italianchef Posted February 28, 2005 Posted February 28, 2005 It's official. Viacom is THINKING about selling off Paramount's Parks. To our knowledge, they haven't signed contracts....so they can always changes their minds. As far as your preference is concerned, who would you like to purchase Paramount's Parks? Quote
Ben Posted February 28, 2005 Posted February 28, 2005 I enjoy Cedar Fairs style of their parks. I love a park with lots of roller coasters and a decent childrens area. I chose Cedar Fair, but it doesn't show my vote for some reason... Quote
TheKlockster Posted February 28, 2005 Posted February 28, 2005 Gotta say Busch Gardens. I love Busch Gardens Tampa Bay and I think it would be cool if they got PKI. Quote
PkiJake13 Posted February 28, 2005 Posted February 28, 2005 I hope I buy the Paramount parks, no. I hope Viacom keeps them they haven't had the parks very long, this is there 13th year. I also like the direction there leading the parks into, thoughj they need to lay off of taken out rides for awhile and expand out. -Jake Quote
pj378 Posted February 28, 2005 Posted February 28, 2005 It really doesn't matter who would take over the park becouse they couldn't do any worse then paramount becouse they aren't very good at running the park in the first place. Quote
HabloRM Posted February 28, 2005 Posted February 28, 2005 I enjoy Cedar Fairs style of their parks. I love a park with lots of roller coasters and a decent childrens area. I chose Cedar Fair, but it doesn't show my vote for some reason... I agree. With a top children's area like PKI has, then add world class roller coasters, and add classic and exciting flats, then you'll have one EXCELLENT park. Quote
AZ Kinda Guy Posted February 28, 2005 Posted February 28, 2005 I picked Cedar Fair ONLY because I like the way their Operations are ran compared to all the other chains I've been to. Quote
KIBeast Posted February 28, 2005 Posted February 28, 2005 Cedar Fair does seem to have it going on. Quote
familyman Posted February 28, 2005 Posted February 28, 2005 A power house like Universal has my vote. Great theming al the way around! Quote
HomerJay Posted February 28, 2005 Posted February 28, 2005 While Cedar Fair runs good parks and I think Cedar Point is one of the top amusement parks in the country, I'd have to say I'd like to see an independent firm run it. I miss the days when Kings Island wasn't a chain park. When it was original and unique and didn't rely on brand names (well, besides Hannah Barbara). While I do enjoy many of the changes Paramount has made, I sometimes feel like the emphasis is more on PARAMOUNT than Kings Island, which is logical with a parent company. But to have a company come in that really cares about the theme park business, has a unique vision for where KI would be headed, and brings its own flavor to the park, would be great. I just feel now that we're seeing KI change from the destination it once was to just a part of a franchise. How long before we see International Street changed to Hollywood Blvd, see Coney Mall just taken over by the Action Zone and see (big exaggeration) the Eiffel Tower transformed into the Paramount mountain? On the other hand, I wonder what would happen if Viacom did sell the parks. Rides like Top Gun, Face Off, and Drop Zone would be pretty easy to rename and retheme. But what would you do with something like Tomb Raider which pretty much IS themed to the movie or the IJST? Quote
PKIDelirium Posted February 28, 2005 Posted February 28, 2005 My vote goes for an independant compant that would maintain the Paramount Parks. That is if Viacom decides to sell them, I want things to keep going the way they have been Quote
familyman Posted February 28, 2005 Posted February 28, 2005 Well on a positive note if they do sell and have to re-name some of the rides and attractions at least The Beast will stay the same. Quote
MarketingExpress Posted February 28, 2005 Posted February 28, 2005 No one should buy the park. It is in good hands right now and PP would be insane to sell the #1 seasonal theme park in the world. Quote
Great America Guy Posted February 28, 2005 Posted February 28, 2005 It really doesn't matter who would take over the park becouse they couldn't do any worse then paramount becouse they aren't very good at running the park in the first place. WHAT!!!??? How so? If Paramount isn't doing so well running it's parks, why is attendance up at all of them? All of them are said to have great rides, cleanliness, awesome customer service, and nice landscaping. As was said above me, PKI is the #1 seasonal park!! I think that says something about Paramount. You want to see someone who could do worse than Paramount? Sell PKI to Six Flags, and watch them run it into the ground over the course of only two seasons like they did with Geauga Lake. But, if I had to choose, I would pick either Busch or Cedar Fair. Both are very good in the operations department, and awesome customer service. Quote
Ben Posted February 28, 2005 Posted February 28, 2005 No one should buy the park. It is in good hands right now and PP would be insane to sell the #1 seasonal theme park in the world. Paramount Parks doesn't own Cedar Point. Quote
wickedv6 Posted February 28, 2005 Posted February 28, 2005 Seems like I've seen you post that exact same message a few times before Ben.. what do you have it as a cut and paste? and no.. They don't own Cedar Point.. why would they want a second rate place like that.. Quote
thejoker8388 Posted February 28, 2005 Posted February 28, 2005 I voted Busch, they make amazing rides with the amount of themeing of about what Paramount does. Plus, Busch has the best landscaping and is very clean. Quote
Reality15 Posted February 28, 2005 Posted February 28, 2005 Cedar Fair, they do a better job at running a park than most other companies. Quote
Skippy Posted March 1, 2005 Posted March 1, 2005 While I think Viacom is running Paramount Parks very well and should keep running them, I don't see that happening as they have their hearts set on relieving themselves of the #1 seasonal theme park chain So the most likely buyer is the quasi-independent company that'll keep things the same (shouldn't be too different), but since the question is who I want to buy the park chain, my answer would have to be Universal (which is unlikely since its owner wants to get out of the theme park industry). While I love Cedar Fair and how they run their parks, they also seem unlikely since they just bought Geauga Lake and are waiting to see how they do (and still recovering). Six Flags is not as bad as eveyone says, slowly they are improving, but they still would dump a ton of money into the park the first two years and all would seem great, then year three comes around and they give no money to the park as they are now in debt and eventually sell it off (where have I seen this before? SFWoA!). While Anheuser Bush would spoil the parks with rides like DarCastle and Atlantis, I would miss the movie themes Quote
Ben Posted March 1, 2005 Posted March 1, 2005 While I think Viacom is running Paramount Parks very well and should keep running them, I don't see that happening as they have their hearts set on relieving themselves of the #1 seasonal theme park chain Lol, sounds like you're doubting your own words. Quote
Jasper Posted March 1, 2005 Posted March 1, 2005 I misread the question and put Six Flags but i hope Cedar Fair because all their parks are enjoyable. Six Flags are just to small and have no set theming. Besides what would we do without HBBL. Besides The Beast wouldn't be the same without the King's Island trademark. Quote
HabloRM Posted March 1, 2005 Posted March 1, 2005 Besides The Beast wouldn't be the same without the King's Island trademark. Not really, it'd be the same coaster and all. What would be the difference? Quote
Captain Picard Posted March 1, 2005 Posted March 1, 2005 Cedar Fair does such a better job at running a park than most other companies. Thats why they had the big attendance of 700,000 at GL. I bet they do just as good this year. IMO all the high ups at CF are getting out because the good times are over and they don't want to be around when it goes down. Quote
italianchef Posted March 1, 2005 Author Posted March 1, 2005 According to The New York Post "Tom McGrath, who stepped down as head of Viacom Inc.'s Paramount Enterprises last summer, has lined up investment firms Spectrum Equity Partners and GS Capital Partners, Goldman Sachs' private equity arm, to back him in his efforts to acquire the theme parks business, sources familiar with the situation said." If Mr. McGrath and his associates manage to purchase Paramounts Parks, I am very cusious about: 1. Will the new company still be called Paramounts Parks or something else? If the new company maintains the same name, one would assume that the Paramount and Nickelodeon licensing agreements are part of the sale. Hence, nothing would really change. 2. If the name of the company will NOT be Paramounts Parks, how different will the new company be? Will it still have Paramount theming (TR:TR, TG, etc.) and Nickelodeon? We'll have to wait and see. Considering the $1 billion price tag, I think that Viacom would have an easier time selling the parks individually rather than as a package. Though a bargain, we are not in a strong economy and $1 billion is a steep investment for a mature market. That's my opinion. Have a great off season! Italian Chef Quote
Captain Picard Posted March 1, 2005 Posted March 1, 2005 The only way I see the selling of the parks individually is if Six Flag buys and they are sold at a auction after the bankruptcy. Quote
Great America Guy Posted March 1, 2005 Posted March 1, 2005 I don't know, the only Paramount Park I could see Six Flags snatching right up would be PGA, due to it's proximity to SFMW. Six Flags owning the other Great America would eliminate the competition in San Fran. But then again, PKI is pretty close to SFKK, and PKD is in the same market as SFA, so I guess I don't have a clue. Quote
CoastersRZ Posted March 1, 2005 Posted March 1, 2005 I would imagine that Viacom would rather sell Paramount Parks as a whole. I could see them being spun off into their own company led by the former Viacom Executive. While they would no longer be owned by Viacom, I think that Viacom would want to keep their advertising in the parks to promote their properties. It is definantly something to watch as the outcome of this situation could have drastic changes for PKI and the other Paramount Parks. Quote
King Bowser Posted March 1, 2005 Posted March 1, 2005 Who do I want to buy Paramount Parks....Any one but Cedar Fair Quote
RevengeofTheSmurfs Posted March 1, 2005 Posted March 1, 2005 Cedar Fair I never liked anything Cedar Fair owned because they arent for the family they target the thrill seekers so I would want Six Flags or Universal. Quote
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