Kingda in Pop. Science

In Popular Science, Kingda Ka is mentioned as the next tallest and fastest roller coaster in the world. A few things that caught my attention though are the article says that KK cost $25 million and was built by Intamin, which is based in Maryland.

So a three-part question: Did KK only cost $25 million and does Intamin have a branch based in Maryland, or is the article incorrect?

As far as I know Intamin doesn't have a US office but who knows they might. And I don't think that KK could cost $25 Million just due in mainpoint that that's what CP paid for TTD. So If KK cost the same, then I would have to say that CP got ripped off.

I do belive that Intamin does have a USA sales office in Mayland. As for the cost, you have to remember that TTD has 4 more trains than KK. I'm not sure how much an Intamin train costs, but I did hear that a standard B&M invert train costs around $800,000. Another thing to consider is that maybe they got a discount for the ride due to the accident at SFNE (didn't PKI get a deal on Vortex and Top Gun dues to the Bat?).

I think the "discount" that Arrow gave to Kings Island for The Bat was only applied to Vortex, but that's assuming this deal isn't just some coaster enthusiast urban legend.

Anyway, I wouldn't think there would have been a discount on KK because of the accident at SFNE, because that would mean Intamin had taken the blame for the accident, which I don't remember seeing anywhere that they had.

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DRMAN2004 said:
...So If KK cost the same, then I would have to say that CP got ripped off.

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Well, I would say that maybe it's because it was the first Strata, so more research had to go into the support and building the power of the launch, I don't know, I just think that R&D costs for KK would be lower than for TTD.

The theory on the trains is good too...

Y'all are also forgetting that Dragster is built on much different soil than Ka, requiring a much larger foundation. And, CP had to relocate rides as well.

Mark, Intamin does indeed have an office in Maryland.

Though I really doubt they got a discount because of the 2001 accident, you never know. They did just drop the suit against Intamin. If they did give SF a discount I don't think it would be an admission of guilt, at least not like if it was a court settlement. I would bet stuff like that is not that uncommon.

Frank, thinking SF paid full price but likes to fan the flames. ;)

I have several theories (I have no basis to go off any of these reasons) on why they might have gotten a discount. The first is that maybe SF wanted to (and were able) pull out of KK, and got a discount. Or my other guess is that maybe they got a discount due to the lawsuit and thats why it was dropped (this is the accident that I was refering to at SFNE).

But another thing to remember is that this is SF that we are talking about. They aren't know for getting numbers correct. The price for KK could be higher than what we all think. *** Edited 1/20/2005 1:14:50 AM UTC by Mark Burleson***

Moosh is right about the soil issue I would think, adding to construction costs, but I don't think ride relocation would be factored in (I could be wrong though...)

$25,000,000 is just a ballpark figure that people are attaching to Ka. Nobody knows exactly how much it cost but it's safe to say it was *around* 25 million.

Isn't the US "version" of Intamin known as 'Intaride', or is that just the steel fabricator?

Intamin used to be (or still are if they removed their name from the sign out front) in Millersville next to the WaWa that you can see from Rt. 97. Premier Rides is located a little bit of ways up the same road.

I remember the press release for TTD stated that each of the 6 trains cost $1 million, with theming of course...

Intamin does have an American Branch known as IntaRide, yes.

As for the cost, that could be, if construction circumstances are different. That and the fact that Ka only has 4 trains (that is 2 ultra-expensive trains less in pmt, so more money for coaster).

I personally wouldn't say Ka 'only' cost $25 mill, but that's just me...

There was another article that said KK was 25mil, and it used URC as their source. It is possible that Popular Science has the same "source".

If any park needs a discount on the next ride, it is CP. Those trains are too expensive for not being able to run six and roll two out at once to make it benifical on top of losing half the theming.

I forget.. was there a technical/maintenance reason the spoiler and back "wheels" were taken off the trains and another row added, or was it just from a capacity standpoint? (2 more riders per train)

The wheel flew off into the midway, and was never put back on, IIRC.

would KK be less because it's less horsepower?

The first of a type of ride is always more expensive. I bet that TTD was ever a better "value" than Xcelerator.

I wonder if CF and SF even get the same pricing if all other things are equal? SF probably has a quantity discount on KK and we should be seeing the clones in a couple years.