The Interpreter

It isn't all or nothing. CBS isn't most interested in keeping the parks together. CBS (read: Sumner Redstone) is most interested in maximizing shareholder value. If that means the parks bring more when sold individually (one to Cedar Fair, one to a group in Canada, one to NBC Universal, one to a private investment group, one to the city of Santa Clara, California..for example), then that is the way they will be sold. In addition, nothing is not an acceptable outcome. CBS wants OUT of the park business. Period. At least that is what I am hearing. Think about it. If someone offered 80 percent of the entire selling price for the entire chain but for just PKI, PCWi and PKD, and someelse offered 80 percent of the entire selling price for the chain but just for PCWo and PGA...you think YOU would turn down 1.6 times what you could get if you insisted on selling the chain together? You are selling...why on earth would you care whether the entire group stayed together or not when you could get 60 percent more (in this theoretical example) by splitting it up? Me? I think if Sumner Redstone could get four dollars more by splitting the parks up, he would do so.

By freeing up the entrance plaza, there is more room for the hordes to stand and wait until they open the gates right at park opening time. I still think there are going to be massive problems with crowd control this summer. A lot of people, eager to get into a park, a hot day, one (or more angry people)...someone who has to use the bathroom (none are available outside the secured area)...this is not a recipe for happiness... I seem to remember Cinci had a serious problem at a concert venue under some very similar circumstances....Who else remembers? Who?

I know the ticket booths were scheduled to be demolished this week, so if they were, it certainly doesn't surprise me...

It's a LOT easier to get in and out of than was Scooby's Ghoster Coaster!

It should be pointed out that if different companies buy various of the parks...the days when you can use your season pass at any of the then former Paramount Parks will probably be over...

http://www.channelcincinnati.com/news/9038322/detail.html

Captain, there is something called "vicarious liability." If Paramount's name is on that property, they could potentially be held liable for any incidents that occur there. The theory is that the plaintiff trusted the park in part because they trusted the Paramount name and either considered it an endorsement or thought Paramount owned and operated it. Also that if Paramount is going to share in the profits in exchange for lending its name, it cannot totally evade liability. Whether or not that true is under Chinese law, who knows?

No. First of all, Camden's Enterprise was a very small model...not the one that PKI had. Second, Camden never owned it, they leased it. Third, Camden did NOT junk it, the lessor removed it after the incident it had when several people were injured after it fell a few inches during operation. Fourth, this all happened while PKI still had Skylab. Odd the same Enterprise ride could be two different sizes and in two different parks, all at the same time!

Excuse me...but isn't that what I said in the quoted portion here: ...And if an owner buys the park who wants to delete the Paramount nomenclature...then new maps would be printed . . . under the name Kings Island or Fox's Kings Island or whatever...

Perhaps, then, that is the day Sonny will debut for this season!

I really don't understand this at all. I thought that rides that adults and kids could ride together were "in." Why would Paramount Parks go the opposite direction?

Not only is the potential reward (and risk) higher in China, but to the average investor, China theme parks are "sexy," which investments in US theme parks certainly are NOT. (Even if Bill Gates does invest in them!)

If they can EVEN find Oktoberfest. It keeps shrinking and shrinking...and now doesn't even have an entry gateway sign!

I think the new Viacom sees major growth opportunities in the China theme park business, but sees the US business as mature...(as in very slow to no growth). I am not sure that I can disagree!

Yes, but in the 90's, customizing brochures and handouts was a LOT more expensive (and difficult) than it is today. It hasn't been that long since small parks gave out mimeographed sheets of information, and many small parks didn't have any printed maps or info at all!

I agree completely. My point is we have had several people here claim they already know who the buyer is. That is not only bloody unlikely, it borders on preposterous. And congrats on your 3k!

Yep. I find it interesting we have had several people here claim they know who the buyer is...but in the article it is said that CBS's Chief Financial Officer will know more about the sale prospects in "six to eight weeks."

Viacom (the OTHER part of the old Viacom, the one that doesn't hold any interest in Paramount Parks) is still considering a China theme park: http://www.iht.com/articles/2006/04/26/business/viacom.php Go figure.

The deal is still expected, and will probably be announced in the second half of this year: http://money.cnn.com/2006/04/26/news/companies/cbs.reut/

It's possible, but not likely, that the tickets were printed by a third party provider, like the tour company or someone like Ticketmaster...

*I* think it is more cost-cutting. And if an owner buys the park who wants to delete the Paramount nomenclature...then new maps would be printed . . . under the name Kings Island or Fox's Kings Island or whatever...

This year, PGA opened April 1.

Paramount Parks and the publishing parts of CBS revenues were up 12 percent in the first quarter, yet got only a passing mention in the CBS press release, while other parts of the company were called things like "extremely valuable." Meanwhile, operating income was up 33 PERCENT in the parks/publishing (this shows the cost cuts are working for now---as operating income is up nearly a 1/3 over last year. It should also be noted that both this and the comparison period are for a quarter when the parks are actually closed and employment is normally very low anyway) Yet another sign the sale is nearly done: http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories....+2006,+07:00+AM And for those of you who claim there is nothing new here, you really need to spend a little bit more time studying things around you, if they interest you. If they don't, you can always leave this stuff to those of us it does interest...

Uh huh. Ever hear of the Securities and Exchange Commission?

I thought Kentucky Kingdom's Enterprise was MUCH smaller than the large model that PKI had...and that both parks had an Enterprise at the same time for a while... Also, Australia's Wonderland is closed...has been since late 2004.