Conneaut Blue Streak wins $50K Pepsi donation

Can I just say that it's not really "just a roller coaster". Even though this IS a coaster site (like we're not reminded enough, LOL) - the business of CLP does employ people, and tourism is a relatively green industry. Local hotels and eateries benefit from the increased traffic, and Blue Streak is obviously the cornerstone of the park.

I'm not in any way saying that this project was more deserving than any other, or that you should vote for or against any specific project that Pepsi is willing to donate to...only that it really does involve more than getting a wooden coaster operational for a few enthusiasts to enjoy this Fall.

There, all done now....it was kinda bothering me a little... :)

I don't really believe the Blue Streak winning the $50K has any relevance to GKTW not winning, especially since they weren't pitted against each other for it. I think some of the rub is that there are folks who put a lot of energy into not just voting for Blue Streak, but also advertising for others to vote. And those same people didn't do so for GKTW. That's kind of unfortunate given how easy it was to do.

But yeah, it is totally up to one person to decide what they get behind and what they don't. If folks didn't believe GKTW was worthwhile, but Blue Streak is, then that's their prerogative. I just don't happen to agree with them.

I just keep getting frustrated at the passive aggressive approach to these topics. No one was saying anything negative, so let's point out how those bastards aren't saying anything negative and then before you know it, people are saying negative things. And since it's hard to argue with someone saying this extremely over-debt ridden park keeps asking for money to stay in operation (you know, because it's true), we'll just keep translating what is being said to be that they want the park to close. Lame.

::Like::

On an unrelated note, a surefire way to completely shut down any discussion is start calling the other person defensive. It's great!

Me: Why are you being so defensive?!
Them: No I'm not!
Me: See, there it is again.

Exactly, Andy, except I'm not exactly sure who you're addressing. :)

Who was being passive aggressive? Seems to me I actually was paying a compliment to the people of this site. I simply pointed out how nice it was to read something positive about the park without hearing the same sour grapes about how GKTW didn't win. This thread has taken off into the same pissing match the last one did. If that's being passive aggressive, sorry, and I apologize. But at the same time, too bad, I'm stating a personal opinion just the same as anyone else here does.

EDIT: And not that anyone here has said they want the park to close, but the tone of the posting sounds like there is a lot of animosity towards the people who want the park to somehow survive. Sure, maybe its good money thrown after bad, but, just like another current thread, why do you care so much?

What is this, the high school debate team? ;)

I must admit, I voted multiple times for the Blue Streak to win this month's Pepsi Refresh donation, and I'm glad to see that it will be one of ten projects to receive $50,000. However, I can perfectly understand why anyone would decide not to vote for this project, in favor of some other option that they personally find more important.

Nonetheless, I remain faithful that I will one day be able to ride Conneaut's Blue Streak. (Maybe as soon as next summer...on my annual trip to experience Cedar Point and its Mehlennium Force.)

I'm a member of the European Coaster Club & live in the UK, i've been following this story for a few months & voted on the Pepsi website every day, i've never visited the park but would love to one day.

"BS" will be saved for all generations to enjoy & I hope the local companies around the park can donate some money to keep this beloved park alive..

If I had the choice of going to Disneyland or CLP, I'll choose CLP anyday, one day i'll hire a car and make the long drive from Chicago to CLP knowing I'll be able to ride in a NAD train with hopefully a working "mars" light.

Raven-Phile said:
There's always the other side of that coin, then. ... I didn't vote for Blue Streak ... I want the park to fail and the coaster to burn down.

I can haz radio show now?

~Rob Willi

I visited CLP today and I have to say that I don't think that Pepsi's $50k is going to even make a dent in what needs to be done on Blue Streak.

That being said, I had never ridden BS until today. It was a fun ride, but most of the thrill was being afraid if it was going to fall over while riding it. I did enjoy the dark ride portion at the beginning, though I was afraid the train might not make it through.

The rest of the park was the most depressing thing I have ever seen in my years of coasting. I know there's a lot of history with a park that's over 100 years old, but I really think someone should just put CLP out of her misery.

Get the carousel moved somewhere that can afford to restore and take care of it, and let nature reclaim the rest.

The carousel had the outside row taken off and sold a number of years ago. The figures there now are new wooden carvings (Carousel Works I believe). The jumpers I believe are still original, all though it wouldn't surprise me that they have sold those too.

Ah, no wonder the giraffe seemed so out of place and rickety.

In that case I'm not sure if I care about the carousel. The organ is being stored somewhere safely off-site already so get the original horses to the Carousel Museum in Sandusky and let nature run its course.

The carousel, still beautiful, only has about 8-10 original horses on it. I am not sure why all the hubb-bub over a paltry $50k. If I was GM there, under a new managment team, Pepsi would be coughing that figure each year to pour at the park. Which, is much less than they pay other parks for the privledge. All marketing.

Given the current state that Conneaut Lake Park is in right now I'd be hesitant to associate my brand with the park if I were a marketing drone at Pepsi. It's one thing to say "we're donating some cash to fix your stuff up" but another completely to say "we're the official soft drink of CLP" when the park is falling apart around your soda fountains.

I think there needs to be a fundamental change in the business philosophy at Conneaut Lake before any positive changes can be made there. The park is running on donations of cash and time with a focus on breaking even. There needs to be more of an emphasis on repair, restoration, and upgrades before the park can make it. Until then, I'm not sure if any real, worthwhile corporate sponsorship can happen without tarnishing the sponsor's brand.

Unfortunately this might be a situation where you need to spend money (upgrades) to get money (sponsorship) and there's no money there to start with.

Take that with a grain of salt, though. I'm not a marketing or business guy. I'm an IT guy by day and a casual coaster dork by night.

With statements like that, it makes me think you also hate freedom. I bet you want the park to close.

I'm not sure how anyone could argue that it was the non-support of an uncaring enthusiast community that kept GKTW from winning while that same community carried Blue Streak to victory. If you follow the comments on the Refresh site, the entire thing consists of trading votes-- "I'm voting for your project, so please vote for mine." Since no tabulation of votes was ever shown, only placement, only Pepsi knows exactly how many votes any project receives. Maybe GKTW actually got more votes since it was competing in the group receiving the largest amount. But I'd be willing to bet that a large proportion of Blue Streak's votes came from non-enthusiasts and people whose projects were in the other categories.

I'm not sure who decided or how GKTW became the designated charity that all coaster enthusiasts had to support. What awareness is there of the organization on coaster sites beyond this one and PointBuzz? Given there seems to be very little interaction between members of various coaster sites, it wouldn't surprise me if many people consider GKTW a Coasterbuzz and CedarFair thing.

As long as people are commenting about uncaring people on this site, I suggest they also go to the website of that school getting 250K for their weight room and tell them what awful people they are.

RatherGoodBear said:
I'm not sure how anyone could argue that it was the non-support of an uncaring enthusiast community that kept GKTW from winning while that same community carried Blue Streak to victory.

Who argued that? I didn't see that.

The only thing I've ever said is that to me, personally, I care to vote for other things. I never said anyone else was wrong for voting BS over anything else. I'm not sure how it got twisted into that, but again, I just stated what I, personally, was doing.

Page 1. I still think it's lame that the coaster nerd community could carry this hopeless "cause" but not a real charity.

Josh, you also agreed with the lameness, and commented that you couldn't see how someone could vote for a coaster over sick children. To me, that's more than saying that you choose to vote or not to vote for certain projects.

Oh, that. :)

Raven-Phile said:
The only thing I've ever said is that to me, personally, I care to vote for other things. I never said anyone else was wrong for voting BS over anything else. I'm not sure how it got twisted into that, but again, I just stated what I, personally, was doing.

What you, or anyone else, cared to vote for (instead of the Blue Streak restoration) doesn't seem relevant. In fact, it sort of comes off as trolling. Accepted trolling.