The Next Coaster

[Youhow2]

I am to lazy to go find the URL at the moment, but if anyone follows amusment leaks on Twitter there was a transcript from a closed session of the Charlotte City Counsel where Cedar Fair told them that either Caro or KD would be their flagship park in the southeast and local stimulus money decided that. Nutshell from the session was they where either going to put a large ride in at Caro or KD but not both and Caro won.

That was only their meeting with Charlotte City Council. They voted yes to throw them the money, but that also doesn't mean Hanover didn't offer them a better deal. It also doesn't mean KD is just not going to get anything. It'd be pretty silly to hype up the 40th anniversary with a 2 year celebration and not do something big to top it off.

Whatever plan was in motion for KD 2015, if there ever was one will still come into play. I don't think we are getting another i305. We don't need it. We just need something solid to round off this current campaign and compete with Busch, And really that's all I expect.

Also, I don't agree that CF is stupid enough to honestly base whether or not a park will get expanded on a little under 400k. That is a drop of water in a sea of a large long-term investment. All I saw from that session was a little businessman's BS trying to get a bit of cash where they could get it.

 

[I305Evan]

Isn't Leviathan very similar to Intimidator 305? Not exactly talking layout, but they're both giga coasters

Giga coaster is the only aspect that is the same between the two. Leviathan is built by B&M and I305 is built by Intamin AG. Leviathan is known for it's speed and airtime and I305 is for the drop and tight close to the ground turns at very high speeds.

 

[wombat96]

If we get a new coaster I wanna see something away from the park. Something like Grizzly, a ride that takes you deep into the woods. How about the longest B&M Hyper coaster? Imagine hugging the terrain when you approach a humongous onimous lift hill facing the night sky. Just gives me the goosebumps. I hope we don't get a cookie cutter coaster at least.

 

[I305Evan]

Kings Dominion is pretty much placed on farm land. The entire terrain is relatively flat, so don't expect much terrain interaction because there really isn't anything unless it is hand made.

I would love to see tunnels or trenches in a ride for more interaction. Anaconda's "underwater" tunnel doesn't cut it to me

 

[Unagi]

If we get a new coaster I wanna see something away from the park. Something like Grizzly, a ride that takes you deep into the woods. How about the longest B&M Hyper coaster? Imagine hugging the terrain when you approach a humongous onimous lift hill facing the night sky. Just gives me the goosebumps. I hope we don't get a cookie cutter coaster at least.

Don't expect a brand new custom B&M at KD anytime soon. The only way they get a new one is if Cedar Fair transfers an old one from another park like they did with Dominator.

 

[MAZ]

^^Is this in reference to the ridiculous 'B&M contract w/BGW' rumor?

 

[Jrbgwfan06]

Considering SWP&E hasn't built a B&M in a long time(Manta at SWO), or is going to build one, I think it's safe to say they have broken any long term contracts that their parks have established in the past.

 

[MAZ]

That^, and Verbolten was obviously not B&M. I don't think they(B&M) would stand by any sort of contract that says 'they' cant build anywhere except park X when park X is using other coaster companies. Just seems silly.

I'm all for a B&M custom at KD!

 

[Shane]

That was only their meeting with Charlotte City Council. They voted yes to throw them the money, but that also doesn't mean Hanover didn't offer them a better deal. It also doesn't mean KD is just not going to get anything. It'd be pretty silly to hype up the 40th anniversary with a 2 year celebration and not do something big to top it off.

Whatever plan was in motion for KD 2015, if there ever was one will still come into play. I don't think we are getting another i305. We don't need it. We just need something solid to round off this current campaign and compete with Busch, And really that's all I expect.

Also, I don't agree that CF is stupid enough to honestly base whether or not a park will get expanded on a little under 400k. That is a drop of water in a sea of a large long-term investment. All I saw from that session was a little businessman's BS trying to get a bit of cash where they could get it.

There is significant evidence at Caro that points to them having gotten selected for this flagship status. The park has already started building the massive dining facility that was promised in that document and plans for the expanded entrance and roller coaster that was discussed in the document were leaked over at Carowinds Connection. The representative from Cedar Fair in that document said that only one of the two parks would get this capital expansion project. Everything happening at Carowinds aligns with what that document detailed. I am not saying that Kings Dominion will get nothing on their 40th, but the document says that only one of the two parks will get this major roller coaster, not both, and only one of the parks will be the chains Southeast Flagship park.

We haven't heard any solid rumors regarding what KD will get for 2015 so I am inclined to beleive that Cedar Fair is moving forward with this plan. It is not unusual for Cedar Fair to go several years without installing a major new attraction at some of their parks. If you look at their third tier parks they have gone many seasons without a new installation. We really don't know where Cedar Fair puts King Dominion in their current lineup.

 

[Unagi]

^Geographically and financially it would make more sense to have Carowinds be more of a flagship than KD. The city's population grew over 30% in the last decade and continues to move up. The park's closest competition are over 3 hours away with SFoG in Atlanta and Dollywood in TN. Charlotte also has a major international airport that the company could benefit from by making Carowinds more of a destination park. Cedar Fair has the potential to turn it into the Kings Island of Charlotte.

 

[b.mac]

I'm not the guy to rule out a coaster, just it definitely won't be a 20 mil+ project like Banshee, Gatekeeper, or what Carowinds is getting.

 

[Canobie1]

The word giga is one of the only things they have in common. B&M is what Leviathan is and intamin is I305. Both very different ride experiences.

 

[Youhow2]

That was only their meeting with Charlotte City Council. They voted yes to throw them the money, but that also doesn't mean Hanover didn't offer them a better deal. It also doesn't mean KD is just not going to get anything. It'd be pretty silly to hype up the 40th anniversary with a 2 year celebration and not do something big to top it off.

Whatever plan was in motion for KD 2015, if there ever was one will still come into play. I don't think we are getting another i305. We don't need it. We just need something solid to round off this current campaign and compete with Busch, And really that's all I expect.

Also, I don't agree that CF is stupid enough to honestly base whether or not a park will get expanded on a little under 400k. That is a drop of water in a sea of a large long-term investment. All I saw from that session was a little businessman's BS trying to get a bit of cash where they could get it.

There is significant evidence at Caro that points to them having gotten selected for this flagship status. The park has already started building the massive dining facility that was promised in that document and plans for the expanded entrance and roller coaster that was discussed in the document were leaked over at Carowinds Connection. The representative from Cedar Fair in that document said that only one of the two parks would get this capital expansion project. Everything happening at Carowinds aligns with what that document detailed. I am not saying that Kings Dominion will get nothing on their 40th, but the document says that only one of the two parks will get this major roller coaster, not both, and only one of the parks will be the chains Southeast Flagship park.

We haven't heard any solid rumors regarding what KD will get for 2015 so I am inclined to beleive that Cedar Fair is moving forward with this plan. It is not unusual for Cedar Fair to go several years without installing a major new attraction at some of their parks. If you look at their third tier parks they have gone many seasons without a new installation. We really don't know where Cedar Fair puts King Dominion in their current lineup.

I'm still gonna have to chalk this one up to Businessman's BS. The chain can say one thing and completely do another thing. We are in the middle of CF revitalizing KD. They are revitalizing Carowinds as well. We simply don't have enough information to say things are going one way or another. If I was in their position, I'd be playing my cards close to my chest as possible. I personally think Kd's market is more valuable with it's proximity to DC, but Carowinds has less major competition. I seriously can't believe that CF would let 400k be the deciding factor in what is what. That had to be a major ruse just for free money. 400k is 1.3% of the cost for just the coaster. Also, KD JUST got a giga. They are an elusive commodity. No way in the world CF would put two straight up giga's in one park. I believe that any project they had planned for Carowinds is not the same project or package they prepared for KD... And if that was so, Even if the council gave them money or not the plan would be modified. They have to be two different plans. I don't even know if I believe that they were preparing to make KD their southeast "flagship park". Like I said, the whole thing just seemed like they were fishing for w/e money they could get for the project from the Council. They got what they want and they'll probably let this current marketing campaign play out before they make the ultimate decision on what the SE flagship park will be... If that was even in the cards anyways.

 

[Unagi]

I personally think Kd's market is more valuable with it's proximity to DC, but Carowinds has less major competition.

KD's proximity to DC really doesn't help its overall market, mostly because it hasn't over the last few decades.   If it did then you would see amazing numbers at the gate.  The park only taps into the local resident base of the DC area but they can't crack the tourism that goes to the city.  Generally, when people from all over the planet to go to our nation's capital, they go to see the free attractions like the national parks and museums.  They have no intention of spending money and renting a car to drive 90 miles south to go to an amusement park.  There just isn't any allure for a tourist to do so especially since the park is so isolated.  KD also has to fight off major competition from SFA and Hersheypark up there so the local residents have more options.

Carowinds has a major upswing working in its favor.  Charlotte is now the 23rd largest market in the country with a population approaching 2.5 million that continues to grow, has a major airport and far less competition than DC.  The entire state of NC continues to grow as well with a population approaching 10 million and with SC approaching 5 million.  

This is why the growth potential for the park looks a lot more promising than KDs.

 

[Kings Island]

KD could lose hurler and or grizzly IMO. A rocky mountain monster or CCI could replace it ( them). Intamin woody would be sweet! A 4d would be insane!

 

[ZJhauler]

I also heard that Cedar Fair is opening a corporate office nearby Carowinds, which I feel helps the argument for their park receiving some special treatment. I don't know how true it is but I read that I-305 was orginally planned for Carowinds rather than KD, I don't know how much truth there is to this but supposedly KD was ultimately chosen as the better park for the ride and Carowinds received Intimidator instead. Maybe they've decided that the park is ready for their own coaster of that magnitude.

 

[Kings Island]

^ Yes it's similar. Intimidator was the answer to Apollo's Charoit and Superman. IMO I don't think KD needs a hyper. RMC IBox or a 4D would be killer! They'll probably end up with a wing coaster.....although Gate Keeper wasn't to exciting

 

[Shane]

If I remember correctly, Paramount Parks was headquartered in Charlotte but I honestly am not 100% sure about that. If I am wrong about that then I think I read the same article ZJHauler read and Cedar Fair was/is planning a satellite office there. Either or, it sounds familiar.

EDIT: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paramount_Parks <- For those of you that trust Wikipedia it does say that Paramount Parks was headquartered in Charlotte. Perhaps CedarFair kept those offices? I have no idea.

 

[Unagi]

^Yes, Paramount Parks did have headquarters in Charlotte. I have a friend that works in the industry that has been there. I don't remember the exact location of these offices but it was about a 10 minute drive from the park and closer to the city of Charlotte than Carowinds.

 

[Shane]

I would have thought Carowibds would have been their Flagship park then, it doesn't feel like a Flagship park to me.