Today's essay topic is...

Compare/contrast Cedar Fair's 2004 acquisition of Six Flags Worlds of Adventure with Six Flags' 2002 acquisition of Jazzland. Bonus points will be awarded for incorporating the term "irony."

What's to compare? There isn't anything similar about the two transactions.

Not the transactions themselves, but what led up to them.

Compare: Both Jazzland and SFWoA experienced declining attendance over a short period of time due largely to poor financial and strategic park management.

Contrast: Jazzland suffered from financial mismanagement that led to understaffing, early park closings and rides promised but not delivered. SFWoA suffered from strategic mismanagement in which Six Flags attempted to offer a Sea World-type experience without the benefit of Sea World's star attraction. Among other things...

Irony: In just over a year, Six Flags has both purchased a park with a besmirched reputation, and has sold a park with a reputation they besmirched.

Irony: Both Ohio Cedar Fair parks (which also happen to be the two closest Big Name Chain parks that I can think of) are located on a lake. In both situations the parks are there because of their lakes.

Discuss.

That's as ironic as rain on your wedding day.

Which isn't ironic at alll - it's a coincidence.

One of my college English professors once defended poor Alanis' misuse of "irony," in that everything she described was cosmically ironic, which is to say, they weren't truly ironic - they just sucked.

Alanis irony: Mr. Play-it-safe was afraid to ride X-Flight. He packed his sunscreen and kissed his kids goodbye. He waited his whole damn life for just one ride. And when X-Flight broke down while he was in line, he thought, "well isn't this nice?"

I used to sing along with the Not-Ironic song, replacing "Isn't it ironic" with "Isn't it a bummer."

Which, in all cases, it was.

"Doesn't that suck"

Why yes Alanis, it does :)

And she was God, after all...

...with a good, but somewhat overpowering, singing voice.

Irony: I suggested Cedar Fair picking up Jazzland in 2000, when the park was still looking good. They pass, sighting that it didn't look up to the CF standard. Six Flags buys it a year or so later. In 2004 the same guys buy Geauga Lake.

Maybe not ironic, but interesting you made a topic on two parks that I've talked to them about. I never would have guessed in a million years they would buy the one they did. *** Edited 3/11/2004 6:50:08 PM UTC by Zero-G***

Irony would be if the level of cleanliness, maintenance and customer service at SFWoA got even worse under Cedar Fair.

As long as Kinzel is in charge that won't happen. His lieutenant's understand exactly what is expected of them.

You know, we wondered what Kinzel's last big legacy would be... I think this is it.

Jeff, it ain't over until the fat lady sings.

Den, for that comment the coaster gods are about the hit the "smite" key on their computer.

Irony: Alanis' songwriting consists of complex, overly erudite, stream-of-consciousness lines that are interwoven, textured, and often difficult to decipher or understand.

Then she played God, and what's her one line? Boop!

More irony, she went from Nick's Kids' Incorporated to Disco queen of Canada to alternative superstar in America. Well superstar might be a stretch.

One more big thing before Kinzel retires. That would be pretty cool; if not I am just hoping this goes very well for them which I sure it will.