Poor Poor Demon

[Goku1910]

Hey Jonrev, you can also see the water spraying off from under the wheels of the train. So yes, there has to be constant exposure. I would love to have the demon waterfall run again, but I just can't see it happening.

[david]

Sadly, I never got the chance to see the waterfall. I would love to see the park do something with Demon next year for the 50th. :/

[Goku1910]

with all the Chang news, I think that's plenty for 2011.

We got some stuff going on this year as well, Little Dipper, Ropes Course, that's pretty good for Great America.

[Cole]

Yeah look at all the additions we've recently got.
-Dark Knight
-Bucky Battle
-Glow in the park Parade
-Magiquest
-Little Dipper
- New ropes course
-Chang

Its ignorant to say we are a neglected park. SF knows we havent gotten much the previous years so theyre throwing all this stuff at us now.Sure I want demon back to original themeing, but its definatley not neccisary.

[Ilovthevu']

^Than, it's also ignorant to say we haven't gotten much in the previous years either. In 2004, we got a roller coaster, Mardi Gras area full of rides (except Roaring Rapids), and Revolution. In 2005, we got an entire waterpark and wasn't that $25 million? In 2006, we got a Tornado water slide. Was 2006 Spygirl also? In 2007, we got Wiggle's World area. In 2003, we got a $15 million Superman roller coaster. Yes, nothing for 2002, but in 2001, we got 2 roller coasters - Deja Vu and V2.

I know what's the common complaint though. It's always no "super big" roller coaster since Superman in 2003, and a lot of enthusiasts think it's boring. Than, they go back to V2, and they think that's boring. Deja Vu is gone from the park also, and some might say well that's not a true roller coaster because it's not a full circuit. So, than they might make the arguement, hey we haven't got a thrilling roller coaster since 1999. Where's the next huge big roller coaster that's not boring.

[bizarroboy]

Just wondering, what happend to the old demon sign. Is it in storage? Is it scrapped? Thanks

[[jonrev]]

The flame lettering was modified sometime in the mid-80s to its current state. The drain was removed and the extra brick was covered sometime afterward.

[bizarroboy]

The flame lettering was modified sometime in the mid-80s to its current state. The drain was removed and the extra brick was covered sometime afterward.

Thanks for the info!

[SFaddiction84]

What enthusiasts and some others also have to remember is that SIX FLAGS Great America was not build and maintained just for them! They can't just keep adding Bigger, Better, Faster Rollercoasters just to please the enthusiasts or rollercoaster junkies who only care about coasters...

We have gotten if updates, attractions every other year or so if not yearly, ya there not the Big Bad coasters, but thats not what theme parks are, there not just a plot of land with 25 rollercoasters all inter-mingled together, there coasters, flats, shows, shops, food.

Its also about space, do you really want a park with super tall, super fast, super long coasters hovering over the entire park? you have to keep the space and the green. otherwise it will just look like a run down city with a lot of steel and track

[david]

otherwise it will just look like a run down city with a lot of steel and track

You mean Magic Mountain?

[SFGAmgirl]

What enthusiasts and some others also have to remember is that SIX FLAGS Great America was not build and maintained just for them! They can't just keep adding Bigger, Better, Faster Rollercoasters just to please the enthusiasts or rollercoaster junkies who only care about coasters...

We have gotten if updates, attractions every other year or so if not yearly, ya there not the Big Bad coasters, but thats not what theme parks are, there not just a plot of land with 25 rollercoasters all inter-mingled together, there coasters, flats, shows, shops, food.

Its also about space, do you really want a park with super tall, super fast, super long coasters hovering over the entire park? you have to keep the space and the green. otherwise it will just look like a run down city with a lot of steel and track

Amen.

[monsterfan99]

What enthusiasts and some others also have to remember is that SIX FLAGS Great America was not build and maintained just for them! They can't just keep adding Bigger, Better, Faster Rollercoasters just to please the enthusiasts or rollercoaster junkies who only care about coasters...

We have gotten if updates, attractions every other year or so if not yearly, ya there not the Big Bad coasters, but thats not what theme parks are, there not just a plot of land with 25 rollercoasters all inter-mingled together, there coasters, flats, shows, shops, food.

Its also about space, do you really want a park with super tall, super fast, super long coasters hovering over the entire park? you have to keep the space and the green. otherwise it will just look like a run down city with a lot of steel and track

Chang coming here and SF Magic Mountain say hi.

[deja blues]

I kinda like them placing ads on the cars. I mean its a good, easy way to earn money and it doesn't really hurt anyone. Plus I like the pink and green "water mellon" trains, they stand out. Im all for it since it doesn't affect ride quality or safety. Plus they can use that money for new trains for Iron Wolf I hope.

[david]

My GP friends saw it and said, "WTF IS THAT ON THE DEMON???!?? He's the DEMON not pretty girl from down the street!"

'nuff said.

[wishman35]

Yeah look at all the additions we've recently got.
-Dark Knight --- very subpar
-Bucky Battle --- nobody rides it
-Glow in the park Parade --- only at 930 at night
-Magiquest --- nobody seems interested in it
-Little Dipper --- well done, but one train operation and terrible lines
- New ropes course --- upcharge, not challenging, and who really cares?
-Chang --- first actual addition

[UWW-10]

^That's still 6 (or 7 since the last has not been officially approved yet) things that have come to our park instead of going to parks that could actually benefit from some much needed captial improvement (such as St. Louis or SFA). Just because you didn't like them doesn't mean everyone does.

The goal of these additions was not really to please the "coaster-buff" community (shocker! ), but rather the familes with younger children....who....well....only complained through the 90's that the company neglected their needs and therefore stopped visiting the park.

The company has not forgotten about the thrill crowd, but in the same token, they can't (and probably will never again) plop $25 million dollar coasters down because they can't afford to do it season after season....that's how the company acquired so much debt in the first place and I highly doubt they want to return to that situation.

[sfgamfan717]

Actually almost all of the GP loves the stride ad covers. Especially the younger ones. People were waiting extra just because they wanted they wanted the colorful train.

[wishman35]

^^

Well I have heard the opposite, I hear people say the ride really isn't "Demonish" anymore with that train... and I also hear people mention the colors and then get disgusted when they realize it is a gum advertisement.

And plus why should kids enjoying the colors be a reason to keep it. Those of us who wish more money was put towards flats and coasters could care less what children think of Demon's color scheme.

[Coastermonkey61]

Thinking about this from a marketing perspective, but is Stride's profits drastically improving from this? Like someone said, chewing gum on rides is prohibited and I'm not sure they even sell it in the park. Plus, if you're on ground level seeing the Demon whizzing by, will you notice the logo or just the new colors? I haven't been to the park this season so maybe the logos are rather visible, but then it goes back to whether or not this is worth the money for Stride.

Their getting a lot of eyes seeing their advertisement per day, but how many people recognize it as an ad or just see the color. And is the ad provoking them to buy their gum? I tend to have my doubts. Add into it that it looks unconscionably stupid, and I would think there's better outlets to promote.

[david]

Stride gum, including SHIFT, are sold at the park.

[deja blues]

Thinking about this from a marketing perspective, but is Stride's profits drastically improving from this? Like someone said, chewing gum on rides is prohibited and I'm not sure they even sell it in the park. Plus, if you're on ground level seeing the Demon whizzing by, will you notice the logo or just the new colors? I haven't been to the park this season so maybe the logos are rather visible, but then it goes back to whether or not this is worth the money for Stride.

Their getting a lot of eyes seeing their advertisement per day, but how many people recognize it as an ad or just see the color. And is the ad provoking them to buy their gum? I tend to have my doubts. Add into it that it looks unconscionably stupid, and I would think there's better outlets to promote.

Unless you're advertising during the super bowl, nothing is going to drastically improve ad sales. In my mind it is really just there to provoke curiosity because you remember things that you were interested in in the first place better than non-interesting facts or ads you just pass by. Also, again in my mind, they don't really want you to see exactly what's on the trains, they want you to go up and ride the roller coaster to find out. When I last visited the park all my friends wanted to ride demon, even though they hate it, because they wanted to see why the trains were painted like watermelons. All the marketing is meant to do is just get stride gum in your mind so that the next time your at jewel you see gum and your like "yumm stride," and also to get you to ride demon out of curiosity.

I don't really care if they take away from the theming because if you look at demon, they gave up a long time ago. But the most important thing to me is that advertising on the trains is a source of revenue, money they can use for improvements, staff, ect.

[BP317]

I don't really care if they take away from the theming because if you look at demon, they gave up a long time ago

While some of the theme withered with time the one thing they did spend money recently was ironically on the trains. They had just what looks like airbrushed those trains with sweet looking new logo's and flames on the side (or at least the black one had the flames not sure about the other ones) and sadly it didnt take very long to cover up the new art. Normally things like this at SF don't last more than a season on a ride so the trains will probably look normal again next year.

[david]

Have you seen those Ad wraps on Demon? Their tearing off quicker every few weeks. I believe one of the sides is nearly all gone. haha.

[monsterfan99]

Thinking about this from a marketing perspective, but is Stride's profits drastically improving from this? Like someone said, chewing gum on rides is prohibited and I'm not sure they even sell it in the park. Plus, if you're on ground level seeing the Demon whizzing by, will you notice the logo or just the new colors? I haven't been to the park this season so maybe the logos are rather visible, but then it goes back to whether or not this is worth the money for Stride.

Their getting a lot of eyes seeing their advertisement per day, but how many people recognize it as an ad or just see the color. And is the ad provoking them to buy their gum? I tend to have my doubts. Add into it that it looks unconscionably stupid, and I would think there's better outlets to promote.

It's not about making money in the short term, it's about turning Stride into what Kleenex or Coke are today. It's the same reason why companies who are so well know they have no reason to advertise do, just to keep the name fresh in the public's mind.

Stride gum, including SHIFT, are sold at the park.

Best part is, signs everywhere say no gum on any ride.

[Black Dynomite]

Why do you guys let this bother you so much? The ride still goes down a hill and does loop-de-loops. I've got a very strong affection for that coaster. It was the first coaster I ever rode, and at the time it was called "Turn of the Century". With that said, I wouldn't stay up nights weeping and gnashing my teeth if it was announced that they were tearing it down and replacing it with something bigger and better. Be happy its still there, fruity gum stickers and all.