[KenB]

Seen elsewhere:

<a href='http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071111/BUSINESS03/71111005' target='_blank'>Toledo Blade article</a>

Carowinds was never mentioned, but there were a few tidbits of interest about the former Paramount Parks as a whole. The one that struck me - and seemed to surprise Dick greatly - was that Paramount got 40% of their attendance from season passholders - CF was closer to 10%. No wonder they had a drop of 200,000 visits at the former Paramount parks - they didn't understand who their customers were.
Not sure what to make of this part:

Although spending per person rose enough to offset the attendance drop, “you don’t have to get hit in the head with a two-by-four twice,” the CEO said. The season pass program will return next season, he added.

Uh, what season pass program are they talking about here? Possible return of ERT down the road, or something else? It's not like they stopped selling season passes, so I don't know what to make of this.

Not sure that Dick is completely "getting it", though. They seem to blame attendance drops on the economy and video games as much as any problems with the company. Sure, the economy is bad in Ohio, but not so much in NC. Video games have been around for quite awhile, so that's nothing new.

Analysts seem to question whether they're spending enough on improvements - $88 mil is about 8% of their revenue, when the typical amount for amusement park companies is 13%. So it's not just us whiny enthusiasts that aren't terribly impressed with their additions

[Thriller]

I think that I need to read the article again before I amke any comments because it seems like a bunch of blah to me that really does not make any sense. I can agree that there is not much revenue going into the parks, but maybe CF is trying to pay off the debt before is starts improving, idk? They better not wait too long to start improving though!

[swampfox43]

I cannot imagine what he means by "return to the season pass program" unless, like you say, the perks that came along with it (free ticket, ert, etc.)

Another interesting note was the quote, "If the company sells a park anytime soon, the likely candidate is Great America in California." Of course, that line may have come from the writer and not directly from Dick.

[swampfox43]

In the recent newsletter these benefits were outlined for 2008 season pass holder:

2008 SEASON PASS BENEFITS

*Unlimited admission to Carowinds for the 2008 public operating season
*FREE PARKING in 2008 at Carowinds and all Cedar Fair theme parks and water parks
*FREE SCarowinds Halloween Haunt admission in 2008
* Designated Season Pass Parking Area
*10% Discount on SpongeBob dollars
*Enter the Park 15 minutes early to be the first in line for your favorite attraction. Daily from June 1- August 17, 2008.
*Boomerang Bay Early Entry at 10:30 a.m. Sundays through Fridays: June 1- August 17, 2008
*Bring-A-Friend for $19.99: 6 designated Holidays - Easter Sunday, Mother's Day, Memorial Day, Father's Day, 4th of July, Labor Day

[MarkD]

I find it interesting they said they are looking into ways to make Canada's Wonderland pay off. Pay off? With 70% of Canada's population living around that area I would think that you had a gold mine if done properly. But, then again, no more needs saying.

[bgwfreak]

^ I think CW has around 2.75 to 3 million per year in attendance? I can't remember, but in the Paramunt chain I think they always had the #1 attedance.

Behemoth will pay off big for that park.

[Jonathan]

Canada's Wonderland has the best attendance of any seasonal park in North America, and they haven't really invested much into it until this year. The only thing preventing it from being a gold mine I guess was the Canadian dollar, which is now almost even with the U.S., so I don't really understand what complaints they could have with that park.

[Edwardo]

Canada's currency trumps the dollar right now, sadly.

And speaking of Season Passes, They rolled out a cheaper 1 park only season pass with benefits. I'd say they only did that to get the Para-Peeps back, and I think they will.

Mark my words, in 5 years, no one will be complaining about what CF should have done with the Paramount Parks.