NEWS: KI announces drop in attendance

[JjAmSaOnN]

http://www.wcpo.com/news/local/story.aspx?...9d-b55c93f4ba05

[PKIVortex]

I don't see how that can be right? KI was packed on opening weekend, and has been pretty busy each weekend after. Could we be down cause of the fact we opened a weekend late? Or what? I also thought CF didn't announce attendance.

[JjAmSaOnN]

Oh I love how local news skews stories ... perhaps the WCPO article spawned from this CF announcement ... http://www.cedarfair.com/ir/press_releases/index.cfm

[Browntggrr]

A classic story of the media just plain getting it wrong.

If you read this: http://www.cedarfair.com/ir/press_releases/index.cfm, her story makes more sense. She just read the press release and assumed it was KI.

^^And you are correct. I have not seen CF announce attendence for individual parks.

I believe that the CF press release was posted here by Interp back on Saturday.

[ragerunner]

That is for the whole chain. For all we know KI may actually be up with other parks in the chain down more than the 5 percent.

[JjAmSaOnN]

Interesting to note they opened several parks late, cutting operating expenses and increasing revenues. I don't think KI was opened too much later than the others.

Yes you are correct, news reporter got it wrong! Those numbers are for all CF parks. Someone should email her, addy in the WCPO link. Unfortunately, I can't from work. That headline is very misleading. "Numbers down at Kings Island"

[teenageninja]

Keep in mind that KI opened 2 or 3 weeks later than usual too...

[PKIVortex]

KI only opened one weekend later then usually. April 14th should have been opening weekend, but instead it was April 21st. KI usually always opens the 2nd weekend in April, but this year it was the the 3rd. I totally forgot about the CF press release. I think your all right though, the media screws up again.

[CoastersRZ]

Yep. Heck, even Cedar Point opened a weekend later than normal this year. A total of 19 operating days were cut from this period this year as opposed to last year. While KI MIGHT be down from this point last year, as others have said, that might likely be due to the fact that they opened a weekend later. But from what I can tell from visiting the park this year so far, it seems to be more crowded this year than it was last year at this point in the season.

[standbyme]

The article may technically be wrong...but in the end I would say that it is probably correct. I think gas prices are going to take it's toll on all kinds of entertainment this summer. I live far away from the park, but I USUALLY make it to the park about 5 times a year. I have been once this year, at that point in time gas cost me over $80.00 to get there and back...that will slow me down this year. I really wanted one of the Firehawk First Rider shirts but at that time gas was at an all time high around here ($3.59 for regular un-leaded) I could not justify spending that much money...the shirt would not be "free"!

I have a season pass, but it will not be used as much this year unless things change...but from what I have been hearing on the news it will more likely only get worse.

[PKIVortex]

I have a feeling gas prices this year will affect attendance all around the board this year. Gas is outrageous. I can't believe it cost you 80 dollars to go to KI and back, where are you coming from?

[Browntggrr]

The article may technically be wrong...but in the end I would say that it is probably correct.

Perhaps if she actually mentioned that the decreased attendence was for all of CF and not just KI.

When she mentioned: "The numbers are in and it looks like the turnstiles are moving a little slow at Kings Island." There is nothing technical about that. She is plain wrong. It is quite possible that with Maverick opening late, CP is bringing the whole chain down attendence-wise (just speculating).

In all reality, I can see KI having a better year than most parks. Ki is near a major city, whereas CP is between two cities that are both struggling right now. Add that with the current gas prices, people may not be traveling very far this year.

[standbyme]

I can't believe it cost you 80 dollars to go to KI and back, where are you coming from?

A little hick-town in Illinois...be glad you're not me!

[PKIVortex]

LOL, well you are a deciated KI fan then. If you usally come to KI about 5 times a year. I only live about an hour away from KI. So even though gas prices are higher, it don't cost me anywhere near 80 dollars.

[CoastersRZ]

The article may technically be wrong...but in the end I would say that it is probably correct.

Huh? Now if that is not a confusing and contradictory sentence, I don`t know what is. It is wrong. Granted, KI`s attendance may be slightly lower than laster year (or it could be higher, we will never know for sure as Cedar Fair does not break out attendance by park anymore) but the way the article was written was very poor. It made it seem like Kings Island`s attendance was down 5%, when in actuality, that 5% dip was across the entire twelve amusement park chain. Just a slight difference in scales there.

[PKIDelirium]

Yeah, KI has a larger local population, and with gas prices the way they are...

Great Wolf will probably have a good year with the locals as well.

[JjAmSaOnN]

clarification .... the CF press release does specifically mention that attendance for the memorial day weekend was down 5% from past year. This of course is all of CF's parks, so it could be very well that KI was up and others down, we don't know.

[CoastersRZ]

If you`re going to clarify something, at least get the facts straight. That 5% dip in attendance was THROUGH Memorial day weekend (ie the attendance from the first of the year through Memorial day at all twelve parks). It is not simply the attendance at all twelve parks on Memorial Day Weekend.

[MarketingExpress]

I find it funny that they are reporting that KI's attendance is down and the park has only been open for a little over a month. Must be a slow news day if Channel 9 is running this kind of story. Maybe they should wait until the end of the season to report a story like this.

[standbyme]

The article may technically be wrong...but in the end I would say that it is probably correct.

Huh? Now if that is not a confusing and contradictory sentence, I don`t know what is. It is wrong. Granted, KI`s attendance may be slightly lower than laster year (or it could be higher, we will never know for sure as Cedar Fair does not break out attendance by park anymore) but the way the article was written was very poor. It made it seem like Kings Island`s attendance was down 5%, when in actuality, that 5% dip was across the entire twelve amusement park chain. Just a slight difference in scales there.

Sorry if I confused you. What I meant is that even though the article IS using the facts wrong, I am GUESSING that Kings Island's attendance IS PROBABLY down like the article states...but we do not know the percentage. Also, to play Devil's Advocate, Kings Islands attendance could be down MORE than 5% but since it was averaged out over the 12 parks we will never know.

But that is just MY opinion, and you know what they say about opinions...

[JjAmSaOnN]

If you`re going to clarify something, at least get the facts straight. That 5% dip in attendance was THROUGH Memorial day weekend (ie the attendance from the first of the year through Memorial day at all twelve parks). It is not simply the attendance at all twelve parks on Memorial Day Weekend.

I reread, my bad

Actually this reporter at WCPO reported from another reporter in the Cincy Biz Journal, which was much more acurate to the CF press release.

Bad journalism

[PKIVortex]

The story is now gone from wcpo.com.

[WooferBearATL]

You're complaining about a news story that was basically worthless.

It was basically a couple sentences strung together with no statistics for any information cited that backed up it's assumption.

I'm certain it is now gone as it was an absolutely worthless posting on their web site and a waste of bandwidth.

[teenageninja]

Perhaps KI called them and asked for it to be removed, or they are rewriting the article. Regardless they cut operation days, and gas prices had been at record highs.

However, it seems they are coming down 3.06 in Hyde Park save 10 cents with Kroger Plus Card and that brought it down to 2.96.

-Joe who is very happy his car gets 35 miles to the gallon.

[Avatar]

I am not the smartest man but I think the attendance figures will dip down even further for the CF chain, and I could see it coming. For us to come over it cost us $55.00 in gas for the round trip and now since KI has a new rain/sprinkle policy that keeps us home when we would have come otherwise (like this past weekend). Strike 3 for us is the high food and beverage prices. I truly think that KI guests will come and see the prices and will think twice about the cost of the total trip next time, which will translate in fewer guests through the gates as time goes forward. I think that Firehawk could not have come to KI at a better time as that IMHO will help KI’s attendance numbers some.

For us we have came up with a plan so that we can still come over often but will include “The Beach Waterpark” with mid afternoon visits for 20% discount on food and free soda after our mornings visits to KI.

[Coasterfan]

At least they removed the article.

Isn't it sad when we're excited about $3/gal gas? Sorry, sometimes you just gotta stand back and laugh to keep from going nuts.

-Josh who doesn't really care that his Jeep gets 15mpg because it's just to much fun.

[BoddaH1994]

Let's establishing something:

Cedar Fair does NOT report the attendance of individual parks.

The article is wrong. It's completely wrong. There's no way for it to be truly accurate.

Case closed.

[Jamesv7]

I was reading all of this and thought there is know way there down because all 7 times that i have been this year they have been packed.

[specialk141]

i believe gas prices being high may actually help Kings Island.

with the prices so high, people from the cincinnati, dayton and Indianapolis markets are much less likely to drive all over hte country on summer vacations, i think we will see less tourists, and more and more regional guests this summer. what do you all think?

[specialk141]

i believe gas prices being high may actually help Kings Island.

with the prices so high, people from the cincinnati, dayton and Indianapolis markets are much less likely to drive all over hte country on summer vacations, i think we will see less tourists, and more and more regional guests this summer. what do you all think?