SFGAm Superman Section?

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BMCOASTER said:
If you look at the artists rendering for a second that is posted on the B-96 website you can see a service road or path around the outside of the coaster.
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BMCOASTER
bmcoaster@wi.rr.com

Maybe they will get rid of the stupid bridge that Shockwave had over the service road.

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My website - Zero G Thrills

BMCOASTER said:
If you look at the artists rendering for a second that is posted on the B-96 website you can see a service road or path around the outside of the coaster. Think of the future here. Maybe what we could be seeing is the expansion of the park out further to the North around Superman. Add shops and stores and maybe a flat or too.

There was a path and pavement around Shockwave, too...it's called the parking lot and the drop-off/pick-up area.

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--George H
---Superman the ride...coming to a SF park near you soon...
Currency tracking experiment... http://www.wheresgeorge.com (Referring to The "George" on the $1 bill - Not Me)

2Hostyl said:

One more thing, directed to (SF)GA, why are comics, and especially Superman not worthy of consideration? Do you NOT recall Superman's tag line of "TRUTH, JUSTICE and the AMERICAN WAY"? (3 separate links) Sorry, there isnt much MORE worthy of being in an "Americana" themed park (except mabye a section on hypocracy, but I digress....)

A very good point. However, there are still two reasons why I'm against it: One, Superman isn't real. Great America's lands might be idealized, but they do have a basis in reality. No, there's no real reason why a ficticious land couldn't be built, but it just doesn't seem to fit. Two: The talk was of a D.C. Comics themed area, not just Superman/Metropolis. While all of D.C.'s characters are a little bit more palatable than Marvels' when it comes to extolling "American virtues," they aren't exactly examplary.

And my personal, third reason why I don't want to see it: It's not a terribly original idea. The rest of Great America's lands are. They even manage to not rip off Disney (too much), which is quite hard, when you consider that much of the overall theme of Disney and Great America is identical.

Note-The above is not to be taken too seriously. ;)

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I hear America screaming...

Me and and acouple people were talking about this back in October.I think they should put a superhero area spanning from Batman to Superman But that would be pretty hard to change all the names of the rides in between them.I think they should put back ERC and put a ferris wheel whare Power Dive was or bring back Power Dive. And put a Top spin or Robo Coaster whare that stupid 3d haunted mansion thing is right next to the exit of roning rapids.

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Favorite B+M's Hulk, Raging Bull, Dueling Dragons (Both), Batman the Ride, Iron Wolf

25 diffrent coasters in 2002
I love IOA

I bet it will be similar to the "theming" @ SFoG.... basically a patriotic paint job on the surrounding attractions and a few wooden life-sized cartoons of superman characters.... or mabye Six Flags will invest more in theming? ( =.... I was impressed with Gotham City though....

I really don't care if Superman doesn't fit into the Orlean's Place theme, look at Batman, V2, and Ice Mountain Splash, they don't into the themeing of Yankee Harbor, and one complains about them. The only thing I would like see would be some themeing around the ride, like Batman.

While 3 million people is good attendance what is more important is how much the people spend in the parks and how much are they paying to get into the park which all impact the bottom line which is where SF's fail in a miserable manner. Alof of season customers(like myself )who visit a dozen times helps attendance but doesnt positively help the bottom line, escpecially when horde of people flee the park to eat (like myself)and not many buy trinkets where there is a high markup. If six flags wants to improve their bottom line they have to make the park more relevant to whole families, and part of that is making the park more attractive and adding attractions for more than just the thrill set. And while i love to see them adding another coaster and will give them credit for doing so i think will have a postive impact on attendance going up its not going to be as great if it is just season passholders coming back more times and not new visitors. When it comes to a hype war a ride like the one going to CP will induce more people than a ride that while excellant isnt new.

And SF should move to have there parks match the standards of disney/universal and even BGW and shouldnt just be content to throw in a ride every now and then and not worry about the overall appearance of the park.

I realize that alot here dont feel the need to hold a park they enjoy up to any standards at all and will bow down no matter what they do rather than encourage them to improve their product.

I agree with you on the family experience, they need more where families can ride together. Whizzer, Trailblazer, River Rocker, Spacely's Sprocket Rockets, and some others are just right for the whole family. I don't see a lot of older people jumping into line for Batman, Iron Wolf, Raging Bull, Giant Drop, and those fast spinning rides. If Six Flags wants to stay in business, they have to focus on the family, not to compete with Cedar Point. But don't get me wrong, there's nothing wrong with some compition.

Bob, do you really even know *why* SFInc is in debt? I personally, dont really know, but I'd be willing to wager that it is the long term investment in adding parks that has caused most of it. The vast majority of the individual parks are actually nicely profitable. So despite what you think, the bottom line *is* being helped.

And while we're on the subject, you seem to suggest that people leave SFGAm in droves to eat. Well, since *you* do you wouldn't know this, but next time you are @ SFGAm, stop at a food stand or in or of the restaurants. You dont have to buy anything, but look at numbers of people who *are* spending money. Moreover, stay till closing and go into the gift shops. Again you dont have to buy anything, but look at all the silly ish the "teens" are buying. People are spending more money in the park than you give them credit for.

Also, I'd like to know why so many enthusiasts assume that the bulk of attendance is really repeat attendance form Season Pass holders. I really dont think that it is as prevalent as you people seem to think. In fact, I think that it is pretty obvious that SFGAm has a ton of "single day admissions" as they sell the MVP passes (or former Twickets) to encourage people to upgrade to a 2-day pass. Personally, until I joined these lists, I never even knew anyone who had a Season Pass to a park. Yet, pretty much everyone I knew went to GAm at least every other year (w/ Coke can or Dominick's discount of course ;))

And if enjoying the park for what it is and not complaining that it hasnt made every decison *exactly* as I, an industry OUTSIDER, would have it, means that I am bowing down and taking it up the Hershey Highway, well then, just tell chris and 'moosh to pass the Astroglide. Bob, you take things way too seriously IMO. SFGAm is not in any sense of the phrase a "bad park". In some ways, they are actually superior to Disneyland, and vastly outpace Universal/IOA and BGW. But for some reason, you are frustrated with them. That, I do not understand.

lata, jeremy

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"Sunshine, daisies, butter-mellow! Turn this stupid fat rat yellow!"

Amen Jeremy. Let me add this [which echos what you said in your last paragraph]: If you go into a park expecting the worst, you'll experience it.

I've been to every SF park in the US but Fiesta Texas and Georgia. I frequent SFMM and SFMW the most and have multiple visits to the rest. Only once in all the years I've been going have I seen something that was *so* bad I felt I needed to write a letter. So either I am the luckiest SOB on the planet or many enthusiasts are going into these parks with a negative outlook.

FYI, I've also had *at least* one negative experience at all the other major chains [Busch, Univeral, Cedar Point, Paramount, Kennywood, and HersheyCo]. None of them is perfect.

Moosh

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Humor Ingredients: all natural flavors, some artificial additives. Sold by weight, not volume. 100% satisfaction not guaranteed. Void in Texas and Puerto Rico.

BobO, sorry, but I thought Tomb Raider was a huge waste of money. Now, let me clarify some things:
a) I love flat rides
b) I love Huss rides
c) I love Huss Topspins
d) The giant Topspin simply does not match up to its little brother, although I think this is because of making the capsule 'fit' to certain themeing elements. It was way too jerky. And how about the lava that's just a bunch of red lights mixed in with water.

Lastly, please explain to me how Avalanche Bobsled at PKD fits into the Congo section?
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This is counter culture from the underground eternal revolution this is our sound KMFDM better than the best Megalomaniacal and harder than the rest

Bob:
SFGAm added *nothing* last year, and yet the park was one of the only "big four" SF parks to be *up* in attendance and spending. Explain that to me if people are "fleeing the park " to eat and nobody is buying tickets for return visits. Not only is SFGAm one of the most well-run Six Flags parks, it's one of the prettiest. I'd hate to see you complaining if you were stuck with a park like SFStL, SFKK, or SFWoA.

There is simply no way SF can "up their standards" to match Disney/Universal. They don't have the crowd draw, and thus they don't have the money to spend on elaborate attractions. Despite that, I wouldn't say SFGAm just "throws in" rides with no care about the appearance of the park. V2 is in one of the most beautiful locations of any coaster (certainly the nicest impulse). S:UF will be landscaped and not just built over the parking lot. Viper is wonderfully themed. Raging Bull's station is well done, too, to fit the area. I don't see how your arguments hold true.

It's fine to not just accept everything your home park does, and to push them to come up with a better product. That is, as long as your goals for the park are realistic. Sorry, but yours are far from that.

-Nate

Well said Coasterdude318!

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The Demon He's gonna getchya!
*** This post was edited by SFGAMNUT9302 2/12/2003 10:44:34 PM ***

Bob O. Six Flags and Cedar Point are seasonal parks. Most people do not travel across the world to come to these parks. While Disney on the other hand, has people come from all over the world. That helps a lot with their success. I think SF and CF are doing just fine. If they were doing something wrong, they wouldnt still be operational.

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Rob

"Some people spend an entire LIFETIME wondering if they made a DIFFERENCE. The MARINES don't have that problem." -President Reagan 1985

BobO, Six Flags probably cares MORE about attendance, than the amount of money people spend in the parks. High attendance figures looks terrific to the stock analysts, so they upgrade the stock, the price goes up, and the shareholders are happy.

The ONLY thing Six Flags Inc cares about, is making the share-holders happy.

If they can do X this season, and it'll make the stock price go up, they will do it. Even if it'll lead to disaster next season. All public companies operate this way, and it's why the majority of what is 'out there' is total garbage.

Cam.

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Cameron Silver

2Hostyl From all ive read and heard the SF Co(premiers parks) has alot of debt, and while some is due to investing in the parks, some will also be due to bad management. And when i leave the park near the lunch hr i see hordes or people leaving and eating in nearby Rest., and also eating in their cars. And all those people who leave are lost revenue for the park. And yes, as i walk around i see people eating but they are losing alot of revenue by having IMHO lousy food that is way overpriced. And yes i stay till the park closes and see alot of people in the shops, but see few leaving with alot of puchased items, more are leaving with stuffed animals they won at the carny games. I think the selection they have is awful and they do a lousy job of changing their selections, and have way too many items that are generic to SF and not unique. I like to buy park souvenirs and would be happy to spend more money at the parks but the selection just isnt there. They have had the same Raging Bull shirt for years, IMHO they should have new shirts each yearto encourage sales. As an example when they had their 25th Annv. they had excellant shirts with the carousel on them and when i went in May i decided to wait, well once the shirts sold out they never replenshied the stock. They need to improve their selections of items available to the public, as an example i think they should have sold a Anniv. shirt/trinkets for the 10th anniv of batman, i think they need to be more creative in that regard which will all help the bottom line and other parks have done to spur sales.

I dont think SFGAM is a bad park and i have found it to be the best SF park that ive been too. I like the park and wouldnt be a season passholder if i didnt like it. But i think they can do a better job but wont if not pushed to do so. I do think they have some great thrill rides but need more than that to be a complete park. Having small kids i spend time in the kids area's which are medicore and i hear alot of families complain of the park having very little the whole family can do together and you hearthem say that they come one time a year to satisfy the kids but that is all they can handle. I think they need to do more for families than just put in a new thrill ride every couple of years. And while there thrill rides may be superior(in quantity) to a IOA/WDW/BGW when you put together the whole package of rides/food/atmosphere/shows they are inferior IMHO and while i agree its not a fair compasrion to IOA/WDW it is to parks like BGW or PKI and i dont think they are as good as these and other than SW Terr. they have went downhill in the ambiance of the park since it was first built.

Coasterdude-I would agree that SF cares about attendance as do sharholders, but they also care greatly about per guest spending. As for SFSTL i think SF has done a good job with the park and for SF parks it has alot of shade/tree's and the water park is a excellant part of the park. Its not as good overall IMHO to SFGAM but it has some aspects that are very nice. Now KK not much good to say about that park.

Intamin Fan-While im not a great lover of TR or that type of ride, i will give the park credit for trying to make a ride that is themed from start to finish. May not have been as successful as it could have been but i do give credit for trying something that alot of parks wont. But i give them great Kudo's for having great kids area's, the food wasnt bad and having a nice water park. I visited the park last year and had a excellant time there and wish it was closer.

In closing my long winded response i think SGFAM has potential to be alot more than it is but due to not alot of competition in the area(within a couple hours drive)they are content to do enough to get by without doing more than they have to. Now if we had a Cedar Point/PKI/BGW(as examples of other regional parks) park closer competing for the entertainment dollar i think they would up the ante more than they have.

Maybe a lot of peopel leave to eat, but a lot more stay. Ever tried to buy lunch at peak times? Even with good service (which you normaly get), it'll be a long line. I think they make as much from food as they can. They might make more if they expand operations, but managment obviously thinks they're making enough money as it is.

I really, really, really don't know what you're about on the merchandising thing... From glow-sticks to Looney Toons shirst to superhero toys, I see tons of stuff in people's arms at the end of the day. No, they don't sell that much Great America or Six Flags merchandise: Why bother, when you've got two whole lines of already popular products you can sell, instead? And, actually, I've noticed a marked inprovement in uniqueness and variety in their ride-related merchandise, in the last two years.

Families: I guess I can't speak here, too much. All I can say is, I've been going every year since I was seven (and my brother was five), and our family has always had a blast. We never went more than one day in a row, but that's fine: When you start talking multiple day trips, you're startin to compare SF with Disney World, again. Deal with it: The only regional park that expects large amounts of multiple-day guests is CP. Great America has never tried to do anything but attract guests to the park once a year, for one day (maybe two, with a twicket [or whatever they're calling it now]). If you think they ought to do more, than you really don't understand the park, and we'll never really understand each other.

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I hear America screaming...
*** This post was edited by (SF)Great American 2/13/2003 3:20:22 PM ***

Bob O,

You can go to virtually any park and you will see people eating picnic lunches. I have seen people picnicing at every park I go to, whether it is a Six Flags park, Cedar Point, or any of the "independents". Besides as (SF)GAm said, there are still a large percentage of people who eat all their meals in the park as can be witnessed by the lines at the restaurants and food stalls.

I cannot comment on Disney World, as when we went there, we stayed on property and were "captive guests" and did not have a car.

As for people shopping at the parks, we must have been there on different days, I almost always see people carrying stuff from the gift shops out to their cars...

But again, comparing a "day destination" to a "vacation resort" is ludicrous.

No park food could ever live up to what BGW dishes out. That is except for CP Cheese On A Stick that is just amazing. I could eat those all day!

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BMCOASTER

bmcoaster@wi.rr.com

You could , but your life expectancy would drop significantly. :)

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Arena football has arrived in the Windy City. Go "Chicago Rush"

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