PRE-IAAPA BONUS ISSUE TM Celebrating Our 15th Year Vol. 15 • Issue 8.1 NOVEMBER 2011 Industry IAAPA officials expect 2011 turnout remembers Ron Toomer to be on par with 2010 expo 1930-2011 STORY: Pam Sherborne Orlando’s Orange County Convention [email protected] Center to hold the Expo there. In 2010, ORLANDO, Fla. — Twenty years ago there were 1,140 exhibitors using 452,739 the International Association of Amuse- square-feet of exhibit space. There were ment Parks & Attractions (IAAPA) held about 25,000 people attending, which in- its expo in Orlando, Fla. Attendance clude 14,800 buyers. reached 19,200. There were 725 exhibitors As of Friday, Oct. 7, Mandt said 1,035 using 191,200 net square-feet of exhibit companies including more than 160 first- space. time exhibitors, had reserved exhibit Times have changed. space on the floor. That number is consis- This year when the Expo begins Nov. tent, he said, with the same time period 15 in Orlando, IAAPA officials are expect- as last year. ing at least 25,000 industry professionals vice president, communications. “The ex- Average booth size is slightly up so from 100 countries. IAAPA officials are hibit floor will be packed with ideas just the total number of net square-feet cov- anticipating more than 1,100 companies waiting to be discovered. More than 100 ered by the exhibitors is over 456,000, from nearly 30 countries, using about education sessions and tours will provide compared to the 452,739 in 2010. 450,000 net square-feet of exhibit space, perspective on hot topics and inspire op- Advance buyer registration is also including 30,000 net square-feet of out- erators to take their business to the next similar to last year at this same time. door exhibits. level. And, the networking events will al- Mandt said IAAPA will provide registra- The 2011 event has been set to run low everyone to exchange stories about tion updates on its Web site starting the Nov. 13-18, with the tradeshow starting what works and make new connections weekend before the show and continuing Nov. 15. that will drive their business forward.” each day through the close of the show “We are looking forward to a great Last year’s event was the first year of like they did last year. “IAAPA Attrac- 4SEE PAGES 2, 33-35 show in Orlando,” said David Mandt, a 10-year agreement between IAAPA and 4See IAAPA, page 4 Incoming chairman, Roland Mack, shares thoughts on industry STORY: Pam Sherborne ing forward to sharing all my fore. With the regions grow- strengthen the regions was [email protected] experience with colleagues ing stronger, we also notice right. As mentioned before, ORLANDO, Fla. — Ro- from around the world. To- growing member numbers. this development also led to land Mack of Europa-Park, gether with the board of di- This in turn leads to growing growing member numbers. Germany will take the reins rectors and the staff, I want visitor and exhibitor num- With IAAPA growing bigger, from Bob Rippy of Jungle to contribute to IAAPA’s suc- bers at our trade shows like it also gains influence. It is a Rapids, Wilmington, N.C., as cess. the EAS or the Asia Show. great networking platform the 2011-2012 chairman of “For the upcoming years The association has become and it provides know-how the International Association we developed five goals: more and more international. and experience to its mem- of Amusement Parks & At- •We will promote safety “Of course, for me as bers. We have to focus on tractions. and keep working on inter- an engineer who is supplier our core business and ad- The official turnover of national safety standards; and operator of a park at just to the changing require- chairman will take place at •We will enhance mem- the same time, safety has ments of the industry. Our IAAPA’s Attractions Expo set ber benefits to fulfill our and will always be an issue members are interested in a for Nov. 14-18 at the Orange members’ needs; of special interest, which is wide range of topics. There- County Convention Center in •Through that we will Roland Mack why I supported the idea of fore, the association needs Orlando, Fla. further grow and retain safety being our most impor- experts who are able to help Here, Mack visits with AT IAAPA’s memberships; tant goal.” in the different subjects. If about the coming year. •By implementing global tion’s primary focus for the What do you see as the we keep up with all this, I am What are your goals management structures, we upcoming year? future of the IAAPA orga- sure that member numbers this coming year as the will continue strengthening “There are many areas nization and where do you will keep growing.” chair of IAAPA? the regions; and of activity for IAAPA. If I had see the most potential for During the past year, “First of all let me say •Last, but not least, the to mention just one it might membership growth? there has been a leadership that it is an honor for me to association will focus on the be the creation of a global “Asia and Europe are de- change in IAAPA with Chip serve as the chairman of this core values of our industry.” governance and manage- veloping dynamically which Cleary becoming IAAPA’s association and I am look- What is the associa- ment structure, as I said be- shows that the decision to 4See MACK, page 6 2 AMUSEMENT TODAY November IAAPA Pre-Convention Issue 2011 NEWSTALK OPINIONS CARTOON LETTERS AT CONTACTS EDITORIAL: Gary Slade, [email protected] CARTOON: Bubba Flint Remembering Ron Toomer Ron Toomer may have left us, but he will not be forgotten. The man who brought us the Corkscrew, over-the-shoulder restraints, countless other roller coaster innovations under the historic Arrow brand, died Sept. 26 following a short Slade four month bout with cancer. Ron was a quiet man. He never asked for the spotlight. He never asked to be the center of attention. He never asked for favors. That’s what made Ron...well, Ron. It doesn’t mean he didn’t have fun. Outside of his roller coaster designs, he enjoyed time with his family. Family came first in his life. He loved the outdoors. He loved to work with wood. He loved puzzles. He loved to cook and share time with friends over good, cold beer. A simple life for a simple man. Ron managed to slow time down and enjoy the moment. Only in his later years, after retirement, did he start to realize the mark he had left on our amusement industry. That mark, 93 coaster designs strong, helped build and shape an industry with record attendance at parks that had installed one of his masterpieces. Those designs became a EDITORIAL: Scott Rutherford, [email protected] must-do for all coaster enthusiasts on their summer travels. Those designs helped lay the groundwork for other steel History lesson coaster designers when the roller coaster arms race was full I recently covered the debut And then it ended. With what seemed an appall- speed ahead. of Chance Rides’ SkyWheel that ing display of casual indifference, the Pavilion’s owner, It has been said that during our time on earth, God opened in Myrtle Beach, South real estate mogul Burroughs & Chapin, closed the park places people in our lives that are there to be a positive Carolina. The new ride fits well at at the end of the 2006 citing ‘financial instability’ as influence on us. If you were one of those people in this its coastal home on the boardwalk the cause. industry that got to know Ron, then you knew he was one in downtown. While there, I took a Really? stroll a few blocks down the street Myrtle Beach welcomes 14 million visitors each of those angels. You knew it was an honor to have him as a to what is unquestionably the heart year. B&C has owned and operated much of Myrtle friend and to have him as a part of your life. of Myrtle Beach – the corner of 9th Beach and its environs for a century. I find it difficult to It is also said, that when one of these angels leave us, Rutherford Avenue and Ocean Boulevard. Prior believe that this little 11-acre park that meant so much we are introduced to another special person. If that’s the to Sept. 30, 2006, this would have to so many people couldn’t be spared. B&C promised been a place absolutely crackling with energy and to replace the Pavilion with ‘upscale year-round enter- case, then Ron’s replacement will certainly have big shoes excitement. The scents of popcorn and cotton candy tainment.’ Now, five years later, the site is a forlorn and to fill. mingled with a salty ocean breeze would wash over barren place. Completely devoid of life or structure, Ron left us before we were ready to let him go. His teeming crowds bathed in music and splashes of neon. the property is surrounded by shuttered businesses passing reminds us to slow down the time we share with This would have been the famous Myrtle Beach Pavil- that died when the Pavilion’s crowds never returned. ion Amusement Park. The Pavilion, as locals called it. Save for the crash of the surf, it’s a place of silence. family and friends to enjoy those moments just a little This plot of real estate was home to the quintes- Very few venture to this part of town anymore.