How has C.B. impacted the Amusement Park industry?

Last week I asked the question " Any C.B. members work in the industry?". I heard that industry people stop by daily.
Has this site impacted Amusement Parks/Designers? If so. How?

Amusement industries visit a lot of coaster places, RRC and other places. Even if CB did affect it, I doubt we would know. It's not like one site alone is going to affect an industry as much as all of them together does.

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.:| Brandon Rodriguez |:.
http://www.coasters2k.com

To me the most recent trend is to modify coasters based on comments or complaints by coaster enthusiast. Flight Of Fear, Phantom's Revenge, Magnum etc. Old school thinking build it and let it dilapidate is out dated.

At risk of giving away "market intelligence," I can tell you this: Three parks that I know of that would be considered "top 10" in most circles read here. I can also tell you that people from three of the top coaster manufacturers read here. Newspapers with local parks visit frequently (or so I assume, given the number of articles the site has appeared in).

Does it have an impact on the industry? I doubt it. People might be better informed (and one trade rag writer admits CB is a good source for leads), but I doubt very much that the site affects any decision making of any kind.

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Jeff
Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com

I doubt that any industry decisions are based solely on Coaster Buzz, but I think that Jeff is too modest in saying it has no influence.

A possible example:

Suppose your park has a Premier Ride coaster. You look at Coaster Buzz and see how much everyone loves the new restraints on Flight of Fear. You also look at other web sites and see the same. Then you call the people you know in management at PKD and PKI and ask them how things are going. Does the general public like them? Are there any mechanical issues? What impact is there on attendance? Are there any safety issues. You may also discuss things at coaster industry meetings. Then you give Premier a call and talk to them about money and technical issues for a conversion. Finally, you make a decision.

In other words, Coaster Buzz is only one small piece of the puzzle, but it quite possibly is a piece.

I think some members of CB are very valuable to the industry. Members understand some coasters better than the parks. Their opinion could be making a major desicion except we wouldn't know about it.

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Rollercoasters are the secret of life!

http://www.woodencoaster.com

OK, I'll give you the small piece part. :)

Seriously though, we do have some very well versed people who post here, and that certainly makes a difference. That's why I'm so nutty about keeping noise to a minimum. I don't want to chase those people away (not to mention I don't want to pay for noise that isn't interesting to me).

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Jeff
Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com

I think that for a designer or a park executive, this could be an invaluable resource. THis is unsolicited opinions with no holding back. In other words it is like giving a survey at a park, but better. These are the people who know their coasters best, and make nice "meters" to gauge interest in the latest attractions in the industry.

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"Clear, Dispatch"

I think they'd stop in for a good laugh everynow and than.......:);):)

Vern,

Just wandering where you saw the photos of Arrows Floorless designs?