What is the big event in the amusment industry?

Yeah, it would have to be SFMM or SFGadv for it to be the kind of BIG news Jeff it hinting at. I'm also thinking Paramount...or something else that is completely beyond what we could possibly guess without more info.

Jeffs right, GE has very deep pockets to play with.

Much deeper than anyone but disney.

The last time a Jeff alluded to a "big" news event, CCI went kaput! I'm a bit apprehensive ya'll. . .

I'm out of the loop as much as anyone on this one, but my logic says you have to consider where Jeff spent a couple of days this past week talking to 'people' that caused him to come to this conclusion.

Where was he?

Istanbul [not Constantinople]

A'tee hee ;)

NBC and Blackstone (I believe) are partenered in the Universal studios resorts. Last I heard, NBC wasn't even sure they would keep the parks.

If NBC want Paramount... then why did they sell their shares in the Port Aventura resort in Spain? Universal-Vivendi poured a lot of money (new hotel, 2 Universal studios style attractions, water park, etc.) in that resort and NBC got out of it at the first occasion.

and six flags didn't invest heavily in the european parks only to sell em off? My guess is the reason is the American way of doing things doesn't work over there,

By no stretch of the imagination, the industry has entered a new era of change- marked by historic events like the Six Flags Battle, the upcoming sale of Paramount Parks and the Retirement of Kinzel, all while the small guys like Holiday World are kicking ass and taking names. Who knows where we are headed- but it is clear that the winds of change have begun to change what was once the norm.

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Mamoosh said:
Istanbul [not Constantinople]

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It's been a long time gone, Constantinople.

Ok...I've figured it out. Gravity Group has been contracted to build a Voyage clone out here on the west coast!

Um... yeah. I don't wanna hear it! It's going to happen OK!!!!!!!

The reason I think Six Flags unloaded their european park was that... the same thing that happened to SFWOA occured there: Six Flags Holland! They put probably at least 50-60 millions $ in that park and it can't even make it to a million visitors a year. Six Flags Belgium... Little less, but attendance is stable at 1.2-1.3 millions visitors and let's not even mention the 3 embarassments that were their french parks. So after fiascos like that, who will keep putting money in there?

As for Port Aventura, I don't have a clue why they didn't continue managing it. The park was a success, they had banks willing to put millions in the park and they just... quit.

Over a Coasterbuzz, there was a discussion about Cedar Points new ride. Jeff said that the new ride will not be Kinzel's legacy. And added "you'll see," leading me to believe something big is happening. I think this is related to what he said in the podcast this week. I'd say that it sounds like Kinzel has something up his sleeve...

Cedar Fair and Paramount? Hmmmmm...

*** Edited 5/10/2006 11:24:34 AM UTC by 0g***

From Jeff's Blog, he uses descriptions like "absolutely huge", "very big" and "very soon". Hopefully that last phrase is "very" accurate. :)

I know nothing.

Considering we're brain-storming here, I'll throw this out there.
Walmart, in an attempt to diversify, will buy Paramount followed by them buying Cedar Fair.
God knows, they've got the money to do it and know how to turn a profit.

I didn't say this was a good idea.

I did hear from a Walmart Regional Manager that they are currently looking to aquire campgrounds near amusement parks. He gave a five mile radius (of non major parks to start with.) I told him about Conneaut, figuring it couldn't hurt.

Yeah, it's out there, but no more so than an actor who became president, or a pro athlete owning an amusement park chain.

Theres been lots of actors elected president :)

"From Jeff's Blog, ..."

Man, you guys scare me. I realize one of the the ideas behind a blog is for others to read it, but damn.

He's just a guy that has friends/aquaintances in the park business. He knows, you don't. So what.

Ultimately, stalking someone gets you nothing but a trip to the courthouse.

I apologize. I'll refrain from following links in members' signatures and relaying thread-relevant information to those who might be interested. /sarcasm

Stalker? Not hardly. I check his blog from time to time, came across that the other day and then posted a link to it after seeing this thread.

Grow up. *** Edited 5/10/2006 1:25:40 PM UTC by djDaemon***