Cedar Fair in talks on $4.1 billion takeover

Ugh. Whatever.

I'm going to do something I hardly ever do. I'm going to shut up. This isn't some kind of admission of being proven wrong or having run out of answers, it's just the realization that we're all going around in circles, all talking out of both sides of our mouths to a certain degree as we scramble for ways to support what we're saying- or trying to say. Maybe we're all in the same general area, maybe we're not... all I know is that we're on completely different planes and there's no chance of finding anything resembling common ground.

There are plenty of other conversations taking place right now that I'd rather dedicate my energy towards, so I'm bowing out of this one that's clearly not going anywhere after me having said all I really want to say.

It's been a pleasure, gentlemen. See you in the next debate, I suppose. History shows it won't be long...

*** Edited 7/31/2007 6:42:48 PM UTC by Rob Ascough***

How could you all argue right through that titillating conference call? I mean, the drama was incredible. (yawn).

One interesting thing I got out of the call was that they are starting to see signs of a rebound of the Detroit market for Cedar Point. That is a good sign.

The other thing I found interesting was that the Cleveland market is still soft for Cedar Point, but as I understand it Geauga Lake is having a decent year. Perhaps the Cleveland market is taking gas prices into consideration and giving GL another chance.

Re: Detroit: Lord only knows why, though. Our real estate and employment markets are down even farther this year than this time last year.

However, the auto industry is finally beginning to show signs of financial health.

GM Profitable for 3rd Straight Quarter

Profitability Returns for Ford

I can tell you, anecdotally of course, that it seems like Geauga Lake is more busy than last year. Although I hope that the oddly cool (though dry) July didn't hurt attendance.

While on the anecdotal/CP region topic, I'd add that the company I work for (a company in the auto industry) has really started to stabilize. This time last year, most employees weren't even working full time, myself included. This summer, I'm working 50 hour weeks, and the overall health of the company is great.

There's been quite a lot of shake up in terms of the exodus and assimilation of engineers throughout the various satellite industries (we've got people here now that used to work for Ford, GM, Toyota, etc), and the blue collar sector still seems to be struggling more than others.

However, I'm personally in a much better position to make trips to CP than I was last year, without question. How that translates to the region as a whole is hard to say, obviously, but things sure sound better than they have recently.

:)

Cool July? Man, that never happened when I lived up there.

I didn't think July was cool at all. Granted, it was less humid due to the incredible lack of rain.

Well, my low electric bill says I haven't used the air conditioning much, and in fact I don't actually remember the last day that I did. Wait, yes I do, it was July 3, which was really humid.

I have yet to visit Geauga Lake :(

Yet I've visited CP, MiA, KI, Carowinds, KD with my pass. What's wrong with me?

Say what you will about GL losing X-Flight and Steel Venom, the park is still underpriced for everything available. I just wish they wouldn't have the horrendous food pricing otherwise I'd eat at the parks more.

BTW, I saw Dippin Dots at CP on Sunday the 29th going for $4, $5, and $7. Is this something new? I thought Dippin Dots was $5.50 and $7.50 at the beginning of this year. It's crazy what perception can do to you. I actually thought about buying one.

~Rob Willi

Yea, CP's DD were that expensive in June. I'm going to CP tomorrow, and i'll definately get me some for that bargain!

And what happened to this conversation about CF?

Not sure if it was mentioned, because this topic has took a turn, that I don't want to backtrack through. But it was on the News in Columbus, that Cedar Fairs being bought was a rumor. And some other company who has been lately expected as the buyer, has claimed that they are not in partnership with Cedar Fairs.

i'm still confused how...nevermind. Mind was taken over, I still want some Dippin' Dots.

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Jeff said:
I can tell you, anecdotally of course, that it seems like Geauga Lake is more busy than last year. Although I hope that the oddly cool (though dry) July didn't hurt attendance.

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But what do university researchers and the department of labor say?

Your sarcasm is really boring me. Did I declare they were doing better? I said I've seen more people there than I did last year. I did not draw any "factual" conclusions from that.

Wow, nobody told me it was my job to keep the webmaster from being bored. Sorry. I just find it amusing that anecdotal data is sufficient to back some people's opinions while for others it's worthless and hard statistical data must be provided.

And anyway, if globalization and outsourcing are such wonderful things and twice as many jobs are being created, why is there still the mention of the economy in Detroit and Cleveland being so depressed? It's been one of the ongoing excuses for why Cedar Point and Geauga have had flat or declining attendance. Unless thost folks are supposed to commute to Arizona and Nevada each day.

OK, I'm getting off my soapbox for now. Cue the Leslie Gore music.

Dude, which part aren't you getting. I said it was anecdotal. I'm not drawing any conclusions. Rob said because he saw things, it meant that off-shoring was killing the country, even though actual data shows that's not true. What's so hard about understanding the difference?

The economy does suck here. What does that have to do with anything? I can't speak for Detroit (save for the fact that the American auto industry hasn't gotten it right in at least a decade), but here in Cleveland, there has been zero adaptation to what the world needs. You could write a book on Cleveland's failure to maintain a solid economy. I wouldn't blame it at all on off-shoring either.

To sum up this thread I will use a quote from Kevin Smith's "Clerks" but I'll make it family friendly.

"Either crap or get off the can."

If whatever you are doing sucks and you're poor then quit whining and find something else to do and love what you do or make more money. That's how the system works. It's that simple.

I could be anecdotal evidence as well. I love my job! I get paid decently but not to the point where I'm well off and I know I can only go so far. My benefits are a little shaky, but again I love my job. I get paid for playing with computer stuff all day and that makes me happy. If I feel that I should be making more or having a better job, then I'll look for one.

So what about this CF takeover?

~Rob Willi

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Rob Ascough said:

I doubt that many people that spent the time and pay the money to study law and medicine are going to move in a different direction.

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I have a J.D. and I don't practice law. Two of my three best friends from law school (all of whom graduated) aren't practicing law either.

There are plenty of people who don't even follow a career path after they've got a graduate degree.

Sadly, I'm doing exactly what my undergradate and post-graduate degrees might have suggested. ;)

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Jeff said:

The economy does suck here. What does that have to do with anything? I can't speak for Detroit (save for the fact that the American auto industry hasn't gotten it right in at least a decade), but here in Cleveland, there has been zero adaptation to what the world needs. You could write a book on Cleveland's failure to maintain a solid economy. I wouldn't blame it at all on off-shoring either.

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What does it have to do with anything? Since someone mentioned there was a study that stated for every job that was outsourced by a multi-national corporation (btw, when an American company sends jobs overseas, does that then make them multi-national?) two American jobs were created. But how many of those new jobs are created in the same region where the original jobs are lost? What consolation is it to someone who lost a job in Ohio or PA that two jobs were created in California?

You mentioned that Detroit hasn't gotten it right for a decade. Possibly, but I bet the execs are still making their 800x the average worker's pay.

Cleveland probably isn't that much different than Philly or any of the old industrial cities in the northeast and midwest. They're all run by political machines that have been in place since the depression. They still run things like they're in the New Deal not a new century.

Maybe Ohio and Pennsylvania should figure out what California is doing right?