Oh, the irony of it all...

From today's Rollback...

8/24/2001 - Amusement ride manufacturer Vekoma files for bankruptcy reorganization in the Netherlands.


8/24/2001 - Press day for Deja Vu, the first of the Vekoma Super Inverted Boomerang coasters, at Six Flags Magic Mountain.

Need I say more? :)

LOL! No kidding!

-Tina

Oh my... that's too funny!

That's awesome...I would have never noticed...thanks!

And here's the best part, we can thank Six Flags for putting them into bankruptcy. After all the problems they had with Batwing/X-Flight and the GIB's, they wouldn't pay for any of it! You probably won't see another Vekoma product installed at a Six Flags anytime soon (and it's a shame as I love the Madhouse).

Wow...they took out Vekoma, Arrow Dynamics, were involved in the CCI thing....what's next! :)

Hey, there's the big shiny new ride installation going on at SFGAdv. Maybe SF thinks that Intamin is next in line for destruction! =) I'm kidding! **added for the people on here that don't understand smiley faces...lighten up folks!** =)

*** Edited 8/24/2004 7:31:47 PM UTC by FScottS*** *** Edited 8/24/2004 7:32:17 PM UTC by FScottS***

Oh, so now Six Flags is to blame for companies making bad business decisions and a horrible economy? Got it!

So what's going to happen to the Deja Vus?

Well, Six Flags can, and does, pressure companies to sell rides at lower prices, since they have considerable leverage as the largest BUYER in the market for rides. I wouldn't say it's SF's *fault* that those companies went under, but they certainly played their part...consider that X was *designed* to go about 120' tall, would that have made a difference in its performance...my instinct tells me it would have, but I could be wrong.

SF, as THE primary purchaser of rides, is still in an enviable position, and while they don't DICTATE the terms of their contracts, they definitely have a larger say than a mom-and-pop who might be looking for ONE new ride every five years or so...

Bill,

Your parents get rides every five years!?? Party at your parent's house!!!!

I'll bring the beer & pancakes!

Of course my famous chocolate martinis will make an appearance, too. ;)

What I love most about this topic though is that, IMO, this really is a good example of irony, and not just coincidence. See usage note here: http://education.yahoo.com/reference/dictionary/entries/43/i0234300.html for the clearest definition of irony I've seen.

OOOO.... Look at the big brain on Dawn! ;)

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Peabody said:
Wow...they took out Vekoma, Arrow Dynamics, were involved in the CCI thing....what's next! :)

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hahaa, thats so true. After X was built, bye-bye Arrow,lol.

Next will be Intamin.

I think if Intamin goes down it will be from both Six Flags and Cedar Fair ::cough::ttd::cough. However I do not think Intamin would go under like Vekoma and Arrow.

I can say that Dawn's chocolate martini's are just.......heavenly.......8-)

Beer and pancakes Moosh? Hmmm.........sounds totally gross but I have actually been there/done that. Ugh.

-Tina

I say that Dawns Chocolate martinis are deadly. One taste and I knew I had to stay away or there would be some silly shenanigans by a 39 year old.

Brian, meet you at Gators house, I want to see what they have collected every 5 years myself.

As for causing companies into chapter 7 or 11, they put themselves into that position, they agree to contracts, they always have the ability to opt out or agree or negotiate better terms. I am wondering if the legal team at SF is better than the financial team, if it is, get them into the CFOs office. Thats why contracts are made.

Ed

I am curious as well, Ed. May have to stop by to see the "coaster room" that Bill constantly talks about the next time I am down that way. :-)

-Tina