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ITPS Amusement INdustry News
April 28, 2008
No where else can you find more news covering the amusement and leisure industry! When news hits, you can be certain that will deliver it to you.
ITPS has proudly served the leisure industry since 1983. Visit http://www.interthemepark.com for more information.
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Amusement/Theme Park News
Hong Kong Disneyland launches classic attraction in bid to boost visitors HONG KONG (AP): Hong Kong Disneyland has opened its classic boat ride "It's a Small World'' in a bid to boost sluggish attendance at the theme park. The new attraction launched Monday amid lower-than-expected visitor numbers two years after the theme park opened in September 2005.
Rock-roll park back on agenda Backers seek aid from state for project in Eloy PHOENIX — Backers of a planned rock 'n' roll theme park in Eloy will try again today to persuade legislators to alter state laws to help the project. And they're willing to alter their request — a bit. The move comes after state representatives from both parties balked last week at a plan to let the developers establish their own special taxing district.
SeaWorld dolphin dies after colliding with another dolphin ORLANDO - A 30-year-old female dolphin died Saturday at SeaWorld's Discovery Cove after colliding with another dolphin during an aerial stunt.
Classic kiddie ride may be headed to Bay Beach Bay Beach Amusement Park may soon add a 1936 classic to the 16 rides it offers. The city's Parks Committee recently accepted the donation of a Smith & Smith Chair Plane and approved transferring $10,000 from the Bay Beach Development Fund to transport the ride from New York and to refurbish it.
Canobie Lake Park opens for its 106th year SALEM, N.H. — Dan Chin had his ticket in hand by 11 a.m., ready to be one of the first people on the Corkscrew Coaster. Then the Methuen teen planned to hit the Xtreme Frisbee, Skater, Boston Tea Party and if he was feeling brave enough, maybe a spinning, floor-dropping ride on the Turkish Twist.
Consumer-Generated Heinz Ad To Air On Cable, At Six Flags A 30-second spot created by a 25-year-old will be airing nationally throughout the spring and summer for Heinz Ketchup. Not only does Matt Cozza of Chicago win national acclaim, he also gets the $57,000 cash prize for winning the company's "Top This" TV Challenge Take Two consumer-generated ad contest--the second of its kind.
Great America ride takes you on wild run through Gotham Stuck in Gotham City, surrounded by total darkness, the Joker and his cronies cause complete chaos. You must escape by getting to Batman's roller coaster. The new Dark Knight ride is scheduled to open May 21 at Six Flags Great America theme park. The park opens for its 33rd season on Saturday.
9 On Your Side: Kings Island Ride Safety Kings Island is once again open for weekends after the winter break. And this season its new owners have given it a face lift. That includes some safety improvements 9News is on your side with a look at those changes and efforts by the state to keep you safe.
Waterpark News
Grand Mound’s Water World What’s the best ride at the new Great Wolf Lodge in Grand Mound? “The Tornado,” said 11-year-old Fred Hughes of Kelso without hesitation. “When you go down, especially when you’re going backwards, you don’t know it’s coming” Added his father, John: “You drop free fall for about two and a half seconds so it’s pretty fun.”
Police charge five with trespassing at Water Country PORTSMOUTH — An illegal Sunday afternoon skate session at the Water Country theme park landed five friends in police custody on various charges, police said. The friends allegedly hopped a fence at the vacant water park hoping to skateboard around, but someone at an adjacent shopping mall saw them and called authorities, Police Sgt. Mike Schwartz said.
Aquarium/Zoo News
Toledo Zoo is honored for efforts to go green The Toledo Zoo has received a 2008 Green Frog Award from the Lake Erie Western Alliance for Sustainability because of its efforts to protect endangered animals and to adopt green practices.
FEC/LBE/Museum News
Game Over? Not At Arcade's Auction ST. PETE BEACH - Nostalgia wasn't enough to keep the St. Pete Beach Amusement Center in business, but it brought hordes of people to the venerable arcade Saturday for a chance to own a piece of their past. The arcade, which closed Wednesday after more than 45 years, auctioned off more than 200 classic games and vintage machines. Pac-Man, Donkey Kong, Frogger and other watershed games of the digital era went to the highest bidders.
Miniature Golf Chain Replacing Missing Links But where are all the mini-golf courses? Enter Tyson Vozza, vice president of development for Congo River Golf & Exploration. The Orlando-based mini-golf enterprise, founded in 1987, is expanding the number of venues for the popular pastime, starting with a new 18-hole course on U.S. 19 in Port Richey, down the highway from Gulf View Square mall, slated to open next month.
http://www2.tbo.com/content/2008/apr/28/pa-miniature-golf-chain-replacing-missing-links/
Mini-golf fans make a straight shot for Magic Carpet for one last game Hundreds of people hopped aboard Tucson's Magic Carpet on Saturday for one last ride. For some, it was a time to rekindle old memories of the quirky miniature golf icon along East Speedway before the landscape dotted with dinosaurs and Tiki gods turns into a parking lot. Others brought their children, seeking a final stroll through one of the two 18-hole courses as a way to connect with their families and create common memories.
Kiddie park caters to adults, too Castle Fun Center expands CHESTER — The Castle Fun Center, long a mecca for birthday parties and preschool field trips, isn't just for kids anymore. The popular children's haunt has grown into a 50,000-square-foot conference facility where executives can loosen up their ties and play dungeon lazer tag or beat the boss on the go-cart tracks. Until last year, the 14-year-old amusement park consisted of its spooky trademark castle, batting cages and mini golf and was open only during spring and summer.
Other News
Children Rescued, Man Injured on Ride GA A man is in critical condition at Grady Memorial Hospital after falling from an amusement ride at a festival in DeKalb County. It happened at Fiesta Plaza on Buford highway. Witnesses say the man who fell was the ride operator. They tell 11Alive that the operator was trying to secure the pin on the door of the ride when it started.
Santa Monica Pier's Ferris wheel Oklahoma-bound SANTA MONICA, Calif.—A big wheel in Oklahoma real estate has bought himself his own big wheel. Grant Humphreys plunked down $132,400 for the high bid in a 10-day eBay auction for the Santa Monica Pier's Ferris wheel, Jeff Klocke, marketing director for the pier's Pacific Park, announced Friday. "I asked him what he was going to do with it. He said at this point he wasn't 100 percent sure but he's going to have some fun with it with his family first," Klocke said after bidding closed at noon.
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Contact:
Shawn M. Haas
Vice President of Retail, Operations and Information Technology
International Theme Park Services, Inc
2195 Victory Parkway
Cincinnati, OH 45206
513-381-6131 Phone
513-381-2756 Fax
http://www.interthemepark.com
shawnhaas@interthemepark.com
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ITPS Services
ITPS provides a full spectrum of services to all types of attractions no matter the size, small to large.
Below are some of the services that ITPS' experienced team of experts can provide:
- Acquisitions / Mergers / Property Valuation / Due Diligence
- Feasibility Analysis
- Facility Audits
- Concept/Design / Masterplanning
- Business Plans
- Planning/Development
- Project Management / Construction
- Financial Development
- Maintenance Programs
- Executive Search
- Marketing / Group Sales / Sponsorship
- Executive/Employee Training / Manual Development
- Loss Prevention / Safety/Security Programs
- Entertainment Programs
- Long-Range Planning
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Operational Planning
Attractions Development - Ride Bid/Negotiation / Ride Procurement
- General Management
Call 513-381-6131 for more information on how ITPS can assist your facility!
25 Years...
Through the good, the bad and the ugly, International Theme Park Services, Inc. (“ITPS”) continues to provide the industry with its skilled services internationally.
ITPS celebrates its 25th year in 2008 and has served over 450 projects in over 40 countries! Considered a leader in the industry by the many companies who have used ITPS’ services, ITPS is still growing and offering its knowledge and experience to every continent. Dennis Speigel, President of ITPS, is a past president of the IAAPA and remains active on their Board of Directors. He is called upon by people throughout the industry to advise and recommend on projects. A leader today and for the future, ITPS is there when you need assistance.
Feasibility, design, pre-opening planning, business audits, on-site training and management…ITPS is still leading the industry into the future.
Leisure Capital Resources
International Theme Park Services provides merger, acquisition, financial, and strategic advisory services to public and private entertainment companies that wish to acquire or sell a business, raise equity capital, raise or restructure debt, or sell real estate.
Contact: Dennis Speigel at 513-381-6131 or Howard Kahn at affiliated Leisure Capital Resources in New York at 516-621-5183.