Paramount sues manufacturers of Son of Beast for faulty construction
Posted
The drama that is the story of Son of Beast continues as Paramount's Kings Island sues several of the manufacturers over the design and construction of the ride. Roller Coaster Co. of Ohio, Wooden Structures, Inc. and Forest Products of Hamilton are named in the suit.
Read more from The Cincinnati Enquirer.
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First off, Cedar Point has nothing to do with this, so don't bring it up. Second, the issue is not whether or not SOB is a good ride.
The issue at hand is did PKI lose money as a result of the problems with the ride? Yes, they did. The ride didn't open on time, when it was operable it wasn't open that often, and for a long time it ran only one train. The fact of the matter is that their star attraction spent a lot of time off, the public at large knew that and stayed home. It doesn't matter if it is a good ride today, the park is sueing because of the financial damage caused by the ride's excessive closure, and therefore reduced attendance.
Enough with the stupid holy wars about which parks and rides are better; they have nothing to do with this news.
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Jeff
Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com
The issue at hand is did PKI lose money as a result of the problems with the ride? Yes, they did. The ride didn't open on time, when it was operable it wasn't open that often, and for a long time it ran only one train. The fact of the matter is that their star attraction spent a lot of time off, the public at large knew that and stayed home. It doesn't matter if it is a good ride today, the park is sueing because of the financial damage caused by the ride's excessive closure, and therefore reduced attendance.
Enough with the stupid holy wars about which parks and rides are better; they have nothing to do with this news.
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Jeff
Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com
Anyone know if designer Werner Stengel has been implicated in the suit, or is it mainly focused on the construction and quality of materials?
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Two Words, "Millennium Force"
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Two Words, "Millennium Force"
Good question, Mark.
I feel so bad for PKI, they tried so hard to get this ride up and running on time, and through all thier hard work, it had its issues anyways.
I love you PKI.
This is what will happen, they will settle, the ride will have a major refurb over the winter, and it will open better than ever, and the public will love it..again.
I feel so bad for PKI, they tried so hard to get this ride up and running on time, and through all thier hard work, it had its issues anyways.
I love you PKI.
This is what will happen, they will settle, the ride will have a major refurb over the winter, and it will open better than ever, and the public will love it..again.
From what I've heard was that PKI had a record year or near record year in attendance.
The lawsuit was brought on due to the park's damaged reputation over the flawed coaster.
PKI will more than likely win this case.
As for all you peeps out there complaining about how rough SOB was don't worry,PKI's heard your complaint and is building you a smooth junior coaster for next year.;):) *** This post was edited by DirtyVern on 11/24/2000. ***
The lawsuit was brought on due to the park's damaged reputation over the flawed coaster.
PKI will more than likely win this case.
As for all you peeps out there complaining about how rough SOB was don't worry,PKI's heard your complaint and is building you a smooth junior coaster for next year.;):) *** This post was edited by DirtyVern on 11/24/2000. ***
Here's my take on Sonny. It was extremely rough in the beginning of the season. Over the summer PKI ironed out the rough spots and by the time the end of the season rolled around, it was very smooth and very fast. I've been on enough new wooden coasters to know that they're not supposed to be that rough right off the bat. PKI should not have had to do all this work to a new ride, hence the suit.
As for Stengel, I don't think he'll be touched because RCCA is being implicated for the design. I'm not sure who contracted him, RCCA or PKI.
I have to agree with john peck with is prediction on the outcome. And if it's better than it was on closing day, I think a lot of opinions will be changed.
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Scott W. Short
scott@midwestcoastercentral.com
http://www.midwestcoastercentral.com
As for Stengel, I don't think he'll be touched because RCCA is being implicated for the design. I'm not sure who contracted him, RCCA or PKI.
I have to agree with john peck with is prediction on the outcome. And if it's better than it was on closing day, I think a lot of opinions will be changed.
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Scott W. Short
scott@midwestcoastercentral.com
http://www.midwestcoastercentral.com
I agree with everyone, this is not about who or what is better. This is about PKI losing money and respect from so many people. SOB is a great ride and it is very unique. As for KI having a record year, yes they did. Jeff; you are so right I am sick of people thinking that us KI employees/fans get upset when someone talks about how great CP or any park is. We do not care, because Ohio has many great coasters that kick a$$.
Did PKI lose money due to Sonny being closed so much, simple answer...yes. I cannot determine how many floks actually traveled as far as I did, only to be denied a ride on SOB, due to whatever reason they were telling the GP. Personally, I did not purchase any t-shirts or souveniers because I was so ticked off that it was closed all day. I am sure there are plenty of people out there who did the same as me.
John Peck mentiones that the ride will most likely get a major overhaul over the winter. I am sure that is true. He also mentions that it will be better than ever. I highly doubt that. This thing will have more trim breaks on it than ANY other coaster ever. I would be willing to bet that the speeds will be kept to 70mph or below for the entire ride.
I have a feeling that the life of this beast will be slowly sucked from it, but it will remain a testament to "How NOT To Build A Woodie" for years to come.
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So you want a coaster in your backyard? I hope you have a big backyard.
John Peck mentiones that the ride will most likely get a major overhaul over the winter. I am sure that is true. He also mentions that it will be better than ever. I highly doubt that. This thing will have more trim breaks on it than ANY other coaster ever. I would be willing to bet that the speeds will be kept to 70mph or below for the entire ride.
I have a feeling that the life of this beast will be slowly sucked from it, but it will remain a testament to "How NOT To Build A Woodie" for years to come.
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So you want a coaster in your backyard? I hope you have a big backyard.
SOB is one of the best rides I have ever been on. Only the Beast or maby Magnum can compare at all. An overhaul mighy be done, but they should not have trim breaks on the first hill. That is a great hill and very smooth.Also, have you ever riden SOB when it had a wet track. I have and it was the best ride on it I ever had with the exception of my first ride on it, on its first day opened.
The suit does name the Roller Coaster Corporation of Ohio. This is not a misprint; it was RCCO that built the ride. I saw a print for the ride on display at the RCCA booth at IAAPA, and indeed it was clearly marked as "Roller Coaster Corporation of Ohio". If you look at the Rattler files at Jared Costanza's amusement ride accidents site, you'll see that there are references there to the Roller Coaster Corporation of Texas
when it is well known that the Rattler was also built by RCCA. Now, I don't know this for certain, but my guess is that RCCO is a company set up by RCCA for the purpose of building Son of Beast...a tactic which tends to protect RCCA in the event of a disaster. I've seen other manufacturers do the exact same thing...
--Dave Althoff, Jr., who happens to be referring to Ultimate Indistries...
when it is well known that the Rattler was also built by RCCA. Now, I don't know this for certain, but my guess is that RCCO is a company set up by RCCA for the purpose of building Son of Beast...a tactic which tends to protect RCCA in the event of a disaster. I've seen other manufacturers do the exact same thing...
--Dave Althoff, Jr., who happens to be referring to Ultimate Indistries...
There should be absolutly no reason why Sonny doesn't ride as smooth as glass at any point. The ride was constructed with very gradual points and well designed turns.
There is a big problem here folks, and our good friends at Kings Island will fix it for us.
Don't worry, it will be okay.
There is a big problem here folks, and our good friends at Kings Island will fix it for us.
Don't worry, it will be okay.
Sorry, I stand corrected, "coastersrz" is right, RCCA is in Atlanta. RCCA had an office here in Cincinnati during the construction of SOB.
Jeff, even though SOB was not open for the entire season on a regular basis, it was open. The parl would not announce daily on the news "SOB will not be open today", most of the time it would open late in the afternoon, or you wouldn't find out if it was going to open until you got to the front gate. SOB DID attract visitors, and those visitors paid to get in, even if SOB opened late on a particular day. Don't fool yourself, just having SOB (open or not), made PKI a ton of money.
When KI had "The Bat", it was partially open the first year (and every year after for that matter), and the coaster still paid for itself by it's presence, "The Bat", attracted visitors into the park even if it was not open all the time. I know this for a fact because the Operations Director of KI at that point told me so.
PKI did not lose money on SOB, they made money, and will continue to do so.
BTW, off the subject, you can see my page on The Bat at:
http://www.coasterguide.com/the%20bat/bat.htm
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Coasterguide.com a great coaster site!
Jeff, even though SOB was not open for the entire season on a regular basis, it was open. The parl would not announce daily on the news "SOB will not be open today", most of the time it would open late in the afternoon, or you wouldn't find out if it was going to open until you got to the front gate. SOB DID attract visitors, and those visitors paid to get in, even if SOB opened late on a particular day. Don't fool yourself, just having SOB (open or not), made PKI a ton of money.
When KI had "The Bat", it was partially open the first year (and every year after for that matter), and the coaster still paid for itself by it's presence, "The Bat", attracted visitors into the park even if it was not open all the time. I know this for a fact because the Operations Director of KI at that point told me so.
PKI did not lose money on SOB, they made money, and will continue to do so.
BTW, off the subject, you can see my page on The Bat at:
http://www.coasterguide.com/the%20bat/bat.htm
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Coasterguide.com a great coaster site!
coastersrz, to the best of my knowledge PKI will not be opening any new rides this year. There is a space by Hanna Barbara Land, where a log flume currently sits, that is fenced off, there are signs saying that a future attraction is coming, no rumors yet though, I'll keep my ear to the floor and keep in contact with a few people I know at the park, if I find out anything, I will let you know.
PKD is opening a coaster called the Hypersonic XLC, but I am sure you have already heard of it.
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Coasterguide.com a great coaster site!
PKD is opening a coaster called the Hypersonic XLC, but I am sure you have already heard of it.
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Coasterguide.com a great coaster site!
Shawn, had you been paying attention, you would know that PKI will be opening a new themed flume ride next season (the Kings Mill flume is being re-built by O. D. Hopkins...the new trough will be galvanized steel instead of Fiberglas, but will otherwise be essentially the same layout as the old flume) and another yet-to-be-named attraction which may be a junior suspended coaster.
Oh, and they're replacing the film in the simulator again.
--Dave Althoff, Jr.
Oh, and they're replacing the film in the simulator again.
--Dave Althoff, Jr.
I know starting in July SoB had two trains which was an improvcement over one. But isn`t it supposed to have three trains? Or did they only put two on for some reason? Also, does it have any thing to do with their lawsuit?
Shawn, I heard that PKI was renovating the log Flume and adding an inverted kids coaster that travels at up to 35 m.p.h. I have also heard that the two "new rides will be in a new theme are Nickelodeon Central. I sure hope that PKI gets a new coaster in 2002- minus the problems that Sob has had.
Shawn, I heard that PKI was renovating the log Flume and adding an inverted kids coaster that travels at up to 35 m.p.h. I have also heard that the two "new rides will be in a new theme are Nickelodeon Central. I sure hope that PKI gets a new coaster in 2002- minus the problems that Sob has had.
Okay, so looking back through the news here...Premier will modify (that's the rumor, all they are officially saying "is wait till next year"), Outer Limits Flight of Fear. The log flume is supposed to be a knother kiddie ride, and Jeff Siebert at PKI is not elaborating on that. PKI MAY be getting one or two coasters in 2002. Nothing Firm, just rumors, nothing more. There is no official word (that I know of), about a movie change, though it is overdue in my opinion.
I do pay attention RideMan, try being a little nicer to other users.
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Coasterguide.com a great coaster site!
I do pay attention RideMan, try being a little nicer to other users.
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Coasterguide.com a great coaster site!
Hey coastersrz...PKI does have 3 trains for SOB, they have not been using all three though. I think they rotate them. I was in the ride warehouse about a month ago and they had train #3 in there all torn apart, and train#1 and #2 were out on the tracks. I can send you a couple of digital pics I took of #3 in the garage if you want to see em, just email me (shawn@coasterguide.com).
If I hear any firm stuff I will let you know.
BTW, there is a "coming soon" notice on PKI's page about the kids area, presumably that has something to do with the log flume area in question. There is something about a "7th Portal" on PKI's page.
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Coasterguide.com a great coaster site!
If I hear any firm stuff I will let you know.
BTW, there is a "coming soon" notice on PKI's page about the kids area, presumably that has something to do with the log flume area in question. There is something about a "7th Portal" on PKI's page.
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Coasterguide.com a great coaster site!
Actually, Shawn, the announcement about a Paramount-wide simulator film replacement was made quite awhile ago by Iwerks and Paramount.
As for changes on TRFKAOL (The Ride Formerly Known as Outer Limits), no rumor there. I was standing with Dave at Premier's booth when they flat out said they would do something to the ride for next year.
http://www.coasterbuzz.com/news/news.asp?NewsID=817
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Jeff
Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com
As for changes on TRFKAOL (The Ride Formerly Known as Outer Limits), no rumor there. I was standing with Dave at Premier's booth when they flat out said they would do something to the ride for next year.
http://www.coasterbuzz.com/news/news.asp?NewsID=817
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Jeff
Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com
LOL! Let's see.......the year was 1984. King Cobra made a stand (DON'T even start!). Screamin' Demon scared the crap outta me. The Bat killed thousands(*snicker*), And the artist formerly known as Prince, was known as Prince. :)
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www.angelfire.com/oh4/tk173
First rule of Stormtroopers: Pee BEFORE you put on the uniform!
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www.angelfire.com/oh4/tk173
First rule of Stormtroopers: Pee BEFORE you put on the uniform!
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