I agree. If KD wants more people, they need to go after a new market. Paramount removed the train, skyway, monorail, Lost World rides, Livingston Theater, Crossroads of Country theater. All attractions and venues for non thrill seekers. Since then, the park has been coaster focused targeting the same younger thrill seeking market. A market with less disposable income.
There’s a reason Disney is so well attended. It’s because the majority of the attractions are for everybody. Not sure why the regional theme parks list their focus in the 90s and decided to just thrill seekers and little kids. There’s little growth left in those markets.
I am surprized that I'm not wearing a neck brace from all the whiplash I get when corporate leadership changes happen in regional theme park chains and the resulting operating philosophy changes that come with it.
In my opinion, KD was best when it operated with a variety rides, shows, and attractions for everyone during the Taft/KECO years 1975-1992. The park theming, while certainly not Disney level, did tie everything together in an overarching area theme. Rides, shops, restaurants, etc; all had attraction names and structural elements in ride stations, and in structures that housed those restaurants, shops, and games all pointing to the same general theme.
I think they need to up the anti on entertainment. Shows have improved over the last 6 or 7 years, no doubt. But, the park chain/KD seems to be stuck in a rut with the spring/summer offerings. For KD, there is the Contemporary music show on I-street. The country/bluegrass show in CAG, and the Cirque show in the KD theater. Year after year after year after year. You can't figure out show themes based on a musical era (50's, 60's, 70's, 80's, 90's)? Maybe shows that focus a music genre like KI's "British Invasion" or Pop Rock of a said era/or a Music Top 40 list list from a particular decade?
I'd love to see a major Broadway style show come back to the KD theater. In the old days, you could only audition for that show if you were a multi-dicipline trained dancer. Course, your chances rose, if you were a double or triple threat (Singer/Dancer or Singer/Dancer/Actor). All other performers, like singers who moved well, could audition for any of the other open cast postions in any of the other shows for that year.
If Cedar Fair/KD is serious about investing in entertainment, they need to build dedicated show facilities where there is seating and shade if outdoors or climate controlled if an indoor theater. I don't see a need for another 1100-1200 seat capacity indoor venue like the KD theater. One is enough of that size. But, with the park's current operating season extending into the New Year and, at least for 2022, opening in mid-March, they need show facilities. That is nearly a 9 month operational season.
The park needs another indoor theater to get out of the elements (heat/humidity/rain-passing storm and the cold). I think it would be reasonable to build a 600-650 seat indoor theater. A small outdoor amphitheater that seats 100-150 folks for a more intimate venue.
The small amphitheater could replace the grove stage and it would be for specialty music genres like Country/Bluegrass. Maybe it can be used for specialty acts as well.
The new indoor theater could be for an ice skating show or move the Cirque show over to the theater. Put a Broadway style show in the KD theater, that building was designed/engineered for that exact purpose.
An outlier could be a combination show/dining venue. Sort of like what Carowinds has or KI.
Keep in mind that building just those 2 new show venues (small outdoor amphitheater and a medium sized indoor theater) would probably be spread out over a 4 to 6 year timeframe. Not sure if the new venues would be in addition to or maybe replace one of the existing venues.
