Park News
parkworld-online.com
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However, we cannot stand still. We are still a young market, even within Europe. The arrival of the major players in the early ‘90s improved the offer and public expectations, but today we are faced with free competition from cultural shows, festivals and activities, as well as sporting events, shopping malls and big shops. Many of these products act as a potential substitute to the leisure park offer, providing family entertainment and a change of scenery, and could become serious competitors in future. Parks have to invest. The renewal of amusement venues will generate more visits and repeat visits. There is at least one major obstacle in our way. Since the start of 2013, the TVA (Taxe sur la Valeur Ajoutée, or value added tax) rate for hospitality, ticketing and catering businesses has risen from 5.5% to 7% and is expected to rise to 10% in 2014. These changes could really affect the tourism and leisure industry in France. The psychological effect of the inevitable price rises would affect attendance, and ultimately investment in new attractions would slow down. The SNELAC is working hard to demonstrate to government that it is not in the interests of the French administration to raise TVA rates further, and in fact that a the new lower rate of 5% would make more sense. In conclusion, the French leisure and attractions industry is doing well. The market is still conducive to quality entertainment, but in the future many challenges are awaiting operators within the sector. The SNELAC will be there by its members’ side to
accompany and support them every step of the way.
Anthony Goret is official spokesperson for SNELAC
snelac.com
SIX FLAGS 2014
Six Flags Great America near Chicago is breaking wooden-coaster records with the introduction of Goliath from Rocky Mountain Construction. It will shatter three world records, becoming the world’s fastest wooden rollercoaster (up to 72 mph/116 kmh) with the tallest (165ft/50m) and steepest (85º) drop or, as Six Flags puts it, “the world's most extreme wooden coaster.” The ride’s jaw-dropping manoeuvres will include three over-banked turns, a 180º Zero-G roll, an inverted drop and an inverted Zero-G stall. New Jersey’s Six Flags Great Adventure will claim the new world record for tallest drop ride with the addition of Zumanjaro: Drop of Doom. Beleived to be from Intamin, it will comprise three individual 415ft (126.5m) ride paths attached to the main “hump” of the Kingda Ka launch coaster. Riders will rocket from twice the height of the Statue of Liberty back to earth at 90mph (145kph) while Kingda Ka’s trains launch directly toward them at speeds of up to 128mph (206kmh). Phew! Six Flags will beat its own record for world’s tallest swing ride, set this season at Six Flags Over Texas, when it unveils its latest SkyScreamer (Star Flyer) at Six Flags New England. The Funtime attraction will stand 400ft (122m) tall. Guests at Six Flags Mexico in Mexico City will experience a thrilling transformation of the wooden coaster Medusa, which will be re-engineered into a hybrid ride called Medusa Steel Coaster. As with previous transformations by Rocky Mountain Construction, the combination of a classic wooden structure with a new steel track is expected to provide a smoother, faster and more thrilling ride, including a 117ft (36m) drop, four over-banked turns and three full inversions. Six Flags America outside of Washington DC is introducing two new rides inside its Mardi Gras-themed section, including the Ragin’ Cajun spinning coaster, believed to be by Zamperla, and French Quarter Flyers, a Larson International Flying Scooters ride. Six Flags Over Texas is getting a bunch of new children’s rides together with an interactive play area. The
Six Flags has disclosed many of the new attractions planned for its 18 North American amusement parks and waterparks in 2014. Here are the highlights.
nearby Hurricane Harbor, waterpark is adding a new multi-featured water slide. Six Flags Fiesta
Texas, in San Antonio, will debut the state’s first multiple lane trap-door freefall waterslides, the new four-slide Bahama Blaster at White Water Bay. Six Flags Over Georgia, outside of Atlanta, is unveiling the largest capital expansion in its 46-year history with the introduction of a massive, tropically- themed Hurricane Harbor waterpark inside the main park. Local sister park, Six Flags White Water is expanding its popular Dive-in Movies programme with a new entertainment stage alongside its wave pool. In Montreal, guests at La Ronde will be able to enjoy Demon, A Huss Top Spin that will dangle 32 passengers upside down 45ft (14m) over 16 water jets. Celebrating its 60th Anniversary in 2014, Six Flags Great Escape in upstate New York is debuting Extreme Supernova, a 50ft (15m) Zamperla Discovery pendulum ride. After the debut this season of its 18th rollercoaster, Full Throttle, it will be a relatively quiet season in 2014 for Six Flags Magic Mountain in Southern California. For a limited time, the suspended coaster Batman The Ride and the wooden coaster Colossus will run backwards. A revitalised children’s area, Bugs Bunny World, will be anchored by a Family Gravity Coaster from Zamperla and a new show. The adjacent Hurricane Harbor waterpark, meanwhile, gets two thrilling body slides by the name of Bonzai Pipelines, plus a programme of Dive-In Movies. Finally, both Six Flags St Louis in Missouri and Six Flags Discovery Kingdom near San Francisco are in line for interactive water rides called Tsunami Soaker, otherwise known as a Mack Twist ‘n’ Splash. The latter park is also moving to a new year-round operating calendar, including holidays and weekends in both January and February.
sixflags.com
Medusa 2.0 at Six Flags Mexico
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LEFT TO RIGHT: Goliath at Six Flags Great America, Skyscreamer – coming to New England, Zumanjaro/Kingda Ka at Six Flags Great Adventure
SEPTEMBER 2013
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