Originally Posted By dshyates From Screamscape last evening: <a href="http://www.screamscape.com/html/hard_rock_park.htm" target="_blank">http://www.screamscape.com/htm...park.htm</a> Looks like a bad year to open a new park.
Originally Posted By Sport Goofy About what I expected. I remember back in the spring there were a number of posts here about what a great market Myrtle Beach was for tourists and how Disney was missing out by not being in this market. I guess it's not such a great tourist trap after all.
Originally Posted By dshyates I think they just picked the wrong year to open a new brand theme park in a new market. I believe even Disney would have had problems opening a theme park in a new market this year. Here is an interesting article discussing some of the problems including the lack of tourists because of gas prices and not being able to reorganize their debt because of the credit crisis. They do plan to open next summer, but I am not sure the economy will be any better then. <a href="http://www.mercurynews.com/travel/ci_10555341?nclick_check=1" target="_blank">http://www.mercurynews.com/tra..._check=1</a>
Originally Posted By Sport Goofy Myrtle Beach attracts a crowd that is already budget-oriented. A bad economy is certainly going to make it tougher going there, but the market in Myrtle Beach was never going to support much extravagance in an amusement park. The people who vacation there are pinching pennies as it is just to get their spot on the beach.
Originally Posted By dshyates Well, they spend a ton on stuff like "Carolina Opry" and Dolly's Dixie Stampede. I still think that after this recession turns around MB will be rockin' again. It is true that with the lower economic spectrum that visits MB, that it is more vulnerable to tough economic times. But thats the nature of the tourism industry. I believe that regardless of what Iger says, Disney is feeling this as well. But can hide the problems by buying cheaper BBQ sauce and cutting out entertainment and honey mustard.
Originally Posted By Sport Goofy << Well, they spend a ton on stuff like "Carolina Opry" and Dolly's Dixie Stampede. >> What's the annual attendance at those venues vs. what Hard Rock would need to succeed? It's easy to pick off ten thousand or so people a year, much more difficult when you need to get millions to empty their pockets.
Originally Posted By Bob Paris dshyates - is this that park you were really excited about and telling us all about a while back? Is this that new place that only opened like a few months back?!? If so, I cannot believe a whole new theme park has actually closed!!!
Originally Posted By Bob Paris WOW - that really amazes me!!!! It kinda puts the whole "Could they actually get to the point where a couple of WDW parks close a few days per week" scenario into perspective.
Originally Posted By Jim in Merced CA wow -- that didn't take long did it? Who crunches the numbers in ventures luke this? Heck, even if the economy is good -- opening a new theme park has got to be among the riskiest business plans out there. Is no one looking at how Six Flags, Cedar Fair and Universal? Theme Parks ain't easy!!' Remember the I'll-fated MGM Adventure Park in Vegas? It was a disaster from Day One.
Originally Posted By lilgoofymom It is a great shame that this park has closed. We were at MB this past week. We rode around this park looking at the roller coasters and such that we could see from the street. The park really looks as if it had potential. Hopefully if they can open next year they will have a better go of it.
Originally Posted By brotherdave Looks like there was no winning bid for Hard Rock Park today... <a href="http://www.scnow.com/scp/news/local/grand_strand/article/no_new_owner_for_hard_rock_park/24122/" target="_blank">http://www.scnow.com/scp/news/...k/24122/</a> I wonder what's next for the park? Will it ever reopen???
Originally Posted By Anatole69 Probably not. The local market isn't big enough to support the place and the economy will scare away anyone from investing in the advertising needed to lure people from out of state to come visit it. - Anatole
Originally Posted By Anatole69 Bad timing and bad management. They didn't have enough money to invest in promotion or weather the first few years until the park built its attendance, they over-estimated the number of visitors (30,000 a day is what they were expecting... what are they, Tokyo Disneyland), they overpriced themselves for their prospective consumer base and they didn't understand the local market. The rides themselves looked pretty good, and the park was well built... that's the sad part of it all. - Anatole
