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ITPS Amusement INdustry News
May 6, 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
Cedar Fair Announces 2008 First Quarter Results Cedar Fair Entertainment Company (NYSE: FUN - News), a leader in regional amusement parks, water parks and active entertainment, today announced results for the first quarter ended March 30, 2008. Historically, first quarter results represent less than 5% of the Company's full-year revenues. Net revenues for the first quarter increased $10.4 million, or 35%, to $40.4 million from $30.0 million in 2007. Operating results for the fiscal first quarter of 2008 reflect five additional calendar days compared to last year's first quarter.
Analysts get encouraged by Disney park numbers Wall Street analysts were a bit more optimistic Monday about theme park results for entertainment giant Walt Disney Co., as investors await news on the company's second-quarter results due after the close on Tuesday.
Euro Disney swings to H1 operating profit as sales jump 18 pct Euro Disney SCA said it swung to an operating profit of 1.3 million euros in its first half to end-March from a loss of 36.3 million a year earlier as sales jumped 18 percent to 605.5 million from 512.6 million.
Merlin Entertainments Group to Open New LEGOLAND(R) Park in Dubai Company Forms Strategic Alliance With Tatweer Merlin Entertainments Group, the world's second largest visitor attraction operator, announced today the formation of a strategic alliance with Tatweer, a member of Dubai Holdings, to create LEGOLAND Dubailand(R) - the first LEGOLAND Park to be built outside of North America and Europe.
Four arrested in two days for track theft at Zoomers Two days after two men were arrested for stealing roller coaster tracks from Zoomers, the defunct Fort Myers amusement park, two other men were arrested for doing the exact same thing. According to Detective Timothy Lalor, he received a call from Garden Street Recycling that two males tried to sell pieces of the roller coaster as steel scrap.
Lake Winnepesaukah Amusement Park Celebrates Mothers Day Looking for a special treat for Mom on Mother's Day? Let her be a kid again at Lake Winnepesaukah! On Mother's Day, Sunday, May 11 from 12 noon to 8:00 p.m., Lake Winnepesaukah offers family fun with a discounted carload rate. All guests to Lake Winnepesaukah, this Mother's Day, will pay only $65.00 per carload of up to five guests!
Ceremony marks year since roller coaster crash OSAKA--A memorial ceremony for a woman killed in a roller coaster accident at Expoland amusement park in Suita, Osaka Prefecture, was held at the park Monday, marking the first anniversary of the incident.
Council president wary of group's plan for Six Flags Into the picture has jumped Danny Rogers. He’s from California, but says he has a plan that could have the Six Flags site up and running by next summer. He said he has a $70 million plan to convert the site into a theme and water park. He says his company has out of town and local investors with the financial wherewithal to make the project happen.
'You Can Get Anything You Want ... ' At Hard Rock Park Arlo Guthrie Spices up Hard Rock Park with the Incarnation of Alice's Restaurant First a hugely popular satirical 60's song, then a major motion picture... and now you can actually get a table at the famed "Alice's Restaurant" when the dining venue opens at Hard Rock Park just in time for the Grand Opening June 2nd. Legendary folk artist, Arlo Guthrie stopped in today to continue his work with the Park, mixing counter-culture comfort food with leisurely hospitality, to create the ultimate folk rock inspired dining experience.
Plunge into summer with new rides While the kids have been keeping up with schoolwork this winter, the amusement parks have been keeping up with the Joneses. Last spring, Busch Gardens in Williamsburg debuted "Griffon," a "floorless" drop coaster with a 90-degree plunge. This year, Kings Dominion antes up with "Dominator," a floorless coaster that breaks two world records. Water Country USA, also in Williamsburg, will open with a refurbished "island," with a 33-foot-tall, three-chute water slide.
Waterpark News
Great Wolf Resorts Reports First Quarter 2008 Results Great Wolf Resorts reported a 2008 first quarter net loss of $(2.3) million, or $(0.08) per diluted share, compared to a net loss of $(2.0) million, or $(0.07) per diluted share in the 2007 first quarter. The company reported a 75 percent increase in 2008 first quarter Adjusted EBITDA to $19.4 million, compared to $11.1 million in the 2007 first quarter.
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Aquarium/Zoo News
Zoo Suffers Text Message Scam – Thousands Call Asking for “Mr G Raff” According to a report this weekend the Houston Zoo switchboard has been jammed with thousands of calls per day after a text message prankster launched a mystery campaign. Zoo managers have been forced to call in the FBI after their main switchboard was jammed with people calling asking to speak to “Mr G Raff” and a host of other animal names.
Bronx Zoo director Jim Breheny has 'animal magnetism' When Jim Breheny talks about the 13-foot Nile crocodile in the exhibit on Madagascar opening next month at the Bronx Zoo, it's easy to picture the teen who began working there 35 years ago.
San Diego Zoo teams up with Abu Dhabi for wildlife park The San Diego Zoo has entered into an agreement to help the government of Abu Dhabi create a 2,000-acre wildlife park, to be called Dowh Al Ain.
2 rare antelopes are born at zoo African addaxes nearly gone in wild Two rare addaxes, both females, were born recently at the Louisville Zoo, zoo officials announced yesterday. The addax, a desert antelope and one of the world's rarest mammals, is critically endangered, numbering close to just 250 in the wild.
Officials eye aquarium for downtown Mayor Cedric Glover and other officials say an aquarium should anchor in downtown Shreveport. Glover and representatives of the Shreveport-Bossier Convention & Tourist Bureau, Sci-Port Discovery Center, Shreveport Downtown Development Authority and Shreveport Public Assembly & Recreation last week went to Chattanooga, Tenn., and Atlanta. City Hall bills the trip as a "fact-finding tour."
Zoo's fans in the dark VOLUNTEERS at Werribee Open Range Zoo fear they have been left in the dark about the proposed African Safari World theme park. Friends of the Zoos a 700-strong group of volunteers that donates more than 70,000 hours in free labour to Melbourne's three zoos each year have called for talks with the proposed theme park's developer Village Roadshow. The group's biggest concern is animal welfare, fearing what might happen if the animals are placed near roller coasters and water rides.
FEC/LBE/Museum News
Mini golf course back on track Utica’s long-awaited miniature golf course is back on track — but not slated for opening until 2010, at the earliest. Bryan Kane, one of the developers of Starved Rock Golf & Games at Canyon City, appeared Thursday before the Utica Planning Commission, asking for updates to the variances he and his wife sought and received nearly 18 months ago.
Santa Monica Ferris wheel being dismantled VIEDO Workers began disassembling the iconic Ferris wheel at the Santa Monica Pier Monday. The good times have stopped rolling -- but just temporarily at the Santa Monica Pier. The Pacific Park Wheel has taken its last spin and it's getting ready to move on.
Taking the kids: The Space Needle and sci-fi in Seattle Where else can you take the kids to see guys throwing raw fish, introduce them to ferries (yes, parents commute to work via ferry) take a turn on a sailboat, learn all about rock music, science fiction and the creatures who inhabit the sea in this part of the world. (The first-rate Seattle Aquarium was renovated just a year ago.)
IMAX makes a dramatic comeback The company known for its giant movie screens and rib-rocking sound has begun a construction boom that will increase the number of IMAX (IMAX) venues in North America nearly 80% by the end of 2009 as it outfits new and old theaters alike with its proprietary digital projectors.
Other News
Disney targets Latino customers with affinity magazine The Walt Disney Co. will launch its first Spanish-language magazine in the US on July 14. Disney En Familia, aimed at young Hispanic mothers living in the US, will be sent to 350,000 families in its first run. These families, mined from Disney's customer database, have children between age four and 12 and a high affinity for Disney products.
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To send attraction and facility press releases, e-mail Shawn at the address below.
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
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- Business Plans
- Planning/Development
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- Financial Development
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Operational Planning
Attractions Development - Ride Bid/Negotiation / Ride Procurement
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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.