kjkjkj Posted May 13, 2006 Share Posted May 13, 2006 what is Coney buys us lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adam12 Posted May 13, 2006 Share Posted May 13, 2006 The best thing that could happen is a local person/business buys Kings Island. It would have the charm it once had and the high entertainment/amusement standard we all love. -adam12 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RingMaster Posted May 13, 2006 Share Posted May 13, 2006 Completely Random Topic: I found the group who produced some of the scenery items in Nick Universe, a company called Heavy Industries: Heavy Industries Now I know that Paramount Parks is cheap when looking at some of the past projects HI has done, and the items that they did for PKI (most noticeably, the facade for Jimmy Neutron and pagoda for Avatar). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WooferBearATL Posted May 14, 2006 Share Posted May 14, 2006 What if someone local bought us? Cintas has its Headquarters in Mason and It is a fast growing company who just bought out Van Dyne Crotty. From what I understand P&G isn't as well off as we think. Just a thought! P&G Profits Ahhh, I'll take this "not so well off" any day of the week. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A_Titanic_Mess Posted May 14, 2006 Share Posted May 14, 2006 I spoke to a friend who still works at what is left of Paramount corporate in Charlotte. The word this person gave to me is that Cedar Fair had aquired or was close to aquiring Paramount Parks. I spoke to this person on Monday, May 8th. I have seen no official word, but this person is a reliable source, so I would expect we should hear about the sale soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CoastersRZ Posted May 14, 2006 Share Posted May 14, 2006 Well, if this turns out to be true (and I still have my doubts) I`m sure we will likely see some changes at the parks. One would have to wonder what would become of FearFest and WinterFest if Cedar Fair bought the parks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrPKI Posted May 14, 2006 Share Posted May 14, 2006 I've heard from a certain credible source that posts here occasionally, that Cedar Fair has indeed bought the parks..........that is, 4 of the 5 parks. Which park was left with someone else remains to be seen. I'm pretty sure that PKD and PCar are done deals though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flying Eagles 1972-2004 Posted May 14, 2006 Share Posted May 14, 2006 I wonder if it is CF, how long this has been udnerway? They were playing the Snoopy Christmas music at WinterFest... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CoastersRZ Posted May 14, 2006 Share Posted May 14, 2006 Hmm. Four of the five parks? Well, there are valid reasons why Cedar Fair might not want one of the other three. Canada`s Wonderland with its performance in the last couple of years I would imagine would be a shoe in for CF to want them. That leaves PKI and PGA. Cedar Fair already has a park in both states that these parks are in (they have two in Ohio). I would imagine that they would want PKI, since it is the flagship park of the chain. That and the fact that PGA is landlocked and does not own their land (they lease it from the city of Santa Clara) would lead me to believe that PGA would be the park left out. But I still am not convinced that they will be buying the parks. Even to buy four of the five Paramount Parks (especially if they bought Viacom/Paramount licensing to use the Nickelodeon and Paramount themes) would cost quite a lot. I`m not sure how many of you have listened or seen Cedar Fair`s first quarter results, but they are not exactly debt free (somewhere in the tune of $500 million I believe.) They would have to come up with a lot of money to buy some or all of Paramount Parks. Not saying it can`t happen, just that I do not believe that they will be the buyer of the parks. As an aside, during the conference call, Dick Kinzel said any look at potential takeovers of Paramount Parks was ongoing. That said, I feel that Cedar Fair could do some really great things with the park. (And, maybe PKI would finally get that B&M coaster.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CoastersNSich Posted May 14, 2006 Share Posted May 14, 2006 Now, I do see Carowinds and Kings Dominion definitely being part of a Cedar Fair deal - they are both a long ways from any current CF Park. Which is the "5th park not included?" Here's the pros and cons for the other three (other than KD and Carowinds): A: Kings Island Pro (reasons why Cedar Fair doesn't want this park): They would have a "monopoly" in Ohio Kings Island has a lot of highly themed attractions, do they want to keep them up? Con (reasons why CF DOES want this park): CF bought its closest "competitor", Geauga Lake, from Six Flags in '04 Six Flags has 3 (scratch that, 2) big parks in Texas: SFOT, and SFFT (Fiesta Texas). Almost listed AstroWorld! KI's first B&M installtion could be on its way... B: Great America Pro: CF already has a park, Knott's, in CA This Santa Clara park is landlocked by the office buildings of Silicon Valley. Con: Again, the Geauga factor. And prior to the end of the MOA agreement, ran two parks in Minnesota as well: Valleyfair! and Camp Snoopy There is a clause by the City of Santa Clara, that an amusement park continue to operate on its site. The City bought the park from Marriott after the 1984 season, and gave management rights to Kings Entertainment Co. (who later bought the park and became Paramount). CF, then, might feel "right" to continue this landlocked park. C: Canada's Wonderland Pro: CF may not not want to expand into Canada. (Liability?) Con: International presence. Great flat ride selection, probably even the chance to finally add a "mega-coaster" That's why I think, according to your rumor, and after personal assessment, that Canada's Wonderland is the park Cedar Fair probably doesn't want. EDIT: Looks like CoastersRZ beat me before I could post! What the heck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CoastersRZ Posted May 14, 2006 Share Posted May 14, 2006 Sorry CoastersNSich! But we both differed on the parks that we think CF would not be buying. And afterall, that is assuming that Cedar Fair would be buying Paramount Parks, and assuming that they are only buying four of the five parks. Both of which are pretty big assumptions at this point in time. Could this be another one of those "Those who know don`t tell and those who tell don`t know" scenarios? I`m sure whoever the buyer is as well as corporate headquarters for Paramount Parks have been mum on potential buyout deals. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CoastersNSich Posted May 14, 2006 Share Posted May 14, 2006 No problem! No doubt this is an assumption. The previous posters either may be real, for all we know, or are just shysters playing with us! Who knows, another entertainment company, or large corporation, that is currently NOT in the amusement industry, could become the new owner, at least for PKI. Remember when both KECo and Carl Lindner (KI only) were selling the parks back in '92? We didn't have the internet to speculate: could we have ever dreamed that Paramount Communications, a movie and TV conglomerate, was seriously getting into the amusement park business? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gordon Bombay Posted May 14, 2006 Share Posted May 14, 2006 Wow it seems everyone has a credible source, either some people jsut cant keep their mouth shut or a lot of you are just blowing out hot air, either way everyone has presented good points and some interesting evidence to suggest Cedar Fair could be looking to aquire some of the paramount parks, just a reminder to everyone that anythning you read on here or any other fan site is not gospel truth, and needs to be taken with a large grain of salt. Tonight Boddah, Zoso, italianchef, and I were discussing a theory that if Cedar Fair were to aquire PKI or possibly some other parks that maybe they would want to ditch the paramount themes yet keep the nickelodeon themes and use those throughout their other parks, I could see this being quite expensive though but would be an interesting strategy for Cedar Fair to play. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CoastersRZ Posted May 14, 2006 Share Posted May 14, 2006 CombatStupendous89, I`ve actually thought of the same thing. Really, Cedar Fair would not be interested in the Paramount themes. But I think they would be foolish to not want to get the rights for Nickelodeon. Nothing against the Peanuts characters, but Nickelodeon is mainstream with most kids these days. And yes, especially at PKI retheming some rides could prove quite expensive and interesting. How to retheme TR:TR to not be themed to TR? IJST, might not need quite as much work as what TR:TR needs but might still require some work. And every rides in the Paramount Action Zone with the exception of Xtreme Skyflyer, Delirium and Son of Beast would recieve a new name: Face Off, Drop Zone, Top Gun, Congo Falls, and Days of Thunder. The only sure way we will find out what happens is by waiting. Eventually, the buyers of the park will be disclosed. And even once that happens, there will still probably be many, many questions remaining. Any changes the new owners make likely will not occur until next year`s operating season, much like what happened when Paramount bought the parks back in July of 1992. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kjkjkj Posted May 14, 2006 Share Posted May 14, 2006 its not like they would have to retheme rides like TRTR, just change the name. Why couldnt Cedar Fair have just a creepy tomb/temple ride in the park, without it being a paramount theme? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jzarley Posted May 14, 2006 Share Posted May 14, 2006 Tonight Boddah, Zoso, italianchef, and I were discussing a theory that if Cedar Fair were to aquire PKI or possibly some other parks that maybe they would want to ditch the paramount themes yet keep the nickelodeon themes and use those throughout their other parks, I could see this being quite expensive though but would be an interesting strategy for Cedar Fair to play. Yeah...Nick is definitely where the value is at as far as the current themeing goes... (No offense to the 20-year old movie "Top Gun ) I had mentioned a "what if" scenario a few months ago regarding CF (or another operator...actually, I think my example was Busch) wanting to expand Nickelodeon properties to their other parks. While I think Nick would be valuable to CF anywhere, where I really think the franchise would be invaluable is at Knotts. That would certainly be a great tool in their competition with DL and SFMM is the crowded So. Cal. market! And, let's keep in mind, there is opportunity for a win/win situation here. While the Nick licensing would be good for another park operator, it's also good for Viacom to keep their properties in the public eye at theme parks. (Without the headaches of actually having to own and operate parks themselves.) The park's whose future I have the most questons about is ST:TE. Let's face it, that's a pretty difficult retheme... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PKI_Diana Posted May 14, 2006 Share Posted May 14, 2006 The park's whose future I have the most questons about is ST:TE. Let's face it, that's a pretty difficult retheme... But it is in Vegas, where it really fits in, so I don't think it would need to be. I'd just get the rights, and leave it be as it is! My parents went to it to see in October, said it looked great, and was busy! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jzarley Posted May 14, 2006 Share Posted May 14, 2006 The park's whose future I have the most questons about is ST:TE. Let's face it, that's a pretty difficult retheme... But it is in Vegas, where it really fits in, so I don't think it would need to be. I'd just get the rights, and leave it be as it is! My parents went to it to see in October, said it looked great, and was busy! Actually, my point was that it couldn't really be rethemed...without making it completely worthess. There's a joint ownership situation with the LV Hilton with that property as well, so any deal regarding ST:TE would have to be structured differently. It's also possible that CBS/Viacom could retain their share of ownership, but turn management operation over to the Hilton. I guess my real point is that ST:TE is COMPLETELY different than the other parks, and its fate may or may not end up the same as the others. We'll just have to wait and see... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kjkjkj Posted May 14, 2006 Share Posted May 14, 2006 ST:TE? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CoastersRZ Posted May 14, 2006 Share Posted May 14, 2006 Star Trek: The Experience in Las Vegas. As JZarley mentioned, Paramount Parks has joint ownership of that with the Las Vegas Hilton, where ST:TE resides. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WooferBearATL Posted May 14, 2006 Share Posted May 14, 2006 It's likely that the Vegas attraction is not included in this transaction at all. Because of the special partnership I'd say that it's not even going to be considered to be part of any parks deal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CoastersRZ Posted May 14, 2006 Share Posted May 14, 2006 Another question, along the same lines of ST:TE is what will happen with Paramount Parks` management contract with CBS Television City as well as Bonfante Gardens in California. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jzarley Posted May 14, 2006 Share Posted May 14, 2006 Another question, along the same lines of ST:TE is what will happen with Paramount Parks` management contract with CBS Television City as well as Bonfante Gardens in California. The management of Bonfante Gardens is an interesting question... The main reason that Paramount Parks took on the management contract was to prevent another operator from moving in and upgrading it so that it would be a competitive threat to PGA. (And, that was pretty certain to have happened...Bonfante Gardens couldn't survive the way it was going, and it was a very attractive acquisition target for someone.) That being said, however, PP's management of that park has been extremely good for Bonfante Gardnes. The professional management and economies of scale of a major operator has really stabilized their operation while still holding true to Mr. Bonfante's original vision. To be honest, thrill parks are a dime a dozen, but my understanding of Bonfante Gardens is that it something unique. It would be a shame if that were to change. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WooferBearATL Posted May 14, 2006 Share Posted May 14, 2006 The management of Bonfante Gardens is an interesting question... The main reason that Paramount Parks took on the management contract was to prevent another operator from moving in and upgrading it so that it would be a competitive threat to PGA. (And, that was pretty certain to have happened...Bonfante Gardens couldn't survive the way it was going, and it was a very attractive acquisition target for someone.) That being said, however, PP's management of that park has been extremely good for Bonfante Gardnes. The professional management and economies of scale of a major operator has really stabilized their operation while still holding true to Mr. Bonfante's original vision. To be honest, thrill parks are a dime a dozen, but my understanding of Bonfante Gardens is that it something unique. It would be a shame if that were to change. Interesting that Paramount Parks would have that type of focus on Bonfante Gardens where as it did not with it's theme parks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cincyboy0830 Posted May 14, 2006 Share Posted May 14, 2006 omg people just wait 'til the announcement Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jzarley Posted May 14, 2006 Share Posted May 14, 2006 Ah, come on...then what would we have fun obsessing over and speculating about? It goes hand in hand with discussing for hours what the new ride at Cedar Point is going to be, even though we've only seen a handful of footers, and something that *might be* track under a tarp... That's just the nature of an "enthusiast" community. Wooferbear...the funny part is that even as I was typing that line a few posts above, I knew you'd have some commentary on it!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WooferBearATL Posted May 14, 2006 Share Posted May 14, 2006 Ah, come on...then what would we have fun obsessing over and speculating about? It goes hand in hand with discussing for hours what the new ride at Cedar Point is going to be, even though we've only seen a handful of footers, and something that *might be* track under a tarp... That's just the nature of an "enthusiast" community. Wooferbear...the funny part is that even as I was typing that line a few posts above, I knew you'd have some commentary on it!! Am I that predictable? Am I that obvious? It's cause I'm stuck in the house today on a day I wish I could get outside. <G> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Outdoor Man Posted May 14, 2006 Share Posted May 14, 2006 oh... wooferbear... come back up to Ohio for a spell. I think the extended forecast here calls for 8 of the next 10 days to have rain to compliment the 5 consecutive days of rain we've already had. everyone needs to stay on alert for an increase in suicides. stay away from sharp objects and cliffs. It has been a miserable day here... for me to do google searches and by other means on this topic is truly sad for me. I would think that if a pending sale was immenent that there would be commentary on it somewhere on websites like: CBS Corporate, Wall Street Journal, Cedar Fair LP, Charles Schwab, Smartmoney, CNBC. No one is reporting anything other than the original announcement from back in January. None of those sites even mention a possible conversation of any nature to a sale. My wife and I have stock in Cedar Fair (stock code: FUN.... nice touch). Now our 75 shares don't hold a drop of water in the hat of their corporate affairs, but we are able to login to the Cedar Fair site and download webcasts of corporate meetings. Yes in my boredom over the weekend I listened to reports on 1st quarter earnings and the operating season outlook. Sorry folks, there was NO mention of a pending Paramount Park acquisition. they did spend a good 5-10 minutes discussing the operating dependability (or lack thereof) of TTD and speculation of maintenance costs for the next three years to operate it. so if there is a pending sale to CF coming (and who knows, there may be) it is so secret that they don't even talk about in board meetings. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gordon Bombay Posted May 14, 2006 Share Posted May 14, 2006 ^Thanks for the info Elmer, its very appreciated, it will be interesting to see what happens. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captain Picard Posted May 15, 2006 Share Posted May 15, 2006 Did they talk about buying Geauga lake before they did in board meetings? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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