TM CELEBRATING 16 YEARS OF GOLDEN TICKETS Vol. 17 • Issue 6.2 SEPTEMBER 2013 Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk hosts 2013 Golden Tickets Annual awards event goes to family- owned seaside park for the first time Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk Host Park • 2013 Golden Ticket Awards • September 6 & 7, 2013 SANTA CRUZ, Calif. — Not since 2009 has The lows professionals to come together and celebrate Golden State hosted Amusement Today’s Golden the amazing work done to entertain families around Above, Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk hosts the Golden Ticket Ticket Awards. Each year, the host brings its own char- the globe year after year. Victories are championed, Awards event for the first time. Below, the 100-plus-year-old acter and signature specialty to the industry ceremo- people we’ve lost are remembered, and the network- historic Looff Carousel still lets riders grab a Brass Ring and ny, and the management staff at Santa Cruz Beach ing opportunities to learn from each other are immea- Boardwalk have eagerly been anticipating welcoming surable. is highlighted by multiple band organs that rotate music se- the amusement industry with their own Northern Cali- There is a special difference to the Golden Ticket lections throughout the day. COURTESY SCBB fornia flair. Awards in comparison to any other type of awards out Tom Canfield, vice president operations, Santa there — everyone is eligible. Contrary to the Oscars Cruz Beach Boardwalk, says, “We’re really excited to where only specific movies are nominated (to the inevi- welcome the amusement industry to Santa Cruz for table outcry of particular “snubs”), or the music indus- the Golden Ticket Awards. This is a tremendous honor try where only certain musicians are on the ballot, the and everyone at the Boardwalk is busy getting ready Golden Ticket Awards celebrate the entire industry. to host an awesome weekend. We are looking forward Does this create a certain challenge for some parks to to sharing all of the great things about our park and go up against monumental giants? Most likely, but our providing attendees with a unique Santa Cruz experi- panel of voters are instructed to go out and experi- ence.” Canfield smiles, “It’s going to be a great beach ence the work that we do and to tell us one thing: Who party!” is “The Best of the Best!” There are inevitably peren- As winner of Best Seaside Park, Santa Cruz Beach nial winners that can be expected, but their success Boardwalk has taken their Golden Ticket to heart and is gained by continued hard work and an outstanding given it a particular significance among their park staff product. To watch the coaster charts, one can’t help and guests. Used in marketing and employee training, but be reminded of watching the American Top 40 list- the illustrious designation of ranking at the top of the ings that had our favorite songs moving up and down industry accomplishments is not taken lightly. with each week. Amusement Today has bestowed the prestigious Take a moment, everyone. Join Amusement To- awards since 1998. Now in its 16th year, the Golden day in applauding what this magical industry does day Ticket Awards have evolved from a simple publication after day. designation into a full-fledged industry event that al- — Tim Baldwin SUBSCRIBE TO 2014 GOLDEN TICKET AWARDS | September 5-7, 2014 Dated material. material. Dated AMUSEMENT TODAY RUSH! NEWSPAPER POSTMASTER: PLEASE Mailed Sept. 9, 2013 Monday (817) 460-7220 PERMIT # 2069 # PERMIT FT. WORTH TX WORTH FT. com PAID amusementtoday US POSTAGE US PRSRT STD PRSRT 2 AMUSEMENT TODAY GOLDEN TICKET AWARDS September 2013 NEWSTALK OPINIONS CARTOON LETTERS AT CONTACTS EDITORIAL: Gary Slade, [email protected] CARTOON: Bubba Flint Your Golden Tickets It’s hard to believe that we are gath- ered together again for this year’s win- ners of the Golden Ticket Awards, pre- sented annually by Amusement Today. Although I’ve written it many times, I still cannot believe how our annual Slade survey became such a must-attend and fun industry event. But, as good our event has been, thanks to our woulderful host parks and sponsors, we need partici- pation! We don’t see nearly enough parks attending from the New England region or from the East coast and Jersey shore. That’s where we need you to help us spread the word, and encourage these parks to attend for fun, food, tours, and of course, the awards! It has been mentioned in the past by numerous attendees, that one way Amusement Today could get more parks to participate in the event is to hand EDITORIAL: Tim Baldwin, [email protected] out Silver and Bronze Golden Tickets to the second Global spotlight and third place finishers. This is a really good idea There are always things that and new eyes always make sure our panel is on their and one we can easily do. Our fear is how to do excite me about the Golden Tick- toes. Likewise, some enthusiasts for whatever reason this without lengthening the current two-hour long ets. While some winners hang onto reduce their travels and rotate off the panel, making their accolades, what I particularly way for new opinions. ceremony. notice is the change in finalists. So how does AT find these qualified individuals? I’ve also had suggestions to change up the vot- This year, we see first time ap- Frankly, sometimes they find us! Each year, both be- ing process and to put detailed criteria on the cat- pearances for California’s Great fore the ballots go out as well as following the an- egories. America in Santa Clara; Ocean nual announcement of winners in late summer, I am Baldwin Park in Hong Kong, China; Story contacted by eager parties who feel they have the We’ve also had the suggestions to get the parks Land in Glen, New Hampshire; experience to be one of our newest contributors. more engaged in the process is to have each park Phantasialand in Brüehl, Germany; Wet ‘n’ Wild Las With a little discussion about experience, we often Vegas in Nevada and Splish Splash in Long Island, can indeed find new people because they take the enter their facility into the voting process with an New York. I can imagine the exhilaration of being put time to contact us. official ballot and limit the number of categories they on a list of such esteemed icons. Congratulations to Other than that, I’m observant. There are nu- can enter. you all on your successes. merous events, tours, clubs and special activities that As witnessed right there, our panel of experts showcase people who are willing to travel and em- These are all good suggestions, but I don’t want get around. As the industry’s best customers, our brace all the great aspects of the many parks around to make any changes until I’ve heard from you, our voters are among the most experienced park-goers the world. Some aficionados can only dream as to winners, presenters and attendees that make up the on the globe. This year’s charts reflect 13 different having the resources to travel Planet Earth and enjoy countries, which speaks volumes to the passion of the industry — even more than those that work in the Golden Ticket weekend. our voters. industry itself. But if those opportunities ever arise, I look forward to hearing from you. You can email Some often ask “Is it the same panel each year?” the Golden Ticket Awards can certainly direct them me at: [email protected]. The simple answer is “no.” Amusement Today has to where to focus their travels. never had the exact same panel twice. While there We continue to seek out more interested fans Thanks for your continued support! are many avid and well-travelled voters who strongly from other countries outside the U.S. to add even —Gary Slade support our awards and are dedicated to completing further “umph” to our international scope. a ballot year after year, we also add new qualified If you feel you have the passion and wish to share candidates each and every year. Fresh perspectives the best you’ve seen, we are ready to hear from you. Gary Slade is founder and publisher of Amusement Today AMUSEMENT TODAY STAFF Gary Slade, Founder Dean Lamanna Sammy Piccola Publisher and Editor-in-Chief Editorial Accounting / Circulation [email protected] [email protected] (817) 460-7220 [email protected] Deliveries Member of: Stacey Childress / Childress Media Pam Sherborne 2012 E. Randol Mill Rd., Suite 203 IAAPA, AIMS International, PAPA, Web & Graphic Design Editorial Sue Nichols Arlington, Texas 76011 NEAAPA, NJAA, OABA, WWA, TTIA, [email protected] [email protected] Advertising NAARSO and IISF (615) 662-0252 Subscription rates are: 1 year (14 issues) $75 in the USA; $100 elsewhere; 2 years (28 issues) $140/$180; John Robinson / W.H.R. Inc. Scott Rutherford [email protected] 3 years (42 issues) $200/$250. Send check or money order (U.S. funds only, drawn on a U.S. bank) to Amusement Today, P.O. Box 5427, Arlington, Texas 76005-5427. Your cancelled check is your receipt. Daily E-mail Newsletter Editorial Please allow up to six weeks for your subscription request to be processed and the first issue mailed. [email protected] [email protected] Bubba Flint Cartoonist Amusement Today is an independent newspaper, published monthly by Amusement Today Inc., P.O. Tim Baldwin Jeffrey L. Seifert [email protected] Box 5427, Arlington, Texas 76005. Presort Standard Postage (Permit No. 2069) pre-paid at Fort Worth, Texas. The entire contents of this newspaper and its related websites are copyrighted and trademarked Editorial Editorial / Special Projects by Amusement Today 2013, with all rights reserved.