Beast1979 Posted July 12, 2009 Posted July 12, 2009 Jeeze. This is truly desperate. $8.88 to enter the park? But MORE if you enter late? What in the world? Obviously they have learned absolutely nothing at all from Hard Rock Park. Nothing at all. Quote
The Interpreter Posted July 12, 2009 Posted July 12, 2009 Actually, the lower price for early entry is smart, given where the park is. Myrtle Beach is a night town entertainment wise...and you need to draw people FROM the beaches during the day if you want them to spend more time (and thus hopefully spend more money) in your park. It's not unlike Dutch Wonderland, which for many years charged more for kids than adults. You don't reward people for doing what they are going to do anyway when you are passing out incentives to get more people to do it. On the fourth of July, the park was reportedly packed to the rafters. Not unlike Bring A Friend FREE days, you have to wonder how smart it is to get so many people into your park that all experience it in nearly the worst possible conditions. Marge, we ain't comin' back here, ever! At least this management hasn't tried charging people for leaving early! Quote
Beast1979 Posted July 12, 2009 Posted July 12, 2009 I was sorta hoping that if they learned anything from HRP, it would be how to name things. Time Machine? Really? Quote
The Interpreter Posted July 12, 2009 Posted July 12, 2009 Perhaps some of the people who left Cedar Fair to run Hard Rock Park the first go round are still there. Drop Tower? The Crypt? Backlot Stunt Coaster? What happened to their creativity? At least Beaver Land Mine Ride was hysterically amusing. Quote
The Interpreter Posted July 12, 2009 Posted July 12, 2009 By the way, on the fourth of July, FOUR people got in for $17.76. That's $4.44 a person. It was packed: http://themeparks.about.com/b/2009/07/07/l...-attendance.htm Quote
RailRider Posted July 13, 2009 Posted July 13, 2009 Funny, yet $4.44 seems to be an appropriate admission price for what the park offers. Quote
The Interpreter Posted July 13, 2009 Posted July 13, 2009 And the fact you pay less if you arrive earlier (they hope you stay longer) also somehow seems very appropriate, too. Quote
RailRider Posted July 14, 2009 Posted July 14, 2009 ^ I would agree, because I would imagine that the park starts thining out between 4 and 5. Also something else to consider, consumers spending less money to enter will not feel as guilty leaving after only a few hours. There is a fine line when it comes to pricing and currently FMP is well bellow that line. Quote
RailRider Posted July 28, 2009 Posted July 28, 2009 FMP is receiving heat for an add they have done with an individual ridding Time Machine who looses his hairpiece on the ride. Now Hairloss.com is coming out against this add and the park. The article is quite humerous. PRWeb "It insults the intelligence of the consumer," said Garcia. "It is a cruel attack on people who suffer enough in life with their disability through no fault of their own. The last thing they need is an amusement park marketing their thrill ride by getting their cheap thrills making bald people the butt of a joke that appeals to the lowest sensibilities in people." Seriously I would not call hairloss a disability. Get a clue and a grip on reality Mr. Garcia... Quote
Oldiesmann Posted July 29, 2009 Posted July 29, 2009 I assume they're referring to this ad? I honestly don't see why they're so upset about it. Gags involving the loss of toupees have been around for decades. Nobody's making fun of them for their lack of hair. Quote
HTCO Posted July 29, 2009 Posted July 29, 2009 Are you serious? All over a commercial? I thought it was pretty cool myself, but like really? Its not offensive at all! I've seen WAY worse and offensive videos. Quote
CedarPointer Posted July 29, 2009 Posted July 29, 2009 Perhaps some of the people who left Cedar Fair to run Hard Rock Park the first go round are still there. Have you seen Monstars of Rock? It looks like something Cedar Fair would do! Quote
Beast1979 Posted July 29, 2009 Posted July 29, 2009 They are getting upset over that? You must be joking! There is nothing offensive in that at all. It's like if I saw a movie where a roller coaster has an accident and then I sue the makers of the movie because it is negative against roller coasters. Quote
The Interpreter Posted July 29, 2009 Posted July 29, 2009 These people just want attention, not unlike PETA. And it's working.... Quote
KIfan1980 Posted July 30, 2009 Posted July 30, 2009 These people just want attention, not unlike PETA. And it's working.... The same could be said for the park and the commercial. And it's working.... Quote
The Interpreter Posted July 30, 2009 Posted July 30, 2009 Ah yes...synergy. Perhaps they took the bait... Some say there is no such thing as bad publicity...I am not sure I agree with that (in fact I know I don't, but it IS true to an extent...but only to an extent). Quote
RailRider Posted August 20, 2009 Posted August 20, 2009 Freestyle faces new lawsuit from consultantWMBF News Quote
RailRider Posted September 11, 2009 Posted September 11, 2009 And a 3rd Lawsuit appears. http://www.carolinalive.com/news/story.aspx?id=348833 Quote
The Interpreter Posted October 17, 2009 Posted October 17, 2009 Freestyle Music Park Signs New Investment Deal: ..."The MOU requires all existing financial obligations must be satisfied prior to the closing of the transaction, which is planned for December." Baker says with the exception of some improvements, no major changes will be made to the park's current layout. During the winter months, state and manufacturer mandated maintenance will be performed on the rides and throughout the park. Marketing and sales initiatives continue in opening up the park in 2010 on a good foot. The park, according to Baker, could incur additional seasonal layoffs, which he says are typical for the amusement park industry. The layoffs are expected to be brief.... http://www.wmbfnews.com/Global/story.asp?S=11326647 Quote
The Interpreter Posted October 17, 2009 Posted October 17, 2009 Well, this certainly looks far different than the article in the post above painted it. Quotes from the article cited below (not in the order they appear in the article): ...The previous group of investors were Russian and they recently decided the investment was too far away from them, Baker said. "I think the economy, the recession scared them. When we got into this with them, we thought it was a three- to four-year deal and they just changed their mind," he said. A few weeks ago, those investors told Freestyle they wanted out and to search for new investors, Baker said.... ...Representatives from FPI MB Entertainment LLC, which owns the park, say they have signed a memorandum of understanding with a group of investors from Florida and Ohio, but declined to say who the investors are and how much they are investing in the park. "It's a group. It's not a theme park company. It's not Six Flags. It's not the Hershey family," said Steve Baker, president of FPI MB Entertainment. "We're very positive about it and we're very glad that we've gotten this far."... ...The deal will allow the park to pay some of the debts from its first season to construction companies, bands and other vendors, park spokeswoman Michelle Cantey said. "They are getting everything together to start making calls [to those owed money] next week," she said. Seven lawsuits and more than a dozen mechanic's liens have been filed against the park owners for unpaid services and supplies since July. M.B. Kahn Construction Co. Inc. of Myrtle Beach filed a $314,951.85 lawsuit against FPI MB Entertainment on Oct.1, and Quantum Communications Corp. of Myrtle Beach and Florence filed a $27,331.39 lawsuit Oct. 2.... Much, much more here: http://www.thesunnews.com/business/v-print...ry/1120406.html Translation: We went bust again but found some more people to invest and are going to keep trying... Quote
The Interpreter Posted October 22, 2009 Posted October 22, 2009 17th Suit Filed Against Freestyle Owners (this one by Zamperla): http://www.wmbfnews.com/Global/story.asp?S=11346318# From a previous story: ...FPI has been slapped with breach of contract suits filed by Brandon Advertising, Fab II, Quantum of Florence and Myrtle Beach, MB Khan Construction, ECK Supply, Roundbox Advisors, TEH LLC and Duplicates Ink; foreclosure suits from ECK Supply; debt collection suits from Thomas Supply Company, and Sheriar Press; and pending suits (Lis Pendens) from MB Khan; and the federal suit filed by Tetra Financial in September claiming the park owes $800,000 on a $1.2 million deal for rental equipment, A/V equipment and theatrical lighting. http://www.wmbfnews.com/global/Story.asp?s=11275162 Quote
The Interpreter Posted January 15, 2010 Posted January 15, 2010 BMW sues owners of Freestyle Music Park: An international auto company is now suing Freestyle Music Park, claiming the amusement park is illegally using its Mini trademarks on one of its roller coasters. BMW of North America LLC and Bayerische Motoren Werke AG filed the suit on Jan. 12 against FPI MB Entertainment LLC claiming trademark infringement and false designation of origin. According to court documents, BMW holds various trademarks for their Mini, Mini & Design and Mini Cooper for items such as vehicles, automobile parts, fluids, clothing, tools, manuals, and various other products. The suit claims the owners of Freestyle are using the Mini trademarks on their motorcar roller coaster and have ignored a cease and desist letter dated Nov. 3, 2009.... The suit filed Tuesday marks the 18th lawsuit against FPI MB Entertainment since opening Freestyle Music Park in May 2009. http://www.wmbfnews.....asp?S=11822865 Quote
pi_kapp_shack Posted January 15, 2010 Posted January 15, 2010 With all of these lawsuits pending is there any chance of FMP reopening? Quote
Cory Butcher Posted January 15, 2010 Posted January 15, 2010 Does anyone here have a picture of the car fronts to post? Is the Mini logo specifically used? If not, seems to me this issue has more to do with the Trade Dress than the Trademark in question? Quote
CoastersRZ Posted January 15, 2010 Posted January 15, 2010 Well, here is a link to the Round About (originally Maximum RPM) ride on RCDB showcasing the front of the car. If BMW is suing the park, why are they not suing Premier Rides, the rides designer and manufacturer? And secondly, how are they not having the same issue with the Backlot Stunt Coaster rides at the Cedar Fair parks? Is there some sort of licensing fee that Paramount paid at the time to BMW that the original owners of Hard Rock Park or the current owners of Freestyle Music Park did not pay? Quote
KIBOB Posted January 15, 2010 Posted January 15, 2010 Well, here is a link to the Round About (originally Maximum RPM) ride on RCDB showcasing the front of the car. If BMW is suing the park, why are they not suing Premier Rides, the rides designer and manufacturer? And secondly, how are they not having the same issue with the Backlot Stunt Coaster rides at the Cedar Fair parks? Is there some sort of licensing fee that Paramount paid at the time to BMW that the original owners of Hard Rock Park or the current owners of Freestyle Music Park did not pay? I was just wondering the very same thing...........I wonder if CF had to re-pay a licensing fee when the rides switched from IJST to BLSC Quote
The Interpreter Posted January 15, 2010 Posted January 15, 2010 I would assume the licensing fee, if it had to be paid again, cost Cedar Fair less than re-doing the trains would have...unlike, say, the reportedly exorbitant fee Viacom intended to extract were the Nick licensing to be relicensed to Cedar Fair upon its expiration... Quote
The Interpreter Posted January 16, 2010 Posted January 16, 2010 ...BMW says Freestyle used its "MINI" logo on a ride without permission. Freestyle marketing manager John Stine says the law suit was over a misunderstanding and Freestyle will, "pay the money we've agreed to pay them for this season for use of their likenesses on the ride and to start negotiating in agreement for the next season as soon as the purchase of the park goes through," said Stine. Freestyle representatives say they are negotiating with potential new owners. They can't comment on who they're talking to. They say with new owners they'll be able to open the park and improve on results from the past year. Freestyle officials say they can't promise the current owners will be able to pay off all the debt from Hard Rock Park, but say they're confident potential new owners will be able to after a sale is finalized. They also say they remain committed to being a long-term mainstay on the Grand Strand. http://www2.scnow.co...yle_park/97828/ Quote
Cory Butcher Posted January 16, 2010 Posted January 16, 2010 Interpreter, do you happen to know where attendance figures from FMP can be obtained from last year? If so, did they improve over HRP's numbers for the year prior? I would have thought after buying FMP for such a bargain that the owners who converted the park would have been able to open it this year with very little improvement in attendance? Quote
The Interpreter Posted January 16, 2010 Posted January 16, 2010 I've seen no estimates for Freestyle's attendance last year yet, but, by all account I've heard, it was down, and drastically...even at 4 people for $17.76...which they ran for a while... Quote
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