Originally Posted By dshyates <a href="http://www.crainscleveland.com/article/20090212/FREE/902129967" target="_blank">http://www.crainscleveland.com...02129967</a>
Originally Posted By brotherdave It doesn't surprise me totally. Regional parks did better overall in 2008 than destination parks due to the high gas prices and economy. In other words, people stayed closer to home. This is just one of the big reasons that Hard Rock Park went bankrupt and that Disney and Universal are offering such deals now. My gut feeling is that the regional parks will now take a hit in 2009 due to the even more slumping economy. Money is tighter everywhere now.
Originally Posted By Sport Goofy $5.7M is a very slim profit. I wonder what the debt situation is? You can't fund very many capital expenditures on new attractions and upgrades across all the parks they own on only $5.7M.
Originally Posted By brotherdave Their debt situation is fairly sizable after purchasing the Paramount Parks 3 years ago. I'm sure that their profit would have been greater if that debt was gone already. I sincerely doubt that Cedar Fair will post a profit for 2009 unless the economy turns around quickly. Sadly, we may lose a few more smaller parks that are on the brink due to this recession. I'm betting that Six Flags may not survive this intact either. They'll probably either sell or close a few more parks by year's end if not go bankrupt themselves. Things look bleak everywhere right now.
Originally Posted By dshyates Six Flags was struggling during the salad days of easy money. They are TOAST now. Last year CF spent a ton of money closing down Geauga Lake and relocating it rides to their other parks. As far as major new attractions coming to the CF parks, There is a big out and back woodie (by GCI) called Prowler coming to Worlds of Fun in KC. A B&M Hyper called Diamondback coming to Kings Island. At CP proper, Carowinds, and Kings Dominion they are continuing to disperse the old GL rides. But I have heard that for 2101 Carowinds is getting a B&M Hyper to replace the log ride.
Originally Posted By dshyates "But I have heard that for 2101 Carowinds" Dang dyslexia, that would be 2010. but 2101 would definitely loosen the schedule.
