DonHelbig Posted January 9 Share Posted January 9 2 hours ago, coastergoblin said: I have a question for you, Don. https://www.reddit.com/r/KingsIsland/s/rOI8HBusjc Are you going to address this? Need confirmation this is real or fake, would hate to see your relationship with Ryan strained over something so trivial. When there's people wanting to take shots at you on Reddit and other social media channels, it means the Tower Topics Podcast has arrived! Tower Topics will be around longer than some of the rides at Kings Island. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BoddaH1994 Posted January 9 Share Posted January 9 2 minutes ago, DonHelbig said: When there's people wanting to take shots at you on Reddit and other social media channels, it means the Tower Topics Podcast has arrived! Tower Topics will be around longer than some of the rides at Kings Island. OMG which rides??? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SPONGEBOB_FAN_97 Posted January 10 Share Posted January 10 34 minutes ago, DonHelbig said: When there's people wanting to take shots at you on Reddit and other social media channels, it means the Tower Topics Podcast has arrived! Tower Topics will be around longer than some of the rides at Kings Island. Is Ryan continuing with the podcast? According to the deleted tweets, or screenshots, it seems like there definitely is some internal disagreements between you two over the targeting and criticizing of public figures at the park on your shared Tower Topics twitter. Definitely feel like this should be addressed before releasing a new episode, as to simply skim by is a disservice to fans. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DonHelbig Posted January 10 Share Posted January 10 20 hours ago, coastergoblin said: Is Ryan continuing with the podcast? According to the deleted tweets, or screenshots, it seems like there definitely is some internal disagreements between you two over the targeting and criticizing of public figures at the park on your shared Tower Topics twitter. Definitely feel like this should be addressed before releasing a new episode, as to simply skim by is a disservice to fans. It would be a disservice to fans to feed the rumor Mongols. BTW -- Are people that are rarely seen in public, and nobody knows who they are public figures? Your writing style and word choices remind me of the exact way a former co-worker of mine would have written it. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BoddaH1994 Posted January 10 Share Posted January 10 11 hours ago, DonHelbig said: It would be a disservice to fans to feed the rumor Mongols. BTW -- Are people that are rarely seen in public, and nobody knows who they are public figures? Your writing style and word choices remind me of the exact way a former co-working of mine would have written it. ”As adorable as it is predictable…” 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SPONGEBOB_FAN_97 Posted January 10 Share Posted January 10 18 hours ago, DonHelbig said: It would be a disservice to fans to feed the rumor Mongols. BTW -- Are people that are rarely seen in public, and nobody knows who they are public figures? Your writing style and word choices remind me of the exact way a former co-worker of mine would have written it. What does this even mean? Is this beef between you two a publicity stunt? WWE style theatrics to build up hype for the show? (Ryan blink four times in the next episode during the first listener question if Don is holding you hostage at gun point, we’re here for you buddy.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DonHelbig Posted January 11 Share Posted January 11 3 hours ago, coastergoblin said: What does this even mean? Is this beef between you two a publicity stunt? WWE style theatrics to build up hype for the show? (Ryan blink four times in the next episode during the first listener question if Don is holding you hostage at gun point, we’re here for you buddy.) I have never seen WWE, so I have no idea what WWE-style theatrics to build up hype looks like. Speaking of hype, you should have seen the early days of the Cincinnati Cyclones hockey team. Boy, did the team I worked with in the Cyclones front office know how to market and promote. Standing room only crowds at Cincinnati Gardens every game. One of the first things we did in 1990 was reach out to Kings Island and set up a "Skate with the Cyclones" event at Winterfest (spelled with the lowercase f in those days). All of the Cincinnati and Dayton TV and print came out to cover it. It was great working with the Kings Island PR team on that event. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IndyGuy4KI Posted January 12 Share Posted January 12 22 hours ago, DonHelbig said: I have never seen WWE, so I have no idea what WWE-style theatrics to build up hype looks like. Speaking of hype, you should have seen the early days of the Cincinnati Cyclones hockey team. Boy, did the team I worked with in the Cyclones front office know how to market and promote. Standing room only crowds at Cincinnati Gardens every game. One of the first things we did in 1990 was reach out to Kings Island and set up a "Skate with the Cyclones" event at Winterfest (spelled with the lowercase f in those days). All of the Cincinnati and Dayton TV and print came out to cover it. It was great working with the Kings Island PR team on that event. I love hearing stories like this. I wish SIX was able to see the value in these types of partnerships. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DonHelbig Posted January 12 Share Posted January 12 19 hours ago, IndyGuy4KI said: I love hearing stories like this. I wish SIX was able to see the value in these types of partnerships. SIX? It's not SIX that hasn't seen the value in these types of partnerships. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
disco2000 Posted January 12 Share Posted January 12 19 hours ago, IndyGuy4KI said: I love hearing stories like this. I wish SIX was able to see the value in these types of partnerships. It is actually FUN now LOL. So we either call it FUN, SF or Six Flags LOL But yeah I refer to it as SIX also LOL. So weird to have the Six Flags name but the Cedar Fair symbol. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Diamondback_Is_King Posted January 13 Share Posted January 13 I personally don't care what you call it, I just want Six Flags to do a good job with their parks and supply new experiences! But, It's not so "FUN" when they keep removing rides without warning... (Sorry, kind of off-topic) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
disco2000 Posted January 13 Share Posted January 13 17 minutes ago, Diamondback_Is_King said: I personally don't care what you call it, I just want Six Flags to do a good job with their parks and supply new experiences! But, It's not so "FUN" when they keep removing rides without warning... (Sorry, kind of off-topic) Or as @BeeastFarmer said: 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeeastFarmer Posted January 13 Share Posted January 13 2 minutes ago, disco2000 said: Or as @BeeastFarmer said: NYSE symbol SAX. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DJSkyFoxx Posted January 13 Share Posted January 13 13 hours ago, disco2000 said: Or as @BeeastFarmer said: Actually I came up with Six Axes thanks but @BeeastFarmercreated this great artwork for it! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jzarley Posted January 15 Share Posted January 15 On 1/10/2025 at 9:36 PM, DonHelbig said: I have never seen WWE, so I have no idea what WWE-style theatrics to build up hype looks like. Speaking of hype, you should have seen the early days of the Cincinnati Cyclones hockey team. Boy, did the team I worked with in the Cyclones front office know how to market and promote. Standing room only crowds at Cincinnati Gardens every game. One of the first things we did in 1990 was reach out to Kings Island and set up a "Skate with the Cyclones" event at Winterfest (spelled with the lowercase f in those days). All of the Cincinnati and Dayton TV and print came out to cover it. It was great working with the Kings Island PR team on that event. There are few things more fun and whimsical than minor league hockey promotions I remember years ago, the Columbus Chill (predated the NHL Blue Jackets) would play at the fairgrounds arena which was a crappy venue, but the games were packed and always a lot of fun! I love the Blue Jackets and Nationwide Arena is great, but it just doesn’t have the same scrappy, fun upstart feel that the Chill always had. I live in Orlando now and the Orlando Solarbears give off a similar vibe. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DonHelbig Posted January 15 Share Posted January 15 2 hours ago, jzarley said: There are few things more fun and whimsical than minor league hockey promotions I remember years ago, the Columbus Chill (predated the NHL Blue Jackets) would play at the fairgrounds arena which was a crappy venue, but the games were packed and always a lot of fun! I love the Blue Jackets and Nationwide Arena is great, but it just doesn’t have the same scrappy, fun upstart feel that the Chill always had. I live in Orlando now and the Orlando Solarbears give off a similar vibe. The Columbus Chill were coached by Terry Ruskowski. He was one of my favorite players in my teen years when he played in the World Hockey Association for the Houston Aeros and Winnipeg Jets, then in the NHL for the Chicago Blackhawks and a few other teams. Intense guy. When I did media relations for the Cyclones, I enjoyed the games at the Fairgrounds Arena and talking to Ruskowski before the games about the WHA days. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeeastFarmer Posted January 30 Share Posted January 30 @DonHelbig...in light of WinterFest being canceled at Kings Dominion: if you worked there, how would you respond to media inquiries and customer complaints on social media about this? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DonHelbig Posted January 30 Share Posted January 30 4 hours ago, BeeastFarmer said: @DonHelbig...in light of WinterFest being canceled at Kings Dominion: if you worked there, how would you respond to media inquiries and customer complaints on social media about this? First and foremost, I would have approached this with transparency and compassion. The statement they provided feels scripted and impersonal, almost identical to the one issued in 2006 by Kings Island when Winterfest was cancelled. A more thoughtful, heartfelt response would have better acknowledged the disappointment felt by guests. Additionally, I would have insured that email responses were signed by a real person rather than behind "Kings Dominion Guest Services." The general manager and PR team are directly involved in crafting and approving these statements, so attaching a name to them would add a personal touch and show accountability. Guests deserve more than a generic, faceless response. They deserve to feel heard. A canned response doesn't make them feel as though they were. I hope that answers your question. 2 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeeastFarmer Posted January 30 Share Posted January 30 7 minutes ago, DonHelbig said: I hope that answers your question. It did! Thank you. Just devasting news recently. I appreciate your perspective. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hawaiian Coasters 325 Posted February 19 Share Posted February 19 Something I've been wondering is, in the early days of Kings Island, the park would have a giant hot air balloon as part of an air show, was it ever considered to bring a hot air balloon back for the 50th anniversary year in 2022 or even have one built with the 50th logo on it? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shawn Meyer Posted Sunday at 09:00 PM Share Posted Sunday at 09:00 PM Here's a question for Don. Did you ever in your 17 years working for Kings Island, ever want to work a season at Cedar Point? I bet you would have gained a lot of fame at America's roller coast! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DonHelbig Posted Sunday at 10:28 PM Share Posted Sunday at 10:28 PM 40 minutes ago, Shawn Meyer said: Here's a question for Don. Did you ever in your 17 years working for Kings Island, ever want to work a season at Cedar Point? I bet you would have gained a lot of fame at America's roller coast! I did work at Cedar Point for parts of three months in 2013 to help with the planning and opening for GateKeeper. Cedar Fair set me up with a place to live across the road from Blue Streak. I was requested to go there to help with PR by Phil Bender, who was one of the top executives for Cedar Fair at the time. GateKeeper was going to be the first major new ride to open in the Matt Ouimet era, and Phil and Richard Zimmerman wanted me to go in and do what I had successfully done managing the PR for the opening of Diamondback and Intimidator at Carowinds (I was sent there as the interim PR manager for the opening), and for the announcement of Gold Striker at California's Great America in 2012 (I was sent there as the interim PR manager for the announcement). While doing PR for Cedar Point, I was also still doing the PR for Kings Island. The Reds Hall of Fame Grille opened that year. We had news media from Cincinnati, Indianapolis, Louisville, Lexington, Columbus attend the media event. It was no different than opening a new ride. I was able to promote both parks and what was new with my outreach to the media in those markets. I was asked a few days before GateKeeper media day if I'd have interest in the director of communications position Cedar Point had open. I chose not to throw my name in the ring for consideration. Weeks later they ended up hiring Tony Clark. I didn't do PR for fame. I did it because I enjoyed getting the park's stories told. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DonHelbig Posted Sunday at 10:32 PM Share Posted Sunday at 10:32 PM On 2/19/2025 at 1:10 PM, Hawaiian Coasters 325 said: Something I've been wondering is, in the early days of Kings Island, the park would have a giant hot air balloon as part of an air show, was it ever considered to bring a hot air balloon back for the 50th anniversary year in 2022 or even have one built with the 50th logo on it? Bringing back a hot air ballon for the 50th anniversary was not seriously considered. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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