CoasterBuzz Podcast #120 posted

Posted | Contributed by Jeff

Jeff, Mike and Pat review this week's news in the amusement industry.

Olympic fever! Gonch loved badminton until the US lost, Jeff is all about the indoor volleyball.
Moron criminal uses his daughter to scam people for worthless Cedar Point ticket coupons.
Blackstone allegedly interested in Busch parks.
Busch Gardens Europe adding a Sesame Street area with solid family attractions.
Kings Island announces Diamondback, the ride that KI fans have been waiting for. Is there any reason to really keep Son of Beast?
Asian-American activists offended by Six Flags TV spots. We're not entirely sure how it's offensive. Even PC Jeff doesn't entirely get it, and thought it was emulating a Japanese game show or something.
Gonch gives his take on the Great Wolf results, believes that the occupancy percentage number is the missing thing in the financials. Is the indoor water park result concept a success so far?
Six Flags says they're still going to have positive cash flow this year. Gonch says this is indicative of them doing things right.
Cedar Fair results seem positive enough, but Jeff's concern is that per cap has finally slid a little, and even with a slight boost in attendance, this seems like the inevitable bubble we've been talking about for years.
Dick Kinzel says "people have to eat" and it's unsettling to a lot of people. The bigger picture issue is a belief that he has lost touch, and doesn't have the experience to manage a company of this size. See errors in the last few years.
Has the "Wal-Marting" of America caused people to settle for crap? Is poor service the result of consumer complacency? Jeff thinks Chipotle is a case study in high quality with high margin.
No closing weekend for two-hundred-something a night for cobwebs and burned out lights.
CoasterBuzz Club events coming up this year: The Fall Affair at Holiday World, and BooBuzz at Cedar Point. Visit the CoasterBuzz Club page for more information.

Link: CoasterBuzz Podcast

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