SFWOA Frightfest attendance

I attended Frightfest last weekend at SFWOA. The park didn't seem to be too busy during the afternoon, but was more steady later in the evening. Anyone know how SFWOA is doing with attendance this year or where I can find out some attendance information?

Thanks

Well from what I have heard while I was working was that the park was up over last years, about 1-2%. Not a lot. However, I am in school now and dont know for sure about frightfest.

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SFWoA TL 2003!

Based on what a few of my friends that work at the park, this years attendence is supposed to match or break the attendence during the 2000 season. The park(s) usually doesn't release attendence records, but who knows.

As for Fright Fest, only been up there the first Friday didn't seem to by packed as it was last year (probably due to either weather or football games). I bet the weekends would bring a good amount of people.

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Top 3 Wooden Coasters: The Villain, Thunderbolt, Blue Streak
Top 3 Steel Coasters: Magnum XL-200, Millennium Force, Top Thrill Dragster

I would find it hard to believe we broke 2000's attendence. But then again it was really spread out as most guests discovered the wildlife side was free.

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SFWoA TL 2003!

IF WOA didn't break the 2000 attendance record not only would it be less than last year or 2001 it would definately be a sign of BAAAAD things for that park.

A one to two percet increase for overall attendance from 2002 to 2003 would be in the neighborhood of 24 to 50 thousand. Not much to write home about. As i recall we did around 1.8 mil in the 2000 season at SF Ohio. Not to bad for the flaggin year of a park that had never done more than 1.5 or so. 2001 was at least 2.3 to 2.5 i think, but 2002 was a major drop off and the 2000 numbers were the goal in the end. Not something you want to see from a combined park that used to do around 3 mil as seperate gates. (of course i realize that some of that SWO and GLP gate was double counted, BUT you would think that the two as one could pull 2.5 easy... which hasn't happened since 2001).

Really the best way to gauge the WOA attendance this year i think is through (1) the fact that they offered two for one Coke cans on Saturdays for parts of the year! (2) the persistant rumors that the park is up for sale. Neither of these things happen with economically healthy parks.

Meangene, as an employee of the park, I can say you're way of base with most of your comments up there.

We've never had an attendance problem, and the park is pretty busy on Fright Fest nights. We busted out the two train operation on Batman one night because we really needed it! The park has had the Coca-Cola promotion since way back when it was Geauga Lake, it's nothing new. Infact Coke has relationships with lots of Amusement Parks. Secondly, the park is not up for sale. Where'd you hear that crap? Worlds Of Adventure is a money-maker, and Six Flags likes parks that generate money, pretty simple economics if you ask me.
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Jes
Jes's Roller Coasters DJ Jes
Six Flags Worlds Of Adventure Ride-Ops Crew 2002-2003(Find Me, Win a prize!)

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meangene said:2001 was at least 2.3 to 2.5 i think...

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According to Amusement Buisness, SFWOA pulled in 2.75 million guests (ranking 23rd in the nation and 5th among Six Flags Parks) in 2001. Amusement Buisness also has 2002 figures available, but I really have no real reason to pay the $10 just to get a few attendance figures.
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If you can't stand the heights, get out of the line.

Been to SFWoA the most EVER in 2003, with 1 or 2 more visits, making it 10 for a new record for me!

I would say SFWoA is learning their lessons, and getting better in their 3rd year.

Fright Fest was awesome last Sunday, and I met a group of folks who came down from Sandusky(Cedar Point) cause they enjoyed SFWoA Fright Fest alot more than the CP offerings, and also mentioned that CP is too expensive and not worth the value! LMAO! This was a group of three 20somethings, and makes me imagine if CP is trying so hard to have the most coasters, that the 'common folk' are getting overpriced and out of the group they want to attend CP.

As I've stated before, SFWoA gets my Amusement Park cash, and its the best value for the entire family in NE Ohio!!!!!

Was the group of people the same that were on the infamous commercial a few years back?

Actually although weve had the Coke promo for years it was NEVER a buy one get one deal. Always $5-$15 off depending onthe day and time of year you went.

Jes, i would say we do have an attendence problem when we're so budget consience. Unlike the 2001 season when everypark employee started off at $7/hr or more and we could fully staff rides all year long.

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SFWoA TL 2003!

Maybe I'm oversimplifying things, but if the park wouldn't have an attendance problem they would make everyone pay. Almost the entire Fright Fest had a buy one admission, get one free promotion. This is not a characteristic of a park that is getting the numbers they want.

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I'd rather be in my boat with a drink on the rocks,
than in the drink with a boat on the rocks.

Pete you couldn't be more correct.

The fact that 1) they offer the deal on Saturday which is the strongest attendance day for any park. 2) It's BUY ONE GET ONE! I can't think of too many parks that do that. Does that sound like a park satisified with attendance numbers?

Also i worked at WOA for closer to a decade until the last couple of seasons. I know that the attendance listed for WOA in 2001 was slightly increased for those publications, but i imagine that most parks do that. My memory on the edxact numbers are a bit hazy, but, 2.6 to 2.7 wasn't out of line. The thing to remember is that 2002 was a very down year. Where SFOhio ran near to 2 mil in 2000 the park was afraid that they weren't going to beat THAT in 2002! 2003 is a better year but not near to the numbers of 2001.

That park has not made a single cent since 2000. Period. Since the end of 1999 Premier has sunk in over 300 million into that park. Now i don't necessarily believe that the company is going to wash their hands of all that investment so soon, BUT the point is that the persistant rumors coming both from park full timers and people in Dallas show how bad things are. After all it is said that Story is in town right now to evalute the park for Disney... I highly doubt that Disney wants that park, but Gary is in town and it is funny.

GAdv. is doing a buy one get one through all of Fright Fest. I'm not sure how happy they are with their attendance figures, but the park has been crowded up the butt all Oct.

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Be polite and ignore the idiots. - rollergator
"It's not a Toomer" - Arnold Schwartzenkoph
"Those who know don't talk and those who talk don't know." -Jeff

that is suprising to me because while slightly off, they aren't in the dumper like Aurora. The whole "crowded up the butt" thing is exactly why most parks don't do that because there IS a number for each park where the crowd is to BIG to run at maximum efficiency.

LOL People crack me up with all these rumors. Busch is sonner to build a new park in Ohio then SFWoA getting sold off ;)

Anyway, I have to agree with Midway on the More for the Value post. I have been to ALL parks now in Ohio and surrounding states. Only two parks I felt like I got my "Halloween Value" Kennywood, and SFWoA. I have talked to quite a few peeps about CP, and SFWoA also (most people around upper Ohio don't consider PKI or even know about Kennywood). The general consent seems to be they are wondering why CP has toned down a lot of decorations in the past few years, and SFWoA has been being decked out. Either way you look at it, CP still draws in the people (just look at last Sat.)

SFWoA has been pretty busy on Sat. The past few that I have been there BKF, and Villain have actually had pretty big ques and Scary Oldies line was HUGE!!

I will be at SFWoA Sat. (come to think of it, with some friends that were going to go to CP but opted for the look of SFWoA), and then CP on Sun.

See you/Scare You on the midways!

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"The Future of Roller Coasters"
-RollerCoasterGod
Haunted Ohio Parks...you've been warned!!
*** This post was edited by RollerCoasterGod 10/17/2003 9:28:22 AM ***

I know that during the September days of Kennywood's Phantom Fright Nights we were dead but now its full of people. I think we had something like 10,000 last weekend.

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Kennywood Team Member Since July 2003
Phantom Fright Nights Fridays & Saturdays
September 12 - October 25

You wan to know where the rumors come from? Inside the parks full time staff and corporate types in Dallas. Now that doesn't mean that they believe those rumors. But i don't bother with any rumor if i haven't gotten from my old friends in the company.

Believe it... or not. I don't care either way.

I, too, have heard the rumors going around that SFWoA could be sold. In fact Gary Story was at the park this past week.

But if this rumor should prove true, I don't think SFWoA would be the only Six Flags park to be sold. Would anyone want to take a guess as to what parks they think will be on the chopping block?

As far as this topic goes, the park was pretty busy today despite the chilly weather and the lines being rather short. The crowd did pick up later on when the haunted houses opened around 6:00.

X Factor

I heard rumors that California is going to be their own country, but I believe that as much as SFWoA being sold.

I can't believe how foolish the rumormill is online, and people believe this junk? I don't listen to rumors!

I love SFWoA, and that's all that matters, right?

The THRUTH is that part of California and Oregon have residents that want to form their own state. They would call it Jefferson!

What does it matter if anyone believes the rumors? The fact that they exist points to larger problems. That's why it was brought up. I definately don't think or care if the park will be sold or not. You don't hear any rumors false or not about to many other parks being sold now do you?