SFGAm to get new $35M waterpark, SF capex in 2005 is $90M

Hrmm for comparison sake... does anybody know how much these cost:

Water park at CP

Water park at SFWoA

Water park at PGA

Wet and Wild in Florida/California/Texas

Typhoon Lagoon

Blizzard Beach

I am very curious knowing how much of a water park $35 million can buy... I hope it's not a small addition like the PGA one, I hope it is a full blown new park 8-) Ah well, anything is appreciated :)

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BATWING FAN SFA said:
So out of those parks we've got at least 3(SFDL,SFAW & SFOG) that more than likely won't be seeing any big investments in the way of rides & the others mentioned will probably be seeing something new,I forgot to mention SFNO which I think will join the list along with SFDL,AW & OG in not getting anything major in terms of new rides at this point in time.

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I hate to play my home park, but SFoG hasn't recieved a new real coaster since 2002 (Superman: Ultimate Flight). For it to take 2 years off was uncommon, and 3 years, well I just don't see it happening. Right now SFoG is the Super Park of the south, but if it doesn't add something new and big, attendance will drop.

What park is SFoG going to lose its attendance to? The closest comparable parks are 250 miles from Atlanta. Do you really think that people will stop going to SFoG next year if they don't install something new and big?

Not gonna happen.

Can we just get some paint money for Chang please? How much would that cost?

While I think an AE repaint is a more obvious investment, I do think the waterpark will attract LOTS more of Milwaukeeans to the park. I know that SEVERAL people I know alternate every year between SFGAm and Noah's Ark (both approximately the same distance from Milwaukee) and now that SFGAm offers both the thrills and the spills, I definately think Noah's Ark will lose a measurable amount of business to SFGAm.

SFGAm is about 45-60 minutes from Milwaukee. The Dells are twice that far.

-Nate

Great move for SFGAm. Waterparks can attract a lot more people to your park.

Tiny little DelGrosso's park here in PA probably close to doubled their business since they built thier small waterpark expansion. That place is packed now.

I listened to the call yesterday also. Someone asked the question about ROI with the waterpark and from way Burke answered, it will be included with admission.

Separate gate, included with admission, whichever, GAm will be *swimming* with new visitors, AND repeat visitors, and this waterpark should give the SF stock price a nice little *bump*....best decision SF has made since moving Viper to SFKK...;)

Seriously, whoever said that they could buy three Beemers for the same price as the waterpark, has no interest in the *profitability* of said Beemers, cause in reality SFWoA tried that tack, and it stuck them in the arse when they sat down...

*I* may not be the biggest waterpark fan, but *I* am not the person SF is, or should be, aiming to please....mom and dad with their 1.8 kids (or however many they have these days), THOSE are the peeps that will make or break your park, and SF as a whole.

As much as I would rather see a coaster, the waterpark should provide more enjoyment for all us coaster geeks. When I was at SFMM a couple weeks ago on a Sunday, the place was parking lot was PACKED. There were hour long lines just to purchase tickets. When I got in the park, around 11:30am or so, Revolution and the rides up front had hour long lines. Then, all of a sudden, the place emptied out... into the water park. The only rides that had lines were the coasters with 1 train (Batman, Riddler, Deja Vu), X, & the water rides. Everything else was a walkon.

But you also can't say "SFoG's waterpark added a new ride." The park is over 20 miles from the waterpark. They're hardly related.

I for one am amazed to keep hearing that Six Flags is actually following through on their chain-wide commitment to customer service. It's more exciting to me than any of the capital expendatures.

I'm very curious to learn more about the water park situation at SFGAm. Considering that the Dells are so close with three major water parks, it would be suicide for SFGAm to charge a seperate fee for the waterpark if they do not build one hell of a good on. On the other hand, if they do build a good one that is part of the same admission fee, I could see SFGAm's attendance rising by 25% next year. This would be the time for the park to purchase and / or build some nearby hotels!

Good luck to Six Flags. Might just be time to invest in some stock...

So rumors are flying that the waterpark will be attached to the park on the west side by Viper. This is a great location I think to help lower the crowds at the main park.

What I am curious about is where are they going to get the "new" staff for the waterpark? If it means they are going to take staff out of the main park, making the lines for the coasters huge because they run less trains or not open some rides at all - I say don't open the waterpark.

Seems to me that most complaints about SF parks on this board are the parks that have waterpark (ie: MM, GrAD, etc)

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BMCOASTER said:
So rumors are flying that the waterpark will be attached to the park on the west side by Viper. This is a great location I think to help lower the crowds at the main park.

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I would think if the water park entrance itself is over on the west side, there will be more crowds hanging out at Raging Bull during the day, and at night. I can imagine when the water park closes though, the lines will be insane at RB. That means no more end of the night rides on RB or Viper for me. Not to mention the wet seats.

On a positive note, at least most of the peeps will be far enough away from DV and V2, so those lines should be short.

What on earth would make you think a cash-strapped park chain would drop $35 million on a park and give it away free? Are you kidding? Think about it: CF is spending $10 million less on Castway Bay.

Separate park, separate gate, big hit, huge money-maker. It's still a big time- and money-saver for visitors who'd otherwise go to Rockford or Wisconsin Dells.

-'Playa

Carl, I don't think that's going to be a concern...SFFT has a waterpark and they do JUST fine...:)

The parks that ENJOY providing an excellent atmosphere for their patrons seem to do so REGARDLESS of the rides they get or don't get, and those parks do wonderfully even when their cap-ex budget is low.

Those parks that frankly, STINK...stink when they get great rides, and make excuses when they don't. I suspenct SFGAm will experience *some* growing pains due to the size of this expansion, but I'd be willing to wager they'll come out of it with FLYING colors...(and I am *not* a betting man)...;)

As long as neither park loses at the expense of the other I will be OK with it.

Anyway, if next summer is anything like this one in WI/IL , no one will be in the waterpark anyway - its been unseasonably COLD:)

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rollergator said:
ROFL, I-Fan....there is but ONE *standard-bearer* for waterparks, and it is in New Braunfels....all others can only aspire to that level of greatness...

Anybody wanna go to Schlitterbahn?

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No, I meant as far as Hurricane Harbors go. I should have been more specific. I agree that Schlitterbahn is great, but unfortunately, I only got to experience the Blastenhoff side (the other half was closed), which many people say is the lesser side. *** Edited 8/16/2004 8:49:10 PM UTC by Intamin Fan***

It is looking like the location will be a portion of the buslot bordering Viper.

They already have survey markers in that area of the lot. I would also expect the entrance to the waterpark to be located just to the left of the Go-Kart tracks assuming they don't re-locate the track.

SFGAm generates between 2-3 million people a year just with the current park alone. Imagine what the addition of a waterpark is going to do. I wouldn't be surprised in a couple of years if SFGAm reaches the highest attended seasonal park in the country.