Did cedarfair decide to keep the paramount name on the parks?

I noticed that on the cedarfair website http://www.cedarfair.com/

There is now the "paramount" name on all of the newley aquired parks. This was not there a few days ago.

I wonder if they decided to keep the paramount name on the parks?

It looks that way!

Looks like it, good find. It definatly wasnt there a few days ago.

Hm, could be if they kept alot of the liscenses and stuff, or maybe they added it and will keep it until the end of the season. Would they add it in to keep with familiarity too? I guess we'll find out. Interesting though.

This could change a few things. *** Edited 7/13/2006 1:50:24 AM UTC by crazy horse***

I guess this confirms CF won't be renewing the Bonfante Gardens management contract, nothing at all mentioned in the press release (it had been previously stated this was also to be included in the aquisition).

Contract is up next year anyways, would be nice to have Michael Bonfante move back for another go at running his awesome little park again, especially after living in Branson for the last 5 yrs. Or finally let HFEC manage and run it, would be the absolute most perfect fit IMO.

*** Edited 7/13/2006 5:08:47 AM UTC by jomo***

The "Paramount" name was added onto the map because the parks are still being operated as Paramount Parks. This is helping to ease confusion among park guests - and honor season passes and tickets as well. Not to mention the time it takes to put out their new logos (even if they reuse the old ones), brochures, names, and such. They have the license, so why change right now? I bet all they're doing now is evaluating the parks and making some minor operational changes.
BUT I do hope they decide to drop the Paramount name, even if they keep the licensed ride names. IMO, the "Paramount" name is a bit of a misnomer, since the parks are no longer really Paramount's, Viacom's or CBS's.

Then again, "Knott's Berry Farm" is a bit of a misnomer, because Cedar Fair owns it, and the area surrounding the park has been suburbanized.

Also, when they acquired Worlds of Adventure from Six Flags in 2004, they had only a month to change almost everything: park name, ride names, rip out theming, etc. Cedar Fair had no choice with Geauga Lake. At least now they have more "wiggle room" with their five newest parks.

*** Edited 7/13/2006 5:35:24 AM UTC by CoastersNSich***

Seems logical to me to wait until parks are closed in the off-season to make changes.

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CoastersNSich said:The "Paramount" name was added onto the map because the parks are still being operated as Paramount Parks. This is helping to ease confusion among park guests - and honor season passes and tickets as well. Not to mention the time it takes to put out their new logos (even if they reuse the old ones), brochures, names, and such.

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PRECISELY! For the remainder of this operating season, there's no need to confuse everyone. In addition, contracts with lots of vendors and all that probably read "effective '06 operating season", etc.

I doubt you'll see the Paramount in front of the names come '07, and the parks will return to their former names: King's Island, Kings Dominion, Carowinds, Canada's Wonderland, and (Not so) Great America... ;)

Moosh, I was TYPING, you.... LOL! :)

edit #2: Makes up for the SOB thread I guess....hehe. *** Edited 7/13/2006 5:48:59 AM UTC by rollergator***

I still wouldn't be surprised to see the Knott's name on Great America. Knott is a widely known name out West.

When they had the Q&A at Coastermania this year one of the financial officers for CF had said that the liscensing looked a lot like this.

Paramount - Eventually, (no real time frame given), they would drop that name, and cut their losses since they had almost 10 years left on it.

Nikolodeon - Live out the remaining 4 years of their contract.

Hopefully this is just for the season. I'm an old-school fanboy, I guess, but I'm still trying desperately to pretend that whole Paramount thing never happened. Bring back the old logos, and by all means (speaking mostly for KD here, since that was my "home park" as a kid) hopefully they can restore some former glory... *** Edited 7/13/2006 2:17:44 PM UTC by brunus76***

i'll have to agree w/ CoastersNSich and Moosh on this one... probably to avoid confusion.

I think they will change next year, though, i'm thinking that MIGHT not be the greatest idea... *** Edited 7/13/2006 3:05:14 PM UTC by SFDL_Dude***

I would certainly hope they drop the paramount prefix by next season.If they can just keep the nick theming for the kids but just retheme the other attractions in the parks.

Jomo, aside from local advertisements, did Paramount ever really promote Bonfante as a Paramount park?

^ Only when it came to selling the upgraded PGA passes. But has always been on the Paramount website as managed by Paramount:

http://www2.paramountparks.com/

Also just noticed, ST:TE is also not part of CF's press release, which I also thought was part of the purchase.

Eh, I'd doubt we'll ever see a change to Knott's Berry Farm's name. I mean, KBF is just such and icon of the industry.

It is possible, as a rumor, though, they may keep the Paramount names on the five parks in 2007. CF claims that it would cause confusion in the long term.

How would dropping a name that most parkgoers don't use cause confusion? Do random surveys, among parkgoers, and ask them what they refer to the park north of Cincinnati as. I'm sure most don't outright say the full "Paramount's Kings Island" or even "PKI."

I made my point in them keeping the Paramount name for 2006, but I think it would actually hurt to keep it long term. Also, as many have argued, the quality of the parks has actually declined under the Paramount name - theming, attention to detail, live entertainment, food, capacity of rides, etc.

I don't expect them to really restore Kings Island and other parks to their pre-Paramount ways completely. But please, CF, make the change - even if you DO keep Paramount themes in the park. *** Edited 7/14/2006 3:16:39 AM UTC by CoastersNSich***

Keeping the Paramount name MIGHT prevent all you Ohioans from getting away with just one season pass... ;)

I'm all for PGA to become Knott's Great America. Why not extend the Knott's name in California -- it is exremely well known.