Should SFGAm get rid of a coaster?
I think they should kick Raging Bull.
note: sarcasm
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-Sean Newman
74 coasters and growing
Life is a roller coaster ride it!!!
Well I think that they have been getting better coasters within the last few years, needless to say, but they will have more room to work with if they get rid of shock wave. This park is really getting better. It would be cool if they put in a ride like X or Millennium force something worth traveling for. I dont know about you but I dont know how long eagle can last. Just wondering if anyone knows how long that wood can last. Through all those winters and storms. Eagle is a classic but some coasters just have to go.
Millennium force, it has it's ups, and its downs.
Well to be completely honest, I think that if any one of SFGAm's coasters were removed, a major piece of the enjoyment at the park would be gone forever. While I know AE looks as though it'll collapse under it's own weight and everybody says it's in absolutely horrible condition, I won't believe it until I hear it from the maintenance crews on the ride itself. I got to say it does look pretty horrible, but maybe it just needs a few new coats of paint. I guess if AE is in that horrible of condition however, even though it is tied for my #1 wood (would definately be my #1 if they took out the trims on the helix and raced again) I say if it is necessary, take it out! You could probably fit 3 descent coasters in the place of that ride (preferabley 3 CCI's!!!) As for Shockwave, the GP that I talk to, thinks the ride rocks! I don't know what GP you talk to, but the GP does not go running off to all these different parks to ride extra smooth B&M's so instead of Shockwave being "rough beyond belief" they instead think that the B&M's are smooth beyond belief. As for lap bars on Shockwave, I don't know if I would feel safe on that ride if they did that, it's so easy to just anticipate the next turn and brace your head against one side of the harness. I don't know what Iron Wolf all of you have been riding but I haven't ever experienced a terribly rough ride on that ride, it's the greatest!
I seem to remember a post a while back with a pic of a very large piece of land behind the park that stretches from Shockwave to Iron Wolf. It has a pond that was rumored to fill the water rides. And I think if they expanded back tehre they would ahve plenty of room for a whole new two territories. Expansion is currently not a problem. The reason that rides are being taken down is partly due to maintenance but also do to the fact that it costs a hell of a lot more money to add an entire new themed area with one coaster than to just take out an old ride and put in a new one. Personally, Giant Drop is one of the greatest rides in the park! The fact that you can see Chicago is sooooo cool! I still wouldn't mind an S&S tower too!
Whizzer is just plain fun, there's no other way to explain it! The way it banks during the drop so you think your going straight into the lake, the way you twist and turn around countless trees. And the "whiz" noise it makes just makes it a classic!
As for Demon, I do not like it anymore and do not ride it anymore, but I can honestly say that I would be deeply saddened if we took it down because it was my first looping coaster that started it all! Whizzer was my second coaster after Rolling Thunder ); and does not deserve to be taken out. Basically, don't take anything out, expand slowly and steadily into your extra land. And for god sake, add some new flat rides!
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All of the above roughness comments are compared to being a clutz and falling flat on your face, no bump on any coaster has effected me. Think back to the Crystal Beach Cyclone, one of the most wicked coasters ever, that thing was so rough it broke bones, and we're complaining about a little bruise on my arm from Mean Streak! THE HUMANITY!
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Milwaukee Wisconsin, we bring you beer, brats and cheese. But don't be fooled, "Milwaukee truly is a special secret getaway that I will be sure to tell my friends about!" Erin Brockevich, not to mention that we are an hour from SFGAm........
steelraptor said:
I dont know about you but I dont know how long eagle can last. Just wondering if anyone knows how long that wood can last. Through all those winters and storms. Eagle is a classic but some coasters just have to go.
Eagle is an awesome coaster that has really improved over the past few years. Even with that aside, you have to realize that the ride is only 21 years old. There are coasters operating that are more than four times that old.
-Nate
If a coaster had to be removed, it would be a tough decision. I personally wouldn't want to make it and honestly can't pick out *one* particular coaster. Iron Wolf is one of my favorite steelies. It's got my favorite element...surprise. I don't think there is a bit of roughness in it. I also am one to say MS isn't rough either. The Whizzer is a classic however that doesn't mean too much to the GP. A good majority of SF's guests are experiencing this park for their first time. Shockwave is a sweet multilooper. I'm not a regular to SFGAm but when I've been there this ride seemed to have shorter lines. If they park were to get rid of a coaster....I'm sure most would be pleased with whatever should replace it.
SFGAMDie HARD said...I seem to remember a post a while back with a pic of a very large piece of land behind the park that stretches from Shockwave to Iron Wolf.
The problem with that area is that it lies too close to the residential area to the east of the park. The residents already complain about the noise of the park...I doubt the GAm will get a permit to expand the park in that direction. Personally, I'd love to see it, but I can see the point of the residents...
That is why most of the coasters are on the south end of the park. The residents as redman stated that have their backyards butting with SF property near that pond are the most vocal when it comes to adding new rides.
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"The Peoples Elbow" or "The Spinaroonie?. Cant decide which is the most electrifying move in sports entertainment!!! LOL
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Milwaukee Wisconsin, we bring you beer, brats and cheese. But don't be fooled, "Milwaukee truly is a special secret getaway that I will be sure to tell my friends about!" Erin Brockevich, not to mention that we are an hour from SFGAm........
Standard sound barrier walls don't work that well when you are trying to diffuse the sound of a 200+ foot tall coaster.
As far as "buying out" homes in the neighborhood to the east of the park, it would be highly cost prohibitive, IMHO. I just did a quick search on ChicagoTribune.com for home closing prices over the past six years and the average home in that neighborhood ran between 150k-250k (one sold for as high as 320k). And from what I could see from Mapquest's satellite photos, my rough guess is that there is about 120-150 homes in the area. It's hard to tell exactly as the nighborhood is heavily wooded.
So if we were to set an average prvious sale price of 200k and multiply that by 140 homes, the cost to the park would be 28 Million. Now as soon as the residents of the nighborhood found out that the park was wanting to buy up the neighborhood, people's prices would rise. So, let's change the average selling price up to 300k. You're now talking about 42 Million. Note that that is if ALL the homes went for that "average" price. Note that one one recently sold for more than what my "inflated" selling price to a private buyer. So the 42 million could (and probably would) rise to near 50 Million.
That 50 Million dollar investment would buy the park nothing but the properties. Then then would have to raze the homes, cart the debris away, tear up the streets, remove the residential utilities, and other associated issues/costs. that would cost another 5+ million (a wild guess-it equals 36k/home).
Then they'd still have to figure in the costs of creating a new themed area and all the rides and structures to go in it. I have no clue as to how much that would be, but it would be a lot.
IMHO, they could build a parking garage to effectively use a reduced parking lot area, opening up the current lot space for new ride development. While a parking garage is not cheap, it would not be nearly as much as 50-60 million dollars and would allow GAm to expand to the north and west of the current main entrance of the park - away from the residences previously mentioned.
But I'm just an engineer, not an economist. I leave that part of the business to my P-I-C RGW!
lata,
jeremy
--No P-I-C does NOT stand for Partner In Crime; but rather Partner In Commerce!
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Besides, if we were really shutting down people we disagreed with, would Jeremy (2Hostyl) still be around? :) I think not. - Jeff 1/24/02
But wait a second. Even if SF could afford to buy all of those houses and tear them down....think realisiticly. Would we want that to happen? I mean, some of those people could have been living in those houses for years. These are people's homes, for pete's sake. These people have children. And we want to displace all of these people and tear down their homes just for a few more roller coasters? The thought of it to me is 100% realistic, but if it were possible, the notion is pretty awful if you ask me. How would you feel if a big business came in and tore down your home? That's not exactly the way to be friendly to your neighbors.
To put it bluntly, there are more important things in life than coasters. (People's homes and not having to hear a rollercoaster zooming past them every 60 seconds being one of them!)
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If the shoe fits, find another one.
The neighborhood in question that we are discussing is not one of the many new neighborhoods or recently developed (10-20 years). This residential area has been around long before Marriott had a gleam in his eye of constructing a park in Gurnee.
I see no reason why they should have to succumb to the park. These neighbors obviously dont always get their way but I am sure compromises happen when the park goes before the board with a request. The only thing I could see happening in the future is to sound proof the homes at the parks expense if the park is insistent of expanding or adding new thrill rides to that side of the park.
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"The Peoples Elbow" or "The Spinaroonie?. Cant decide which is the most electrifying move in sports entertainment!!! LOL
I agree with you RavenGuy98 andChitown, I was doing the rough math to show that even financially, it would be a better idea to create a parking garage and expand into the area currently occupied by the parkin lot (away from the homes and towards the expressway).
--edit--
Here's a question for Coasterbuzzers...do any amusement parks use parking garages? I can't think of any that do...if not, why don't they? I just think that acres and acres and acres (you get the point) of land just for parking is a waste of space...
*** This post was edited by redman822 on 4/10/2002. ***
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"The Peoples Elbow" or "The Spinaroonie?. Cant decide which is the most electrifying move in sports entertainment!!! LOL
-Nate
Universal's parking garage is the best parking experience I have ever had at a park and I feel it was the only park that earned the exorbinant parking fees they charge. The moving walkways and the music just totally added to the overall experience and got me so pumped up for the park by the time I got to the CityWalk.
IMHO, Six Flags would never do anything this cool no matter how much we would want them to. If they do indeed own land across the freeway, they could build the garage across the street and put the walkway going forward to the actual entry plaza. You could actually build around the entry plaza and it would be sort of an island in a sea of themepark. The people mover would take you into that island where you get into the park and the park itself is built around the entry plaza.
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Bob Hansen
Bolliger/Mabillard for President/VP 2004
Great America still has room within the park, and has a *ton* of parking lot it can use. That is a massive lot.
For what it's worth, Whizzer is a last of breed and the footprint isn't huge. It's not a mine train, actually -- it's almost a bobsled variant.
coughupdatedphotocoughcoughincolorcough
I can see room for two coasters. when the take out Power Dive and Cajun Cliffhanger, there is that wooded area that the train runs through. they could fit a B&M flying coaster in there. the other area is directly out of the station of American Eagle. there are some buildings (most likely office space), but there is open land behind that. you could put a B&M floorless, Arrow 4D, Intamin mega looper, you name it, in that area. it would be a bit withdrawn from the park, but you should still be able to see it from the midway near Eagle's entrance. and since Eagle's line rarely fills up that entire queue beneath the tent, you could divide that line up and send one to the station which I see sitting behind that small building directly out of Eagle's station near the corner of the streets. and I'm not even trained to look for these places so I'm sure the good people at SF will have no problem finding a nice plot of land for their next big thing.
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-Bob (formerly Coaster Jedi)
Knott's Berry Farm Cuba ~South Park
"Your proctologist called, he found your head!" ~Jerry "The King" Lawler
*** This post was edited by SFGA Bob on 4/10/2002. ***
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