CF's monopoly of Northern Ohio and Michigan market.

Now that CF owns and operates MA and GL. Cedar Fair has a monopoly on the Northern Ohio and Detroit market. Is this a good or bad thing? With the purchase of GL will MA get lost in the shuffle? With less competition will Cp slow plans on coasters for the parks etc? Your thoughts.

Normally I would not respond to a thread such as this... But I have to say that CF does not technically have a monopoly. The market is still open to Competition if any company decides to build a park in those areas.

Even if one could consider CF to have a monopoly, it is definately not a hostile monopoly.

Edit to fix grammar: *** Edited 6/15/2005 4:23:59 AM UTC by James K***

If I own the only 2 saltwater fishing stores in Nebraska that doesn't make it a Monopoly. I just happen to own the only ones.

The aquisition of MIA and GL were friendly aquisitions, not hostile takeovers. Wasn't it reported that Kinsel and Gary story were half joking about it at IAAPA and then thought "Why not" and went ahead with the sale?

I live in Detroit area. The only park within a 4 hour drive from my home that isn't a CF park is Canada's Wonderland. that's a three to one ratio. I think that would qualify as a monopoly.

I't wouldn't have been Gary Story at the time the sale was being discussed. He had already retired and was ending his term as the Chairman of IAAPA.

It would have been Kieran Burke.

And $140 million dollar deals are usually not in a "half joking" conversation. *** Edited 6/15/2005 3:51:33 AM UTC by Red Garter Rob***

definatly :) seriously this is a useless thread to everyone....chill! The market is plenty big enough for everyone, just because there are a few parks by Cedar Fair in the Northern section here.

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Red Garter Rob said:

And $140 million dollar deals are usually not in a "half joking" conversation.

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My point exactly. I'm just relaying what I read in Amusement Today or whatever around the time of the sale. They chatted about it at IAAPA somewhat casually and then took it to their respective boards, etc. I remember thinking it was interesting. *** Edited 6/15/2005 4:02:27 AM UTC by Peabody***

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Cedar "Counter" Point said:
I live in Detroit area. The only park within a 4 hour drive from my home that isn't a CF park is Canada's Wonderland. that's a three to one ratio. I think that would qualify as a monopoly.

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No...you don't understand what a monopoly is. Re-read my earlier post.

I see plenty of Michigan plates in the SFGAm parking lot.

Camden park has a Monopoly in West Virginia...

I have Monopoly. I usually try to get all the Railroads.

Ah, but Tina's cooler - she has Ghettopoly :)

-Jimvy!

Jim,

Next up she is gonna buy Redneckopoly and have a barbeque with the KKK (it's in the game folks)

www.redneckopoly.com

www.ghettopoly.com

Katie, who thought ghettopoly was the funniest damn thing ever. Check the picture cards. To die for.

Curses Camden Park and your Monopoly! (Shakes fist in air).

Nice one Teckno!

You're assuming MA wasn't already lost in the shuffle when GL was purchased.

However, now that the townships/counties have stopped their pissing match (I think, maybe they've started again) maybe we can get a steel coaster on par with ST. The biggest thing our park is missing is a decent steel coaster.

Amusement parks don't just compete with other amusement parks. They compete with sporting events, concerts, movies, and any other entertainment option.

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invy said:
Ah, but Tina's cooler - she has Ghettopoly :)

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Isn't that what Six Flags has with SFA? :)

-Josh

Living in between GL and CP i still consider kennywood and pki close enough to go to. I wouldnt call it a mon. at all. also, with how CF operates there park we wont see much connection between the 3

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Dictonary.com:
exclusive control of a particular market that is marked by the power to control prices and exclude competition and that esp. is developed willfully rather than as the result of superior products or skill —see also ANTITRUST Sherman Antitrust Act in the IMPORTANT LAWS section

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Cedar Point does NOT have a monopoly as that would imply the strive to eliminate all other competition.

However, there is this:

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Dictionary.com:
A business that is the sole supplier of a particular good or service. Regulated monopolies, such as electric utilities, are generally restricted as to the returns they are permitted to earn. Other monopolies such as firms with unique products or services derived from patents, copyrights, or geographic location may be able to earn very high returns.

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So by default Cedar Point DOES have a monopoly, but not by any fault of their own, just that there is noone else willing to build another park in Michigan/Northern Ohio.

I guess it's all in how you look at it. I agree that no, they do not have a monopoly in the traditional sense of forced monopoly through either legislation or shady buisness tactics.

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Cedar "Counter" Point said:
I live in Detroit area. The only park within a 4 hour drive from my home that isn't a CF park is Canada's Wonderland. that's a three to one ratio.

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Really? You can't get to Fun Spot or IB in 4 hours? If you would up your drive time by just a few hours you could add several non CF parks.

None of the chains in the amusement park business are monopolies! The closest thing to it would be SFI, and even they aren't anywhere close to having anything near a monopoly. Especially considering their financial situation.