New Cedar Point attraction to be announced Mid-August

[bkroz]

I hate when people say Firehawk didn't count as a new coaster... It was brand new to 99% of the riders who experienced it at Kings Island. And trust me, Cedar Fair paid full price for it at one time... So which of the Cedar Fair parks has gotten a new coaster since 2005?

Kings Island - Italian Job (2005), Firehawk (2007), Diamondback (2009)

Kings Dominion - Italian Job (2005), Dominator (2008), Intimidator 305 (2010)

Carowinds - Carolina Cobra (2009), Intimidator (2010)

Worlds of Fun - Patriot (2006), Prowler (2009)

Cedar Point - Maverick (2007)

Dorney Park - Hydra (2005), Possessed (2008)

Knotts Berry Farm - Sierra Sidewinder (2007), Pony Express (2008)

Canada's Wonderland - Italian Job (2005), Behemoth (2008)

Michigan's Adventure - Thunderhawk (2008)

Valleyfair - Renegade (2007)

All of the major Cedar Fair parks have had two or more additions since 2005. Two of the smallest ones (and oddly, Cedar Point) have only had one. Only Great America has been without a coaster addition in the last five years (though they have gotten other rides). Compare that to your quote:

How many of the parks including Canada's Wonderland have gotten a new coaster in the last 5 years? Kings Island had not gotten a new coaster since Stunt Track. (Firehawk don't count as new).

Are you joking? Kings Island and Canada's Wonderland (the two you specifically mentioned) both got $22,000,000+ steel coasters in the last two years...

[Dalefan]

Am I the only one who's looking past the Kinzel crap and looking forward to the new ride? Granted, the fact that the CEO of 11 parks is treating 1 better isn't right, buut come on, Cedar Point is getting a new thrill ride!

How many of the parks including Canada's Wonderland have gotten a new coaster in the last 5 years? Kings Island had not gotten a new coaster since Stunt Track. (Firehawk don't count as new). And Cedar Fair has 14 parks if you include the 2 water parks not next to Knotts in California.

Are you forgetting the 22 million dollar coaster we got last year?

Edit: Firehawk does count it was a 10 million dollar relocation.

No i'm not forgetting Diamondback. I was proving a point to a poster who said that 1 park is getting treated better then the other. If one park was being treated better, then all the others would not of gotten new coasters.

[Dalefan]

I hate when people say Firehawk didn't count as a new coaster... It was brand new to 99% of the riders who experienced it at Kings Island. And trust me, Cedar Fair paid full price for it at one time... So which of the Cedar Fair parks has gotten a new coaster since 2005?

Kings Island - Italian Job (2005), Firehawk (2007), Diamondback (2009)

Kings Dominion - Italian Job (2005), Dominator (2008), Intimidator 305 (2010)

Carowinds - Carolina Cobra (2009), Intimidator (2010)

Worlds of Fun - Patriot (2006), Prowler (2009)

Cedar Point - Maverick (2007)

Dorney Park - Hydra (2005), Possessed (2008)

Knotts Berry Farm - Sierra Sidewinder (2007), Pony Express (2008)

Canada's Wonderland - Italian Job (2005), Behemoth (2008)

Michigan's Adventure - Thunderhawk (2008)

Valleyfair - Renegade (2007)

All of the major Cedar Fair parks have had two or more additions since 2005. Two of the smallest ones (and oddly, Cedar Point) have only had one. Only Great America has been without a coaster addition in the last five years (though they have gotten other rides). Compare that to your quote:

How many of the parks including Canada's Wonderland have gotten a new coaster in the last 5 years? Kings Island had not gotten a new coaster since Stunt Track. (Firehawk don't count as new).

Are you joking? Kings Island and Canada's Wonderland (the two you specifically mentioned) both got $22,000,000+ steel coasters in the last two years...

I know this. I wasn't born yeasterday. Read my posts all the way please. You will see that i'm trying to prove a point to a poster who said that 1 park is getting treated better then the other.

[Guest Millennium]

Dalefan what are you talking about?

[Browntggrr]

Why does Kinzel himself always comment to the media on what's happening at Cedar Point? Sometimes you'd think the park doesn't have its own GM or PR...

Why does it matter who makes the announcement?

And why does there always have to be a conspiracy theory when it comes down to announcements?

Anyone who honestly believes the issues with StR or the resignation of an employee has driven the decision to announce a new ride in mid August is really grasping at straws.

Why can't it just be the most obvious reason? The ride construction will be staring soon, and the area cannot be boarded up as with Maverick (*officially* announced Sept. 6th 2006), but is in a large area like DB; and like DB, is announced early.

[gad198]

I agree with your reasoning about why they would announce the ride slightly sooner than usual CP protocol would dictate. I'm curious, though, as to why Mr. Kinzel made the announcement "about the announcement" less than two weeks after Shoot the Rapids opened. It just seems a little odd that you would want to deflect any attention away from the new ride that soon.

I'm happy that Cedar Point is looking to that side of the park for their new attraction. That part of the park could really use an additional space to thin out some of the crowds. The thought of rolling up a lift hill on a GCI wooden coaster overlooking Lake Erie and the beach is just awesome. It would be nice to potentially have a legitimate discussion about "what is the best wooden coaster in Ohio?"!

[Captain Picard]

They may need that announcement to help with pass sales in the fall. I want to hear how they plan to pay for a new ride more than what the ride will be. It has not been a year since Mr. Kinzel said they would have canceled the new coasters for this season if they had a way out of the deal.

[HTCO]

Was that visit from Walter Bolliger last month at Coastermania more than just a hello? I'm not sure he would fly all the way from Switzerland unless he had some business to discuss.Just a thought.

Very very VERY good observation, and a good thought indeed.

Who knows

[Beast1979]

Even if he did come to discuss business (Which he may or may not have), who's to say whatever they were discussing was a new addition? And even if it was, who's to say it was for Cedar Point? I can almost guarantee you that Kinzel was there, so he wasn't necessarily talking to Cedar Point alone.

[beastrider97]

YAY! That's about all I can say about Cedar Point getting a new ride!

[PREMiERdrum]

Why does Kinzel himself always comment to the media on what's happening at Cedar Point? Sometimes you'd think the park doesn't have its own GM or PR...

Why does it matter who makes the announcement?

And why does there always have to be a conspiracy theory when it comes down to announcements?

Anyone who honestly believes the issues with StR or the resignation of an employee has driven the decision to announce a new ride in mid August is really grasping at straws.

Why can't it just be the most obvious reason? The ride construction will be staring soon, and the area cannot be boarded up as with Maverick (*officially* announced Sept. 6th 2006), but is in a large area like DB; and like DB, is announced early.

No conspiracy theory necessary. Announcements don't *have* to be made when vertical construction begins... they announce a new attraction when they feel the business will best benefit from it. Typically, this is done as specials for next year's passes are announced, and the new ride is a hook for existing passholders to re-up or for would-be passholders to put their cash down. I do not believe for a second that the PR team hasn't at least toyed with the idea of pulling forward the announcement to help get positive messages flowing after all the issues with Shoot the Rapids.

We may never know if the date was changed, but as someone with a Communications degree and a minor in Public Relations, I am certain it was discussed.

[Guest Millennium]

If it is Intamin-Prefab woodie pls.

If it is B&M-Dive Machine pls.

If it is GCI-Cyclone on the boardwalk pls.

[Browntggrr]

Why does Kinzel himself always comment to the media on what's happening at Cedar Point? Sometimes you'd think the park doesn't have its own GM or PR...

Why does it matter who makes the announcement?

And why does there always have to be a conspiracy theory when it comes down to announcements?

Anyone who honestly believes the issues with StR or the resignation of an employee has driven the decision to announce a new ride in mid August is really grasping at straws.

Why can't it just be the most obvious reason? The ride construction will be staring soon, and the area cannot be boarded up as with Maverick (*officially* announced Sept. 6th 2006), but is in a large area like DB; and like DB, is announced early.

No conspiracy theory necessary. Announcements don't *have* to be made when vertical construction begins... they announce a new attraction when they feel the business will best benefit from it. Typically, this is done as specials for next year's passes are announced, and the new ride is a hook for existing passholders to re-up or for would-be passholders to put their cash down. I do not believe for a second that the PR team hasn't at least toyed with the idea of pulling forward the announcement to help get positive messages flowing after all the issues with Shoot the Rapids.

We may never know if the date was changed, but as someone with a Communications degree and a minor in Public Relations, I am certain it was discussed.

I suggest reading the entire thread before responding as it is quite obvious to see where the "conspiracy theory" idea came from.

And who made the comment that an announcement *has* to be made when vertical construction begins? I can't seem to find that comment anywhere.... Not to mention, since there have only been some sewer & water line markings, vertical construction is easily months away. Potential ride removal, clearing of land of cement or other buildings, and pouring of footers take an extremely long time.

I also don't see how a potential accouncement of a 2011 ride will shed a positive message on the issues with the 2010 attraction. That entire thought could easily backfire and just bring back to light the issues StR has had which could end up tainting season pass sales which are usually announced (in CP's case) after Labor Day. CP's best action is to keep both rides out of the same conversation.

Now it does make sense, as Captain Picard mentioned in post # 37, to combine a ride announcement with 2011 season pass sales.

[Beast1979]

Diamondback was announced August 6. If I'm not mistaken, season passes for next year went on sale shortly after. Why must people assume this is to shed negative light from Shoot the Rapids? This could be for a great number of reasons. I like the Season Pass idea myself, as it makes the most sense from a business standpoint.

[HTCO]

I think the reason for the early announcement is, the fact STR is not in the best shape right now... and it gets people in to buy season passes early.

[PREMiERdrum]

I suggest reading the entire thread before responding as it is quite obvious to see where the "conspiracy theory" idea came from.

My apologies.. I've been keeping up with the thread but didn't re-read the entire thread today.

And who made the comment that an announcement *has* to be made when vertical construction begins? I can't seem to find that comment anywhere.... Not to mention, since there have only been some sewer & water line markings, vertical construction is easily months away. Potential ride removal, clearing of land of cement or other buildings, and pouring of footers take an extremely long time.

This was in reference to this comment:

Why can't it just be the most obvious reason? The ride construction will be staring soon, and the area cannot be boarded up as with Maverick (*officially* announced Sept. 6th 2006), but is in a large area like DB; and like DB, is announced early.

They could wait until opening day, if they wanted to, to announce the name, theme, and specs of a ride if they wanted to. The won't, but they could.

I also don't see how a potential accouncement of a 2011 ride will shed a positive message on the issues with the 2010 attraction. That entire thought could easily backfire and just bring back to light the issues StR has had which could end up tainting season pass sales which are usually announced (in CP's case) after Labor Day. CP's best action is to keep both rides out of the same conversation.

It changes the tone. Step out of the enthusiast frame of mind for a second... recent press about Cedar Point and Cedar Fair has been mostly negative. Delay after delay for their new ride (which hit both AP and Reuters more than once, and got moderately big regional coverage), and the quick resignation of the company's second in command (which was covered extensively in the park's home markets, and hit here in Columbus as well). If you're working in PR for the park, you do everything in your power to keep the public's (and media's) conversation about the park positive, or at worst, neutral. The announcement of a new ride will change that tone. New ride announcement will almost always coincide with season pass sales. A flashy presentation with CG videos of the hot, new attraction will get huge play regionally and will help erase the negative connotations that have been implanted by the last few months of negative coverage.

Diamondback was announced August 6. If I'm not mistaken, season passes for next year went on sale shortly after. Why must people assume this is to shed negative light from Shoot the Rapids? This could be for a great number of reasons. I like the Season Pass idea myself, as it makes the most sense from a business standpoint.

Any good PR professional will do their best to soften negative press about the park. It's their job, and if I were in their shoes, I'd have been pushing to move up the announcement as well.

[Browntggrr]

I still don't see where "vertical" construction was ever mentioned.

Now that StR is open, that is what the press has been discussing, and it has since been positive. Why bring up another new ride that intentionally re-opens the wound from the last new ride's delayed opening? Yes, get out of the enthusiast state of mind- we may know why StR opened up late, but for most guests- they don't. All they will hear is "another delayed new ride at CP", it is best to keep StR and the unannounced ride as seperate as possible.

[PREMiERdrum]

I still don't see where "vertical" construction was ever mentioned.

Now that StR is open, that is what the press has been discussing, and it has since been positive. Why bring up another new ride that intentionally re-opens the wound from the last new ride's delayed opening? Yes, get out of the enthusiast state of mind- we may know why StR opened up late, but for most guests- they don't. All they will hear is "another delayed new ride at CP", it is best to keep StR and the unannounced ride as seperate as possible.

Here's the misunderstanding. You don't TALK about STR and the new ride at the same time. They need to stop talking about STR. Now. Locally, there were 3 or 4 stories talking about the delay, what the problems were, and that the Red Cross rides were pushed back. When it opened, there was a tiny brief in the paper about it.

I'm not expecting them to come out and say "We know Shoot the Rapids opened late, but look at our new Cyclone! New in 2011! Forget about that silly old boat ride."

I do expect, though, that we won't see any new press about STR. Hopefully they'll quietly continue to fix issues (getting the back seat back in service, and stop having to assign rows based on size), but they shouldn't announce any of that.

What I'm saying is that the overall tone in the media this spring regarding CP and CF was negative. Announcing the next big thing at the Point, with flashy animations and press kits, would send a flood of positive press and help to reverse a negative tone established earlier.

[flightoffear1996]

What Cedar Point gets for the 2011 season will make a huge difference if I get a pass or not. I just wish they would wait till sept. to annouce to build up the exicment of what Cedar Point is doing next.

[The Interpreter]

And just like THAT, the thread ended.

Important reading given the passage of time and the coming future...

Oh, what was it you ask?

WindSeeker. And it, like Shoot the Rapids, had a rough set of opening months...

Unlike Shoot the Rapids, mods fixed the ride, and it's still there.