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Since when does assessed value have anything to do with an actual selling price? I've heard from ex-Paramount people that Great America was a drain even on the old owners. I'm not surprised that they'd like to shed it now. It's a shame they can't get more for it, but they're not really selling the rides, only the lease and the infrastructure. I say go for the biggest score you can get, since you've got them by the balls.
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You all better get out there before its too late. At least it wont be a "shock" this time. *sigh* Here comes another 12 months of Dick Kinzel death threats and countless petitions.
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I've hated the Niners ever since they got rid of Montana. Just another reason to hate em.
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Wow, this whole story has really turned into a soap opera. I would like to know how a football stadium would be bad for business. I just don't see how it would affect Great America. If they sell, move the Columbia Carousel to Cedar Point since that park doesn't have an entrance piece worth looking at right now.
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Hmm. Now, I know this might not go through, but in the event that the 49ers do agree to a purchase price set by Cedar Fair, would that mean the end of Great America? I don't see any other park operator stepping in to take it off the 49er's hands after they take-over the lease...especially considering Cedar Fair is willing to dump the park due to alleged lower-than-expected performance issues and the close proximity to a sports stadium. There goes your new "first-time-in-10 years" wood coaster you NorCalers. 
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Yeah, I don't get how they claim the assessed value should be the same as the asking price. It's the same as the "suggested retail value" of an item. Doesn't mean you're not allowed to charge more. I understand the land values are higher out there, but I still can't see how this stadium should cost $1,000,000,000. PNC Park, Heinz Field, and the new Penguins arena combined didn't cost that much. Are the chairs made out of ivory and coated with baby seal fur? I'd imagine they'd try to sell off a management deal for the park so they can have their way with it, but not be involved in the day to day operations.
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1,000,000,000 is not that much. The new Dallas Cowboys Stadium that is 60% complete is tracking at 1.4 Billion. It will be incredible however- retractable roof and end zone walls- 75 yard long video screens- amazing. If the Niners are building an outdoor stadium- $1,000,000,000 would be alot. In Calf. you have seismic concerns- high cost of construction, etc. BTW- The new Cowboys stadium is almost adjacent to Six Flags over Texas- probably not the same situation as CGA.
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"I would like to know how a football stadium would be bad for business. I just don't see how it would affect Great America." As I understand it, the new stadium would be built in one of CGA's parking lots, leaving them with insufficient parking. Plus worse parking problems on event nights.
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Hmmm...no more Imax, Train, Triple Wheel, Trolly, Whizzer, no new coasters, and attendence is dropping? Really? No way! Then again, Great America Santa Clara never seemed the same to me again after I leaned about what the better version in Chicago had to offer.
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Since when does assessed value have anything to do with an actual selling price?
I've always been under the impression that assessed value is expected to track market value, at least roughly. And, market value is supposed to track the price it would actually sell for. At least in MI, if you buy a house, the assessed value is automatically "reset" to the purchase price.
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Hmmm...Astroworld vs Texans rings a bell here. Built in the parking lot of the park. This keeps looking worse and worser for the future of CGA at each new development. How would the locals feel about losing their theme park? Do they realize it's happening in front of their eyes and they are indifferent? I was surprised when Valencia stepped in to protect SFMM so I'm wondering if the San Jose area would prefer the sports complex to the park
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I'm guessing the good citizens of Santa Clara will fall all over themselves to have the Forty-f*ing-Niners rather than some ratty old amusement park. Having lived there, the South Bay has this rather serious chip on its shoulder about how the City gets all the attention, but the valley is where all the action (er, venture captical) is.
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The assessed value of my house by the county (Cleveland area) is about 20% less than what it was valued at for the purpose of my mortgage. Looking at the country records online, that's pretty typical around here. I assumed it was that way everywhere, as does apparently the "experts" quoted in the article.
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That could be because that's the state's ratio. In MI, the "State Equalized Value" is supposed to be 1/2 the market rate. So, when I wrote above "reset", technically, the SEV is set to 1/2 the purchase price. If I remember correctly, CA (post-Prop 13) is flat comparable. Might be different for non-residential property. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_Proposition_13_(1978)
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"but the valley is where all the action (er, venture captical) is." Actually, all the VC is on the peninsula. 
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I'm sure Six Flags Discovery Kingdom would be licking their chops if CGA ended up closing.
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^^yeah, Sand Hill Road, but the Valley thinks that it is the peninsula.
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I have a question is next years coaster plan off? How is the park doing with extended hours, a new ride and shows?
Now some comments Six Flags Great America has lost 4 attractions this year. Local pass holders worry about this parks future. We also lost Sky Whirl, then it's replacement. We lost a theatre, simulator, shoots ride. County Fair now has a weed infested eyesore smack dab in it's center. Across and less visible are the concrete remains of SlashWater Falls. The hopes fo a giant Dive Coaster have faded. Attendence is hurting again this year.
Cedar Fair needs to standup to the city build the coaster or I fear the end is near. Who knows what Six Flags has planned in Gurnee. But if Cedar Point got Columbia the park wood be complete. We all know they would fix/run it better then it's Gurnee counter part. I hope it happens, then Six Flags may look into the lighting issues it has.
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The park wasn't making money under Paramount rule, I can't imagine it is doing much better now. If they have an out, I'd take it.
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I really doubt that the Columbia Carousel is going anywhere near Sandusky, but I do wonder about the possibility of the wooden coaster going there instead if CF thinks they might have a deal with the 49ers.
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Ronman: You conveniently leave out what has been added to SFGAm since Sky Whirl was removed in 2000. 1. Deja-Vu (now gone) 2. Vertical Velocity 3. King Chaos 4. Big Easy Balloons 5. Ragin Cajun 6. Jester's Wild Ride 7. Superman: Ultimate Flight (replacing Shockwave) 8. Revolution (replacing Ameri-go-round) 9. A built from the ground up waterpark called Hurricane Harbor 10. Wiggle's World (which has about 5 new kids rides) 11. Dark Knight coaster I would say the park is ahead of the game as far as rides and attractions from 8 years ago.*** This post was edited by Chitown 7/24/2008 11:55:57 PM ***
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I wonder why Cedar Fair just doesn't ask the Niners for a parking garage and be done with it? If you run out of parking room, build up! Universal Orlando's parking structures rock. All parks should have them.
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^Most parks can't afford them. They are ridiculously expensive.
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Chitown your correct, what I'm saying is big hole are now in the park. This season there is just an somethings missing feeling. I do enjoy Dark Night but will never wait on a slanted former theater floor to ride it. Once you pass Demon only Speedway is now between you and Revolution/Eagles Enterance.
I do know that next year Great America is getting GLOW IN THE DARK PARADE[GOOD]. Hurricane Harbor is up for a multi-slide expansion. With that will probably come seperate admission. As for Rides and Great America all rumors, latest being go carts to Splash's space. A Dollywood type water ride on VU's space. Will this bring guest back? It's true we have been spoiled in the MidWest. Year after year Cedar Point reinvents itself with little ride loss. Great America yes, has added rides. We joke if someone took every ride removed from the park and rebuilt them across the tollway, there would be a park to challenge the existing park.
I was only once at Great America in California but, it was on the 20th Season. Three charming days in a ride filled park with palm trees and Demon/Columbia. Paramount ripped the soul out of that park. We hoped Cedar Fair was going to rebuild it. They started out reopening The Orbit. A new ride this year and promise of a great Woodie. What went so wrong?
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Well, I think the something missing thing is the removal of a high thrill coaster and no high thrill replacement in recent times. I am aware of the rumors as well and they fit to what you stated. It's just something we are going to have to get used to for the near future. Big, expensive, high thrill coasters are just not on the agenda for now. As far as you saying what went wrong with the California Great America park? My belief is CF doesn't really want this park to begin with but it came with the Paramount package. It's a good excuse to sell and get out.
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Several news article stated that Cedar Fair tried to leave this park out of the Paramount deal. They also stated that Cedar Fair has been shopping this park every since they acquired it. Isn't Astroworld an example of what happens when a sports team shares your parking lot?
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I remember talking to a higher-up from PCW during the initial discussions about the acquisition. She laughed when I told her that PGA was definitely, and by FAR, the weakest of the PPs in terms of customer service/guest relations, obviously having heard that before in some internal CF meetings. Removing rides without *timely* replacements is bad, but treating your guests poorly is completely unacceptable. Luckily, it DID get much better before last year's SpringCon, but the park still has a long way to go to reach the CS levels at the local SF park. Yep, in NorCal, I still vastly prefer the SF park to the CF park...of course, SCBB blows both of them off the beach, er, out of the water.
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The two Great Americas forever diverged when Six Flags bought Gurnee and KECO took over Santa Clara. But when I visited in 1996 (20th Anniversary season!) Paramount's Great America was beautiful, completely charming, and thoroughly enjoyable. Since that time, the park was eviscerated by Paramount, who took out the train, bulldozed the berm, and opened up the front of the park. I was glad to hear that Cedar Fair had acquired it, thinking they would build on it and make it better than ever. If professional football goofs this deal up and hastens the eventual closure of that park, it will be a complete tragedy. Don't tell me that there is no other available land in the Bay area for them to build their precious stadium. And a word to all who love their parks: No park is immune from redevelopment. Cherish what you have, and patronize your home park, whichever one it is. SFGam is MY home park, and though not everything is always done right, it is what it is, and deserves support, as all parks do.
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Wow Coasterfan hit everything spot on. S.F.GAM is also my home park the very thought of loosing CAL.GA scares me. There is no safe park even Busch anymore. I will visit SFGAM Sunday@Wednesday, i will spend money on food in park. There are tee shirts I will by and hell I'll play a few games. Viper my favorite coaster needs money to keep operating. To many Season Pass Holders eat outside the park like at Burger King or Culvers. Also they spend the least amount of money on merchandise. This year Sunday 25% off any candy in the park. Monday buy one get one free. It's just like Jewel our local grocery chain. Tuesdays offer tee shirt deals. I never turn down any of these offers. Spend $100 and get another free you have to be a moron to pass that up. Spend $1 and get another free works too, free is free. These parks depend on their guests..remember that. You give nothing you get nothing. Even in lean years [Thanks Chitown] for opening my eyes we still must support the park. Do you know how many Pass holders have told the park no new Major Coaster no Pass for next year, it's alarming. The very survival of any park squarely fall on your shoulders. I leave every young person with this thought. This is my 33rd Season at the park. Every ride/shop/show/food venue that came and went can't be changed. Will you see 33 more seasons? You won't if you refuse to change your spending habits. R.I.P. Opryland, Six Flags AstroWorld/New England will CAL.GA be next?
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^R.I.P. SFNE !?!?!! Surely you mean SFNO ?!?!?
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Yep, in NorCal, I still vastly prefer the SF park to the CF park...of course, SCBB blows both of them off the beach, er, out of the water.
Hear Hear!!!
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