Point's gate drops in '05

Wednesday, 02 November 2005

Discounts will bring more people in 2006, Cedar Fair hopes.

By BRANDI BARHITE
brandibarhite@sanduskyregister.com

SANDUSKY - The decision to lower prices at Cedar Point was reaffirmed Tuesday.

Only 3.1 million people visited the park this summer, down from 3.2 million in 2004, which was down 4 percent from 2003, according to park officials.

Cedar Fair president and CEO Dick Kinzel said Cedar Point suffered from the weak economy and high unemployment in Toledo, Detroit and Cleveland -- all key markets for the Sandusky amusement park.

High gas prices also were keeping guests away, he said.

Kinzel spoke Tuesday during a conference call about the company's 2005 third quarter results. Cedar Fair owns and operates seven amusement parks and five waterparks.

Kinzel said attendance is the driving factor at an amusement park. With more people at the park, guest spending will increase, he said.

A $5 price cut, to $39.95, was announced Monday for one-day regular admission for 2006.

Kinzel said prices at the partnership's other properties will either be maintained or decreased as well.

Company-wide, net revenues for the quarter increased 4 percent to $317 million from $305.6 million in 2004; average in-park guest per capita spending increased 2 percent; and combined attendance was up 1 percent, or about 61,000 visits.

Cedar Point's sister park, Geauga Lake in Aurora, Ohio, had 700,000 guests in 2005, about the same as last year.

Kinzel said the overall increase in revenue for the period was because of the introduction of new attractions at Dorney Park, near Allentown, Pa., and Michigan's Adventure, near Muskegon, Mich. The partnership's two water parks, Soak City at Cedar Point, and Oceans of Fun, Kansas City, Mo., also did well because of the hot, dry summer, he said.

For October, combined attendance was up 10 percent, or 100,000 visits, over last year because of the company's promotions, according to a press release.

Kalahari spokeswoman Jessica Koth said the Kalahari resort in Sandusky will benefit from Cedar Point lowering its prices, although won't be making its own price cuts.

Koth said Kalahari has been growing since opening in the spring, which is expected to continue in 2006.

With the lower prices at Cedar Point, it might draw more people to the area, who decide on a longer vacation, possibly including Kalahari, she said.

Cedar Point spokesman Bryan Edwards said the park will continue to offer other discounts, which could include the Pepsi cans or cheaper tickets through discount retailers.

FunCoast.com is your online guide to summer fun for Cedar Point, the LakeErie Islands and Sandusky area. Our site offers up-to-date information on area attractions, restaurants, hotels, gasoline prices, ferry schedules, swimming, birding and fishing, along with a complete listing of events happening in the Sandusky/Cedar Point area. To use our Webcam and zoom in on Cedar Point's rollercoasters, go to http://funcam.funcoast.com

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