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[Ilovthevu']

While searching some other SF parks, I have seen certain more prevelant manufacturers (flats) at different parks. I've noticed that some parks are flourished with Chance, while SFGAm is definetly not.

For instance, they have a double inverter (two arms that go upside down), Yo-Yo (swings), Alpine Bobs (Hay-Bailer), Ferris Wheel, Chaos (upside-down), and a Boat ride. I'll give you an example of why this might be a bad thing. I found a Hay-Bailer at Gaugea Lake (I don't think that SF's anymore though). Well, it's funny because it said it opened in 1976 (not positive about date), and it relocated in 2000. I think that just might mean in the park though.

I don't like Wisdom rides (Tornado, Himalaya, Gravitron). There is a certain feel to them just like there is a certain feel to B&M and Intamin's. If you get too compact with a lot of rides from one company, people just might not go on those rides because they are from Chance.
From my perspective, it's not that parks are too small (that's the reason they are "dumps"), but the coaster selection is not great. Could you imagine if these small parks had a SUF, BTR, V2, and a RB, how popular they would be?

It kind of amazes that one park has a Huss Topspin, but yet they have also had the same problem. They had to redo the switches. If a ride is a problem why would you buy more of the same ride? This was the first one they bought. Flats should be really, really reliable. There are a lot of Vekoma rides (too many) at SF parks, not enough B&M's. SFGAm is blessed to have four of them.

I've also seen too many relocations. Do relocations really help the SF chain? If the ride is not "working" for a park, then why shouldn't SF sell it to someone outside the chain? If you look at Rolling Thunder, I believe it moved three times. Tidal Wave has moved twice. It just doesn't make sense.

I guess my philosphy should be that big parks should be able to experiment with new rollercoasters (D Vu') because they have such a big selection to begin with, and let the smaller parks get established (popular) rollercoasters (BTR, SUF, RB).

[Aero737]

The whole thing about moving a ride, is that the park can advertise the ride as new. Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom can advertise Tidal Wave (Greazed Lightnin) as an all new ride for 2003 (was that the year?).

Experimentation is a very expensive and potentally disasterous idea. Look at all the problems that Six Flags is having with the giant inverted boomerangs. That was experimentation that went horribly wrong.

Small parks cannot always get rides like Batman, Raging Bull, Vertical Velocity, Scream, etc. because of the massive price tag on buying new rides. Popular rollercoasters like the ones stated above are difficult to move (both due to size, and popularity) which would mean buying an entirely new ride. Why would a small park that is struggling with attendance and money buy an expensive ride that they might not be able to efficently pay off? To the General Public a new ride is a new ride regardless of its history.

And I believe the problem with the Huss topspins has since been resolved in the manufacturing line, but our topspin was older. If a new Huss topspin was built today, I don't think it would have the same problems that the older models had. It's kind of like a recall for an automobile. A defect would only effect the 1998 edition where as the 1999 edition would have a fix. As technology gets older, more and more improvements are made.

[sixflagsguy5]

I think that it's stupid for them to build the same ride at all of their parks (BTR). If only SFGAM had BTR, and SFSTL had a different layout with a different name, then people that went to both parks would have a reason to visit both. That's also a reason I hate remakes of Cyclone. Viper is good though, because most of the remakes aren't around our park. Or even in the Midwest.

[rct2wizard360]

Man SixFlagsGuy, obviously you know nothing about the business world. First off clones are good in a corporate manner cheaper to build then spending millions in research and development; you just contact the manufacturer and you have a ride that will cost a lot less than starting from scratch. You can not complain about the multiple BTR's, Cyclones, and Medusas....for they are in different markets. Can you tell me why there is hundreds of Vekomas? Clones work, they are cheap, and can boast attendance.

[w00dland]

B&M's are expensive. Ever notice that most parks that have B&M's are usually already big time parks? Same with Intimin. Smaller parks get the Boomerang's or SLC's to boost attendance. Not to mention a clone of a Vekoma SLC is going to be cheaper than a clone of a B&M Batman.

As for relocations I think everybody else said it pretty well, don't look at the situation from your point of view. Look at it from a random teenager who has never been to a different park other than SFGAm all of his life. If V2 was traded for somethign like Mr. Freeze (man that would just rule) that teenager would probably have no idea that Mr. Freeze has been running since 1998 at a different park, and would give him a great reason to come back to the park this season. I love how SFI gives a good selection of rides at every park. If you look around there is usually atleast one wooden, one steel, one inverted, and one launched coaster at every park. You won't find that in all of CF or Paramount's parks.

[Ilovthevu']

Sixflagsguy, I understand what you are saying, but when a park only has five or six rollercoasters, in my opinion, most of them have to be (popular) great. Even though BTR is a clone at SFStL, it still seems different due to the opposite direction, and the line.

For instance, at SFStL, I think that the Boss, and Ninja (Yes it is a clone, I know. How, I don't know?) are terrible. So, to me that knocks two rollercoasters that I want to ride there. However, I still want to go there due to Mr. Freeze, Dialogena Mine Train, Batman the Ride, and the Screamin' Eagle. I could ride these all day. So, Ninja, Mr. Freeze, Batman The Ride, and Dialogena Mine Train are clones.

Now, I can compare it SFKK. In my opinion, the rollercoasters are not that great. They don't have a Batman, Mr. Freeze, D Vu', and so on. Instead of Batman, they have T2 which is in my opinion bad. It looks like Batman, but is made by Vekoma (Terrible, unless it's D Vu'.) The two rollercoasters I enjoyed are the mouse ride (not like RC), and Chang (like IW, but bigger).

Honestly, I enjoyed Chaos, and Penguin's Blizzard River (They need to clone this water "Roaring Rapids" ride.) probably the best in the park. In my opinion, this park needs a Batman, or even a RB, but they won't get it because they don't get enough attendence.


I'm very curious. If SFGAm were to just stall (not get another ride) for five years, in your opinion do you think it would still bring in the attendance that it does already?

I honestly believe that attendence would stay the same. What are you thoughts?

[twixmix0303]

If we didn't get another ride for 5 years, no, we probably wouldn't see a huge dip in attendance. However, just look at what Raging Bull and SWT have done for the park the years they opened.

[w00dland]

Attendance would go down.

Man, I HATE the offseason!

[sixflagsguy5]

I get what you guys are saying about how clones are good. My point was twords enthusiests. I know that enthusiests aren't a big percent of the amusement park's customers attendance, but I was trying to point out that I would choose a park with it's own unique rides rather than a clone.

[InsaneNewman]

Yeah, but frankly, they care only minimally about enthusists... It's the day-trippers and familes that bring in the big dough, and for them, a clone is just fine.

[Mr. SFGAm]

I can't really speak much for clones in general, but comparing our BTR and the one at SFOG, any member of the GP wouldnt even recognize ours as the same ride, just because of the landscaping ours has. Theirs is built on gravel.
But all that matters is the local population that visits the park, and as long as its a clone of a good ride, then clone the heck out of it!!
Now if Six Flags went around cloning Flashback(Z-Force), everyone would be in trouble!

Like sixflagsguy5 said, original rides are always more exciting, due to not being able to find them elsewhere. But sadly, these days it seem to be becoming more rare.