Why Cedar Fair Might Be Struggling This Year

Maybe pricing is to the point where some people are shut out but higher income people still find it a good value. Maybe the key is to raise admission prices, operate at lower attendance but have a very healthy revenue stream. Higher attendance doesn't always maximize profit if the gate price is too low.

It’s easy to complain, but with Sandusky’s small population, Cedar Point does a commendable job staffing the park. In comparison, I was at Kennywood two weeks ago and even with the much larger metro area in and around Pittsburgh, the park’s closures were much worse than i’ve ever experienced at Cedar Point. Read for more info: http://www.post-gazette.com/local/region/2018/08/31/Kennywood-rides...1808310053

They can win my business back if they add a roller coaster to Valleyfair (Raptor please). I have visit the park once (for about an hour and a half) over the last 3 years, and I had a platinum pass for two of those years. This year, I didn't even buy the pass. Two days at Cedar Point was the extent of business I did with Cedar Fair.

Obviously every situation is different, but I went on a trip with 3 other people that bought Six Flags passes (two Diamond Elite memberships). No Cedar Fair parks in the itinerary.

Good point Pete. Overly busy days can adversely affect the guest experience. Which is the thing the beach and CPS redo have had a positive affect on the main park.
I absolutely love the park with its setup now and shorter overall wait times, especially when we bring first timers with us (I will rarely wait for more than 20-30 min.).

Going with what others have said, I can’t see what moving the HQ would do to benefit the company. Especially over to Charlotte?

The only benefit I see is more room for rides!

Maybe this?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pB5bFpLbA24

It's so hot today, there is nobody at the park!

Employees are busy moving HQ to Charlotte is what I heard.

They started that move on January 1st ;)

https://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/news/2018/02/21/new-cedar-fai...nto-a.html

(Note: sarcastic smiley face, or is it 🤫)

Detroit lost Comerica bank for the same reason; new CEO did not want to live in Detroit and preferred Dallas. One of the oldest banks left its 150+ year home because of the whim of a single CEO. I hope Cedar Fair doesn’t make the same mistake.

I thought the statement was that Cedar Fair needed to move its headquarters to Charlotte. Now we are told that move has already begun. If a move to Charlotte is such a great move, why did the start of it or hint of it or whatever lead to what at this point some here are saying is a "sky is falling" year?

GoBucks89 said:
I thought the statement was that Cedar Fair needed to move its headquarters to Charlotte. Now we are told that move has already begun. If a move to Charlotte is such a great move, why did the start of it or hint of it or whatever lead to what at this point some here are saying is a "sky is falling" year?

What?

Here’s why American Amusement Parks might be struggling;
Monotonous visits
Mundane attractions
Generic food and products
Exuberant costs and prices
Humans gathering in large numbers
waiting, waiting and more waiting
Sun heat sweat and exhaustion
Cold wet dreary and windy
Subpar facilities and venues
Personnel shortages and shortcomings
Attraction down time
Travel

Amusement parks, not all but many, have cornered themselves into this corporate/shareholder version of success. That is, if success always = profits. At the end of the day. business is business and profits always win. I can’t fathom annually hiring and training thousands of faces how to run an all exclusive mega city. Insane to even think about. Such phenomenal feats require huge sums of money and profits!

And let’s be honest. There’s always been a seedy side to these parks. Dilapidated structures and neglected attractions sun bleached and wasting away in alternate states of disrepair are the keystones of the amusement park. Even Disney has their forgotten secrets rotting in decay.

That said to suggest Cedar Point / Cedar Fair is struggling is quite the stretch. The opposite being reality.

Recent posts in this thread:

The chain really needs to move its headquarters from Sandusky and to Charlotte for the overall good of the company. * edit(For hiring purposes,the talent pool would be exponentially larger out of Sandusky. Plus the former Paramount HQ infrastructure was already there. )

They started [the HQ move to Charlotte] on January 1st ;) (Note: sarcastic smiley face, or is it 🤫)

If you don’t think management is in a ‘sky is falling’ WTF happened this year mentality you’re an ostrich with your head in the ground.

XS NightClub said:

If you don’t think management is in a ‘sky is falling’ WTF happened this year mentality you’re an ostrich with your head in the ground.

Citation needed.

Augustmueller said:

Here’s why American Amusement Parks might be struggling;

Humans gathering in large numbers

People don't go to amusement parks anymore. They're too crowded.

Augustmueller said:

And let’s be honest. There’s always been a seedy side to these parks. Dilapidated structures and neglected attractions sun bleached and wasting away in alternate states of disrepair are the keystones of the amusement park.

Unless you're talking about a place like Lakemont Park in its last years before closing or some of the Six Flags parks known for a less than stellar reputation, I would never use any of those adjectives to describe most modern amusement parks. It's not the 70s anymore, places like Cedar Point have become resort destinations and offer a safe, clean, and depending on your budget, first class experience that extends well past your time in the park.

70s? Well, the Cedar Point I grew up with in the 60's and 70's also provided a safe, clean resort experience.

Yes, CP was really clean back in the 70's. Always a nice experience.

I wasn't referring to Cedar Point with that, just was going with the fact that so many parks have been putting an emphasis on a quality guest experience than they did back then. Heck, this extends past the amusement park industry.