What SFWOA could have done

Wow, well said meangene. Six Flags did rush things, as all of us know. I beleive that they could have operated as seperate parks. Of course, none of us will ever truly know. If they wanted to make the sea life park more profitable, they should have sent out some of the animals to other marine parks. For example...there is no need for so many sea lions/seals in the sea lion and seal community pool. Also, there are about 10-20 animals backstage at the sea lion show...all they need to do is send some to marine world. Less animals means less costs for feeding and upkeep.

Of course, Shamu was the mainstay for SWO, but if they had a new dolphin show and if they could have advertised a new Sea lion show, along with flat rides, it would have still been a nice marine park to visit. Sea World surely never had flat rides.

The marinepark has now had to take a new image...and yes, I know that many of the SWO goers have been scared away by Six Flags because they loved the way Busch opperated the park. Everything was kept so clean and tidy. Things were painted many times during the season. The thing is, Sea World Cleveland was sold because Busch couldn't develop it. Because they couldn't develop it like the other Sea World parks, it didn't pull in the guests which in turn means profit. Now that Six Flags owns it, they could have done what Sea World wanted to do with the park. Ask any of the former Sea World employees, they had lots of ideas of what to do. New whale stadium...flat rides...upgrade many of the older attractions (animal exhibits). Of course, they didn't have whales during the first season, but Six Flags has the room for a new stadium now that they own both parks. Simply put, Six Flags could have carried out Sea World's plans for the park, but instead, they joined it with the adjacent park and now we have a little bit of a mess.

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it is also rumored by BEC types who believe that Busch Jr really doesn't like marine parks and is looking to change them or get out completely. (which i happen to believe as well)

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That's quite possibly the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard in light of the opening of Discovery Cove.

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Jeff - Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com - Sillynonsense.com
DELETED! What time does the water show start?

Discovery Cove is certainly not a "marine park" by Sea World standards. It's really much more than just a marine park. Plus it's rather exclusive and has a controled gate. It's not really like anything else out there. Besides Jeff you have to remember that i think that the traditional marine park isn't something that can compete with the amusement park anymore. (Not that i am saying that they are not profitable or that they are on the way out, i just feel that there is a limited market for the marine life schtick). One the marine parks are all the weakest parks in their market, and two they all are drifting away from theire models of entertainment toward showcasing rides more than in the past. If BEC thought they could run SWO profitably at all as it was they wouldn't have left. As soon as SFO hit the scene SWO was hammered. But i don't think we'll ever agree on that, because i too feel that someone is being ridiculous.

The marine park could have been operated as a seperate gate IF the park were to run at far lower costs. Many of the SWO operating costs were wastes of money. Cut back on the fluf and the park could be profitable, even if there wouldn't be much room for growth.

Not a marine park? And they put guests in wet suits why then?

Marine parks have to compete against all of the same things... movies, family entertainment centers (FEC's), museums, concerts, heck, even Chuck E. Cheese.

And just because each Sea World has put in one or two thrill rides in during the last five or six years does not constitute a trend of moving away from anything. Tell that to the people who pack in the Shamu stadium on any operating day.

Like I said, given the promotions and experiments by SWO prior to Six Flags ever becoming a factor indicated to me they weren't happy with the level of operating profit. In my visits to the park it was clear they had plenty of bodies, but at what margin? I suspect it wasn't very high.

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Jeff - Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com - Sillynonsense.com
DELETED! What time does the water show start?