rides??

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The Great Escape... Soon to become Six Flags Adrondiak Escape!!!

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Dawg Byte said:

Actually, that's the problem. With these sponsors plastered all over the ride signs, I haven't noticed a lick of difference over ride improvement or even new attractions since they started (and they started this either this or last year).

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The Great Escape... Soon to become Six Flags Adrondiak Escape!!!"

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I can think of some improvements. Let's see, there's X Flight, Batwing, X, V2, Titan, Goliath, S:UE. Shall I go on? I consider these improvements, don't you?

Stockholders are still getting their money. Frankly, I don't see the problem with corporate sponsorship. I also don't see a problem with corporations making a profit either. In fact, I think it's cool that people actually become rich in this country.

Someone mentioned Hersheypark...

Yeah, the bumpercars are "Matchbox Traffic Jam".

But the most obvious is that of the Giant Wheel. Ever since it was installed in the early 1970's it was called "The Giant Wheel" ("giant" as in "Large, big, huge") and on the hubs of each of its arms it had the Hersheypark multi coloured pinwheel design. Not having visited the park from the late 1980's to 1999, I am not sure when the change occured, but now each hub sports the name "GIANT" in the orange logo of Giant grocery stores (the same GIANT that has naming rights to the new GIANT Center).

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"Resistance is futile... you will be assimilated." The BORG's (and Six Flags') motto.

Hate to burst you alls collective bubbles, but parks have been doing sponsorships is not a "recent" event. Ever notice how all the cups in parks say "Pepsi" or "Coca Cola"? Ever notice the ads in the brochures? What about the local grocery store discounts? You think those are all just co-winky-dinks? Amusement Parks are a business, an entertainment business at that. Show me ONE entertainment industry that DOESN'T have corporate tie in. Go ahead, I dare ya!
jeremy
--this post has been brought to you by Nor-Mac, Inc.

Why sponsorship bothers people so much is oblivious to me.

Things to get bothered by in life:
1) World Hunger
2) Aids Epidemic
3) The Environment
4) Traffic
........
1000) Rides being sponsored by Corporations

Paramount`s Kings Island has always (for as long as I can remember) had rides or photo spots sponsored by companies. The most recent is Top Gun by Gilette Mach 3, the only chnage I`ve seen is that they touched up painton the coaster earlier this spring (even though it was painted for `99) Now, on the back of each car it says Gillete, and the crew, instead of wearing the cool flight suits, wear white shirt with a gillete tag pinned on. While it did get a fresh coat of paint, I don`t like the fact that they took away the flight suits which added to the theming of the ride.

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www.geocities.com/coastersrz I`ve riden Son of Beast 37 times!

I remember SFGAdv having sponsorship for as long as I can think of (at least since mid-80's and likely much longer). And tell me again how many "Photo spots" are *NOT* sponsored by Kodak, Fuji, or Polaroid. :)

I remember when Shockwave at SFGAM was sponsored by LA Gear. This was back in the early 90's. They had a display up in the queue line showing off their cheesy shoe's, it was pathetic.

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BMCOASTER

bmcoaster@wi.rr.com