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ITPS Amusement INdustry News
May 9, 2008
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Amusement/Theme Park News
Six Flags Announces First Quarter Results * Revenues Increase 35% Reflecting Easter Holiday Shift * Total Revenue Per Capita Reaches Record $47.11 Driven by 13% Increase in Guest Spending Per Capita and Increased Sponsorship and International Licensing Fees * Revenue Growth Combined with Cost Efficiencies Improve Loss from Operations by 18%
Cedar Fair Prepares for an Exciting 2008 Operating Season Cedar Fair Entertainment Company (NYSE: FUN), a leader in regional amusement parks, water parks and active entertainment, held a conference call with analysts and investors Tuesday, May 6, 2008 to discuss first quarter operating results and the 2008 operating season.
Judge allows Wild West sale Murphy Brothers Exposition's purchase of the amusement park remnants should close May 30. Wild West World drew one step closer to new ownership Thursday when a U.S. Bankruptcy Court judge in Wichita signed off on its sale. Judge Robert Nugent approved the $2 million sale of the park to Tulsa-based Murphy Brothers Exposition, a deal tentatively set to close May 30.
Double-digit percentage gain in Hong Kong Disneyland attendance The Walt Disney Co reported yesterday that Hong Kong Disneyland grew its attendance by a double-digit percentage in the first three months of the year, but the Tourism Commission said it is concerned with the park's performance and operation. "Attendance trends have been especially good at both our Paris and Hong Kong locations, each of which grew their attendance by double-digit percentages," Disney chief financial officer Tom Staggs said about the company's fiscal second-quarter results, which cover January through March.
Letterland comes to Tweetsie Railroad Phonics and fun on Fridays in May at theme park Tweetsie Railroad, North Carolina’s first theme park, is best known for family fun, cowboys and Indians and the famed Engine #12 steam locomotive, but on May 9, 16 and 23, the park will be transformed into a magical place called Letterland where the letters of the alphabet come alive! Letterland is a popular reading system that has helped raise literacy standards among North Carolina children.
Legoland set to attract 2.5m visitors every year Legoland, the latest theme park addition to Dubailand, is expected to draw 2.5 million visitors to the park each year, helping Dubai reach its 15 million tourist mark before the 2015 target. Mohammed Al Habbai, chief executive officer of Dubailand, said the Dh1 billion attraction will begin construction next year and will be open to the residents and tourists by 2011.
Move over Walt Disney And more impressively, once complete in 2013, Freej Dubailand will catapult the brand and the characters onto a global stage – drawing in tens of thousands of tourists who will flock to Dubai. "It has been an unbelievable journey so far and it is not going to stop just here," Harib said.
Bible park opposition questions developers' claims Members of the grass-roots opposition to the proposed Bible Park USA have compiled a critique of the claims made by the developers of the $175 million to $200 million theme park in the Blackman community. The 26-page document titled "Questioning the promises: A Bible Park USA analysis" was released Thursday to rebut the claims of developer Armon Bar-Tur and his team.
Play Day nets $20,000 donation Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari is donating more than $20,000 this morning to the Easter Seals Rehabilitation Center in Evansville. It comes from admission proceeds taken in today during the theme park’s 16th annual “Play Day” for Tri-State children with mental and physical disabilities.
Twitter makes it easy to be up to date Holiday World has opened its gates for another season of fun. I normally wouldn't have known this because I'm not much of a theme park guy, but the park set up an account on Twitter (http://twitter.com/HolidayWorld) that I began following. Twitter is the micro-blogging service that allows users to share their thoughts via the Web or their mobile phone.
'Teacups' beating victim sues Disney A Clermont woman who was beaten by another park visitor at Walt Disney World has sued the theme park, saying that its negligence caused her to suffer permanent injuries.
Santa Clara: Park's OK not needed for stadium LEASE PERMITS DEVELOPMENT - IF CITY REPLACES PARKING Countering one of the biggest potential blocks to an NFL stadium deal, the city of Santa Clara says it doesn't need Great America's approval to build a 49ers stadium on the theme park's parking lot. Instead, city leaders now suggest, they could ignore any potential veto from the theme park's owner by providing more parking.
There's a science to fun 10,000 students attend physics class at Six Flags theme park GURNEE -- Physics + Six Flags Great America = Fun! OK, maybe there was some work involved, evident by the fact that there were clutches of kids sitting on benches and at tables Thursday at Six Flags Great America filling sheets of paper and using things called "spring accelerometers" and stop watches.
Restaurant, casino bonds flash warning signals HRP Myrtle Beach Holdings, for example, relied on debt to build Hard Rock Park, America's newest $400 million theme park, including a "Led Zeppelin" rock 'n' roll coaster. Hard Rock bonds, like those of Six Flags and Perkins, are among bonds now trading at the most distressed levels.
Sky's the limit for floating logos Region's theme parks express interest in an Alabama company's technology. If Francisco Guerra has his way, cloud-like Mickey Mouse figures the size of small table tops will one day drift into the sky above the Magic Kingdom, along with Harry Potter clouds over Universal Orlando or perhaps Shamu phantoms above SeaWorld Orlando.
Annual passholders get weekend peeks at Disney World, Universal Orlando Annual passholders for Universal Orlando theme parks and Walt Disney World parks have sneak-peek opportunities this weekend, beginning bright and early Friday.
Waterpark News
Man guilty of water park sex assault drops appeal, now eligible for release PORTSMOUTH — An illegal immigrant recently convicted of sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl last summer in the wave pool of Water Country dropped his appeal in District Court Thursday and is now eligible to be released from jail.
Aquarium/Zoo News
Taiwan, China battle for pandas Taipei - Taiwan zoos are caught up in a ferocious competition to win a pair of pandas from China, now that their country has a new Beijing-friendly president.
Omaha zoo's newest exhibit readies for grand opening OMAHA, Neb. (AP) - The newest exhibit at Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo is nearly ready for its grand opening. On May 17th, 1,500 butterflies will take flight in the zoo's highly anticipated butterfly pavilion.
New zoo locomotive makes its debut The newest addition to the Erie Zoo is a cherry-red choo-choo. The $130,000 locomotive took its first laps around its mile-long track Thursday. Five-year-old Cole Hartman took his seat three rows from the back of the train on the inaugural ride. It was a perfect spot to admire the locomotive as it growled to a start.
FEC/LBE/Museum News
The Serpent coaster nears June opening in Kochville Township Kokomo's Family Fun Center, 520 Kokomo off Tittabawassee in Kochville Township, is a little more than a month away from opening a roller coaster. Workers are adding to the 45-foot-high "The Serpent," which measures 1,919 feet long.
Deerfield Twp. Man Indicted For Soliciting Minors Armando Rivera was a shift supervisor at Wonderpark in the Cincinnati Mills Mall when he was arrested in January. The amusement park closed one month after Rivera's arrest.
APEX GO-KART CENTER TAKES SHAPE Vacant Sam's Club space adapts to a fun function Inside a vacant Sam's Club warehouse store, a South Carolina entrepreneur and his partners hope to host electric go-kart racing soon.
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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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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.