Is The Coaster boom over??

Does anyone feel that the coaster boom is over?? From the mid 90's to 2000 coasters of innovative types were sprouting up everywhere. Everyone and their grandma had a coaster site, and even the discovery channel had numerous coaster show marathons. Now, many of the websites that we used to visit are gone except Coasterbuzz. I know we are in an economic crisis right now but 2001 was also a lackluster year for coasters. Also companies that created great rides during the nineties are now gone and some doesn't even make coasters anymore but yet they do parts. And last during this period new parks started up like they haven't since the 70's.

If you feel the way I do please respond.

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WHAT?!?! Are You talking to me!

I wouldn't say that it is over. The way the economy is right now... Companies have been working on improvements rather than making huge purchases. Advancements have been made to various earlier coaster advancements... double twisting impulse, new restraints replacing OTSR's and of course the massive structure that CP is building now. I think that we will see more as companies return to earlier periods of profitability.

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"To be the man...whoooooo...you have to beat the man!"

I think we (Europe) have gotten tons of innovative coasters lately :)

There seems to have definitely been a slow down in the volume of new coasters being built worldwide, which is inevitable given the 'golden' years of the late 90s and 2000. We really could not expect that pace of new installations to be maintained and there really isn't anything negative about the fact that it has slowed. The affore mentioned 'golden' years could be seen as somewhat exceptional bonus years and now we have returned to the norm.

On the other hand, the number of prototypes and innovations does not seem to be slowing down, which can only be a good thing.

The slowdown is more evident in the USA, probably partly to do with the economic downturn, but also because the volume of new coasters was at its highest there in the first place. The european boom seems to still be in full swing, although it is of course not as large a boom as the States.

*** This post was edited by Mr Rush on 11/29/2002. ***

There aren't that many more places in the USA to build coasters that aren't already there.

*** This post was edited by bigkirby on 11/29/2002. ***

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Crazydave87 said:

Now, many of the websites that we used to visit are gone except Coasterbuzz.

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There were never a lot of "big" sites to start with, really. Ultimate Roller Coaster is still around. Heck, the only one I can think of that is really missed is ThrillRide.

Running popular sites isn't cheap. If CoasterBuzz Club didn't exist neither would the site. Thank a club member. ;)

There are a lot of strange contradictions in the amusement industry. Attendance is actually up (aside from the Six Flags chain) in the regional parks, and they're all still building stuff and improving. On the flip side, there are fewer manufacturers and a whole lot of consolidation between them. In that respect I think it might just be a normal adjustment to what was becoming an over-saturated market.

There will be other booms, just keep in mind that 1996-2000 wasn't "normal."

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Jeff - Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com - Sillynonsense.com
"Climbing as we fall, we dare to hold on to our fate, and steal away our destiny to catch ourselves with quiet grace" - The Stairs, INXS

I do miss the old Thrillride! It was such a great site.

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

I love opening an old "Inside Track" from the early '90s and seeing a full page spread on the 10-15 new coasters for the following year. So much attention was paid to each new ride, it was great.

I've actually been waiting over the past few seasons for things to return to "normal." While 50+ new coasters a year in the U.S. alone was fun, it really did spoil a lot of people (i.e. see most 15 y/o kiddies on any board) into thinking that many new coasters was normal.

But at least we're back on track now ... under 20 new U.S. coasters announced for '03.

Mike

No offense to Erik, but other than the forums URC is not updated regularly anymore, so its no longer an important source for news. Heck, he wouldn't even post my press release for S&D Greetings because he said it was "off topic" to the site.

As for where I spend my time: I enjoy Lance's site but when it comes to participation in forums and up-to-date news my #1 site is Coasterbuzz, followed by the newsgroup rec.roller-coaster.

Moosh

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Mamoosh said:

Heck, he wouldn't even post my press release for S&D Greetings because he said it was "off topic" to the site.

(snip)

As for where I spend my time: I enjoy Lance's site but when it comes to participation in forums and up-to-date news my #1 site is Coasterbuzz, followed by the newsgroup rec.roller-coaster.

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RRC is still a "de facto" source for news, etc., but I get *enough* junk-mail in the mailbox, lol. Seriously the *real reason* to hang out at URC is the peeps! BTW, Eric still has the *OT page* where you can post virtually anything....everybody at URC already knows though, 'Moosh...;)

P.S. Like Jeff said, '96-'00 wasn't *NORML*...however, since the regionals are still doing well, we'll probably see some growth there....just don't expect WA or HW or IB to plop down $25M for a new thrill ride, NOT gonna happen...;)

*** This post was edited by rollergator on 11/29/2002. ***

believe me, innovation will be back in 2003 with at least one coaster, located on the great lakes ;-)

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Robert Cooker archived Thrillride! at http://www.ridewarrior.com

Not really. You probably think that just because the season is over. I remember the Discovery channel and the Travel channel having numerous coaster shows and countdowns. Nowadays, I think parks try to break records rather than just build rides. Look at Cedar Point. They haven't died at all. They've had a new coaster 3 out of the past 4 years, including the new soon-to-be record breaking Dragster. SFMM also came out with 3 new coasters in one year and are working on Scream! for the 2003 season. Parks today are targeting a more family-oriented crowd, working on improvements and rides for people of all ages. And yes, new companies and parks have closed but look at all the new ones opening.

It's easy to think that the coaster boom is dying, but really, it may just be that people are getting older and not as excited about new rides as they used to be. Enthusiasts especially, who know every little thing about coasters aren't as excited about new coasters because they know every little detail before the ride opens. Think how surprised you'd be if you walked into Cedar Point or SFMM, not knowing anything about their new coasters, and saw that they had a new record-breaking amazing coaster. You'd thing the boom is just beginning.

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Top 3 Nutcrackers:
#1: Riddler's Revenge
#2: Mantis
#3: Georgia Scorcher

Both the economy and market saturation have caused the coaster boom to slow. However, compare to any preiod other than the 1990's the market will probably continue strong. In the 50's and 60's it was typical for 1-5 coasters to be built each year in the US. I the 70's and 80's and even early 90's building gradually picked up to a dozzen each year. In the mid 90's it hit 15-20 and peaked at over 50 in '99. This just wasn't a sustainable rate. I suspect that we can expect the building rate to decline to 15-20 per year on the average for the next decade, but that is basically a wild, uneducated guess.

RollerJunkie said: "It's easy to think that the coaster boom is dying, but really, it may just be that people are getting older and not as excited about new rides as they used to be. "

No - I really think it's just that the boom is over. While the level of excitement about each coaster *may* have lessened, there's just many less coasters being built. Proof in the numbers..

Not perfect, but close list of the number of new coasters opening each year:

1990: 12
1991: 13
1992: 12
1993: 15
1994: 14
1995: 19
1996: 31
1997: 27
1998: 41
1999: 60
2000: 55
2001: 38
2002: 25
2003: Thus far, around 10 new. (not moved)

I guess draw your own conclusions, but as far as I'm concerned, boom no more.

Mike

*** This post was edited by MHammer on 11/29/2002. ***

I hope the themepark industry follows Paramount's lead, and starts adding more Huss Giant Rides, or equivalents. If the Coaster Boom is over, maybe it's because they've run out of killer marketable ideas. We've sat down, gone through multiple loops, stood-up, been suspended, been inverted, been launched, satdown with no floor, and flown. I'm personally a lot more excited about the Giant Frisbee at PKI, and Drop Zone at PKD, then I am any new coaster. There's plenty of great coasters already in existence. Let's enjoy what we have.
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2003-Gotham City @ SFA presenting Bathroom the Ride-Please remain seated at all times

Well if you look at the numbers NHhammer gave, except for 99 and 2000 there isn't much of a change in the numbers. In fact, it's going up. 1999 and 2000 were giant years because of the turn of the millennium.

heres an exact number of new coasters fro 1994 - 2002

94 - 36
95 - 51
96 - 55
97 - 58
98 - 78
99 - 95
00 - 104
01 - 87
02 - 89
03 - (currently as of tonight) 35

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I don't know about you guys, but 35 coasters in one year is still a lot in my opinion.

A lot of the "slump" in coasters build per year can also mean that the parks can't afford coasters at the time. Look at the economy. A lot of parks can't afford to spend 10-20 million dollars right now on one roller coaster.

Rctyoon2k, thanks for the list. It would be neat if you had a list that said what parks built roller coasters that year and how much they spent. It's amazing how that if you look at those same parks now that built roller coasters in 1999 or 2000, most of them wouldn't be able to afford one right now.

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The top 3 all time cobrarolls.

1)Raptor's
2)Deja Vu's (times 3)
3)Batman Knight Flight's

Doesn't anybody miss World of Coasters?

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