Partial Arrow owner wants to buyout the rest of the company

Unless Six Flags actually has it in writing that they get some cut of the 4D technology as an R&D partner, they've gotta be smoking something.

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Jeff - Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com, Sillynonsense.com
"As far as I can tell it doesn't matter who you are. If you can believe, there's something worth fighting for..." - Garbage, "Parade"

I would feel better with James King buying the company than an amusement park chain. Just because Six Flags bought a ride coes not mean they own the right to it. As long as Arrow can keep operating, especially at it's home in Utah, it sound good. I hope Fred B. can remain president. What ever happened to Ron Toomer?

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I don't necessarily want Six Flags to buy it because then they would have a monopoly over how much they want to charge non-Six Flags parks for a 4-D...

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Snoopy Rocks! On Ice opens on June 22nd

Think they'll let me drive the Zamboni machine?

Good point, CPGenius. And then, who's to say with the monopoly they may have would even sell the 4th Dimension rides to other non-Six Flags parks.

-Mikey

I agree with CPgenius. But just like the flying coaster, B&M or another coaster company could manufacture their own 4th Dimension coaster.

It would be a shame if the great Arrow Dynamics was bought out by the Six Flags Corporation. I don't think they would do any good with the name or the company. However, the only popular coaster type that other parks would be loosing is the 4-D. Hypers and Mega-Loopers can be made by other companies. The 4-D is the only thing that would be missed

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"The opposite of war isn't peace, its creation," Rent.

Jephry, how do you figure another company could make a 4d? Don't you think any likeness would be challenged by Arrow? The 4d patent is probably one of their few assets left and they won't be taken advantage of by another company just because of bankrupcy.

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Off with the trims!
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Let me just mention again what I said on the forums when this first appeared:

That 5th paragraph of that article is huge. Read it and read it again.

To my understanding (and correct me if I'm wrong here) Six Flags currently has claims aginst Arrow in total of $5.8 million. Knowing that Arrow is in trouble, they've offered 10 grand and the promise to discharge all claims in return for all assets related to X.

Doesn't this mean that Six Flags would own the 4D design?

That means we wouldn't see a 4D at any park except for Six Flags until another company develops similar technology.

I don't think Six Flags would sell the design to other parks - for a few years (at least) they'd have a chain exclusive, cutting edge ride design.

That's a huge move. Let's hope that doesn't happen. Although I have to admire the shrewdness of the offer.

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www.coasterimage.com *** This post was edited by Lord Gonchar on 6/6/2002. ***

Why do I have the strange feeling that 4th Dimension coasters are going to show up everywhere under the name of Superman...;)

-mikey

I seriously doubt that. Too expensive and difficult to maintain. Try the B&M flyers instead.
Sounds like the best senario is the one mentioned in the article, Mr. King that is.

My feeling is, and has always been that we may see one or two more 4Ds, that's it.

It's the technology developed for this ride that will be carried into other designs by other manufacturers.

*** This post was edited by OutKast on 6/6/2002. ***

I guess it all boils down to who your loyalty actually is to. Do you support Six Flags and their "assumed" pursuit to corner the market on 4-Ds.

Me personally? It wouldn't bother me if they bought Arrow. I want to see more of the 4D design... period. The cost is gonna still be in the same ballpark. The smaller parks STILL won't be able to afford them, but if SF can cut a deal for themselves and get them in other parks, I'm all for it.

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Sorrrrrrrry folks! Parks closed. The moose out front should have told you.

Ok, did they actually offer $10,000 for the rights to a ride that cost so much to develop that it caused Arow to file chptr.11 in the first place.? This seems almost insulting eh?

They know that this ride is at the cuttng edge, and owning it would almost certainly be more valuable than even that 5.8 million that they are sueing for. Makes me dislike Six Flags even more than I already do. But you also gotta admire the gall of the six flags lawyers, for putting this offer on the table.

Bigkirby, there are a lot of ride designs that have been made by more than one company. More than one company will end up making the 4-D. Look at the first stand up made by TOGO. Even though TOGO made the first one, B&M made their own. Same with the inverted coaster, suspended coaster, bobslede coaster, flying coaster and so on.

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"The opposite of war isn't peace, its creation," Rent.

Dumb move if you ask me... Six Flags is in the bussiness of putting butts in rides, and Arrow is in the bussiness of making the seats for the butts. Let's just keep it that way.

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Jes
Jes's Roller Coasters DJ Jes MCS Please, Feel Free To Call Me Jes!
"Thank You Jeff Putz"

Looks like SF is up to their fish eaten by a bigger fish philosophy. They are working to gobble up every small fish (park) that makes a profit and now it seems they are moving to coaster companies. I for one think this move just goes to show you how profit driven these guys are and how it doesnt matter what the people think or want as long as they get your money first.

One of the main reasons companies like Premier and Reverchon are second guessing this purchase is due to the debt they would incur. The creditors are starting to circle to get their money and this is gonna put a bad taste into Premier's mouth. Let's just hope Arrow has more options than selling their intellectual property to SF. Remember Arrow has sunk millions into R&D not only for the 4D, but other designs as well. It would be a shame to see these innovative designs sit on a shelf and never get built.

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WCUSA-The World's largest theme park is coming!
Theme parks will NEVER be the same!

Absolutely Chris... Six Flags continues to buy faster than they can repay their creditors, and people in the industry are starting to notice this. Pretty soon, Premire is going to hit a wall, and we're going to see a huge company start to crumble.

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Jes
Jes's Roller Coasters DJ Jes MCS Please, Feel Free To Call Me Jes!
"Thank You Jeff Putz"

"That's a huge move. Let's hope that doesn't happen. Although I have to admire the shrewdness of the offer."

I'm rooten' for the Flags here. Another source of income would be nice to their bottom line.

Go Six Flags Go! *** This post was edited by Ride on 6/6/2002. ***

The good thing is companies like SDC, Inc. and the kochs over at HW aren't quick to sell out to SF. Parks like those will continue to be successful and will hurt SF's business in the future. I know that SDC is working on a master plan to build more parks in areas to drive up competition. I think they have their sights set on Florida if Branson's new park is successful. Look out Six Flags, the small boys are comin'!!!

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WCUSA-The World's largest theme park is coming!
Theme parks will NEVER be the same!

Acouple of points to touch on:

"I for one think this move just goes to show you how profit driven these guys are..."

Whay else would you run a business? It's all about the bottom line, it's that way for every park. Six Flags is agressive. Who can fault a company for trying to grow? I wouldn't want to be a part of a company that didn't.

"Six Flags continues to buy faster than they can repay their creditors, and people in the industry are starting to notice this. Pretty soon, Premire is going to hit a wall, and we're going to see a huge company start to crumble."

I'd wager my income for the rest of my life that they don't. :)

Let me quote my own post from the forums:

"I disagree entirely. I firmly believe you need to spend money to make money. Right now that debt looks huge, but when Six Flags owns parks near every major metropolitan area in the country and those parks are full of coasters, people will come. They then slow down to a more reasonable expansion pace and let the money roll in.

It's long term thinking and as much as I don't care for Six Flags parks in general, I have to agree with the business plan."

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www.coasterimage.com

As long as they keep operating, I don't care if the ghost of Elvis runs them. I'd take over in a heartbeat, but that's not in my hands right now (nor is the money to do it). BigKirby, Mr. Toomer is now retired, but his achievements live on.

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Brad Sherman
Soon park benches will have seatbelts!
Model coasters and rides