There has been a sentiment that if season pass prices were higher @ some Six Flags parks (for example SFWoA), the crowds would be less "unruly" and "surly". However, I'm not conviced of this. In fact, I'm going to make a prima facia case that a higher price wouldn't make a bit of difference. Since I know at least two people post here that hold the opposite opinion, I invite someone to refute me. (Heck I might learn something). Anyway, here goes.
1) There is the assumption that a higher price, for arguments sake let's say 100bucks, will discourage teens and/or their parents from buying a pass. But that assumes that 100bucks is a lot of money to a teen. My contention is 100bucks is only a drop in the hat nowadays. Why do I say this? Because when I see teens wearing $80 Parasucco jeans, $50 Bebe babydoll tees, and $150 'Kobe Bryant' Adidas sneakers to a $45 'Master P' concert, I cant see price being a big hinderance. Maybe if the pass was extravagantly high (~$400) that would cut back, but as it stands, many teens spend more on the latest pair of sneakers than the most costly of season passes.
2) SFGAdv season pass aint exactly cheap, yet people still comment about the "riff-raff" associated with the park.
3) (What I feel is my most persuasive arguement) SWF and BGT do the exact same thing for Floridians and there have been no reports of increased 'besmirching'. The Florida "Fun Cards" are priced as a regular admission, yet are good for admission throughout the season. Similarly, Paramount's Great America and Carowinds offer a WOW card that serves the same purpose with the same result.
For these above reasons, I see no reason why increasing the pass price would have any difference. If you have alternate thoughts, get at me.
lata,
jeremy
--You are my Personal Jesus..
2Hostyl said:
"teens wearing $80 Parasucco jeans, $50 Bebe babydoll tees, and $150 'Kobe Bryant' Adidas sneakers to a $45 'Master P' concert"
My mullet and my new kids on the block t-shirt are offended j/k
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www.geocities.com/coasting_ohio for Real/Defunct/mini coasters and parks for RCT
Right on 2Hostyl! Price will not make a difference to most people nowadays. Only a difference for the poor. The rich spoiled brats will continue to be the nuisance and pests they have always been at most amusement parks. Six Flags has created it own problems by how it runs its parks. It needs to clean up its own act to attract a higher level of maturity and lack of rudeness to the park.
Who said raising prices were to cut pass purchases? The SFGAdv price rose because Safari is free, and Nitro isnt exactly energy conserving. The passes represent the expenses of the park.Besides, rowdy teenagers are something they look for(broken rules, revoked passes, more money?).
Are you saying cheap passes bring in the crowds?
Personally, I think the pass price affects the crowd, and I think Premier Parks agrees with me. I think the low pass price increases pass penetration, which leads to increased repeat visits and to higher per-caps because of money not spent on admission. I don't think higher pass prices will necessarily change the type of person buying the pass, but the lower price will mean more passes sold...no doubt about it. That's just basic economics.
--Dave Althoff, Jr.
Every young teen and kid I see this day and age IS wearing clothes I couldn't afford, it's true. My shoes came from KMart and look like hell, holes through the bottoms, et cetra. Were I to go out and buy myself some nice threads and say, a pair of Doc Martins, I wouldn't get on another coaster this season. I just got married, have a new "family(so it's only my wife and dog, they deserve something in the future, though)", we have to save money to get into the parks. If I had enough money at one time to buy a season pass, it could save us some money, for I know we will end up in two Six Flags parks by seasons end, and whatever extra comes up gets invested right into our short, rushed vacations. Past debts, insurance, not to mention the rebuilt 300 miles ago Civic I have to drive, that cost too much! That was a great post, 2Hostyl, I had to smile when I read that. It's true, I don't think the cost matters much when thinking about these "unsurly" crowds and the babysitters aspect. Even if these people paid $1 for thier passes they'd still act in the same manners were they to have had to put down a grand or something.
*** This post was edited by p_c_r on 6/19/2001. ***
well im sorry but alot of teenagers this day and age have somthing cold decent to good paying jobs i am 16years old and make about $80 a day working with my father and if a season pass was $400 i dont think anyone would buy one. everything i buy i worked hard for and i do buy my own season passes as well as my motthers and sisters and one freind who pays be back after time becuase i know how to save. but personaly i think prices do not effect crowdes becuase if a ticket cost $45 after tax teenagers and adults alike will just bring cupons from burger king and soda cans etc. and a note to this post wich is somthing to think about alot of the roudy so cold teenagers all come on school trips after school centers and centers etc and just plain out think they can get away with line cutting and unrulie behavior and they somtimes do and its a shame on the parks side for not controlling it.
