Cedar Fair/Paramount Parks conference call notes posted to PointBuzz

Well, it's not definite, DawgByte II. It's only if Cedar Fair negotiates to continue using the characters and if they decide to use them at their other parks. But, if they do, then I could see them added to ALL of their parks, including Geauga Lake. Adding the Nicktoons to GL might help them with their 'family park' atmosphere that they've been trying to promote. They would also fill a HUGE gap in their kids area.

I also possibly see the Peanuts gang going to the former Paramount parks, as well. Snoopy is still a very popular character and is a very lucrative merchandising tool!

The Nick license is good for 4 years at the current parks, with an option to extend it to other parks for an additional price. The movie license is good for 10 years but with a buyout clause which can be invoked at anytime. Currently Cedar Fair is going to keep the Nick license at least for the next 4 years, and the movie license are still being thought about.

This information comes from the press conference call, someone asked a close question, and that is what Kinzel said (at least I think that was who was talking:) )

Regarding a CF regional monopoly on big parks in the Midweat and Northeast, this is not quite true. The Great America that they acquired is PGA in California, not SFGAm in Illinois. Regarding competition, there are also HP and several Six Flags parks in the Northeast. Also, KW and HW are on the way to becoming major parks in the future. KW is taking care of its land problems and is just waiting for a new highway to go in. Meanwhile, HW continues to expand and broaden its appeal. And what about LC? There could be big things in store for this park 5 or 10 years down the road. It's location and setting give it tremendous potential to grow.

Lake Compounce is kinda up above New York. Hersheypark would be a better example.

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I wonder what they will do with sob?

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"Paging Mr. Kernacs, paging Mr. Kernacs. Retracking request now available in aisle three..."

Maybe not immediately, but depending on how well El Toro is received, I could almost see Cedar Fair asking Intamin (for instance) to take a look at Sonny and see what's salvagable.

I believe Arthur is correct. And with SFKK, SFSL, SFGA, all in general vicinity with HW and IB in the mix, plus the number of parks in Penn, I don't think its a monopoly. There is still plenty of choice, especially if you're a fan of woodies. Besides, there will be no monopoly as long as Six Flags sees itself as the major coaster competitor with CF.

And Nick vs. Snoopy is a no-brainer. Sure Snoopy has done well, but could something more modern and contemporary (whose author isn't dead) be more profitable? There are no Snoopy movies coming to theater, all Sunday paper Snoopy are redo's from years ago, and many kids don't know that much about him or the peanuts gang. Snoopy is a fun little character that we get to see skating around a Xmas tree on tv every winter, but he is no SpongeBob for preteens, and definitely no Dora for the pre-k. My bet would be CF takes Nick company wide.

Regarding the Northeast, CF has two parks in that region, DP and CW, three if you count PKD. Six Flags is the dominant chain there with SFNE, La Ronde, TGE, SFDL, SFGA, and SFA. Six Flags has the largest parks in New England, Quebec, New York, New Jersey, and Maryland. Certainly lots of competition for CF in the Northeast. The only place where CF has really gained an entire "color group" is Ohio. Now that state is a lot like the way Texas used to be before SFAW closed.

GregLeg said: "Maybe not immediately, but depending on how well El Toro is received, I could almost see Cedar Fair asking Intamin (for instance) to take a look at Sonny and see what's salvagable.

*Grabs construction checklist*
"Let's see here....lift, check, loop, check, brake run, check. The rest, well, let's just call the NEW ride Sonny's Revenge".... ;)