...I believe that management made a mistake when it hurried to buy Paramount.....

http://www.fool.com/news/commentary/2006/c...ogvisit=y&npu=y

Very, very interesting

Yes, Cedar Fair will have some struggles ahead of them. But they have proven to be successful at what they do. I don`t know if I would say that they hurried to buy the Paramount Parks, but they did take on a large risk by buying the parks. A risk that will take a while before they realise how well the new parks fit into their portfolio.

Hopefully, they will not be forced to cut their dividene payments. It is pretty remarkable that they have raised them every year for the past 19 years. Also, hopefully, as the article suggests, they won`t have to cut capital expenditures at the parks to help pay off their debt/pay out their dividends.

Thats very interesting...I know they have a huge debt to pay now I hope they dont screw the KI passholders next year.

Why would they screw the KI season pass holders next year, simply because they have a large debt load?

Why would they screw the KI season pass holders next year, simply because they have a large debt load?

Simple. Rise the prices I cant afford a Gold Pass over 230 Dollars.

Paramount made getting passes simple I fear that CF will cut out the free parking and what not they have a debt load and I know the season pass prices are going to be way too much.

But see, Cedar Fair understands that they simply can`t raise the season pass price beyond what a majority of the customers can afford. Cedar Fair is big on in park spending, and cheaper passes encourage in park spending. While they will probably be more expensive than they have been in past years, I doubt they will be drastically higher. Hopefully they release the season pass details soon, as in past years, season pass sales were already under way or about to begin.

I was surprised that Cedar Fair paid $1.24 billion for Paramount Parks because I remember reading that Viacom/CBS was willing to sell it as low as $900 million. That must mean that there was stiff competition - or that CBS charged CF more than it should have. I really don't know.

Well, I heard that there was another entity that was in serious contention with Cedar Fair to get the parks from CBS. So my guess is that Cedar Fair ended up being the highest bidder. It would be interesting to see what other parties offered to buy the parks from CBS.

Thank God it wasn't Six Flags... They probably couldn't even offer pocket fuzz for the parks...

^Six Flags probably didnt even attempt a bid, from their previous attempts any ways they werent really interested in all of the parks, according to the Cincinnati Enquirer, U.S. Bank was one of the other bidders I think. Cant remember for sure.

To my knowledge, the list of bidders is proprietary and has not been released. I haven't even seen any media speculation as to who they might have been, which is very unusual indeed. There was, however, apparently a bidding war.

...That must mean that there was stiff competition - or that CBS charged CF more than it should have. I really don't know.

That line gave me a chuckle...only on this board could the point be made that evil CBS was in the wrong for overcharging poor Cedar Fair

Most analysts predicted that Paramount Parks would sell in the 900M-1.25B price range. Since it ended up going at the very top of that range, it's reasonable to assume that there were a few bidders who stayed in to the very end. Interpreter is right...an official list of other bidders has yet to be released, although there has been speculation on the fan boards. If I were a betting man, I'd still wager that Blackstone as one of them. (A combined Paramount/Legoland company could have been pretty interesting...)

I'm still kind of upset that Busch Gardens didn't/wasn't able to get the parks... But I think CF will do good! -Hauntguy