PKI worth $200 million and attracting big names

What did SFWOA sell for again?

There are no laws stating monopolies are illegal. According to the Federal Trade Commission website:

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The antitrust laws make it unlawful to maintain or attempt to create a monopoly through tactics that either unreasonably exclude firms from the market or significantly impair their ability to compete

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Only 200 mil for Kings Island????? I would guess that park is worth atleast 500, given that there is just so much unused land, the rides are in excellent condition and the park has such a good reputation (except among the flyer fans)

Again...I don't think that's an actual valuation. In this case, I'm pretty sure the author was just taking the rumored sale price of the chain ($1B) and dividing it equally between the five parks.

145 mill for SF WoA. 200 mill for PKI. If I was CF I would opt to dominate Ohio.

I was were Cedar Fair, I would have passed on SFWoA (with their reputation, they were beyond turnaround) and held out for PKI.

Paramount Parks was not in play when Cedar Fair bought Geauga. In fact, I don't think "CBS Corporation" was even a glimmer in Sumner Redstone's eye at that point. Cedar Fair saw an opportunity and took it.

I believe that, under the law, the "competition" would not be just major amusement parks, but movie theaters, museums, sports facilities, concert venues... One company owning several theme/amusement parks would not constitute a monopoly.*** This post was edited by slithernoggin 2/24/2006 8:42:32 PM ***

It's probably about time for some new heads to get in there at Paramount. Whoever thought up moving FOF from PKD, adding Italian Job to PKD and not PGA, theming a Disk-O to Survivor, and theming a horrid, low capacity flying coaster to Tomb Raider needs to be sedated, but that's just my opinion. Now they're going to conveniently delay opening SOB with the season (to remove the last car of each train??) in hopes it will be a better ride.

+Danny

I doubt (personally) that BEC would be interested in the entire portfolio. I could see PKI, as its obviously the jewel of the group. I'd be curious the "fun" that could be had with packaging Busch Williamsburg, Kings Dominion, and Water Country USA.

Also, as their been much said about how the sale of PKI might or might not affect the Great Wolf property opening their this fall?

Forgot a bit... Busch Tampa has a wooden rollercoaster, and that seems to operate without a real problem.

I read the comment from Redman, this is true. You can build as many amusement parks in one state as you like without getting in any legal trouble for it. However, if you build one and then another and then maliciously attack another park. For instance, ad campaigns that attack another parks integrity. Schemes to steal guests from other parks. Demand vendors only sell their products at your park or you won't sell them at all. You know make it very difficult or near impossible for another park to operate. Then antitrust laws come into effect. Then again, I don't know any previous mentioned retail chains that are doing that;)

Although I don't think Cedar Fair is the best fit for this park, if they did purchase PKI, I would immediately turn around and sell Geauga Lake, or at least downsize the park significantly.

PKI is my home park and if I had a choice Cedar Fair would be it. This park has a great kids section, which is only going to get better this year and an awesome waterpark. It has however been lacking in the new steel coasters that Cedar Fair has been putting in all their parks. I do wonder if the New hotel and indoor waterpark being owned by an outside company could hinder any deal Cedar Fair might want or be a reason to devalue the park some due to not having the better of the two hotels owned by PKI. The Kings Island Inn is nice but, The Great Wolf property will over shadow it. Cedar Fair has come to realize the value of hotels in keeping people for multi-days. This will be a major sticking point in any discussions. I hope who ever buys it, keeps striving to make guest feel special. That is one thing this park has always tried to do and has been successful at it.

Ride hard and live long.

Yes, CF has absolutely seen the value of their hotel holdings. That 12% increase in "out of park spending" in Q4 '05 was a major component of their first ever Q4 profit.

I'm wondering that if Cedar Fair does buy Kings Island if you would have to pay extra for a season pass that allows entrance to Geauga and Cedar Point?

I don't see BEC showing much interest in PKI. PKI is a nice park, but the Busch's would only consider a purchase if they were really willing to invest in the park in the area of themeing and landscaping. PKI is currently not up to thier par on in this area and it would take some extra cash they may not be willing to spend at this time to get the park to the way they would really want it. Nothing against PKI in this area, but that is just the way the Busch's do business.

I hope PKI stays the way it already is. It really has its own charm and character.

Hmmm, why aren't the other parks for sale?

All of the Paramount Parks are for sale.

P/Maureen the KI PR person just this evening stated that all 5 Paramount parks are being sold together..but...if the offer was right they probably would not have an issue with letting one park go as a single sale.

I personally hope that CF doesn't touch it. For one, I have to agree that PKI has it's own charm, that is why my hubby and I go there as well as CP. I can't see CP dropping the $$ for PKI, after all GL has cost them far more than they probably had anticipated, and attendance has well, sucked. I can only hope for their sake that WWK brings in the crowds they had hoped for this season or there is no telling what will happen. I find it hard to believe that thanks to Six Flags no one wants to touch GL now?

I would hate to see what would happen to PKI if CF bought it. However, on a funny note..if they were to rename all the rides (which if they don't dish out more $$ to keep the names they'd have to) the perfect name for SOB would be "And you thought Mean Streak was bad?" or "Son of Mean Streak"
;)
jmho

Jo
Lifetime Raptor flights: 1077 :)

Oh, I hope CF buys PKD.