[Jay]

First off no wishlist stuff here, I'm just going to ask a simple question.

In the meeting with the City Council, they said the giga will bring in around 385,000 additional guests. My question is, could they do this and not have to spend 30 million dollars?

For instance they could spend $10 million or less on a quality wooden ride, or around 15-20 million on a mid-size steel coaster. Then they could spend the difference on further infrastructure upgrades the park desperately needs*, or maybe some other things to make the park more "complete."

*- I admit this is premature only 1 year into a giant 3 year expansion, so I could be eating my words come 2016.

Would, or could either of those things bring in 300,000+ people? In talking with some friends they think it could with proper marketing. But I am of the opinion, that Cedar Fair thinks, that people think that the buzzwords "largest" "fastest" "tallest" on a commercial are more important than actually making a good ride, and if it doesn't break some sort of record then it isn't worth building.

Again not saying the giga won't be good, because it will be. But you can get a good ride without spending $30 million.

Agree/Disagree/Different opinion? I know the goal is for the giga to bring Carowinds into "major park" status, but can Carowinds even handle a giga, and all that comes with it right now?

[Capler]

One of the things the guy kept saying in the presentation to the council is that 'record breaking" brings in crowds. I tend to agree. A quality wood would be nice, but unless you are able to say tallest, longest, fastest, first, you won't get much of a punch.

[gabed]

I think the only other way to meet the parks attendce goals in 2015 besides building a giga would be to build a massive launch coaster. I'll be happy either way, and I think a good launch coaster would bring in the numbers of attendce the park is looking for. Also, if a launch is what this whole thing turns out to be, then the park would avoid the, "All they did was build a big Intimidator!" complaints they will receive from the public if they build a giga. But, as I said, I'm okay with whatever happens.

[chknwing]

if you going to be bringing in that many people with a new ride, it better be a people eater.

[CarowindsFan]

I think the main thing here is media coverage. Another wooden coaster is not a news story and won't get you on one of those best of the best coaster shows. Record breaking gets you on the local news short term and long term gets you on the tv shows about the tallest, fastest, etc. I think they are trying to draw crowds from further away and that takes a record breaking coaster to do.

[Jonathan]

I just finished John Wardley's autobiography, and in the last chapter he discusses The Smiler. For basically his entire career in the industry he had a dream to bring a world class wooden coaster to England. As many people know, there was a design for a giant wooden coaster that would travel across the entire valley in Alton Towers. It was scuttled around a decade ago due to concerns from the notoriously strict local planning board, but came back to the table a couple of years ago for Secret Weapon 7. Wardley fought hard for it but was overruled because management felt it would be difficult to market and that the public sees them as old fashioned. Hence you got The Smiler.

Cedar Fair and Carowinds probably see this project the same way. I kind of agree that there may be more bang for the buck if you spread the money out more, but there are operating costs to be considered as well, and this ride is probably their one shot at making something that is a true destination (outside the realm of coaster nerds).

Canada's Wonderland got a 175,000 attendance bump after Leviathan, so I think 385,000 is a pretty big stretch, but Canada's Wonderland was already pretty much slammed on a daily basis to begin with so maybe there was less potential to draw in new guests.

Average revenue per guest for the Cedar Fair chain is around $48. So, if you could manage a 175,000 attendance bump, that's $8.4 million in new revenue in the first year alone. $18.5 million if you could actually hit a 385,000 increase.

[RollerBee]

I think Carowinds could get same attendance increase without a giga coaster. Waterpark expansions I believe would be a slower route compared to the giga coaster but have a longer lasting impact. Couple that with a kiddy area expansion and a flat ride package and I think that would be a good ticket. I feel like a giga coaster is really just going to appeal to enthusiasts but at this time, I am sitting out with a broken foot so it may be the pain talking.

[intaminboy]

I think if Carowinds purchased two or three record breaking coasters in the next three years with their 30 million, they would possibly attract more guests over the three year period because now the GP has three reasons to go to Carowinds instead of one. But if they get a giga, it needs to have a good reputation. Because if it becomes infamous for being a head banger or rough, etc., than coaster enthusiasts and the GP will hear about its reputation and not want to go to Carowinds to ride the new roller coaster. (I know, B&M rides are not rough and most are not head bangers).

[pproteinc]

I do agree with Jay in that a giga may not be what is need at the moment, trust me I'm all for coasters, however I good woodie or compact launch would have been just fine. If they are trying to thrust carowinds into "major park" mode I think parking and traffic infrastructure needs to be visited Carowinds Blvd won't be able to handle major attendance at all. It can't handle regular traffic now.

I think carowinds needs to construct an on/off exit ramp and re-route traffic using the current ave of the Carolina's for bus traffic and traffic for the hotels and the outlet store as well regular traffic that takes Carowinds blvd or hwy 21 to get home. Then for all other traffic for Charlotte and Rock Hill use the new ramps. Using the proposed location of the new parking plaza gate, I took on the mind of tarheel for an idea dnt judge me lol. I think Busch Gardens or 6flags Atlanta have something similar.

[Jonathan]

That would probably cost $30 million on its own. So which would you rather have?

There's going to be traffic. Always. That is what happens when you have thousands of people trying to enter or exit a place simultaneously.

[pproteinc]

I agree but it won't be as bad as it is now or won't get as worse as it will be after this giga is built. You dont think they can do both as in adding not a giga but flats while building this good interchange then bring in the giga? Or if they build the giga, I'm sure we wont be getting anything the following year or two. They may can get an incentive from York County or the state of SC to help build it. Yea right who am I kidding. I'm all for the coaster. IMO the traffic lights are not sychronzied in an efficient way and they change way to fast plus I'm learning the carolinas have the worst drivers smh.

[Jay]

Yeah I don't think a giant interstate interchange is the answer, but something could be done to make the traffic flow out of the park easier. I don't know what exactly, but only one exit instead of the multiples we have now could be a start.

.. Waterpark expansions I believe would be a slower route compared to the giga coaster but have a longer lasting impact. Couple that with a kiddy area expansion and a flat ride package and I think that would be a good ticket. .

Yeah I'm curious how they plan to keep the majority of the 300,000+ jump in attendence on a yearly basis. They still have around $6-7 million left for 2016, so I can't wait to see what unfolds. Seems odd to get the big pop at first and then try to keep it, rather than slowly build up to it, but I guess Cedar Fair knows best.

[Matt929]

I do not think they NEED one but it will be easier to increase their attendance. People are drawn to things that are big and tall. They love seeing the huge rides like intimadator and windseeker. If you have noticed in the last few years they have really changed the skyline by adding windseeker and intimadator. A giga will be eye candy for drivers down the highway.

[Capler]

I'm sorry but as nice as an interchange would be, it would not encourage me to come to the park. Personally I hate the current entrance and exit but please don't take coaster money to pay for a new one.

[MarkD]

Does Carowinds need a Giga? YES.

Now this is all my own opinion.

If for no other reason 2015 will show, in numbers, a future direction for Carowinds. If the coaster actually brings in the guests they expect, and they can get them to spend a little more money inside the park, then I can see Carowinds growing into a major park with more and more “first”, “bigger” and “modern” attractions. Not to mention the infrastructure that is needed.

If the coaster does not bring in the required guests then I can see Carowinds slow down on major improvements and rethinking their strategy.

1. We are already getting help in the entrance and parking. Not sure about the exit. The interstate and surrounding roads are basically out of C.F.s hands. It’s going to be one heck of a sight to get the adrenaline flowing as you enter.
2. We are already getting some much needed improvements in the food department. As I always eat in the park I will welcome the changes and additions.
3. We are already getting NEW attractions in the water park. A part of the park I always thought was overlooked and underutilized.

With those additions the guests that do come to break attendance records in 2015 will also see more of a variety Carowinds has to offer and will hopefully turn them into return guests.

If Carowinds added the same dollar amount in the much needed FLAT attractions, bathrooms, etc. I don’t see how that would compare to a GIGA. Advertising you got new bathrooms, trees and Flats just don’t get the punch that a GIGA does. On top of that the more you add the more staff you need so the return on the dollar, I.M.O. would not be as great.

So yeah, I think Carowinds does indeed need a GIGA to at least have the parks name mentioned more and more in the media.

Does that mean that Robb & Elissa Alvey will come to make fun?