CF Cleans house at GL

Yes, Mamoosh, but there is NOTHING now to be left of Sea World, and that is what I saw as making SFWoA as special and unique. That's my point...not what I wanted to see stay, but what will CF have to take out that will make you not want to return?

Nothing I went to the old park for is going anywhere. With the prospect of the parts I went for being run better, it'll be my first return to the park in years.

Wahoo is right... CF didn't promise anything in the conference call and I seem to recall they mentioned evaluating the current staff. I know from talking to people that day that everyone would have to interview for their jobs, and that's certainly not any different from any acquisition.

We can complain about seasonals all we want, but at the end of the day, they had to answer to someone responsible. Get rid of them, start over, get it right.

midwave - I'll return to the park and support it until it closes, god forbid.

Jeff, when was the last time you were at either SFWoA/SFOhio/GL/SeaWorldOhio? Last time I was at Cedar Point was 20 years ago, and we left in a flash that night, after seeing a waterspout coming off of Lake Erie. I must bring in the bad weather to Cedar Point, so be glad I don't visit :)

I want to say it was 2002 on comp tickets from a friend working in maintenance. Having him point out everything wrong was kind of interesting, because from a maintenance standpoint, things were far worse than I would've imagined. Not getting on Villain or S:UE that day confirmed that I made the right decision to not buy a pass that year. 2001 was the last year I had a pass.

It is my understanding that roughly half of the full-time SF employees have lost their jobs. A small handful of those people may have been offered positions at other Six Flags parks.

Again, while many of those that lost their jobs are certainly upset and likely in a bit of shock...they all knew there was a chance this could happen. Cedar Fair has been very up front about that since the beginning.

Well from working personally with a lot of these people I wish them the best of luck as many were trully great people that have been working at either park for years. SF really screwed them over, I know they could have done great things if allowed too, but all SF cared about was making a buck and how to save a buck. Spend the cash to hire enough ops and staff them, then you'll see the rest of your parks turn around.

Yeah, I'm curious about this lie the insider claims CF made during the conference call. A rough summary of what I heard that day was "We've made no decisions regarding staffing, except that all full time employees will be evaluated ASAP."

Having not closed the deal yet, though, isn't this a little like moving your furniture into a house you haven't been to the closing for yet? I mean, I know they have to get ready for the season, but a deal isn't really a deal until the closing documents are signed.

here's a quote from my transcript that day

"All hiring being evaluated... decisions made before closing regarding staffing. Full time individuals currently being evaluated."

So, insider, where's the lie?

For all intensive purposes, it's a done deal. CF employees have been at the park for at least a couple of weeks now getting familiar with the operation.

It is my understanding that the folks staying on in maintenance were told it is a new day. Rides will be maintained, repaired immediately when needed, all trains will be operated, you'll get the supplies you need.

For those staying on board I suspect it is going to be an eye-opening experience...and one they will probably appreciate given what they have been operating under for a while now.

You know that has to be a great feeling for those maintenance folks. (and for that matter anyone left at the park after the takeover) One season your scraping to get by, running rides at bare minimum capacity, and then the next season you get this new wave of hope.

I kinda can relate to them in a way. During a management takeover of another franchise restaraunt, I went up there to take over the managers position and all those poor employees basically worshiped the ground I walked on because I treated them the way they were supposed to be. I gave them supplies and the freedom to do their job the way they know is right and conversely they worked their asses off for me and turned that store around to what it is today. (in fact, business at that location has nearly doubled, the inspection scores have risen dramatically, and the employee retention rate is at an all time high) N

It's Intents and purposes, Wahoo...but I agree with the rest of your post...

Interesting that some people want to blame CF, yet SF are the ones that abandoned the park(and smartly so IMO). It is not unusual for new companies to want to hire and train their own staff.

redman...you are the first person ever to correct me on that. I can't believe I have been saying it wrong all these years. Thanks...I sure feel stupid now.

Listen...the bottom line is that people's lives are begin turned upside down. Nobody can be happy about that. I feel for these people and I don't even know most of them.

But, that is the cold reality of business. If Cedar Fair went in and made no changes at all to the way things were run then what would be the point?

For the conspiracy theory folks that think CF bought the park to just close it, I think these actions prove your point...well...pointless. CF wants that park to be successful and they are now making the first of what will be many changes to make that success happen.

Anways interesting some of those people may or may not have deserved to be fired some of them were almost set up to fail because of crummy budgeting and corporate issues. *** Edited 10/15/2004 4:06:53 AM UTC by Commish***

I'm sort of in agreement with Jeff here - how exactly did some of you get SO attached the animal park when it was part of the deal for what, 2 years? maybe 3? I don't even remember now. It was a flash in the pan, and it sorta singed the kitchen at that, so why does it's disappearance make you want to boycott the current park? You got something extra for three years, now it's gone and you find no redeeming qualities in what was originally there? That's rather sad.

The high and low of the last ten years in Aurora is basically that;

Sea World went out of business.

Period. If people had really cared about the quality of Sea World, it's shows, it's animals, etc., they would have visited when it was still Sea World and not caused Busch to sell to Six Flags which ultimately culminated in its closure at the hands of CF. CF didn't close Sea World, Busch did, and by extension, the people of Northeast Ohio did.

I think you will see some future fallout with employees too.

Unfortunately, as I have seen in the business world, sometimes "carryover" employees have a hard time making the transition because of the new and higher expectations laid on them.

Although they may be happy at now being able to obtain parts and work with full ability, their job requirements have, in fact, increased.

Whereas SF made minimal operation a common practice, it is not (as far as I know) something CF will continue. That, in effect will require more attention to detail, maintenance, and staff trainign within the park.

Some carryovers may leave simply because they now have to actually do their jobs.

Shaggy

I don't know all of the facts behind Sea World leaving but I was under the impression they left b/c they really saw no opportunity for growth. I don't think their attendance was diminishing...it just wasn't growing.

When Sea World moved in next door, Geauga Lake was able to get a provision that Sea World never build mechanical rides to compete with GL. That certainly didn't help.

I have speculated elsewhere that there has been rumors for a few years that Anheuser-Busch may be looking to get out of the park business. If that were to happen, I wonder if CF might be interested in picking up the parks? If they did, would that open up an opportunity for a return of Shamu to the Northeastern Ohio area and a use of the property formerly known as Sea World?

Lots of if's, I know. But, I didn't see the acquisition of Knott's Berry Farm coming and I didn't see the Geauga Lake thing coming so anything is possible.

wahoo, just my guess here, but CF seems to prefer growth under the "slow but steady" model, acquiring parks one at a time, deliberate yet clearly making progress....

Considering the size of the investment required to pick up all the Busch parks, I find that *on the doubtful side*. And even though Busch is seemingly "out of their element" in the theme park business, and their recent cut-backs on expenditures have been noticeable, I'd still be surprised to see them bail on what MUST be a fairly profitable business for them...

Certainly doesn't mean it couldn't happen....truth IS stranger, LOL...;)

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insider said:
As of yesterday CF has started to clean house at GL. In some departments almost every employee was let go. It’s nice to know they blatantly lied in their conference call regarding WoA employees.

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Yes because the park was so sucessful with these employees, Six Flags made a substantial profit selling to CF. Think about it, the park had increasing attendance, excellent customer relations, and was perfect.

CF just lost out.

(dripping with sarcasm)