Cedar Point announces removal of WildCat

Posted Today, 11:26 AM | Contributed by Jeff/Coasterbuzz

Cedar Point announced today that it has decided to remove the WildCat roller coaster prior to the start of the season. The park says it was nearing the end of its useful life, and it needs the room for expansion of Celebration Plaza. Fans have reported that the ride was recently testing.

As per Cedar Point:

Celebration Plaza Expansion

Cedar Point has announced that it is expanding its new Celebration Plaza. As a part of that expansion, Cedar Point will be removing the WildCat roller coaster.

WildCat was coming to the end of its useful life. With the desired expansion to Celebration Plaza, coupled with the low ridership and increased maintenance costs, Cedar Point has decided to accelerate the removal of the ride. WildCat will be removed from the park prior to Opening Day and the materials will be sent to a recycling facility.

This expansion is one of several initiatives that will beautify the park midways and enhance guests’ experiences. Additional improvements include state-of-the-art lighting packages on Giant Wheel, Millennium Force and Power Tower, a new sound and lighting system along the park’s Main Midway and the re-painting of the Millennium Force and Blue Streak roller coasters.

Cedar Point remains committed to being the roller coaster capital of the world. New roller coasters, rides and attractions will always be a part of Cedar Point’s future.

THRILLS AND CHILLS
Six Flags Parks Introduce Slurpee® Drinks Availability Just in Time for Spring Break

GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas, March 14, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Six Flags Entertainment Corporation (NYSE: SIX - News), the global leader in regional theme parks, today announced a new partnership with 7-Eleven, Inc., the largest chain in convenience retailing, for its Slurpee® drink to be the Official Frozen Carbonated Beverage of Six Flags.Slurpee fans can now enjoy their favorite frozen beverage at all 11 Six Flags U.S. theme parks, marking the first time in history the beverage has been widely distributed outside 7-Eleven retail stores. To celebrate, 7-Eleven and Six Flags will offer guests exclusive ride-time events at 7:11 p.m. during special nights at the parks, giveaways, games and other activities. In addition, an exclusive, refillable Slurpee souvenir cup will be available for purchase at all participating Six Flags parks starting Memorial Day weekend. Beginning June 1, guests may bring their 32-oz. Slurpee Six Flags Souvenir cup to a local 7-Eleven to refill their drink for only 99 cents.

In June, participating 7-Eleven stores will kick off the Twister Cup Sweepstakes and award one grand prize winner a trip to Six Flags Great America, which includes the ultimate "twisting" experience on X-Flight—the ground-breaking new wing coaster opening this spring. 7-Eleven and Six Flags fans can enter the sweepstakes by registering for Slurpee Nation Rewards atwww.slurpee.com and redeeming the sweepstakes entry in the rewards catalog.

"Six Flags is an ideal destination for family and friends to join together and have fun, so we are thrilled to partner with 7-Eleven and provide our customers with a Slurpee drink to make their trip even more enjoyable," said Jeff Portugal, vice president of corporate alliances and partnership marketing at Six Flags. "Slurpee drinks will fit seamlessly into our beautiful theme park environment."

"Enjoying Slurpee drinks while spending a day at Six Flags in the spring or summer is a real treat for families, kids and teens," said Laura Gordon, 7-Eleven vice president of brand innovation." At some park locations where 7-Eleven may not have stores nearby and Slurpee drinks aren't available, the opportunity to enjoy the frozen beverage at Six Flags may be a new treat. Bottom-line, Six Flags and Slurpee beverages are all about having fun, so it's an ideal fit to make Slurpee drinks even more convenient for our customers where they play."

Park News - (3/6/12) A shocking video was put online by a local Brazil news station who happened to have a news helicopter shooting the Le Tour Eiffel ride tower while investigators were cycling the ride car through a test run. Watch the seat on the far left side as it drops… the shoulder restraint does not hold at all and flys(sic) open as soon as the car drops and slams shut upon hitting the start of the magnetic brake run.

Red Gold Signs Deal With Six Flags
Elwood-based Red Gold has signed a sponsorship deal to become the "Official Ketchup of Six Flags." The multi-year partnership includes a signature Red Gold meatball sandwich at all Six Flags parks.


March 5, 2012News Release
Elwood, Ind. - Red Gold, one of the nation's largest full-line tomato processing companies, announced today a new partnership to be the "Official Ketchup of Six Flags". This multi-year relationship includes Red Gold branded condiment stations and a signature Red Gold meatball sandwich served at select food locations in all domestic Six Flags parks. Red Gold will also receive in-park brand messaging across the Six Flags digital networks.
"Red Gold is thrilled to introduce its premium line of tomato products to Six Flags," said Colt Reichart, Red Gold's Manager of New Media Communications. "It is rewarding to serve Six Flags guests the quality tomato products that we have been producing and harvesting in the Midwest from our own Indiana, Ohio and Michigan fields since 1942."
"This initiative proves that partnering with the world leader in thrills provides a unique and fun platform for executing brand building programs," said David McKillips, Six Flags Senior Vice President of Corporate Alliances. "We look forward to seeing our partnership bloom over the coming years."
About Red Gold
Red Gold, an Indiana-based company, is the largest privately owned tomato processor in the nation. The third-generation family-owned company traces its roots, investment and job creation in Indiana back to 1942, when it began producing tomato products for the war efforts. Red Gold produces premium quality canned tomatoes, ketchup, and tomato-based products for the retail, foodservice, private brand, and club channels of distribution. The Red Gold family of consumer brands includes Red Gold, Redpack, Tuttorosso and Sacramento. Exceptional quality and operational excellence are the shared values that contributed to the employee-created mission statement: "To produce the freshest, best tasting tomato products in the world." Visit www.RedGoldTomatoes.com and www.Facebook.com/RedGold to learn more about the Tomato Country® e-newsletter, special offers, and delicious tomato recipes.
About Six Flags Entertainment Corporation

Six Flags Entertainment Corporation is the world's largest regional theme park company with $1.0 billion in revenue and 19 parks across the United States, Mexico and Canada. For more than 50 years, Six Flags has entertained millions of families with world-class coasters, themed rides, thrilling water parks and unique attractions, including up-close animal encounters, Fright Fest and Holiday in the Park. For more information visit www.sixflags.com .
Source: Red Gold

Lowe's Named Official Home Improvement Retailer of Six Flags and Presenting Sponsor of Opening Weekend
GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas, March 1, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Six Flags Entertainment Corporation (NYSE:SIX) today announced a new marketing relationship with Lowe's, the world's second largest home improvement retailer, to be the Official Home Improvement Retailer and presenting sponsor of Opening Weekend at participating Six Flags parks across the nation.

As the official opening weekend sponsor, Lowe's will be integrated into Six Flags' marketing efforts on both the national and local levels this spring. Additional support will include social media outreach, radio promotions, and in-park giveaways.

"Our strategic alliance with Lowe's is perfect as we prepare our parks for opening weekend events," said David McKillips, senior vice president of corporate alliances at Six Flags. "We look forward to providing new, exciting benefits to our mutual customer base."

"Six Flags has a national presence and its locations align well with several of Lowe's top markets," said David Geren, Lowe's vice president of marketing. "Sponsoring their grand opening weekends presents a great opportunity for Lowe's to engage with key consumers in these areas at an important time of year."

The season-long relationship will include brand messaging across the Six Flags Media Networks with out-of-home signage, digital advertising and Lowe's branded content on sixflags.com.

2012 Opening Weekends for Participating Parks:

Six Flags Over Texas and Six Flags Fiesta Texas – March 3 and 4

Six Flags Over Georgia and Six Flags Discovery Kingdom – March 17 and 18

Six Flags Magic Mountain – March 24 and 25

Six Flags America – March 31 and April 1

Six Flags Great Adventure – April 5 through 8

Six Flags St. Louis – April 6 through 8

Six Flags New England – April 14 and 15

Six Flags Great America – May 5 and 6

The Great Escape – May 19 and 20

About Six Flags Entertainment Corporation

Six Flags Entertainment Corporation is the world's largest regional theme park company with $1.0 billion in revenue and 19 parks across the United States, Mexico and Canada. For more than 50 years, Six Flags has entertained millions of families with world-class coasters, themed rides, thrilling water parks and unique attractions including up-close animal encounters, Fright Fest and Holiday in the Park. For more information visit sixflags.com.

About Lowe's


With fiscal year 2011 sales of $50.2 billion, Lowe's Companies, Inc. is a FORTUNE® 50 company that serves approximately 15 million customers a week at more than 1,745 home improvement stores in the United States, Canada and Mexico. Founded in 1946 and based in Mooresville, N.C., Lowe's is the second-largest home improvement retailer in the world. For more information, visit Lowes.com.

Steel Pier renovation, a blending of old and new features, to cost $100 million
Posted: Thursday, February 2, 2012 9:55 pm | Updated: 7:59 am, Fri Feb 3, 2012.


An artist's conception of Phase One of the Steel Pier renovation project.



By DONALD WITTKOWSKI, Staff Writer pressofAtlanticCity.com | 0 comments

ATLANTIC CITY - Steel Pier, one of the Boardwalk's most storied landmarks, will become a year-round attraction as part of a $100 million makeover that will create new amusement rides and resurrect one famous older-style act - the diving horse.

The multiyear renovation project is being done by a new ownership group, including the Catanoso family that operated the pier under lease for 20 years and acclaimed Las Vegas architect Paul Steelman. The investors began exploring ways to revitalize the fading pier after buying it last August for $4.25 million from casino operator Trump Entertainment Resorts Inc.

"We hope to make it a showplace again. We want to make it a major destination," said Anthony Catanoso, of Steel Pier Associates. "We're really excited about bringing back some of the old architecture and iconic features, along with new rides. We have what we believe is the perfect balance between the old and new."

With Steelman in charge of designs, the owners plan to blend some of the pier's historic flourishes that resonate with aging baby boomers with all-new attractions appealing to a younger generation of customers.

This summer will see the return of the legendary diving horse act, one of the pier's centerpieces in years past. A horse will plunge into a 12-foot tank of water from a platform 30 or 40 feet up while spectators watch from an amphitheater at the ocean end of the pier, Catanoso said.

About $20 million in pier improvements planned for this year include new amusement rides, arcade games, food and beverage outlets and party areas. In addition, new lighting, signs and a fresh paint job will spruce up Steel Pier's main entryway. The cleanup will include the enclosed skybridge that connects the pier to Trump Taj Mahal Casino Resort above the Boardwalk.

"There will be a new look, a new feel. It will be a complete cleanup of the infrastructure," Catanoso explained.

Those upgrades will be followed in the next three years by a more extensive overhaul, done in three phases, that will turn the now-seasonal pier into a year-round entertainment complex.

In 2013, as part of the first phase, thrillseekers will be tantalized by a new roller-coaster and a combination watchtower and carousel-style ride, called the Star Flyer, that will soar 385 feet into the air, Catanoso said.

"The Star Flyer will be the largest of its type in the world," he said.

An expansion project that includes a new building will complement the new rides in 2013. A new food court and arcade area will be tucked inside the building, allowing them to operate year-round.

Also planned for 2013 is a new nightclub that will operate in the skybridge above the Boardwalk. The Steel Pier investment group also bought the bridge from Trump Entertainment last year.

The second phase of the renovation project, set for 2014, will see more of the pier's attractions and rides covered up as the amusement park continues to evolve into a year-round complex. This phase includes plans for a new museum, retail-entertainment space and a Ferris wheel that would tower 250 feet high. Some of the 42 gondolas on the Ferris wheel would include plusher, climate-controlled "VIP" enclosures that will seat up to eight people and accommodate special events, such as weddings.

The third and final phase of renovation stretches into 2015. At that time, the owners plan to re-create the famed Marine Ballroom. The old ballroom hosted Steel Pier's concerts and big-name performers - Frank Sinatra, 1950s heartthrob Ricky Nelson and the Rolling Stones, among them - before it was leveled by a 1969 fire.

The new version of the ballroom will have 2,000 seats and a stage. The seats will be movable, allowing the ballroom to alternately serve as a dance hall, concert arena, wedding chapel and corporate events center.

"We think it will be the hottest wedding destination on the Eastern Seaboard," Catanoso said. "You won't have views anywhere else like it."

The original Steel Pier, dating to 1898, was a wooden structure that jutted much farther out into the ocean than today's nearly 1,000-foot amusement park. In the pier's heyday in the early and mid-1900s, huge crowds were drawn by vaudeville acts, headliners, concerts, movies and animal oddities such as the diving horse.

The 1969 fire shortened its length by about a third. The pier burned again in a 1982 fire. Under a lease with the Catanosos, it reopened in 1992 as an amusement park atop a flat concrete structure.

The pier owners are discussing a $6 million loan from the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority, the state agency that oversees the city's new Tourism District. Catanoso said an application is being made for the CRDA funds.

The CRDA loan will help leverage private financing that the owners plan to obtain to renovate the pier, Catanoso said. The pier project was granted preliminary approval Wednesday, after the CRDA board also approved a new master plan that guides development in the Tourism District.

"It gave confidence for the project to move forward," CRDA Chairman James B. Kehoe noted of the pier's preliminary approval.

Approval of the pier's CRDA loan is expected at the authority's Feb. 21 board meeting, Kehoe said. He added that Steel Pier is the type of project envisioned in the new master plan to broaden Atlantic City's appeal as a tourist destination.

"I think it's a great first step of a component that will give you something to do, when you're in Atlantic City, that is not casino gambling or shopping," he said. "I think it can be very helpful to that part of the Boardwalk. It can bring different people into town who are not coming now."

Six Flags to Host Conference Call for Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2011 Earnings
PR Newswire

GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas, Jan. 26, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Six Flags Entertainment Corporation (NYSE: SIX - News) announced today that it will release fourth quarter and full year 2011 financial results on February 15, 2012 and host an investor conference call beginning at 8:00 a.m. Central Time. The call can be accessed through the Six Flags Investor Relations website at sixflags.com/investors, or by dialing 1-888-282-0415 from the United States or +1-415-228-4945 from outside the United States using the conference ID "six flags".