CoasterBuzz Podcast #173 posted

Posted Monday, March 29, 2010 12:34 AM | Contributed by Jeff

Jeff, Mike and Carrie review this week's news in the amusement industry.

• Many enthusiasts start their roller coaster season in the south.
• Cedar Fair delays its unit holder meeting at the last minute, misses off people who went there to attend it.
• Kings Island will not open with Son of Beast, and its future is still uncertain. None of us care much one way or another about the ride.
• Controversy surrounds the issue over whether or not to release the video of the orca attack at SeaWorld, court orders temporary injunction to prevent its release.
• Q says they're not interested in a better offer from Apollo for Cedar Fair. Deal really looks doomed regardless.
• Universal Studios Singapore opens, and almost immediately closes its dueling Battlestar Galactica coaster over a "glitch."
• Universal Orlando attendance down, but limits the bleeding in the fourth quarter.
• Speaking of Islands of Adventure, they've managed to announce the announcement of the announcement several times, and have arrived at a June 18 official opening for the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.
• Six Flags is one step closer to emerging from bankruptcy.
• Walt Disney World says it's not at fault for monorail crash that killed pilot. Meanwhile, a bus crashes into another at an Epcot toll booth. Jeff thinks many of those drivers are lunatics.
• Herschend CEO appears on a CBS reality show, Mike reviews the show. Jeff hates the way they manufacture conflict on reality shows.
• Alton Towers opens 13 with a very successful marketing campaign. Enthusiasts complain about the ride being over-hyped, as if they should have sold it as average. This leads to a discussion about gimmicks and whether or not they're bad.
• IAAPA spends money on lobbying, some of which is to fend off the last Markey bill.
• Lo-Q extends contracts, predictable conversations occur. It's officially not "pay to cut," it's "paid virtual queuing."
• Simon is almost half way in height to adult coasters. Jeff gets a tree-hugger car.
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