Where'd Cedar Fair come from?
I have some more things on the topic.
Coaster Playa said: I don't care if it's Jeff Mast
Well you should, if anyone would know what the final costs were - he would. Jeff worked for a civil engineering firm that did the civil work for WOF during those years. Also we issue the challenge to you Playa to find documents that show that WOF did not spend that much money. You won't find them because they were never released. It's not something you want to go waving around when you go over budget.
Also Matt, or shall we call you "m" as you go by on worldsoffun.org, do you still think the Orient Express's helix is sinking?
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SWOOSH
MIG-The Midwest Information Guide [sfne.com/~swoosh/]
Swoosh said:
As for why we haven't received a $10million budget since...the slow economy might have something do with it, but also the fact that we haven't really needed that large of a budget
Really? How can that be? Simple fact is, WOF has had the largest sustained attendance decline in the chain. Simple fact is, DP's had a $14 million dollar cap budget since then, VF's had a $10 million cap budget since then and WOF hasn't. Something's wrong with this picture here.
Frankly, it would seem that CF management and WOF management may not be reading from the same page here. It could be some operational failing, some operational audit in which they don't measure up to prescribed standards...again I have no idea what it is, but I hope they fix it quickly.
Maybe more 'shacks' would help. I dunno...seems to work up north just fine.
-'Playa
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The CPlaya 100--6 days, 9 parks, 47 coasters, 2037 miles and a winner.....LoCoSuMo.
CoastaPlaya said:
Simple fact is, WOF has had the largest sustained attendance decline in the chain.
Don't you think that maybe this is because of what the other parks in the region have done? Hurricane Harbor was added to SFStL, Wildfire was added to SDC, and now another park is opening in Branson, and possibly another in Omaha. I think the reason why the decline was there, is because CF:LP was still trying to figure out how to run this park. It's in a unique market and you can't take that away from it. I think that now that Keller is out of Missouri, things have changed for the better. Bender seems to know what works, and since he has taken over, the attendance at both parks has increased.
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SWOOSH
MIG-The Midwest Information Guide [sfne.com/~swoosh/]
*** This post was edited by Swoosh on 1/22/2003. ***
So decide what you want to say...either WOF doesn't need a big cap budget or it does. You've said both in the same argument. Which one is it?
As for the competing regional parks...that really doesn't hold as much water as you'd like to believe. Disney opened a whole new park near KBF and SFMM opened X while KBF dealt with negative press from an unfortunate death. They still held their own. The 'show-me' parks don't constitute anywhere that level of competition--yet the CF formula still works in tougher markets.
What kept VF fairly stable during the economic swings was strong season pass sales and a commitment to the product. If the park experience isn't good, it doesn't matter how cheap (or free) the tickets are--folks will go elsewhere. And any single employee can make the difference between a good day and one that sucks.
If you're lucky, you'll see a huge difference in the way things operate this season. Folks will be happier to see you, things will move quicker blah blah blah and you and your league of legends and celebrity figures won't hesitate to point out the troublemakers early. That sort of thing increases the park's odds of snaring a good budget. When you get past the 'my park, right or wrong' thing, even you can see they need it. CF wants to be sure there's no repeat of 1998.
-'Playa
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The CPlaya 100--6 days, 9 parks, 47 coasters, 2037 miles and a winner.....LoCoSuMo.
*** This post was edited by CoastaPlaya on 1/22/2003. ***
Did you have a point to that last post? It seems to me like you had your lips flapping like you wanted to say something, but all that came out was "blah, blah, blah, VF, blah, blah, blah." I love how you just throw things out there that don't add anything to the arguement. So my question stands - do you have a point to all of that?
Also comparing South Cal to Missouri is like comparing apples to oranges. The only thing they have in common is that they are parks. The playing ground is completely different.
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SWOOSH
MIG-The Midwest Information Guide [sfne.com/~swoosh/]
I love when people try to resort to personal attacks when they don't get their way. In regards to the topic on WOF.org you referred to, I should not have used the term sinking, rather movement (and yes, I realize there is a big difference there). Wow, Mr Mast has been on every civil engineering job for WOF since the early 90's huh? I guess CF doesn't shop around much. If he has time to email you about these things, he certainly has enough time to discuss and prove it himself.
The fact still remains, you stated that Mamba was over budget...prove it. You asked Playa to prove his points, it is only fair you do the same. Saying "they never released the info" does nothing to bolster your argument.
As for the competition, it would seem, at least business wise, WOF would try to stem their losses to other parks by building attractions to keep them coming. CF has obviously studied and realizes the competition for each of their represented regions. They will encourage expansion at those locations where the ROI can be accomplished quickly. WOF is obviously not currently one of those locations. Stick to relevance...
Matt said: I love when people try to resort to personal attacks when they don't get their way. In regards to the topic on WOF.org you referred to, I should not have used the term sinking, rather movement (and yes, I realize there is a big difference there).
Not a personal attack, more like a comment to keep you in line and make you remember where you stand in the "believable" department. BTW, why is it that you can't go by your real name on WOF.org, like everyone else?
Matt said:Wow, Mr Mast has been on every civil engineering job for WOF since the early 90's huh? I guess CF doesn't shop around much. If he has time to email you about these things, he certainly has enough time to discuss and prove it himself.
When you are a proven firm, why shop around? Also why should he have to prove himself to you? You don't even have enough balls to post under your real name on his site. I think if anything, you are one to talk.
Matt said:The fact still remains, you stated that Mamba was over budget...prove it. You asked Playa to prove his points, it is only fair you do the same. Saying "they never released the info" does nothing to bolster your argument.
Matt, you stated that you worked there, if you did, you would have know, like I have stated several times before - trying to drill it into both your's and Playa's thick skulls that they did not release the information to the GP. How does that not bolster the argument? Do you even know what bolster means? Somehow I doubt it.
Matt said:As for the competition, it would seem, at least business wise, WOF would try to stem their losses to other parks by building attractions to keep them coming. CF has obviously studied and realizes the competition for each of their represented regions.
If I remember correctly, CFLP refuses to consider SFStL, and the SDC properties as competition - even though they are. Leading to the reasoning the operate the park the way they do. Seems the saying "you can lead a horse to water" still rings true.
Matt said:They will encourage expansion at those locations where the ROI can be accomplished quickly. WOF is obviously not currently one of those locations. Stick to relevance...
As stated before, and obviously ignored,. they regained the ROI for MAMBA in 2 years - proving that they can do it. Where is your relevance for bringing it up, let alone even getting in this debate in the first place? Why don't you go hide behind "m" as you call yourself on WOF.org - even though you go by a different name here, you are just as "unbelieveable".
Next...
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SWOOSH
MIG-The Midwest Information Guide [sfne.com/~swoosh/]
*** This post was edited by Swoosh on 1/22/2003. ***
Swoosh...amazing that you would even bring up "hiding behind names". Why do you hide behind a name here? The reason I don't use "Matt" at wof.org is because someone had already used it and I did not want to confuse the issue. Do yourself a favor, if you look at past forums there, you will see "Matt", who is not me. "m" is hardly hiding, since my name begins with "m". I have nothing to hide. What are you hiding? You have been banned from CBuzz and have been using "Swoosh" to get around that.
Call it what you like, but you are waging a personal attack on me. I can participate in the debate if I feel like it. Who are you to tell me where I can and can't go.
As for your "if you did work there, you would know they didn't release the figures to the GP" statement, you justified why I would know, I worked there, and therefore am not GP. Granted I did not run the "Camp Bus" as you did, but as they say, he who runs the "Camp Bus" knows all and say's all.
Keep attacking me if you wish, you will only continue to show your true colors. (Not that you need any help "bolstering" your image)
Here's to having a debate that is intellectual and informative, instead of hateful and childish.
Swoosh said:
Did you have a point to that last post?
Also comparing South Cal to Missouri is like comparing apples to oranges.
I had plenty of points--none of which you could refute with a salient argument, as we can see.
And you're right--California is a different market than Missouri. A tougher one. Add USH, Hollywood studio tours, recording studio tours, Rodeo Drive, Malibu Beach and fifty thousand more things to do besides visit a tiny amusement park.
If Branson is competition to WOF, you could just as pointedly argue that Wisconsin Dells, WI is competition to VF. You know--the sleepy little town with multiple $50 million resort hotels, indoor Master Blasters, wavepools galore, three of America's best-run CCIs and a whole lot more to draw a crowd than the Osmonds. Yet the CF formula--executed correctly--continues to work.
-'Playa
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The CPlaya 100--6 days, 9 parks, 47 coasters, 2037 miles and a winner.....LoCoSuMo.
*** This post was edited by CoastaPlaya on 1/22/2003. ***
Let's revisit some key points that might have been overlooked:
Swoosh said "What is your deal CPlaya? I think it has gone beyond just this post and you have developed some sort of problem with me, which I honestly can't understand."
You probably should rethink this...are you not doing this to me?
Swoosh said "Why don't you get it!?!?! They just used the last three year's worth of budget, that they chose NOT to spend that year and put it together in one season. They don't get anymore money than WOF in a single season to spend (this will fluctuate sometimes though - and if rounded off would be nearly the same). "
Math proves that since 1996 VF has received $8 million more than WOF.
Swoosh said "When HME ran the park there were a lot more vehicles on everything. There were 3 trains on both OExpress and TWolf - there are now only two. There were at least 6-7 boats on Monsoon - there are now 3, if you are lucky, there were more boats on Nile, there were more cars out on Taxi Tour and Autobahn, there was other rides - Zinger gobbled up the crowd, not mention other rides that have been removed and not replaced"
Express only had three train operation for a short period, with a couple failed attempts since. T-Wolf has not run three trains(where's the midcourse?). Monsoon has never ran 7 boats (with 4 stops for the station, where would the other three sit?) Since CF took over WOF, Zinger, Plunge (also low capacity), and Omegatron were the only rides removed. Zinger was replaced by Boomerang and Tron was replaced by Thunderhawk. Incredidome was removed as well but hardly "got the crowds through"
Now who is the credible one?
Swoosh said "I love how you call Detonator a stump. This was the largest to date when it was built, AND without it being built, your precious little PT (how original on the name, by the way) would not have been built."
That's right, had WOF never gotten Detonator, the tower compex would have never been invented...the humanity.
Swoosh said "#3 Cedar Fair does NOT save up for rides"
Swoosh also said "They saved up for it by pinching pennies. They didn't get anymore budget than they normally do. Why don't you get it!?!?! "
I think you are the one not "getting" it. You can't even support your own claims...but then have the nerve to tell us we are thick skulled.
Swoosh continued to say "I'm sorry that you don't believe me, but I reverse the challenge, and say prove me wrong - produce documentation that says that my claims are incorrect. Also it was proven that the ROI was regained in two seasons, which is not too bad for an addition like that."
Your statement is off from what the company announced. It therefore would be your responsibility to prove the company's statement wrong, which you can't because you stated they never released it. How convenient for your sake. You have also failed at proving the ROI was regained in two years. You again state that we must prove you wrong. Why? Who do you think you are that every bit of your information is correct. You made the ROI claim, prove it.
I really hope you take the time to sit down and think about what you say. You continue to dig yourself deeper and have dug so deep that your only way out (in your mind) is to resort to personal attacks on people you do not know. Claiming that I hide behind a name is incorrect and very hypocritical. My name is Matt, I go by Matt here and always have. I go by "M" on wof.org, a part of my name. How exactly is Dustijn a part of Swoosh or DTN8R or whatever other names you have conjured up to hide your identity?
You want to be taken seriously...act like an adult and support your claims. Stop hiding behind names and resorting to personal attacks. Life is too short to be so hostile and angry. I harbor no bad feelings towards you, and even if I did, it shouldn't matter. Why do you care what people think about you? Not everyone is going to like each other...let's admit it and move on.
Matt said: You probably should rethink this...are you not doing this to me?
I do believe you started it, maybe you should rethink as well.
Matt said: Math proves that since 1996 VF has received $8 million more than WOF.
Good for them, WOF has done excellently with what they have been given, and continues to add quality rides that compliment the park.
Matt said: Express only had three train operation for a short period, with a couple failed attempts since. T-Wolf has not run three trains(where's the midcourse?). Monsoon has never ran 7 boats (with 4 stops for the station, where would the other three sit?)
The stopped having three trains on OExpress when they stopped letting the ride attendants "cross step." TWolf has a two brake sections so there are a total of 4 blocks. 1-station, 2-lift, 3-brake run #1, 4-brake run #2. Also there is a sensor at the top of the helix, which may make another block, but I am unsure on that one. As for Monsoon, there are 6 blocks, 4 in the station, one on the lift, and one outside the station. I will admit I think the most if has run is 5 or 6. They do however have 7 boats.
Matt said: Since CF took over WOF, Zinger, Plunge (also low capacity), and Omegatron were the only rides removed. Zinger was replaced by Boomerang and Tron was replaced by Thunderhawk. Incred-o-dome was removed as well but hardly "got the crowds through"
OK....thanks for the history lesson. I do believe that Zinger had a better pph than Boomerang, but that is just IMHO and don't have evidence either way.
Matt said: Now who is the credible one?
So far both I guess, I don't see how what you said makes any difference. The credibility issue stemmed from comments made at wof.org - not this thread.
Matt said: That's right, had WOF never gotten Detonator, the tower compex would have never been invented...the humanity.
Why did you put this in here?
Matt said: I think you are the one not "getting" it. You can't even support your own claims...but then have the nerve to tell us we are thick skulled.
I thought my second post repealled my first, sorry - should I go back and change the first one for you? If that will help you sleep better at night, I will.
Matt said: Your statement is off from what the company announced. It therefore would be your responsibility to prove the company's statement wrong, which you can't because you stated they never released it. How convenient for your sake
Are you mad at me in general or just mad? And then I have a friendly question, do you mean the cost of Mamba is off or the ROI regained was off? I'm just trying to clear up what I need to be proving.
Matt said: You have also failed at proving the ROI was regained in two years. You again state that we must prove you wrong. Why? Who do you think you are that every bit of your information is correct. You made the ROI claim, prove it.
I'm sorry, I didn't know it had been brought up that I was supposed to prove that the ROI had been regained. Do they even release that to stock holders? If so, I have no idea where I am supposed to find you proof on that. If you have any ideas, please let me know and I will do some archive hunting. The thing is - they may not be accessible to me since they are from almost 5 years ago.
Matt said: I really hope you take the time to sit down and think about what you say. You continue to dig yourself deeper and have dug so deep that your only way out (in your mind) is to resort to personal attacks on people you do not know. Claiming that I hide behind a name is incorrect and very hypocritical. My name is Matt, I go by Matt here and always have. I go by "M" on wof.org, a part of my name. How exactly is Dustijn a part of Swoosh or DTN8R or whatever other names you have conjured up to hide your identity?
For your sake, I have changed to my real name on here, so "I won't hide behind a name." The reason I use Swoosh dates back to RRC, I have used the name since that forum was created. After URC was created, I took the name over there and while there experimented with other names, but eventually went back to Swoosh. I was on here for awhile DHollon, but it was too close to another poster's name, so I abandoned it. I went back to Swoosh, to tie in the fact that I was the same person on all three boards. Truth be known, I also used Swoosh on ThrillNetwork. Swoosh was a nickname given to me in highschool, because I wore Nike stuff all the time and played basketball - so that is how Swoosh is attached to Dustijn. Is that what you wanted?
Matt said: You want to be taken seriously...act like an adult and support your claims. Stop hiding behind names and resorting to personal attacks. Life is too short to be so hostile and angry. I harbor no bad feelings towards you, and even if I did, it shouldn't matter. Why do you care what people think about you? Not everyone is going to like each other...let's admit it and move on.
Matt, truth be known I wrote a nice post about how I was sorry that I had resorted to personal attacks and that the relevance to the thread was not there. However your post just above showed up before mine. I then realized that writing nicely was not an option and that hostile feelings had occured between me and someone who had not been in the original arguement - mind you this is a yearly occurance between 'Playa and me. I guess you could almost call it an "offseason tradition." 'Playa & I have no hard feelings between us. We just like to get each other going - and as you can see in this thread - it's not too difficult. I just think you got off on the wrong foot with me. I'm very easy to get along with as long as you don't start calling me a liar without due cause of action. You claim that I lie and don't support my claims, yet your rebuttles carry the same fate. I do know one thing though - I tried to end this post awhile back, but it's like a diease, it spread. Can we quit now?
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SWOOSH!!!
[MIG]-Midwest Info Guide http://sfne.com/~swoosh/
*** This post was edited by Dustijn Hollon on 1/22/2003. ***
Playa said: so decide what you want to say...either WOF doesn't need a big cap budget or it does. You've said both in the same argument. Which one is it?
I'm not exactly sure what you mean by this, but actually to answer you question - both. It will need a large one to build a large coaster, but it will only need little ones to maintain expenditures that they have been adding that help to compliment the overall feel of the park. Did I explain what you were asking? If not let me know and I will try to elaborate.
Playa said: And you're right--California is a different market than Missouri. A tougher one. Add USH, Hollywood studio tours, recording studio tours, Rodeo Drive, Malibu Beach and fifty thousand more things to do besides visit a tiny amusement park.
Yes I would hate to compete in that market. Besides what you listed, there is all of the seaside parks. PacPark, and that park where Giant Dipper is. But besides the immediate LA region you have Legoland and then San Diego itself, just a short drive away.
Playa said: If Branson is competition to WOF, you could just as pointedly argue that Wisconsin Dells, WI is competition to VF. You know--the sleepy little town with multiple $50 million resort hotels, indoor Master Blasters, wavepools galore, three of America's best-run CCIs and a whole lot more to draw a crowd than the Osmonds. Yet the CF formula--executed correctly--continues to work
Actually only one of the Osmonds - Jimmy, performs at Branson now, but that's not the point. What I was getting at is SDC was an "Applause Award" park. I know the Dells never got that. When they added Wildfire, they really brought in the people - it put the park on the map. In the same way, CCity is building Ozark Wildcat, which I gurantee with bring in the people as well. Branson is 3-4 hours away from WOF (depending on how fast you drive), SFStL is about the same distance time away as well. With so many corporate parks in the state, there is some major competition. AND to heat up the competition thing - SDC advertises on commercials in the KC area, as well as SFStL. Last time I was in SFStL overnite, I didn't see any WOF commercials, I did see SDC ones though. Can you see where I am going with this? SDC & SFStL see this as a competitive state, however WOF doesn't, and that worries me.
What kept VF fairly stable during the economic swings was strong season pass sales and a commitment to the product. If the park experience isn't good, it doesn't matter how cheap (or free) the tickets are--folks will go elsewhere. And any single employee can make the difference between a good day and one that sucks.
For the most part WOF did this as well. The thing is, the metro area of the Twin Cities is a little larger. With that in mind, a lot of the people that come to WOF are from Nebraska and Kansas (not the metro area). So the tickets that these people will be buying will be the full price tickets. Sure people in the metro will get the "bring a friend" ticket promotions, but the majority of the crowd at the park are not this type of patron. Next time you go to WOF look at how many out of state plates there are. I think last time I was there, there were more out of state then Missouri in my section that I parked in.
If you're lucky, you'll see a huge difference in the way things operate this season. Folks will be happier to see you, things will move quicker blah blah blah and you and your league of legends and celebrity figures won't hesitate to point out the troublemakers early. That sort of thing increases the park's odds of snaring a good budget. When you get past the 'my park, right or wrong' thing, even you can see they need it. CF wants to be sure there's no repeat of 1998.
I didn't understand what you were getting at with this paragraph and that is why I posted what I did. I had hoped that you would elaborate, but you didn't. I don't foresee another 1998, where we went over budget - is that what you were getting at? It's hard to tell those things from the get go, and you just have to hope that they won't happen. As for the rest of the paragraph, maybe you would like the enlighten the rest of the readers as to what you meant there.
Thanks -D
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SWOOSH!!!
[MIG]-Midwest Info Guide http://sfne.com/~swoosh/
Now I am really confused. Your reply changes your position on almost every point. Why the sudden change?
You started the attack by bringing up something that occured in September and never involved you. Any one who knows me, knows why that took place and why it was directed at Jeff. There's a history there.
You stated T-Wolf ran three trains and Monsoon ran 7 boats. Now you say Monsoon has not ran 7 boats. Which answer are you sticking with?
You asked me why I put in "That's right, had WOF never gotten Detonator, the tower compex would have never been invented...the humanity." This was in response to your assertion to 'Playa that had WOF never built Detonator, that PT would have never been built. I already linked you to all of your comments above and don't feel it necessary to waste the bandwidth on something you are just going to ignore anyway.
You made two claims, that Mamba was overbudget and the ROI from Mamba was recovered in two years. You have yet to support either claim with any information. We don't have to prove you wrong, we didn't make the claim.
Swoosh wrote: "Matt, truth be known I wrote a nice post about how I was sorry that I had resorted to personal attacks and that the relevance to the thread was not there. However your post just above showed up before mine. I then realized that writing nicely was not an option and that hostile feelings had occured between me and someone who had not been in the original arguement - I just think you got off on the wrong foot with me. I'm very easy to get along with as long as you don't start calling me a liar without due cause of action. You claim that I lie and don't support my claims, yet your rebuttles carry the same fate. I do know one thing though - I tried to end this post awhile back, but it's like a diease, it spread. Can we quit now?"
I never called you a liar. I didn't realize that asking someone to back up their claims was calling them a liar.
Have you actually read some the the things you have written? You completely changed sides on almost every topic after your "nice" post. Before this now edited post, you said that you were not attacking me, Swoosh said: "Not a personal attack, more like a comment to keep you in line and make you remember where you stand in the "believable" department. BTW, why is it that you can't go by your real name on WOF.org, like everyone else?"
If that is not an attack, I don't know what is. And now you supposedly apologized for the attacks, but have since removed that. Please make up your mind. I would also like to see where I "started it".
Debates can become heated, which is a good thing in my opinion as it shows you care about a certain subject. You have to allow others to present their side without attacking them. Asking for verification of claims is not an attack, but a simple request to show why your argument is correct and mine is not. If I am wrong, great. I have learned something new. If I am correct, so what? No one cares whether I am right or wrong, and being right places me no higher.
Like I said, I have no ill feelings toward you. You obviously have substantial information to share and debate with the enthusiast community, and I hope you continue to do so. Please be respectful though, the attacks serve no purpose.
-rimshot- ;)
It's not the size, it's how you use it.
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Jeff - Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com - Sillynonsense.com
DELETED!
Well to me it has appeared that we are at a stalemate, neither of us can produce the information to back up their respectable claims. Perhaps we can end this post now, like I wanted to do several posts ago. I can't produce documentation to prove my point, and you can't produce any to prove your's. I would say Matt that we are as far as we can go with this post. Not only that I grow tired of it. Thank you for the compliment, I do feel that I have quite a bit of knowledge, however I still have much to learn. I just take personal offense when people don't seem to understand that somethings are unobtainable and yet continue to badger me with "where's the proof" remarks. I think that if you were on the other end of your words you would feel the same way.
With that said, this post is done, or at least I am done with it.
Oh and leave it to Jeff to turn an innocent thread into a "M:TR" type thread, and just when I thought that we couldn't pull this thread any lower. :)
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SWOOSH!!!
[MIG]-Midwest Info Guide http://sfne.com/~swoosh/
Actually, the Annual report for the year in question would answer the single, simple question of budget for one particular year--that's why you saw me asking Jeff about it.
Of course, it still wouldn't resolve the $8 million gap in cap ex budgets between VF and WOF, nor the wider one between VF and any other sister park besides MiA.
Nothing you say is gonna make that go away. Sorry. Your local park is on a apparently on a lower tier these days.
Your attempts to wish it away are as silly as I'd look arguing that VF is on par with DP. It isn't, it wasn't and it shouldn't be. While DP and VF were close in attendance at one time, DP always had a larger potential audience, worked within the CF formula to draw said audience and reaped the rewards. It's a great park and more power to 'em. Why would that bother me?
I guess I really don't understand why all of your crack staff of experts and wizards can't comprehend the simple, basic reality of business: Throwing money at a problem doesn't make it go away. If WOF had problems dealing with an audience of 1.2 million over a season two months longer than other smaller parks in the chain, I wouldn't give them another big budget either--until they got all the nuts and bolts of operations humming smoothly. Why give someone a bigger, more costly gun to shoot off a toe? That's what I meant by a repeat of 1998. You could build twin racing TTDs and it wouldn't matter. If people come and get pissed off, they'll take their money and go elsewhere.
You're never gonna rewrite reality, Swoosh. Your only real option is to cope with it.
-'Playa
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The CPlaya 100--6 days, 9 parks, 47 coasters, 2037 miles and a winner.....LoCoSuMo.
Don't you think that with a different staff that the situation would be different? WOF got rid of the problem, in fact sent him to CP. IMHO the reason why WOF hasn't had a large budget in a long time is the fact that "K" was so busy worrying about the bottom line and ROI that he forgot to maintain what he had. "B" now is having to get back and fix what "K" did wrong. IMHO if "K" had been thinking (that would have been a first), we wouldn't have had a problem with Mamba going over budget, with Boomerang being such a flop and so on. I think now with "B" in charge, the park is headed in the right direction. As you can see by attendance, with "B" in charge it has risen. During "K"'s final years of reign here the park dropped to it's lowest numbers in a long time. You can't blame poor mgmt skills on the public or even CFLP back in Sandusky. "K" just couldn't do the job right IMHO - and that is why the budgets have been low. He just was worried about what he looked like in investor's eyes - they seem to like low costs and corners cut, something that we are now having to "undo".
I may not be unwriting history, and what is in the past is in the past. I do know that "B" has a good head on his shoulders and seems to be well liked by the staff. I think that his 2 years of additions have been good ones. CS and THawk have both brought in crowds. I can only imagine what he will be able to do, given he has adequete funds to finance it.
I'm not taking anything away from VF. I'm happy they are getting an impulse. I do wish however that it would have been a full inverted coaster though, and that an impulse was an easier way of saying that they have an inverted. However, I imagine soon they will once again get another full sized coaster. WOF, I hope doesn't follow the trend and gets a full sized B&M inverted. That is really what the park could use right now.
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SWOOSH!!!
[MIG]-Midwest Info Guide http://sfne.com/~swoosh/
*** This post was edited by Dustijn Hollon on 1/23/2003. ***
And now the problem is forcing stupid names and stupid marketing schedules on new rides.
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Jeff - Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com - Sillynonsense.com
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