Inflatables - someone must be buying them, they took up at least a third of the space at AMOA/Fun Expo this year.
Consolidation and downsizing seems to have hit the entire amusement industry. On my side of the business (games), we've seen big players disappear (Midway, Williams), lots of smaller companies come and go, and the rest scaling back big-time (Sega, Namco, Konami).
How soon do you think it will be before the big theme park chains start designing their rides in-house? With all of the consolidation, maybe someday everything will be one company ("Six Flags Great America, a Cedar Fair park" featuring our new ride Meaner Streak, designed by S&SCCIArrow, a Cedar Fair company).
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My K'Nex Coasters
Coming to Wyandot Lake in 2003: Hi-Striker's Revenge
Perhaps once the economy improves then parks like SF,CF & Paramount will begin purchasing more rides.
The offerings this year were indeed fewer than last year & it's because the manufacturer's feel that the parks aren't looking to purchase expensive rides or purchase in bulk,perhaps if the economy improves by this time next year then maybe we'll see a much bigger & better show,also it this point there seems to be not all that much more room for innovation,designers have already come up with nearly every type of amusement device known to man or at least possible to man.
CsTrFrK said:
I'm glad you got to see the launch Sean! Wasn't it cool?
One of the coolest things I have seen in my life. No joke!
Matt,
I watched it from my hotel balcony in Orlando on I-Drive. I know a "group" of people that went to the cape the night before to check it out but didn't see it because of aborted launch. I do know someone that could have gotten me to the 3-mile point but he wasn't in town.
It was also cool seeing you again Matt. Marlon was on a buzz a good half hour after he did the SCAD. Now we just have to get him on a larger one.
Jeff,
The CCI tradeshow "lift" was not at the show. The one you saw was a brand new version.
I was also amazed at the amount of inflatables. I thought were a lot inside and was amazed to see many more outside.
There were quite a few new flats I have never seen at the show before like the "X-Scream" flat outside, the loud Satori (?) flat that was near the ACE booth, and the Zamperla rotating boat/flat ride. It does seems the more innovativ shows seem to happen every other year though.
-Sean (who didn't get to see as many things as he wanted to, but then again, he was working) F.
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