BoddaH1994

Knowing Karen, that's what I kind of assumed too, but that wasn't what her quote implied. By the way, Kings Island's web site is www.VisitKingsIsland.com, NOT www.pki.com... not anymore...

I'm not certain as to whether the Face/Off logo was modified for the conversion to Invertigo, or if it's a new sign with the same backround.

The old logo from way back in yester-year was just "Red Racer" and "Blue Racer" in metallic lettering. If they had done that, many more people would have thought it was bland. Of course, they jazz it up a bit and we've got ignorant comments about "modernizing nostalgia" so I suppose they'll never win in many peoples' books, so why even try?

I don't get what Karen was getting at in this quote. Did she mean that she's afraid that KI won't cater towards families, or that she's afraid that she'll loose the family-style fraternization that she had with the employees?

I didn't know how I felt about the name Invertigo until I saw the sign. It's pretty cool!!

Click the link below to see the new Flight Deck and Invertigo Signs! http://www.KICentral.com/photos/thumbnails.php?album=216

From what I understand the logo is raised, it's not a decal. They wanted to have a logo for The Racer that look remotely like the old one, but modernized.

Something old is new again at Kings Island, as both sides of The Racer roller coaster will run forward in 2008. The decision to run both sides forward again after 26 years brings the history of the ride full circle, back to its original form. The Red Racer trains will be on the former backward side, with the Blue Racer trains on the other side. Reports indicate that now both trains on the Red Racer, the former backward Racer, are now on the track. Click here to see a photo of a Red Racer train with its new logo.

I bought it at $2.01. I wonder if it's time to sell.

Your Group + Kings Island = Thrills, Excitement and Just Plain 'Ole' Fun in 2008! From The Beast, the longest wooden roller coaster in the world, Firehawk, Son of Beast and Racer, six live shows, to meeting some of the kids' favorite Nickeloden characters, there's something for everybody at Kings Island in 2008! You'll find rides to make you laugh, and thrills to make you scream! (even a few that do both!) There are live shows for every age and taste; from incredibly cool ice skating and island rhythms to Dora's Sing-Along Adventure, all featuring some of America's brightest young performers. There are more than 80 rides, shows and attractions in all ... and they're all yours to enjoy at SPECIAL REDUCED GROUP RATES. More than ever before, companies, organizations and schools shared the value of fun and rediscovered their imagination with their friends. So whether your group consists of the brave or timid, the young or the not so young, we invite you to visit Kings Island this summer. For Group Ticket information, call 1-800-333-8080 or visit www.visitkingsisland.com. There's entertainment everywhere at Kings Island in 2008! From the return of the amazing ice skating spectacular, Endless Summer on Ice to some new favorites paying tribute to some of the best country songs to top the charts or even a flashback to the 80s, with six shows Kings Island has something for everybody in 2008! Click here for more information about the 2008 entertainment lineup at Kings Island! Kings Island Central is proud to announce a new service that we are currently testing. You can now have the latest Kings Island info sent directly to your phone as a text message! Whether you're at home, work, school, or even at the park itself, you can now receive the latest Kings Island news and information without even having to be near a computer. Click here for more information on KICentral.com's official mobile club! Mark your calendars! Sunday, April 20, 2008, will be Kings Island's opening day for the 2008 season! New for 2008! Kings Island will be open FRIDAYS in May! Click here to view Kings Island's 2008 operating schedule and remember to save the date, April 20, 2008! Did you know that Kings Island has a new option for season passes? New for 2008! Kings Island offers the Cedar Fair Platinum Pass. With the new Platinum Pass, not only do you get a summer of fun at Kings Island but you get FREE admission and FREE parking to all Cedar Fair parks, including but not limited to, Kings Island, Cedar Point, Geauga Lake's Wildwater Kingdom, Dorney Park, Knott's Berry Farm, Kings Dominion and Carowinds! Click here for more information and to order your 2008 Kings Island Season Pass or Cedar Fair Platinum Pass! Still haven't processed your 2008 season pass? Kings Island invites you to avoid the lines and have your season pass processed before the park opens to the public! The season pass processing center will be open at Kings Island from 4pm to 8pm on weekdays starting April 1st, and 11am to 6pm weekends until April 18th. If you have a voucher for a free Cedar Fair VIP jacket it may be redeemed during the days listed above. Are you an avid Kings Island fan or do you casually visit once a year? It doesn't matter! KICentral.com is the site for you. Why not register on the forums of KICentral and tell us about your thoughts and experiences involving Kings Island! Registration is fast, FREE, and easy. Don't forget to keep checking KICentral.com for the latest news, rumors and information about Kings Island amusement park! Regards, Ryan

True, but even leaving places like Kings Island is a mess on some days.

Makes me wonder if the mulch was intended to be a temporary thing. As in, the venue wasn't ready for the first couple of acts. As far as "big acts" rolling through towns, that's a matter of markets. If you look at Riverbend's lineup, it because a lot more evident: Tim McGraw with special guests Jason Aldean & Halfway to Hazard Wednesday - May 21, 2008 - 7:30PM -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- James Taylor Wednesday - June 11, 2008 - 8:00PM -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chicago & The Doobie Brothers Tuesday - June 17, 2008 - 7:30PM -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Rush "Snakes & Arrows Tour" Monday - June 30, 2008 - 7:30PM -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers with special guest Steve Winwood Tuesday - July 8, 2008 - 7:30PM -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Jimmy Buffett & The Coral Reefer Band - SOLD OUT! Thursday - July 17, 2008 - 8:00PM -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Avril Lavigne & Jonas Brothers Monday - July 28, 2008 - 7:00PM -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Vans Warped Tour 2008 featuring Gym Class Heroes, Against Me!, Reel Big Fish, Angels and Airwaves, Pennywise, Story of the Year, Cobra Starship, Set Your Goals, Say Anything, & many more! Wednesday - July 30, 2008 - 12:00PM -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dave Matthews Band with special guest TR3 Tuesday - August 5, 2008 - 7:00PM -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Rod Stewart with Bryan Adams Friday - August 8, 2008 - 8:00PM -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Projekt Revolution Tour featuring Linkin Park, Chris Cornell, Bravery, Ashes Divide Friday - August 15, 2008 - 2:00PM Coming Soon -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Poison -Live Raw & Uncut Tour 2008- with special guests Dokken & Sebastian Bach Saturday - August 16, 2008 - 7:00PM -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Counting Crows and Maroon 5 with special guest Augustana Saturday - August 30, 2008 - 7:00PM On Sale April 12, 2008 - 10:00AM -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Journey with Heart and Cheap Trick Sunday - September 7, 2008 - 7:30PM Many of these shows will clearly not sell out, or have to be double billed in order to sell a good amount of tickets. Of course, this is offset by the fact that the NC pavillion will be open for this coming season. Many acts at riverbend end up having people seated in the pavilion even if they have lawn seats. That's not fair to those who actually paid for pavilion seats. Let's face it: if it weren't true, they wouldn't have built this new venue and they wouldn't be able to have such an amazing lineup.

There were articles about it from national newspapers hanging in the International Restaurant until they took them all down in 05 for Winterfest. I'm working with the park to get some scans of articles so you can see.

You know, KI has been on many TV stations, radio shows, newspapers, etc and has hundreds of posts about this subject. Think many the buzz that it has created would be another reason to do this? I'd say so. I can assure you that this had nothing to do with safety. As posted above, PTC was NEVER in favor of doing it. They didn't stop them, but they didn't recommend it. Clearly it was time-tested and proved to be safe. Plus, if there were an incident, don't you think SOMEBODY from these forums would have posted about it?

You also must not forget the incredible revenue that just one show brings in. Look at the Gardens for example. It certainly pays its bills and it has what? Three big shows per year?

...except it DID get publicity... national publicity. I asked Don about it and he himself was interviewed by USA Today and Entertainment Tonight amongst others.

Don does best when he's without a script, this should be a good show. Will it be archived anywhere?

The Countdown: 4 - Looping Star, Beech Bend, Bowling Green KY - As SOB_TOM stated, they wouldn't take my cup of ice. They told me to take it with me on the ride. Yeah, it ended up all over the rides behind me. It's more or less a Galaxy coaster with a loop. During part of the helix finale, the train lightly strikes the ground. When you are slammed into the final brake run, the OTSRs release and go into an upright position immediately, hitting most riders in the head. When returning to the station, the train strikes the fence every time. A total piece of garbage. 3 - Mean Streak, Cedar Point, Sandusky OH - Big, tall, painful, and stupid. Everyone on the train was writhing in pain at the final brake run. One of the most uncomfortable rides I've ever been on. 2 - Son of Beast (circa 2005), Kings Island - The track work got worse and worse until hitting a pinnacle in 2005 when I could only ride it once a month or so. Every time I'd ride, I got a shooting pain in my rib cage while going down into the final dip. I'm not sure why. Many people would wait to ride this until the end of the day because they'd commonly get headaches. Fortunately, after the improvements, new trains, and reopening on July 4th of last year, the ride is a thousand times better. It may not have a loop, but it's not a fun ride again. 1 - Villain, Geauga Lake, Aurora OH - One of the most painful experiences I have ever had on a coaster. You'd get an instant of air time before the weight of the world crashing down on you at the bottom of each hill. Ronny and I insisted on riding it twice in order to torture the other members of our group.

Do you guys see what I meant in my other post about how it will draw many more acts to Cincinnati? Strike out the Pops from Riverbend's main venue and this will probably surpass their lineup. Plus you'll have the big acts in the main venue. I wonder if this stage will be set up in a way in which larger acts could use pryo like at USBA and Riverbend.

Donnie, and you can back me up on this one as well. People attribute the turning around of The Racer with the issues that The Bat was having. As I remember it, there was no connection or correlation between that Bat's Issue's and The Racer's Direction of travel. I wasn't alive in 1982, but all of the information I've ever read about the Backward Racer always mentions that it was done in response to The Bat's downtime. So you're right, I wasn't there, but that's how history is written (So that makes it true, doesn't it? ) Moreover, I've talked to many people before this announcement that have said that they had several deadlines as to when they planned to turn it around again, but opted to keep it backward until now.

I saw George Thorogood many years ago at Annie's outdoor stage. That was a good time.

Addressing some of the rumors: "The Backward Racer was more popular than the Forward Racer." I can see where it may seem that way, but that's simply not numerically true. Turning around the side of The Racer was a publicity stunt in the early 1980s. It was intended to be just for a short while, but it went over very well and they kept it. In the past several years, ridership of the Forward Racer has maintained marginally flatined while the Backward Racer has seen a steady decline. "Everyone's angry at Kings Island for turning the Backward Racer around." People hold many opinions, however the outlook seems to be that far fewer people are upset that The Racer being restored to the way it was than when they turned it around in the 80s! In fact, many from the park report some very positive feedback... especially from those who rode it in its original state. "The Backward Racer was turned around for insurance reasons/there was an accident/because it was unsafe." When one side was turned backward in 1982, the original gimmick was to do it for just the weekend... which turned into just having it that was for the week... then the month.. They decided to turn it back around in 1983, which turned into 1984, and so on. The fact of the matter is, the popularity of the gimmick constituted its continuation. During that 26 year period, the Backward Racer gave millions of safe rides with no notable incidents. The decision to turn it around was simply long time coming, rather than a reaction. Many believe that there is a safety or insurance issue involved, but that's simply not the case. I mean, don't you think that if insurance were cheaper having the train run forward, CBS would have done it? "This is a sad/dark era for Kings Island fans." I realize that it's hard to look at the past few years and imagine that anything meaningful will come into being from the decisions made, but we're under a new regime now. You can love or hate the decisions that Cedar Fair has made thus far, but I do encourage you to remain, at the least, cautiously optimistic about the future of Kings Island. What you must understand is that for almost 35 years Kings Island, as well as any sister park it may have had at the time, were a very small part of the big picture. Cedar Fair runs parks. That's what they do. If they don't do a good job running their parks, they fail. It's a simple as that. We know it and they know it. Their dedication to running a better Kings Island is evident already. In the past two years, we've seen a much cleaner park, the addition of a wonderful coaster, and an entertainment lineup that's nothing short of incredible. Over the next few years, you will see Cedar Fair ask you many times to pardon their dust, not necessarily always in a physical sense, but also as they finalize their identity after having doubled in size over night. I think we're all going to feel a lot better once the park opens.

So.... either your dad or his company put up the Kings Island Theatre sign too.

If it's a band you like, go for the pavilion. There really isn't a bad seat in the house. However if you're going just to go, go with the lawn. It's cheaper and is more of a field party. I disagree that the view of the stage is really that bad. There are upright supports that impede the view of the stage as well as those wonderful Chili Vision screens, but other than that you can see pretty well.

Careful, words can come back. <G> As many recall, on very light operating days, especially early in the season, the backward racer would not open. It would also open around noon during the week during the peak season at some points. So long as The Racer has enough people to constitute keeping both sides open, they'll have both sides open. It's only when half-empty trains begin rolling out on each side that they'll send the crew from one side where they'll be more needed.