Six Flags Fiesta Texas announces Goliath

Guys, seriously, this is a stupid name, and nothing you can say will justify it.

1. Every coaster named Goliath is either the tallest coaster in its park, or towers completely above the coasters around it.

2. Part of that 15 million is new, ugly paint. The track looks fine in this picture. http://www.rcdb.com/ig3976.htm?picture=13

3.The ride might not even be taller than the cliff wall next to it. That's rediculous.

4. If you think cheap marketing matters then how about any of these names. Nitro (obvious, and in a rock quarry), Batman: The Dark Knight, Batwing, B:TR (they don't even have a Batman coaster), Medusa, Roar, or Pandemonium all make much more sense than Goliath.

P.S. How in the world does it cost 15 million to move this ride? Katrina must've caused way more damage to it than I ever thought. I know the electrical was shot, but that + moving + new paint and buildings still shouldn't cost more than 7 to 9 million.
*** This post was edited by thepinkdoomofmonkeys 9/30/2007 11:45:29 PM ***

I can hear Sharpiro's voice cheerfully yelling into the speaker phone, "I don't care what you call it! Just so we already own the name. Call it Goliath or something!"

An already owned name is fine. Batwing, Mind Eraser, Roar, Two Face, Wild One, Excalibur, Greezed Lightnin', Serial Thriller (or maybe not...lol), Viper, Vertigo, Kong, Medusa, Nitro, American Eagle, Demon, Iron Wolf, Raging Bull, Chang, T2, Ninja, Riddler's Revenge, Scream, Tatsu, Boss, Screamin' Eagle, Shockwave, Titan...Any one of those names would be a better fit for a ride like this.

Does Sharpiro even know why the rides called Goliath are named as such? I am really thinking he's NOT the right guy to run a theme park chain. How could someone screw up something as simple as giving a proper name to a ride?

You're totally right, dexter. I think Shapiro should hire you, because clearly you know what rides should and should not be named. Obviously, this ride should not be called Goliath because it is simply not a large ride. Park patrons wanting to ride Goliath will recognize the contradiction, and they will be so disgusted at the gross misuse of the English language that they will not only skip the ride, but they will not buy any Six Flags merchandise, nor will they continue to patronize any Six Flags parks. I mean, how can a CEO run a business if he can't get the simple task of naming rides right? Even though he has nothing to do with that, because that's not part of his job.

What you could probably do in the meantime is put together a spreadsheet for Mr. Shapiro listing "proper" names for rides. While you're at it, you should probably make another tab in the spreadsheet outlining what rides need to have their names changed, such as Goliath at SFMM, which is merely the third tallest attraction at the park. Not to mention Colossus...

I imagine that once Mr. Shapiro sees the size of the spreadsheet you've created, he'll be aghast at the number of inappropriately named rides in his parks, and he'll immediately begin diverting hundreds, perhaps millions of dollars to renaming these rides and reordering ride-associated merchandise. Not to mention reprinting brochures and maps. The health of the chain is at stake here, and I for one am glad that someone out there cares what rides are named, because the CEO certainly doesn't.

^ Phenomenal, a Prime example of my statement.

So, the fact that the guy saved millions by:
- re-using a ride that's in decent shape rather than buying a new one
- re-using a name that's already got a trademark, theme design and merchandise pre-printed and ready to go
- hyping it up as the best thing since sliced bread
- putting it in a park without a similar ride experience

is overridden by the fact that he can't give a ride a "proper" name? Wow, dexter, you are certainly the world's foremost businessman and a real beacon of knowledge when it comes to what traits make a good CEO. I hope they do listen to you and oust Mr. Shapiro. I mean seriously, why getting $20-25 million in ride and merch for $3-5 million in actual cash output would make the guy a good CEO (despite the fact that he had no direct input on any of this, but had the foresight to hire people that DID make this financially brilliant move) is just beyond me. Since you possess such a vast wealth of knowledge, perhaps you can explain?

^ Six Flags could have done the same by naming it "Batman: The Ride." Since I can see the comments coming, I'll save you the time. Yes, SFOT also has Batman: The Ride. Well, what stopped them from putting a Tony Hawk in both parks and naming it the same thing?

I think the point was, if you're going to clone and use the same coaster names in your parks, just be consistent. Where's the sense in mixing up ride names just to mix them up?

edit: Actually, when you go and mention merchandising, it only makes sense to call it Batman: The Ride. Doesn't some of the merchandise actually show an image or at least rendering of the coaster? All the Batmans are inverts and all the Goliaths are sit down. So, you couldn't even re-use merchandise unless you "didn't care" if the graphic was even right.
*** This post was edited by halltd 10/1/2007 1:26:32 AM ***

I sense sarcasm. I understand your points of view. I practically agree with all of them except for the ride's name. I did not say Shapirio should step down, that's just silly to imply that that's what I meant. I do now question if he knows what he is doing. If it wasn't Shapiro who decided on the name for the ride, than he should have been witty enough to catch the contradiction it infers. If not him, then SOMEBODY should have spoke up and said something like, "Ummm, all of the ride's in the chain called Goliath are exceptionally large. Maybe we should choose another".

What is so large about this ride that the name fits? What makes this name a smart decision when their are many other names to choose from? I simply do not believe that it was the right decision. That makes me some kind of nerd?

Impulse-ive, Your reply to me is misleading. I agree with your stance except for the name.

But I stand by the idea that people are NOT stupid, even Texans. To think otherwise is judgmental and arrogant.

Consistency, that's a good way of putting it. How much thought do you think it took for SF to come up with figuring out what to call the new ride? All I am saying is that the name doesn't match the ride.

I was just about to go to bed when i though of one more thing to add...

I went to Carowinds a few weeks ago with my non-coaster-enthusiast friend, his wife, and his little Brother. While looking at the map standing just inside the parks entrance he said exactly, "Wow! This park has a Vortex too! I love the Vortex!"

He looked up at it a few minutes later and said, "Is THAT the Vortex? It's not the same thing as the one at Kings Island."

Nevertheless, he really liked the ride anyways.

He commented on how the KI Vortex went up-side-down 5 times and the CW Vortex only went up-side-down 2. He commented that KI's Vortex seemed much larger. He noticed just after seeing the ride for the first time that you ride it standing up rather then sitting.

Later that day when we rode Thunder Road, he pointed out that the structure looked a lot like the Racer, but after we rode it he said it felt a little faster.

And my point here is that some non-enthusiasts pay attention to what they are riding. They do not forget everything as soon as they leave the park for the day. That's why I disagree that people will not notice.

Goliath would give me one "less" reason to go to Seaworld! Thats why this ride is going in. I can almost guarantee you that nobody in their right mind would market Goliath as a old used re-painted ride, almost exactly like the one at seaworld, thats just silly!

Oh MAN. Look at alla this posted over a weekend. Just like a buncha enthusiasts! :)

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When I said "who cares"? I meant the average part patron not giving the new name of the B&M inverted any other thought. They see a nice new to the park intense inverted coaster and enjoying the ride for what it is.

Don't question my "enthusiast" hobby because you feel a name is so damn important.

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Amen. There happens to be a nice looping Gerstlauer I can ride all year going up down the road from me. Vertical lift, 97° drop, a horseshoe inversion, an inline twist--first decent looping coaster in town...and it's themed after SPONGEBOB. So. Freakin'. WOT?

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Go get laid or something.

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I don't know about you, but I think the last--and I mean THE LAST thing I'd wanna do after a statement like that is respond with a post at 4 AM like somebody I won't mention. Seriously. I mean, it's just too easy. Wow.

-CO
(who'd take a used B:TR clone at his home park any day)

As if were anyone's business, Playa, I have a sleep disorder and the RX the Doc gave me isn't working very well, And it's pretty much killing me right now...just in case you needed to know.

Why do you always have to be such a jerk? What is it that compels you to laugh at people? As nasty and inappropriate as it was, the laid post wasn't even directed towards me anyway. I wasn't even talking to you. Your post about me being up at 4am and Chitown's post telling halltd to get laid have nothing to do with me at all.

And who's to say that I didn't finish getting laid at 3am and got online afterwards, if you want to make such an issue about people getting laid? You're being a jerk for the sake of being a jerk, and it it unnecessary.

Dude, stop it.

I'd take a used B&M clone at my park too, by the way.

Insomnia not responding to Ambien? Circadian sleep disorder not responding to light therapy and melatonin adjustment? Night terrors without reponse to Klonopin?

(Uh oh, the 'everything in my life is tragic' tales might not work with this guy...how'd he know that stuff?)

Chitown's response wasn't literal, but figurative. As in 'find something better to do.' No matter what else you might (or might not) have been up to, arguing online at 4 AM is five notches past sad. Honestly. I'd fake being asleep if it came to that.

-CO

What does it have to do with anything except that you are being a jerk and getting WAY too personal than I feel comfortable with. Any half wit can Google "sleep disorder".

I wonder what makes you such a jerk. My life is not as tragic as yours. I am actually very happy. Someone who has to bully people on an online message board is much more pathetic than me discussing a news topic at 4AM. What business it it of yours that I can't sleep? You don't know my schedule?

Maybe you should start a new topic in the Suggestions For CoasterBuzz Forum requesting that CoasterBuzz be "closed" when most people are asleep, since you seem to have such a problem with it.

Didn't yo mamma ever teach you how to respect others and treat people how you want to be treated, Playa? I'm not going to take your **** any more.

Anyone here who can read already knows your 'I'm the victim' routine, Dex.
We've read it over and over and over and over.
It's old. It's tired. It's boring. It's tedious. Find something new.

And don't bother sending me 'private' messages.
You got something to say to me? Say it out in the open.

-CO