Project 2015: Tempesto

[T Jefferson]

Since I've given up all hope of this being a great ride, I'm gonna just look on the bright side. A coaster is a coaster, even if it's a clone. And this just so happens to be one of the better clones out there. Lets just be thankful we didn't get a boomerang or one of those Hangtime Torture devices that FOUR Six Flags Parks are calling a coaster.

 

[b.mac]

Since I've given up all hope of this being a great ride, I'm gonna just look on the bright side. A coaster is a coaster, even if it's a clone. And this just so happens to be one of the better clones out there. Lets just be thankful we didn't get a boomerang or one of those Hangtime Torture devices that FOUR Six Flags Parks are calling a coaster.

Funny thing is the four of those still cost well less than half of what Tempesto cost.

 

[T Jefferson]

Since I've given up all hope of this being a great ride, I'm gonna just look on the bright side. A coaster is a coaster, even if it's a clone. And this just so happens to be one of the better clones out there. Lets just be thankful we didn't get a boomerang or one of those Hangtime Torture devices that FOUR Six Flags Parks are calling a coaster.

Funny thing is the four of those still cost well less than half of what Tempesto cost.

True, but Tempesto is still cheap. The difference between ride quality with Tempesto and the other two is greater than the difference in price. (If that makes sense). I'm pretty sure BGW will get out of this financial crisis sooner or later. Maybe the marketing campaign with KD will help.

 

[Zimmy]

As much as it pains me to disagree with a Wahoo, I do not see BGW getting out of this crisis. They have shown over the past several years a fundamental lack of understanding of corporate finance. I suspect that is at least partially due to having theater people in the mix.

They clearly do not understand the first thing about the "marketing mix" and I doubt very seriously if they could define the difference between advertising and marketing.

When they should be practicing austerity they seem intent on wasting money. They are headed toward a cliff and unfortunately they seem to be accelerating not putting on the breaks.

A friend of mine equated it to watching a gambling addict. They keep throwing the dice doing the same thing over and over, because "damn it, they are due, they are gonna catch their break"

 

[Mushroom]

I kind of disagree. I don't see BGW getting out of this crisis anytime soon, but that doesn't mean it will not happen eventually. Someday. It might take a sale, new owners, or God knows what else, but it will happen.

Citing your example about the cliff, once they go over their cliff and it seems like they're done for, that's not really the end. It's just metaphor. In reality, there could be another company at the bottom of the cliff ready to catch BGW, or at the very least, pick up the pieces.

I've likened this to Kings Dominion's history before, and even though I have been criticized for doing so, I think it can demonstrate what may happen to BGW as well. Without even looking at what the original owners did, it was obvious that Paramount was driving KD into the ground. Then Cedar Fair swooped in, and although it's taken almost a decade, look at the park now.

tl;dr They'll get out of this crisis eventually. Not soon, but someday.

 

[Zachary]

I will say that we shouldn't give casual readers the impression that BGW is about to close its gates- I say this because I've talked with people who have perceived that from reading some of our discussions. The real story here is simply that BGW can't continue to fund the park experience that customers have become accustomed to.

I'm pretty sure there will still be an amusement park of some kind on BGW's property 50 years from now. The concern is whether or not it will be Busch Gardens Williamsburg- or even just a shell of its former self.

 

[APE]

The financial issues are a big reason i am headed there for my first visit this year. I am hoping to see the park before everything goes downhill at the park completely (if it does). I know a lot has already changed this year but i am hoping it's not too bad. I'd like to see the park in its full glory i have heard about over the years.

 

[Sky]

Someone posted this on Instagram
[Instagram=https://instagram.com/p/0BnouVOryn/]

Is he a ginger or is his hair on fire???

(I know these both go hand in hand).

-a Ginger

 

[wombat96]

Does anyone know if Tempesto will have a catwalk like Superman?

They added one after a train got stuck at the top with passengers.

 

[b.mac]

When they should be practicing austerity they seem intent on wasting money.  They are headed toward a cliff and unfortunately they seem to be accelerating not putting on the breaks.

This is my main issue with BGW as well, they don't seem to know how to control cash all that well. This issue has been around since Mach Tower and their overhauled summer lineup (Wunderbarn AUGH) happened. I'm still not entirely sure if they got the money for Tempesto from Moser over Mach Tower, and even if they did why would they drop $7 million on a coaster they aren't able to support. They seriously could've spent a tenth, A TENTH, of that on a Larson Super Fireball and used the same themeing for Tempesto and Festa Italia. I mean Six Flags is doing pretty much the same thing:

and Six Flags over Georgia is using that saved money to add a Tilt-A-Whirl alongside it. BGW could've used done the same thing to bolster their severe lack of flat rides, and still have close to 6.5 million to toy around with for things like marketing, and avoiding major budget cuts. They didn't. They spent the money, kicked the can, and expect this to save them with the same marketing strategy that failed so hard for Verbolten and London Rocks.

---

Does anyone know if Tempesto will have a catwalk like Superman?

They added one after a train got stuck at the top with passengers.

Premier likely tweaked Tempesto (and all future models) so that the stall wouldn't happen again. Kingda Ka had a reconfigured top hat so it wouldn't stall at the top like Top Thrill Dragster has done a few times.

 

[freyja]

Premier likely tweaked Tempesto (and all future models) so that the stall wouldn't happen again. Kingda Ka had a reconfigured top hat so it wouldn't stall at the top like Top Thrill Dragster has done a few times.

Oh my god I almost started to cry at thought of getting stalled on Top Thrill Dragster. Now there is DEFINITELY no way my nephew can drag me on that one!

 

[b.mac]

Premier likely tweaked Tempesto (and all future models) so that the stall wouldn't happen again. Kingda Ka had a reconfigured top hat so it wouldn't stall at the top like Top Thrill Dragster has done a few times.

Oh my god I almost started to cry at thought of getting stalled on Top Thrill Dragster. Now there is DEFINITELY no way my nephew can drag me on that one!

Don't go on cold, windy days and you'll have nothing to worry about.

 

[Luke]

Someone posted this on Instagram
[Instagram=https://instagram.com/p/0BnouVOryn/]

Is he a ginger or is his hair on fire???

(I know these both go hand in hand).

-a Ginger

Ginger Pusheen?

 

[T Jefferson]

Quick question. Is BGT doing as bad as BGW? This seems to be a Sea World company-wide thing.

 

[Party Rocker]

The financial problem is company wide. It's just that many people believe BGW is just outright making the worst decisions out of every park.

 

[Jrbgwfan06]

....... Because, they are making the worst decisions.....

But that's another thread...

 

[UncleDuncan]

Quick question. Is BGT doing as bad as BGW? This seems to be a Sea World company-wide thing.

It's debatable: all of the parks seem to be doing less than great as of late. I'd argue SeaWorld in SD has made the poorest decisions out of all of the properties. But this is a BGW centric board so people tend to focus more on Williamsburg. BGW seems to be stuck in one step forward (Food and Wine Festival, killing Entwined), two steps back (London Rocks, Tempesto, everything else) mode for a few years which is nerve racking. But the reality is, all the SEAS parks have been flatlining in similar ways.

Fortunately Kings Dominion and Hersheypark are kicking ass and SFA seems to be on the upswing so there are other options. By the way, forum members, there ARE other options.

 

[MAZ]

None of which label themselves as 'the most beautiful theme park in the world'..(If they were still polling for that title, Tempesto would of been the end for BGW. It certainly lacks the graceful appearance of AC.)

 

[Nicole]

I was going to point out that in order for SEAS to be doing this badly corporately, several or all of the parks must be making bad decisions, not just BGW. In fact, I'm not sure from a corporate perspective how important Williamsburg's decisions are to the overall health of the chain.

But Reggae kinda beat me to it.

I realize it is considered clever to be as snarky as possible about BGW, but in this case it seems unnecessary.

 

[Zimmy]

The financial problem is company wide. It's just that many people believe BGW is just outright making the worst decisions out of every park.

With perhaps an occasional comparison to Tampa, I do not recall anyone ever saying that they believed BGW was "making the worst decisions..."

I never have and never will claim to make any predictions of any other SEAS parks as I do not have much knowledge of them. Make such predictions or for that matter comparisons, I think for most on the forum, is foolish at best. (Emphasis on most)

I have said that BGW has made many mistakes, and I believe they will continue to make critical mistakes for the foreseeable future and I stand by this statement. In business there is an expression, "past performance is usually the best indicator of future performance." I believe this applies here.

I will say that I do not believe the future is all doom and gloom. At some point SEAS will either, have a complete change in management and philosophy and turn itself around, start to sell of pieces to keep the rest whole, or declare chapter 11. Frankly BGW is small potatoes for the company, it is not a 365 park, it is not a destination park, and its location is limiting. I would not be surprised to see it sold off. The question is to whom. I do not believe there is anything keeping BGT and BGW connected, frankly besides being of similar origin there is not much in their DNA that connects them. Sure some rides and events, but that is really all.

I do not begin to guess much past that. But I am certain someone will snatch the park up and it will continue to operate. But frankly all of this is conjecture and best guess. I have no hard facts to base any of this on. Maybe it turns out Carl is actually some kind of park savant and this year everything turns around.