Are Parks Selling Themselves Out???

Good'ol King's Island only has one sponsored ride...Top Gun. It is sponsored by Gilllette Mach 3... and it has there tacky logo on the back of the trains and on it's mural of an aircraft carrier. Also, when you return to the station... it anounces in a robot-ish sounding voice, "Gillette Mach 3 hopes you enjoyed your ride!"

VERY TACKY!!!

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Life is short, make it count...
I can handle rides being "sponsored" by a company, although putting the Gillette logo on the coaster cars themselves seems a little tacky.

What annoys me are the ads piped in via the TV monitors they have in the lines. Being at a park should be a fun experience you share with friends and family not just another chance to be bombarded with ads. If the ads get to the point where they detract from my experience at the park I'll be less likely to go back and I'll let the customer service people know that.

I tend to make a note of whose advertising annoys me the most and make it a practice to avoid buying their products.
At SFMM Riddler's Revenge was once sponcered by RCT :)

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Riddler's Revenge-Can You Stand It?
It seems the ads work you all remember who sponsors the diffrent coaster's.

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Army rangers lead the way
Everyone spends enough at the amusement park, this is just another way for the amusement park to get more money. It sure would be nice if the sponsors gave out free samples
At SFMW

Roar RCT
Boomerang MT Dew
Kong Tropikol Punch?

BMCOASTER said:
"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.
"



LMAO!!!!! LA Gear, what a joke! (Why do I find this so funny?...)

Long Live The SKY WHIRL said:
"

BMCOASTER said:
"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.
"



LMAO!!!!! LA Gear, what a joke! (Why do I find this so funny?...)"




Remember those LA GEAR Lights, when you made a step, lights would blink. I had a pair of those around '93.

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ZEPPELIN RULES
lol. I find that funny too, reminds me of the 80's and early 90's. What weird times. hehe.

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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!
Kumba is sponsored by Mountain Dew. There is a M. Dew sign next to the new Kumba sign on the entrance to the bridge to get to the ride.
Well, at best this sort of thing is tacky and it cheapens the park experience.

At worse, it eliminates another venue of escape the ever increasing corporate culture that dominates our worldview. We are constantly bombarded with advertising at every turn. Corporate sponsorship; product tie-ins, it's all part of the game. The never ending cycle of buy and consume.

Sure, the parks have the freedom to seek sponsorship but I want freedom from the pervasive commercialization. As parks gradually transform themselves into giant interactive commercials, I will gradually seek alternate means to spend my free time. It is hardly a benign issue and it is something to be concerned about.

As far as chain restaurants in parks goes, what's the point? Is the fear of the unfamiliar really so bad that we need everything to look and feel like every suburban corporate main street?

Commercialization quickly leads to homogenization and it won't be long before these parks lose their character, their individuality and their regional identity. But what does that matter? The economy isn't designed to care about such trivial matters.

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everything's better with a banjo
kpjb's avatar
I hate it, I hate it, I hate it...

That being said, is it even possible for a corporate entity to sell out?

They aren't there for anything but to take your money. The reason they build taller and faster isn't for some idealistic goal, but for profits. If the profits weren't there, the parks wouldn't be, either.

That being said, I hate it.

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Could you describe the ruckus?
Viper at SFGAm is sponsored by RCT, whic I think is cool. Incredible Hulk is sponsored by Panasonic.
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Bull rides:41
Batman rides:33

Intamin Fan said:
"Things to get bothered by in life:
3) The Environment"


That darn Environment. Always bothering me. I just wish they would get rid of it.

Sorry couldn't resist.

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/s/

millrace said:
"Well, at best this sort of thing is tacky and it cheapens the park experience."


ROTFLMAO!!!!!!!

"The park experience"? What a joke! I dont see how a small sign makes park enjoyment any less. Heck, lets even take it to an extreme level like in NASCAR racing where every inch of the driver's car and clothing is covered with somebody's logo. Does that make the races any less exciting? That's just garbage. If someone is really getting distracted by the 'corporate sponsorships' while at the park, it is my opinion that that individual had issuses with the corporations LONG before they entered the park. Most people dont take more than cursory notice of them. You can email me if you want to know how I *REALLY* feel....(scrunch17@hotmail.com)
lata,
jeremy

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An SFBrat who is resigned to the fact that the world is filled with Six Flags Haters....it's tragic that they waste their lives like that
"like in NASCAR racing where every inch of the driver's car and
clothing is covered with somebody's logo. Does that make the races any less exciting?"


I don't think Nascar would be exciting no matter what the sponsorship was like :) But yes, corporate sponsorship does cheapen the park experience. I don't want to go out of my way and in many cases pay for the privilege of being sold a bunch of crap. I want to leave a park having enjoyed a fun day not feel like my television exploded and painted my whole world with obnoxious commercial messages.


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everything's better with a banjo *** This post was edited by millrace on 6/15/2001. ***
YES OMG! Those little signs that are barely noticeable bother my experience so much I cannot even go back!

C'mon people, listen to yourselves. Whining about sponsorship? Take a look at TV, without commercials it wouldn't exist. Tacky? Some people you just can't please. If you don't like what's in the park, don't go.

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.:| Brandon Rodriguez |:.
http://www.coasters2k.com
Unfortunately if you want parks to continue to exist as well build bigger and better rides each and every year they need the revenues that come from corporate sponsorship.

Some parks have found a perfect balance of sponsorship which allows them to run a the park well while still having some money left over. Every few years, they have enough money to install a good ride. The GP enjoys these parks for their friendly, no-pressure atmospheres.

Others parks are ruthless, if the sponsors are willing to pay, then they stick their advertisements every and anywhere they fit. They always have plenty of cash to build the biggest and best rides around. The GP is willing to overlook these over-commercialization because of the thrills they offer.

But as we all can attest, can't buy love and it certainly doesn't guarantee a great ride. A great ride is a great ride!

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/s/
Maybe they should get rid of the advertisements and increase admission prices to make up for it.

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