CoasterBuzz Podcast #82 posted

Posted Monday, July 23, 2007 11:53 PM | Contributed by Jeff

Jeff and Pat review this week's news in the amusement industry.

  • Houston wants tax incentives to attract a "green" theme park. Jeff points out that there's actually great economic opportunity around environmental concerns.
  • British travel firms are jacking up costs for Orlando vacations, and not surprisingly, are being undercut by online agencies.
  • Hotel perk programs have way too many strings to be practical or useful (see: Loews First).
  • Cedar Fair mandates life jackets for the under-four-foot kids on certain water attractions following drowning. Gonch thinks people get stupid when they go to amusement parks.
  • Six Flags stock recommended by S&P, and then the stock takes a dump.
  • Merlin does the sell and lease back move to generate some cash.
  • New Gerstlauer spinner at Edmonton Mall. Love the custom job there.
  • New Dollywood water ride sounds like another sweet addition. Gonch says the park is not more navigable.
  • Jeff doesn't care much for New Jersey, but Gonch reminds us that Bon Jovi is from there.
  • Rye Playland sure doesn't seem to have much of a future. As for the small parks all disappearing thing, Jeff points out there are plenty that are thriving.
  • Kennywood suit for storm death starts backward, with damages determined, but liability yet to come.
  • Starliner: Who cared before they threatened to tear it down?
  • The flyer is up for the CoasterBuzz Club Fall Affair. Download it now!

Link: CoasterBuzz Podcast

Richard Bannister

Tuesday, July 24, 2007 6:59 AM
I'll be at Edmonton in a few weeks. If there's Internet in the hotel I'll report back!
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tigellinus

Tuesday, July 24, 2007 3:07 PM
To address the issue in the podcast about why a company would acquire the land of a park, and then lease it back to the park...

I think it's because most real estate companies are structured in a way where they pay less taxes as a corporation so long as they re-invest most of their revenue, i.e. they're looking for land to buy to get rid of their cash.

I dunno if Merlin is US or not (since you mentioned Alton Towers), so it might be a little bit different, but I think that's the overall premise.

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