CGA news for next season
Hot off the press, CGA has officially cancelled their holiday events for 2025 season, making the season extra short (closing after Labor Day... EDIT- Mistake - closing after October).
... Also making it more likely 2025 may be the final season before handing it off to the evil corp Prologis, where it will most likely be turned into data centers. Boooooo. Here's the communication they just sent out:
(Converted to text to save data)
"Dear California's Great America Passholder,
Get ready for an incredible 2025 season at California's Great America running from April5 through late Octoberl We`re thrilled to invite you back for an action-packed season of non-stop excitement.
In 2025, we're focusing on what makes Great America truly special - or heart-pounding coasters, beloved family attractions, and kid-friendly experiences. While our seasonal events will mot be part of the 2025 calendar, we're dedicating our resources to delivering exceptional daily experiences across our more than 50 amazing rides and attractions, including encounters with the Peanuts Gang in Planet Snoopyl Plus, as Northern California's only amusement park featuring an included waterpark, we offer unmatched value for both thrill-seekers and families
Great news for early-bird passholders! If you purchased your 2025 season pass between August 5, 2024, and December 18, 2024, you'll receive a special $25 Pass Perk Loyalty Reward" to enhance your visits in 2025 starting April 5. Use this bonus and your season-long passholder discount toward delicious dining options or memorable merchandise throughout the park.
Important Dates to Remember:
- 2025 Silver Pass: Valid April 5, 2025 - Labor Day 2025
-2025 Gold Pass: Valid for the entire 2025 season
- Gold Pass with All Park Passport Start your adventures earlyl Enjoy admission and parking at all Six Flags parks beginning January 6, oncluding year-round access to Discovery Kingdom in Vallejo
Don't forget to join us for the remaining few weeks of this year's WinterFest, continuing through January 5. Then get ready for an unforgettable 2025 season filled with thrills, laughs, and endless family memories!"
GooDFeLLoW:
(closing after Labor Day).
This part doesn't seem quite right. They are open (parts of) the weekends through 10/25.
But yeah, Not Great, Bob.
It says the season runs through late October, which seems like Haunt will still happen, just not Winterfest. And I saw somewhere that the new Six Fair/Cedar Flags may be pulling the holiday events in certain markets where it doesn't make sense.
It could very well happen, but I don't think the writing is on the wall just yet. I also don't think they'll Geauga Lake this one and (hopefully) will give notice for a final season when that time does come.
The lease-back agreement was for 5 years and an expensive option to renew for an additional 6. IIRC the cost of the renewal to get the full 11 years would take the total cost of the lease to nearly what they were paid for the sale of the property, so I expect they want to get the park closed and vacate within that first 5-year period.
I'm guessing their Winterfest stuff will move to SFMM, who will unveil their all new upgraded Winterfest this year.
I was going to suggest the assets move to Discovery Kingdom as Knotts Merry Farm is already well established in the SoCal market.
December weather in the bay area is often wet and cold, where as SFMM is arguably drier. There's a market big enough for both parks in SoCal to have big winter events. SFMM already does Holiday in the Park, but with the excess from CGA it could really amp it up. Your argument for SFDK is also valid, so not discounting it.
Knott's benefitted from a lot (most?) of the overlay when it was scrapped at WoF. With the push to cease holiday events in markets where it doesn't make sense (SFNE) and SFGA, I don't see SFDK being high on anyone's list to "plus".
Here's a fun ride down memory lane to November 2005, when Geauga Lake soft announced they were ending their Haunt event:
Just for clarification, Great America hasn't done Haunt for several years. They replaced it with a family friendly only event.
We are speculating that they are reducing for possible closure, but yet they are on track to close after 2026, or after 2025 if they want a year to clear everything out. I would guess they can’t just walk away and let the owner of the land figure it out. Is there anyone who thinks they won’t be gone at the end of the 5 year mark?
TheMillenniumRider:
Is there anyone who thinks they won’t be gone at the end of the 5 year mark?
Honestly before the merger I could have been convinced of an extended run out. Now, and with this news already having been on my list of "bad signs to be on the alert", I think we're done after 5.
Brian Noble:
GooDFeLLoW:
(closing after Labor Day).
This part doesn't seem quite right. They are open (parts of) the weekends through 10/25.
Oh yes that's my bad. My brain was too filled with rage and sadness. Ahahaha. There was some confusion because for awhile their calendar for 2025 wasn't showing anything after Labor Day, but it has now populated with weekends from Labor Day until after Halloween. So hope for Tricks & Treats.
Although not an official source, my friend who works there said they are already coordinating moving Xmas decor to other CF parks (or I guess SF parks now). And his conversations with higher-up employees seems to indicate they are cancelling all seasonal & special events, which may likely include Mardis Gras, in-season shows & entertainment, etc. These executives are also promising they are not closing the park after next season, but of course that's the MO for when a park closes (most employees and especially the public don't know in advance, executives continue to deny until the last minute, etc)
I was at their Winterfest last weekend, with my friend and his 2 yr old and 4 yr old, and the park was quite literally busier than I have seen it in probably most of my life (I'm a 25 year season pass holder). There were areas of the park you could barely walk because it was so crowded. Such a magical vibe, and because there are so many added family activities, the adult rides didn't have craaaaazy long waits (30 mins max). My friend's wife (who had never been there on an event day) commented how their decor was almost Disney-level. Wild how they are deciding to scrap this money maker.
TheMillenniumRider:
Well, if the park isn’t open anymore for that moneymaker to happen…
Even just for next season. If 2025 or 2026 was the end, you'd think they'd be trying to suck every last penny out of us that they can for the last few seasons haha and Winterfest seems like a huge moneymaker. But maybe it's actually not due to all the setup and staffing; who knows
If Discovery Kingdom is where they want the folks to go for events instead of CGA, it’s going to take a year or two to get guests to make that switch.
In general, I think one of the accounting strategies right now is to get as much depreciation on the books in 2024 & 2025 as possible so that things look better in 2026. They are going to spend millions of dollars to take out all of these rides. They seem to be willing to take on quite a bit of short term pain in the first year of the corporation. Pulling off the band aid on events at CGA may be part of that overall plan.
Fun:
If Discovery Kingdom is where they want the folks to go for events
They need to step their game up at SFDK for sure if that's the plan. It's been running like dog****e these last few seasons. The two times I went this summer, pretty much every single coaster was one train ops, a lot of the main coasters didn't open until a few hours after the park opened, a lot of the flat rides were closed all day and never opened, both Joker and Batman were constantly closing and re-opening due to maintenance issues; it was just so depressing. If DK is where I need to go for my coaster fix it'll be the end of me
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