WCPO: When the Timberwolf was the soundtrack of summer

[BoddaH1994]

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: the moment that the Spirit Song tour ends is the same moment that the Timberwolf is on the chopping block.

https://www.wcpo.com/news/insider/remember-this-for-20-years-timberwolf-amphitheater-provided-the-soundtrack-to-our-summers

[teenageninja]

I think we should bring the Action Zone Friday concert series back.

[BoddaH1994]

14 minutes ago, teenageninja said:

I think we should bring the Action Zone Friday concert series back.

Or the DJs. What was that train wreck called?

[goettablitz]

I know the park is looking for different special event opportunities.  Timberwolf seems like an underutilized resource.

[MDMC01]

Timberwolf once hosted Britney Spears??? That's so cool! I agree, they do need to have a local concert series. I mean, Spirit Song and Winter Jam (another Christian music concert series held at US Bank Arena) can coexist; why not local concerts at Timberwolf and elsehwere (Riverbend, US Bank Arena, etc).?* I think it would be a fantastic thing for the park to market.

* Another example is how Summit Park in Blue Ash has huge concerts/events like the Taste of Blue Ash, but the Towne Square still hosts concerts (such as the Mio's Concert Series).

[YOULLBEBACK]

I get the times have very much changed, but there's no reason you can't get some mid-level bands to play there.  A young up and coming band or older, past their prime act (the kind you see play minor league stadiums for example).  The potential revenue does not merit worth the time and money I suppose.  I'd love to see a Gin Blossoms / Huey Lewis type band on a random weekend! 

[Creed Bratton]

I just wonder, if small parks like Elitch Gardens can do mid-range popularity act concerts, why cant KI at Timberwolf?

https://www.elitchgardens.com/entertainment/concerts2017/

[fyrfyter]

I just wonder, if small parks like Elitch Gardens can do mid-range popularity act concerts, why cant KI at Timberwolf?
https://www.elitchgardens.com/entertainment/concerts2017/

They have to quit storing all the Xmas trees there first! Lol!

[teenageninja]

19 hours ago, YOULLBEBACK said:

I get the times have very much changed, but there's no reason you can't get some mid-level bands to play there.  A young up and coming band or older, past their prime act (the kind you see play minor league stadiums for example).  The potential revenue does not merit worth the time and money I suppose.  I'd love to see a Gin Blossoms / Huey Lewis type band on a random weekend! 

There are a lot more concert venues in the area than there were before and Timberwolf has the least amenities out of all of them.  They don't have a covered pavilion, for example.  Their backstage area is not good, and they don't have the booking power that the others do, likely, because they don't have interest in it.

It's a big detractor for large acts as well, as they don't want people to have to pay for two tickets to get in.  The park, and the concert.

[Oldiesmann]

Didn't Timberwolf initially have a separate entrance from outside the park allowing you to attend concerts there without requiring park admission?

[BoddaH1994]

7 hours ago, teenageninja said:

There are a lot more concert venues in the area than there were before and Timberwolf has the least amenities out of all of them.  They don't have a covered pavilion, for example.  Their backstage area is not good, and they don't have the booking power that the others do, likely, because they don't have interest in it.

It's a big detractor for large acts as well, as they don't want people to have to pay for two tickets to get in.  The park, and the concert.

Thank you for making this exact post and saving me the time of writing it. lol

PNC Pavilion was the final nail in the coffin for Timberwolf. I do agree that it should be used, but the real answer is how?

[teenageninja]

4 hours ago, Oldiesmann said:

Didn't Timberwolf initially have a separate entrance from outside the park allowing you to attend concerts there without requiring park admission?

I'm sure at one point they have, but it no longer exists.

 

41 minutes ago, BoddaH1994 said:

Thank you for making this exact post and saving me the time of writing it. lol

PNC Pavilion was the final nail in the coffin for Timberwolf. I do agree that it should be used, but the real answer is how?

Not to mention the venue up in Huber Heights as well.  

[CoastersRZ]

The Rose Music Center. 

Add in the fact that the Jack Casino now books acts, and The Banks is looking to add a concert venue as well.

What many people do not realize is that Riverbend Music Center is actually owned by the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra.

[Hawaiian Coasters 325]

What if they chose to build a new and improved theatre in the back of the park. They have a lot of land back there. I think if they were to do that, that would open up enough room for a coaster at the front. I most likely am the only one, but even though I really like Invertigo, I wouldn't be surprised if Invertigo has only a few more years left since Cedar Fair seems to be taking  out their boomerangs. Congo Falls I could see gone as well since those boat falls rides are starting to leave parks now. If they really want to put a good coaster at the front of the park, they probably would have to build a brand new and improved theatre behind Banshee. 

[Joshua]

On April 9, 2018 at 11:03 AM, BoddaH1994 said:

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: the moment that the Spirit Song tour ends is the same moment that the Timberwolf is on the chopping block.

https://www.wcpo.com/news/insider/remember-this-for-20-years-timberwolf-amphitheater-provided-the-soundtrack-to-our-summers

I concur. Honestly, I forget it is even there most of the time and it's only when I think fondly of former elements of the park that I remember it's still there. With all the shows that currently exist in the park, I just don't think the average guest walks into the park wanting to see a concert that they have to pay extra to see and I imagine the park will want to do something else with that area within the next decade or so. 

[King Ding Dong]

With a very few exceptions Christian Rock/Music is not my cup of tea but I also don’t see it on the decline.   Like Country (also not my cup of tea) they are very, very good at fan service, know who their customers are and generally don’t get to full of themselves and think they are above it all.   They are entertainers first and artists second and know it.

Taylor Swift gave me 2 very warm hugs.   for King & Country offered to play an acoustic set in our back yard for a BBQ.   In 25 years that kind of thing has never happened in the Pop/Rock world.  

[fyrfyter]

What if they chose to build a new and improved theatre in the back of the park. They have a lot of land back there. I think if they were to do that, that would open up enough room for a coaster at the front. I most likely am the only one, but even though I really like Invertigo, I wouldn't be surprised if Invertigo has only a few more years left since Cedar Fair seems to be taking  out their boomerangs. Congo Falls I could see gone as well since those boat falls rides are starting to leave parks now. If they really want to put a good coaster at the front of the park, they probably would have to build a brand new and improved theatre behind Banshee. 

I measured the area without involving the theater. The two rides and Timberwolf cover about 6 acres ~260k sq ft.

Banshee’s actual footprint is 3.31 acres ~144k sq ft, including the station, so there is more room there than you think.

[Gabe]

On 4/10/2018 at 8:08 AM, teenageninja said:

There are a lot more concert venues in the area than there were before and Timberwolf has the least amenities out of all of them.  They don't have a covered pavilion, for example.  Their backstage area is not good, and they don't have the booking power that the others do, likely, because they don't have interest in it.

It's a big detractor for large acts as well, as they don't want people to have to pay for two tickets to get in.  The park, and the concert.

Back when concerts were the norm there, the park offered a combo ticket. When I saw DD there for example, the price for the show and all day admission to the park was $59.99.  They charged $39.99 just for the show, so the combo ticket was a big hit.

[teenageninja]

Also, cost of attendance has skyrocketed, so goodbye to that $59.99 combo.

 

[Oldschool75]

Just my educated guess from what I am observing from CF’s actions across the chain. TW will be there until there is a reason to remove it, and I honestly see a reason coming sooner than later.


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[King Ding Dong]

And that is?

[Oldschool75]

And that is?

I don’t know. I’m making an educated guess. CF is spending a lot to upgrade areas of parks that they can pull more revenue from. Just like a department store improving sales per sqft is key. Expanding, costs money and adds to operational costs when the expansion is made. TW is pretty much dead space with a very low sales per sqft except for the 3 days a year Spirit Song is there. I would guess it would be cheaper to remove it and utilize the land for some that will generate better revenue, aka an up-charge attraction, restaurant, or a new ride tha would increase revue at the gates with more attendance.


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[BoddaH1994]

On 4/10/2018 at 4:19 PM, CoastersRZ said:

The Rose Music Center. 

Add in the fact that the Jack Casino now books acts, and The Banks is looking to add a concert venue as well.

What many people do not realize is that Riverbend Music Center is actually owned by the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra.

Yes - however I think the symphony concerts are booked by Live Nation, who also either currently books or used to book Timberwolf. Which one would you choose if you were them?

I don't think we will ever see weekly concerts there ever again, but it would be cool to have some legacy concerts.  Weird Al used to be an August staple at the park, The Hannity thing did two years, they had some sort of trio act with Def Leopard a few years in a row, etc.  Now the only one left standing is Spirit Song Fest.  These shows would have to be kind of like how Spirt Song is now - both intended and designed to be in amusement park venues.  I don't see it happening, but that's the best we will ever see. 

[CoastersRZ]

Actually, the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra`s wholly owned subsidiary, Music and Event Management, or MEMI, is responsible for booking acts at Riverbend and the PNC Pavilion.  They also book events for the Taft Theater, and manage the Rose Music Center, which is owned by the City of Huber Heights.

http://www.cincinnatisymphony.org/stories/annual-report/music-event-management-inc/

[BoddaH1994]

4 hours ago, CoastersRZ said:

Actually, the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra`s wholly owned subsidiary, Music and Event Management, or MEMI, is responsible for booking acts at Riverbend and the PNC Pavilion.  They also book events for the Taft Theater, and manage the Rose Music Center, which is owned by the City of Huber Heights.

http://www.cincinnatisymphony.org/stories/annual-report/music-event-management-inc/

I meant everything EXCEPT the symphony was Live Nation. I stand corrected none the less.

[CoastersRZ]

I see what you meant.  The Cincinnati Pops used to play some concerts at Riverbend in the summer months.  I am not sure if they have done that recently.  I do know that the Riverbend schedule the last several years has been pretty well filled out, as in several concerts in back to back to back days, etc.

[silver2005]

The Pops schedule at Riverbend every once in a while.  I remember going down a few years ago to hear them be conducted by John Williams (yes, THAT John Williams).  Its not something they do every year though. 

[CoastersRZ]

They used to do it every year.  In fact, they used to do it four or five times a year, back when Erich Kunzel still conducted them, before his untimely passing due to cancer. 

In fact, his final concert at Riverbend caused a traffic jam on Kellogg that delayed the start of the concert, which in turn caused Coney`s rides to stay open an extra hour. (This was back when rides closed at 10pm on Saturday nights, and they were having fireworks on select Saturday closings, and Coney couldn`t shoot off the fireworks until the conclusion of the concert).

[TheLip2]

On 4/10/2018 at 11:23 AM, Oldiesmann said:

Didn't Timberwolf initially have a separate entrance from outside the park allowing you to attend concerts there without requiring park admission?

There was no entrance that didn't require park admission.

As mentioned, there were combo tickets that provided great value. There were also stand-alone tickets for concerts for those that had passes or had already purchased a park admission. In the early years $5 was the typical price. In the 80's I saw...38 Special, Beach Boys, Air Supply, Huey Lewis, Starship, Reo Speedwagon, etc. 

[KImom]

Showing my age again here...but I remember competing in a cheer competition at the Timberwolf. It was such a big deal back then and so much fun! It was like the equivalent of the nationals at Disney World only for middle schoolers.   I wonder why they did away with that. I also competed in a couple of band competitions there back in the day. So much fun!