INSIDE: 2018 What's New Guide TM & ©2018 Amusement Today, Inc. PAGES 46-49 May 2018 | Vol. 22 • Issue 2 www.amusementtoday.com Vekoma Rides acquired Adrenaline Peak debuts as first by Sansei Technologies high-profile ride for Oaks Park VLODROP, Netherlands and OSAKA, Japan — Dutch Gerstlauer supplies roller coaster manufacturer Vekoma Rides Manufactur- first Euro-Fighter ing B.V., based in Vlodrop, the Netherlands, was acquired March 30 by Sansei Technologies, Inc., a publicly traded steel coaster in Japanese company listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange. Pacific Northwest With the 100 percent acquisition of Vekoma (100 percent AT: Tim Baldwin of the shares will be taken over), Sansei will increase its [email protected] global market share in the field of designing, supplying and installing roller coasters. Headquartered in Osaka, PORTLAND, Ore. — For Japan, and active in the global entertainment equipment 113 years, Oaks Park has quiet- industry, Sansei achieved a turnover of around 29,122 mil- ly operated nestled into a small lion Yen (US$278 million) in 2017, largely from the sale of portion of parkland alongside attractions to amusement parks and dynamic stage instal- the Willamette River. Its roller lations to theaters. skating rink has long been one Adrenaline Peak features three inversions: a vertical loop, a The collaboration with Sansei is the beginning of a new of the most famous attractions cutback and a heartline roll. COURTESY OAKS PARK chapter in Vekoma’s development. Since 2001, Vekoma has in the park. Throughout its steadily grown into an innovative manufacturer of roller years of operation, a good mix been sprinkled into the lineup Peak opened to the public. coasters. In addition to seeing geographical growth, Vekoma of children’s rides have min- as well. This season, Oaks Park This looping steel coaster, a has also managed to position itself as a preferred supplier gled nicely along with family has taken a bigger step. 4See OAKS PARK, page 6 to a number of globally operating owners of leading theme rides. A couple thrill rides have On March 24, Adrenaline parks. With the acquisition by Sansei, Vekoma can now fur- ther expand its leading position in the worldwide market of Twisted Timbers delivers RMC hybrid roller coasters and other amusement park attractions. Vekoma’s acquisition is a logical next step, according fever to Virginia's Kings Dominion to its management. Kees van Biert, chairman of the com- pany's supervisory board, explained:: “In recent years, a AT: B. Derek Shaw solid foundation has been laid in which safety, innovation, [email protected] quality and customer satisfaction have served as spear- DOSWELL, Va. — The heads of our policy. In Sansei, we have found a reputable foundations of the former partner, with equivalent standards and values, who can of- wooden roller coaster known fer continuity to the company and bring us even further. as Hurler at Kings Dominion Through their presence and contacts, we also see oppor- have given rise to something tunities to better serve new regions, such as Japan, South- entirely new: Twisted Timbers. east Asia and North America.” The product of Hayden, The conditions of the acquisition stipulate that no Idaho-based Rocky Mountain changes may be made to the strategy, management, terms Construction (RMC), the slick of employment and the location of the business. Vekoma’s new ride sports the company’s governance structure will, therefore, remain virtually un- I-Box steel track on a reprofiled changed after the acquisition, and its current management and reconfigured structure that team will remain intact. The company will continue its ac- was originally designed and tivities under the same trade name as an independently built by International Coasters, operating company. Inc. in 1994. Hurler ran for 22 •vekoma.com and sansei-technologies.com After ascending a 111-foot lift hill, riders slowly enter the barrel-roll first drop. COURTESY JILL RYAN 4See TIMBERS, page 8 AMUSEMENT VIEWS BUSINESS Page 4 Pages 38-55 Dated material. material. Dated RUSH! Tuesday, April 24, 2018 April Tuesday, PARKS & FAIRS SAFETY NEWSPAPER POSTMASTER: PLEASE Mailed Pages 10-31 Pages 56-66 PERMIT # 2069 # PERMIT FT. WORTH TX WORTH FT. PAID US POSTAGE US WATER PARKS CLASSIFIEDS PRSRT STD PRSRT Pages 32-37 Page 67 2 AMUSEMENT TODAY May 2018 4 AMUSEMENT TODAY August 2014 AMUSEMENT VIEWS EDITORIAL: Gary Slade, [email protected] FLINT’S VIEW: Bubba Flint Tidbits Amusement Today is launching a new interview series this month called Women of Influence. Each month for the next year, we will spotlight a woman who is making an impact in the amusement industry. Mary Chris Smith, president of Allied Specialty Insurance and executive vice Slade president of XL Catlin, receives our inaugural series coverage. Please turn to page 42 to get to know Smith and learn about her accomplishments. If you would like to suggest for profiling in this series a woman who is leading the way in any area of our business, email us at [email protected]. We will consider all suggestions for possible inclusion as we develop this ongoing feature. This issue also contains our 2018 What’s New Guide to attractions opening at parks around the world. Special thanks to AT staffer Jeffrey Seifert for his time-consuming research and effort in compiling the industry’s most detailed listing, which you’ll find on pages 46-49. • Congratulations to Tilman Fertitta, owner of Landry’s INDUSTRY OPINION: Dean Lamanna, [email protected] Restaurants, the Houston Rockets and numerous Houston- area amusement facilities, who was presented with his Defending the price of fun own personalized 2017 World Series championship ring It’s an annual event with the drama tic opportunities too good not to exploit. by Houston Astros owner Jim Crane. The Houston Astros of a fireworks spectacular. Disney and It is human and business nature to keep defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers in seven games to win Universal announce they are hiking theme pushing the envelope and pursuing more. their first World Series. park admission prices, and then patrons Especially in our industry. “When [the Rockets] win a world championship, I get explode with outrage on social media. As discussed previously on this page, one,” Crane told Fertitta. And Fertitta agreed to repay the Yet theme park turnstiles keep spin- there are things parks could do to reduce favor to Crane should his Rockets become champions. ning fast enough to throw sparks. the appearance of gouging. But at least • A known truth: even as wages in the Lamanna chains such as SeaWorld Entertainment I received a note from my good friend and legendary U.S. remain stagnant, the cost of just and Six Flags have stepped up with mem- newspaper publisher H.V. O’Brien of the Eastland County about everything continues going up. As long as bership and payment programs offering more- Today group of community newspapers. This fine stretch of there’s demand, it’s a certainty that what we pay affordable admission, as well as discounts. And Texas, located midway between Fort Worth and Abilene, is for what we want and need never will move in the Disney, too, in dealing with capacity crowds at opposite direction. its properties, provides variably priced admission seeking an entrepreneur or company to open a small FEC. Park operators face the same expenses every- and season pass plans based on off-peak dates. Local residents and the students attending two colleges one does — and a whopping “then some.” Major “We know how important making memories would love a place to go for good food and fun — whether costs in utilities, licensing, food, construction, at Disney theme parks is to our guests,” said Suzi it be in the form of go-karts, batting cages, bowling and/or maintenance and the executive talent needed to Brown, vice president of communications for the some other form of entertainment. manage it all are incurred in the course of satisfy- Disneyland Resort. “We will continue to evolve If anyone is interested in making a proposal, please get in ing (and exceeding) increasing visitor expecta- our pricing in a way that gives them a range of touch with me or O’Brien. tions. These properties keep growing because we options to meet their budget and helps better • keep throwing our dollars at them. spread attendance throughout the year so they We want to remind our readers of the new, centralized AT The strengthening relationship between can make the most of every visit.” email address to which you should submit all news, photos and amusements and IP — fostered by the media Another known truth: special experiences — other editorial items for possible publication on our print and/or property-aligning/acquiring savviness of today’s even when we have to budget more for them — digital platforms. The address: [email protected]. theme park corporations — has created synergis- are priceless. Opinions expressed on this page do not necessarily reflect those of the publisher. Call (817) 460-7220 for advertising, circulation or editorial inquiries Amusement Today is an independent, privately- Founder, Publisher & Editor Managing Editor Production Manager owned trade newspaper published 14 times Gary Slade • (817) 460-7220 x3 Dean Lamanna • (817) 460-7220 John Robinson • (513) 256-1441 per year by Amusement Today Inc., P.O. Box [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] 5427, Arlington, Texas 76005. Print issues are $50 per year and are mailed Presort Standard Postage (permit No. 2069) Pre-Paid Fort Worth, Accounting & Classified Editorial Monthly Contributors Texas. The entire contents of this newspaper, Sammy Piccola • (817) 460-7220 x1 Tim Baldwin • (972) 697-9745 Dan Feicht, Bubba Flint, Andrew Mellor, and its related websites, are Copyrighted and [email protected] [email protected] Richard Munch, Janice Witherow Trademarked 2018 by Amusement Today Inc., all rights reserved.