"We are $1 less than Cedar Point, our nearest competitor in the Midwest." - Gary Story
But unless they drop their gate price to $10, they're still overpriced. That's my opinion based on the experience I had there last year. You may have hope, Jeff, but I don't.
From a marketing standpoint, this is probably the smartest move Six Flags has made in a long time. Literally two parks for the price of one, and it's still cheaper than the competition. However, we all know of the problems they have once you enter the park. Since SFWOA seems to be the new flagship of the chain, management better run the park in that fashion.
Guess I'm going to the company buyout now, originally scheduled for SWO. :)
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Scott W. Short
scott@midwestcoastercentral.com http://www.midwestcoastercentral.com
Well, Jeff mentions that he went to SFO 10 times and SWO zero, that is exactly the piont! Now going to one is actually going to two in one. Even if you are there for the rides, I am sure you will now experience the Sea World part of the park. Animal lovers will in turn drift towards the rides.
Now, we have seen A LOT of money spent on this Northern Ohio park. Six Flags BETTER keep the dollars rolling toward hiring good employees, or this 110 million may be the worst money they ever spent. Don't get cheap now, Six Flags, you are poised to really give other parks in the area a run for their money, I hope they don't blow it.
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"X" marks the spot in 2001!
*** This post was edited by Soggy on 2/1/2001. ***
Wow...Six Flags Ohio, er...I uh, mean, Six Flags Worlds of Adventure has found YET another way to completely surprise me. The next few years should be extremely awesome for the Ohio thrillseeker.
However, I get the sense that this whole SWO + SFO = SFWA move may not have a strong basis on the principles of running an organized business. Like others have stated, it's a very unwise business practice in the amusement industry to have your park named 3 different things in 3 different years. Here, your name must be branded onto the minds of your costumers in order for them to want to return, and that can't happen if your name keeps changing! Plus there's the merchandising side of it too. What are they going to do with all their Six Flags Ohio merchandise?
Let's just hope that all this initial chaos will settle and soon SFWA will get their feet planted, starting their journey to one of the nation's premier parks!
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Coasters...the best natural buzz available.
bm coaster said:
Why couldn't they call it Six Flags Geauga Lake?
because no one but the locals could pronounce Geauga correctly.
-Dustijn
-----------WILDFIRE--------------
Scorching the Competition in 2001
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So you guys still calling it Six Flags Ohio? I like that better than Worlds of Adventure. Sounds like a combo of Islands of Adventure and Worlds of Fun.
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Matt B
http://www.6flagsohio.com
Well, Six Flags is now referring to the entire complex with an absolute mouthful of unpronounceable name...and commenting that it is three distinct parks. Why do I have a strange feeling that the name "Geauga Lake" is going to make an informal reappearance, probably in the form of a moniker for the thrill ride park, to distinguish it from Hurricane Harbor and Marine World.....
--Dave Althoff, Jr.
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Maybe they will name the monorail that will go between them in a few years the Geauga lake express. Why didn't they call it SFlake of adventure's I know its just a joke like islands of adventure, however the whole complex is around a lake right, or something envolving lake in the name.
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Army rangers lead the way
Dustijin's right! Don't know how many times I've been asked about my "Gee-gaw Lake" or "Gee-ooh-ga Lake" sweatshirt.
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LIfe is something that happens when you can't get to sleep.
--Fran Lebowitz
I'd just like to know what the locals think about this new mega-resort.
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Get ready to fly over Six Flags Oh..er I mean Six Flags Worlds of Adventure this summer with X-Flight!
From talking to a few that live in that area. They are going a long with it A LOT better than the GL-SFO transition. I think it also helps that SF is addressing the traffic problem quickly like they said they would. So far so good.
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"The Future of Roller Coasters"
Matthew Baughman
E-mail: RollerCoasterGod@aol.com
From the Cleveland locals I've talked to here at work, SFO left a very bad taste in their mouth. As for SWO, seeing Shamu leave was almost as painful as the Browns leaving five years ago. Now having the two combined, no one knows what to expect.
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Scott W. Short
scott@midwestcoastercentral.com http://www.midwestcoastercentral.com
Remember Busch sold the SWO, so its clear they did not want to be in the area but SF did, so locals don't forget it was busch that did this not SF,
they bought from a company that Did Not want to stay in the area if they did they would not have sold.
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Army rangers lead the way
*** This post was edited by supermandl on 2/1/2001. ***
If they hadn't wanted to stay in the area they could have closed SWO down at anytime, cut their costs, and moved animals off to other SW parks. It might be more accurate to say that SF made Busch a substantial enough offer, that Busch decided to sell.
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LIfe is something that happens when you can't get to sleep.
--Fran Lebowitz
If busch loved the local's and the area where they made money they would not have sold it. It was there worst park in there chain, you get rid of the non-money makers. You think they will sell BGW to SF because they offer them alot of money.
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Army rangers lead the way
*** This post was edited by supermandl on 2/1/2001. ***
*** This post was edited by supermandl on 2/1/2001. ***
I wonder if they are going to put in a path leading from one park to the other?also i guess it doesent matter what side you park on,there will be two gates.
This is great news for everyone within a reasonable distance of SFWA. Let the coaster wars begin. I say S:ROS in 2002, and a Super Invertigo in 2003.
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Peace, Love, and Rollercoasters.........we need more of all three.
First off the name Six Flags Worlds of Adventure
1. The people at IOA feel the same way about the new name as the people at Worlds of Fun :)
2. Jeff, the most important part about the name isnt Geauga Lake or Ohio or Worlds of Adventure. The power is in the term "SIX FLAGS". In their company name change press release, they made it clear that the SIX FLAGS moniker was the one they wanted to promote. It's kinda like how all Holiday Inn hotels/motels have an addendum to their name, but the most important part is Holiday Inn.
Next, regional competition.
1. They are not giving two parks for the price of one, but THREE parks for the price of one. There is NO other destination in the USA where you can pay one price and get a theme park w/ world class rides, a waterpark, and a zoo all for one price. Furthermore, that one price is very compareable with the nearby competition that offers less.
2. Being a little bit closer to a major city, they have more potential for repeat visitors. Moreover, as Jeff said earlier, there is something for everyone now.
Finally, Infrastructure.
1. As best I have been able to asertain from people on Chip Wood's site who claim to be employees, the parking nightmares that we are all familiar with were limited to isolated incidents. That being said, parking should now be no issue and traffic should not get backed up as there can (possibly) be two points of entry.
2. They have said that they are retaining staff from SWO to work with the animals, so there should be little issue there
3. I would be suprised if their next major move was another coaster. Instead, I see them perhaps building a hotel and/or real 'sitdown' type restaurants either in park or outside the gates. I can really see them trying to model themselves after the Florida resort destinations. (adding some more bathrooms would be a good thing too :))
4. It all comes down to staffing. I feel that to become a 'major player' they need to hire more 'full time' staff for 'seasonal' jobs. What I'm saying is that they need to put more experienced people in patron visible positions. That means letting the guest *SEE* the ride managers walking around. Have food service/vending managers *IN* the shops. And for goodness sakes, have some adults in the Guest Relations office. I'm not saying that a teen is not capable of doing the mundane functions, but I have noticed that some adults will only except explanations from other adults (and sometimes not even then). Most times when people go to Guest Relations, it's because some problem has arisen. People need to feel that the person they are talking to has the ability to effect a change.
I apoligize for the lenth of this post, but that's my story and I'm stickin' to it!
lata,
jeremy
*** This post was edited by 2Hostyl on 2/1/2001. ***
If SF made Busch a big enough offer, Busch probably would sell BGW. Why not? They're a business. If someone makes you an offer, and it's a good offer, it make sense to take the money.
Do you think they own these park because of fond sentiment, or solely for the joy of putting smiles on children's faces?
If you think SW was the worst park in the chain, a non-money maker, why did SF buy it? To have one big park? Not much use if half the park is draining off profits.
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LIfe is something that happens when you can't get to sleep.
--Fran Lebowitz
ShiveringTim, I don't think it can really be said that people feel the same way about shamu as they did the Browns. From who I've talked to, obviously other people, they never really went to Sea World and the parking and traffic problems supposedly being eliminated and the ability that for a pretty low price (especially with Season Passes) a family can go for a day together. Big kids= thrill and water part probably, little kids and their parents=marine life part, water part, some of thrill part. It is really family oriented now while still being adult oriented enough to be good for teens/adults. Well that's it, I'm pumped but am not liking the name change all that much as you can see in my sig.
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Matt B
http://www.6flagsohio.com