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Monday
December 21, 2009
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Are you IN? -
International Theme Park Services, Inc. ("ITPS")
delivers the news you want regarding the amusement and leisure industry on a
daily basis. Nowhere else can you find a greater compilation of news covering
the amusement and leisure industry!
ITPS
has proudly served the leisure industry since 1983. Visit our
website
for more information on how we can assist your needs.
ITPS
has a proven track record in the leisure industry.
For
existing facilities, ITPS can assist in breathing new life into your
facility, develop new attractions, increase revenue, decrease costs, train
staff, develop employee manuals, conduct business valuations and so much
more!
For
new facilities, we can assist from the initial Feasibility Analysis to Grand
Opening and beyond!
Scroll Down for each news category.
Amusement/Theme
Park |
FEC/LBE/Museum
Waterpark |Aquarium/Zoo
Other News
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Click on the above image for more
information regarding Ripley's Franchises.
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Cedar Fair
purchase is hardly a done deal
Apollo Global Management's $2.4 billion purchase of Cedar Fair requires
approval from the owners of at least two-thirds of Cedar Fair's outstanding
units. The people who own the units must be persuaded that the $11.50 per
unit offer is a good deal. But Cedar Fair executives and Apollo managers have
not persuaded analyst Jeffrey Thomison of Hilliard Lyons, a financial
consulting firm in Louisville, Ky. He's not convinced they can reach the
two-thirds threshold to make the deal go through. Dennis Speigel, president
of International Theme Park Services of Cincinnati, a theme park consulting
company, said it appears Apollo got an excellent price for Cedar Fair. He
said he expects Cedar Fair to continue to do well.
Click
for Article
What does Apollo
plan for Cedar Fair?
If Apollo Global Management succeeds in acquiring Cedar Fair, the
amusement park chain will be only a small part of a huge financial empire.
And while it's impossible to predict exactly what will happen, theme park
analyst Dennis Speigel said with confidence there will be major changes.
Click
for Article
Negotiators kept
lid on acquisition talks; Cedar Fair deal came as surprise to industry
Dennis Speigel, president of International Theme Park Services Inc. in
Cincinnati, said top industry CEOs were all surprised on Wednesday evening
when the deal was made public. "My phone started ringing off the hook
around 7 p.m. Everyone in the industry really was surprised," Mr.
Speigel said. "There was no word on this on the street whatsoever. No
one knew there was any activity on this at all."
Click
for Article
Snyder's Six
Flags Roller-Coaster Ride
Four years ago, Washington Redskins owner Daniel Snyder led a contentious
shareholder revolt at theme-park operator Six Flags Inc., unseating its
management and becoming board chairman. Today it is Mr. Snyder's job on the
line, as a group of bondholders—emboldened by roaring credit markets— weigh
whether to keep him in his post.
Click
for Article
George Lucas and
Michael Jackson return to Disneyland in 2010
Anaheim, CA - Apparently this isn't it for Captain EO, the groundbreaking 3-D
short starring Michael Jackson and written & produced by Francis Ford
Coppola and George Lucas. The Disneyland Theme Park & Resort in Anaheim,
CA has announced that Captain EO will return to the park next February,
nearly a quarter century after it debuted in 1986 and eight months after
Jackson's tragic death on July 25th, 2009.
Click
for Article
Six Flags Fiesta
Texas Leads Holiday in the Park Celebrations with Energy Efficient LED
Christmas Lights from Christmas Lights Etc.
Alpharetta, GA (PRWEB) December 19, 2009 -- Six Flags, the premier
destination for thrilling family fun, continues to expand its use of
environmentally friendly LED products for its 'Holiday in the Park'
celebrations nationwide. This year, the world's largest regional theme park
company has teamed up once again with Christmas Lights Etc., a leader in
energy efficient Christmas lighting.
Click
for Article
Merlin
Entertainments
In June 2007, Nick Varney, chief executive of Merlin Entertainments, made
two predictions in the FT. One was that the theme park operator would float
within three years, the other that Merlin would one day overtake Disney as
number one operator. Merlin will not officially say so, but all signs point
to a first-quarter flotation, at a value owners would like to see of at least
£2bn.
Click
for Article
Ring in the New
Year at Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando
Enjoy late nights at Disney's MGM Studios, the Magic Kingdom and Epcot
this New Year's Eve. Party at the parks with parades, fireworks and many
special New Year's Eve activities for the whole family.
Click
for Article
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Click on a Continent Above to View ITPS Projects.
Some of ITPS'
Projects include:
- Hopi Hari
Theme Park - Sao Paulo, Brazil
- Lotte World-
Seoul, Korea
- Newport
Aquarium, Newport Kentucky
- Cincinnati
Zoo, Cincinnati, Ohio
- Time Warner - Six Flags
- Beijing Amusement Park - Beijing, China
- ORA Istanbul Theme Park - Istanbul, Turkey
- Fort Worth
Zoo - Fort Worth, Texas
- Enchanted
Kingdom, Manila, Philippines
- Bronx Zoo
- Bronx, New York
- Wells Dairy -
LeMars, Iowa
- Reino Aventura - Mexico City, Mexico
- La
Feria Chapultepec Magico - Mexico City, Mexico
- Madison Square Gardens / Paramount Parks
- Haw Par Villa - Singapore
- Lake
Compounce - Bristol, Connecticut
- Playcenter
- Brazil
Click here
for more information on ITPS' projects.
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I-Drive's Pointe
Orlando holds its own during downturn
Orlando, FL - Susan Godorov, vice president of marketing for Centro
Properties' mall and lifestyle division. Godorov oversees marketing for
Pointe Orlando, a collection of shops and upscale restaurants on
International Drive. She recently spoke with Orlando Sentinel reporter Sandra
Pedicini.
Click
for Article
City’s $4.3
million plans for children’s museum on hold
The Woodlands, TX - While The Woodlands Children’s Museum won’t be relocating
to downtown Conroe, at least for now, City Council candidates believe it
would be a benefit to the area – just not with the current economic
uncertainty.
Click
for Article
Another link in
chain of family pubs
Sarasota, FL - BEEF 'O' BRADY'S Family Sports Pub has opened at 8383 S.
Tamiami Trail, Sarasota. Opened by Mary Roop, the restaurant offers a
family-friendly element to the traditional sports pub concept with multiple
TVs, arcade games and a casual dining experience. Best known for its Buffalo
chicken wings, menu items also include chicken fingers, salads, a variety of
sandwiches and burgers, and select desserts.
Click
for Article
Chuck E. Cheese
opening on Guam in 2010
Guam - The Marianas Business Journal is reporting that by the end of the
third quarter of next year, the GFS Group will open a Chuck E. Cheese family
entertainment center.
Click
for Article
Tim Burton's
museum show is a scream
NEW YORK — - While strolling the hallowed halls of the Museum of Modern Art
in midtown Manhattan, most days, you don't come across many teenage girls,
mystified by a work of postmodern illustration, loudly saying to themselves
"Oh, no, he didn't, oh, no, he did not." You may catch the furrowed
brow of a tourist startled by a Mapplethorpe or wrapping his head around
those Warhol soup cans. But, then again, most days, the hallowed halls of
MOMA don't usually spout ravenous fangs and murderous wild eyes.
Click
for Article
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Click
on the above image for Today's Ripley Comic!
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Looping tube
waterslide coming to Dells in 2010
Attention, water park lovers: Get ready for a stinging new addition to
the Wisconsin Dells. Noah's Ark Waterpark plans to open a 10-story-high
looping tube waterslide during Memorial Day weekend. After dropping through a
trap door, riders of the Scorpion's Tail will zoom through a 45-degree-angle
loop-de-loop at up to 40 mph, according to the Wisconsin Dells Visitor &
Convention Bureau.
Click for
Article
Castaway Bay
hosts holiday celebration of fun
SANDUSKY, Ohio, – A scavenger hunt, Christmas tree lighting ceremonies
and caroling are just a few of the special activities that will be held
during the holiday season at Castaway Bay, Cedar Point’s year-round indoor
waterpark resort.
Click for
Article
KeyLime Cove
files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy
GURNEE -- When word spread Friday about this week's bankruptcy filing by
KeyLime Cove's ownership group, the waterpark resort started fielding
questions from a wary public.
Click
for Article
Arlington Heights
Sheraton, Coco Key water park to close
Arlington Heights will face an unexpected and major vacancy among its
hotel offerings, when the Sheraton Chicago Northwest closes its doors next
week. Barring a last-minute rescue, the 14-story hotel at 3400 W. Euclid
Ave., as well as the 65,000-square-foot indoor CoCo Key Water Resort, will
cease operation at 5 p.m. Dec. 28.
Click for
Article
Strong first year
for Fremont water park
Oakland, CA - So far, so good for Fremont's water park. The $14 million
Fremont Bank Aqua Adventure, which opened in May, not only covered its costs,
it earned the city more than $300,000 in its inaugural year, officials said.
Click
for Article
Blue Mountain
considers adding a water park
Palmerton, PA - Blue Mountain Ski Area is entering the summer business
full throttle. The Palmerton-area resort is seeking funding for a planned
outdoor water park that would open by 2012, according to Blue Mountain
president Barbara Green.
Click
for Article
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Attraction shut
as ice makes paths dangerous
UK - EDINBURGH Zoo is set to remain shut today due to ice making steep paths
around the enclosures too dangerous. The zoo, normally open every day of the
year, was forced to close yesterday for the second time in a month due to
extreme weather.
Click
for Article
Youngsters meet
Santa at the zoo
Louisville, KY - More than 130 eager children and patient adults showed up
for the 1 p.m. session, the day's third, making total attendance for the
event's three-weekend run around 1,800, said Stephanie Maloney, the zoo's
special event coordinator. She was happy with the turnout and the attention
Santa's “winter friends” were getting.
Click
for Article
St. Louis Zoo
reaches record attendance in 2009
St. Louis, MO - The year isn't over yet, but the St. Louis Zoo already has
set an annual attendance record. The zoo in Forest Park had 3,065,554
visitors as of last Wednesday. The old record was 3,025,816 in 2004.
Click
for Article
Zoo Animals
Celebrate Chrsitmas
MELBOURNE -- Animals at the Brevard Zoo celebrate Christmas too. This
weekend, the animals at the Brevard Zoo got presents that they sniffed at and
clawed, just like we all do.
Click
for Article
Five-year first
for king penguin chick at Edinburgh Zoo
UK - A king penguin chick has become the first of its kind to be born at
Edinburgh Zoo for five years. It is too young to tell if the chick is a boy
or girl so it has not been named.
Click
for Article
Sea and sky look
state of the art in an aquarium built on science
NEW BEDFORD, MA - Standing sentry over Union Square, the grand neoclassical
structure that was once headquarters of the New Bedford Institution of
Savings is now a repository for wealth of a different kind. These days the
former financial temple harbors the riches of the sea, having been
transformed into the Ocean Explorium, part aquarium and part science museum.
Click
for Article
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80 amaze crowd
with Chinese yo-yo skills
GENTING HIGHLANDS: More than 80 students from various schools nationwide
took part in the Diabolo Championship 2009 at the Resorts World Genting over
the weekend, amazing crowds and judges with their skills in juggling.
Click
for Article
Sands can
complete Macau casinos in 5 years
SINGAPORE/HONG KONG, Dec 21 - Las Vegas Sands <LVS.N>, the world's No.
2 casino operator by market value, could completed all its planned
developments on Macau's Cotai strip in five years, sooner than expected,
hugely expanding its presence in the world's biggest gambling market.
Click
for Article
South of the
Border hangs on to its charm
HAMER, S.C. - It has been an icon for motorists on Interstate 95 for 60
years, but age and competition have led to changes around South of the
Border. The brightly-lit complex features more than a dozen shops, six
restaurants, a small amusement park and a motel with 300 rooms, but travelers
and employees acknowledge that it's not the same place it used to be.
Click
for Article
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For over 10 years, ITPS has been providing news updates to the industry. We
continually strive to improve our offering and have made some changes to the
news, beginning this week. We hope you find the changes beneficial and make
it easier for you the reader to quickly find the news you want to read.
Please email us for your
feedback and suggestions. Thanks for reading!
To UNSUBSCRIBE
or SUBSCRIBE, Change
Email Address, delivery issues or to send attraction,
facility press releases or job openings to the daily mailing, please email
Shawn.
ITPS Amusement INdustry News now has advertising space
available. ITPS News is the longest continuous email newsletter for the
Leisure Industry. ITPS Amusement INdustry News is read by the Industry's
leaders, decision makers, owners and senior management. Contact Shawn
for advertising details and reasonable rates.
Past editions of the news are available on our website. Click here for
previous daily news updates. To search the archives of ITPS
Amusement News, click here.
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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
Email Shawn
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