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There's another aspect of excitement in the world of thrill rides. There's the excitement of the latest announcements of upcoming rides from an industry as secretive as the military at times, and the excitement of all the latest happenings at parks around the world. Sometimes the news is good, sometimes the news is bad, but our aim is to bring you the fairest, timeliest, most accurate details on everything that concerns you. COASTER-net's team of journalists is hard at work around the clock to bring you the in-depth scoop!
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Universal Studios Lays Off Employees
70 employees let go from resort
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Universal Studios Florida, Orlando, Florida 01/29/09 - By: Mike Strobel -
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© Universal Studios
Part of the trend:As with many companies currently, Universal Studios has been affected by the economy, and it taking steps to stay fiscally secure. |
In the bad economic climate, even worse news comes in the form of the layoffs for Universal Orlando Resort. Last week, approximately 70 employees were let go from the resort. These cuts are approximately less than 1% of Universal Orlando’s 13,000 employees.
The positions that were let go were not released by Universal. They were described as management-level positions in the administrative and support areas of the resort. Although they have described them as management positions.
This will not affect any of the planned attractions for Universal Orlando. The planned 167 foot tall Rip Ride Rockit’ roller coaster is well under construction and is planning to open in Spring 2009. Also, the Wizarding World of Harry Potter section for Islands of Adventure is still moving full steam head for sometime in 2010.
The economy is also not affecting the company’s advertising either. As they will have a television commercial during the super bowl, which will announce an “unprecedented offer”.
Story by Patrick Wisniewski
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Flamingo Land to Build Record Breaking Coaster
Mumbo Jumbo to open in the British park
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Flamingo Land Theme Park & Zoo has announced plans to build a new roller coaster in it’s park. Mumbo Jumbo will be a record breaking coaster with a 112 degree first drop. It will open at the park’s eighth roller coaster.
Mumbo Jumbo will be an S&S Power “El Loco” model. The only on existing at the moment is Indiana Beach’s Steel Hawg. Mumbo Jumbo is expected to be similar to Steel Hawg. However, Mumbo Jumbo will not be a clone because its going to be 98’5” in height compared to Steel Hawg’s 96’ in height. As well, Mumbo Jumbo will break Steel Hawg’s record for steepness as Steel Hawg is 111 degrees.
S&S Power, an American roller coaster company, has been making rides since the 1990s. For 2009, they will open two record roller coasters, including Mumbo Jumbo. The other, ring°racer at the Nurburgring racetrack in Germany. Ring°racer is expect to break the world record in speed, at 134.8 MPH and acceleration, from 0-134.8MPH in 2.5 seconds. .
Mumbo Jumbo is expected to open in July. It will join Flamingo Land’s collection of coaster which include Kumali, a custom Vekoma SLC and Velocity, a Vekoma motorbike coaster. Flamingo Land is expected to open for the 2009 season on March 28th.
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Diamondback Trackwork Complete
Final section in place
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Kings Island, Kings Mills, Ohio 01/26/09 - By: Mike Strobel -
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© Kings Island
Project Completed:Diamondback trackwork is now complete as Kings Island intends to have it running on opening day. |
With all the winter weather the Cincinnati area gets, it comes as a surprise that Diamondback, the new B&M hyper coaster set to open this year, will be ready to open with the park on April 18th.
Work began on the project early in 2008 as guests pondered what was going on with Swan Lake and the cement located there. More suspisions arose as red track and yellow and white supports arrived on site. Later in the year, Diamondback was announced.
Major trackwork began as the year concluded. Work on the 230 ft lift was but the initial sign of what was to become of the Kings Island skyline. Work on the site seemed to be going at record pace as the rest of the hills took shape.
Now finally after months of clearing woods and laying track, the 5,282 ft course has been completed with the final section, a piece at the crest of the final hill with the finishing brakes, was bolted in.
With trackwork completed, many will be anticipating the look of the snake-impression trains and the station and queue are finished. With the project finished, Diamondback is officially the fastest and tallest roller coaster in the park and sets the coaster collection count at 14, three behind sister park Cedar Point.
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Geauga Lake still on selling block
Jacobs group abandons purchase
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© Geauga Lake
For sale:Due to the bad economy, finding a buyer for Geauga Lake is prooving to be difficult. |
Nearly two years after Geauga Lake was closed and turned into a full fledged waterpark, it seemed the final pieces were in place to sell the part of the park belonging to the former rides of Geauga Lake. However, with the recent economic downturns, that doesn't appear to be the case.
The Richard E. Jacobs group is one of the premier real estate purchasers, making said land into commercial uses, such as shopping centers, office buildings, and hotels. The idea was to turn Geauga Lake's park section into a shopping center just as many other defunct parks are now used. The main land in question is Geauga Lake's parking lot.
Cedar Fair does intent to continue to put the land up for sale, though it is now clear to them that such a sale won't be easy. Cedar Fair spokeswoman Stacy Frole stated that the main retailer in question, JCPenny, was looking into other properties. While the Jacobs group is still interested in developing the property, finding the needed entity is the problem.
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New Theme Park for Qatar
Six Flags involved in Qatari project
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Six Flags has signed an agreement with the Qatari company Onyx Holdings to build a theme park in Qatar's Entertainment City. The deal is for Six Flags to provide planning services to Onyx Development. Onyx Development will build the park, but the park will be Six Flags branded. The price tag of the park will be US$275 Million.
Qatar Entertainment City will be a multi-use area in Lusail, Qatar. It is expected to open in 2012, along with the Six Flags park. Qatar Entertainment City is expected to open as the first “entertainment city” in the chain by Abu Dhabi House Investment.
Six Flags, which has 20 parks across North America, is expected to open several parks in the Middle East. The first of these, Six Flags Dubailand, is expected to open in 2011. The Six Flags expansion into the Middle East comes just a few years after Six Flags went bankrupt from its parks in Europe.
Six Flags and Onyx have stated that once the “initiation phase” is complete, the two companies will decide on design, development, construction, and park management. The park is scheduled to be the second park in Qatar. The other, Aladdin’s Kingdom, has been operating since 1994 with one roller coaster, Thunderbolt.
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