ABOVE LEFT: The WhiteWater team absolutely “heart” waterparks you know! ABOVE RIGHT: Monster City Studios picked up an exhibitor award for their display in the outdor exhibit area. Pictured from left to right are James A Powell, Richard Deaver and Kelley Nelson
major way with record sales. Specific to the show, the customer base from Asia was astounding. We exhibited the Phobia LSM launched reversing coaster going into Lake Compounce, which is the largest capital investment in the history of the Connecticut park. We have some amazing things ahead.” It was “a very good show,” reported Jeroen Nijpels over
at the Zierer booth. “We had Wednesday and Thursday fully occupied. Tuesday was average. We made two changes in our trade show appearance. We changed our location from the entrance to the centre and we presented a brand-new booth. Both made it a good show. We were honoured to have two of our installations featured in the What's New video shown at the Kick-Off event.” “It's been good for us,” said Fred Grubb of Rocky Mountain Construction. “We've had a lot of contacts and a lot of conversations, including discussions about our new products, the T-Rex track that is for an all-steel coaster and our Raptor version, a smaller single-rail track.”
Fun Spot hosted two separate receptions on Wednesday night
Contracts signed “We've done exceptionally well,” added Tim Timco of S&S Sansei. “This is probably the largest show S&S ever had. We signed more big contracts at this show than ever before. Not often do we sign actual contracts here.” “We met a lot of new clients here and had some good meetings with people from China, Colombia and Brazil,” Gary Goddard of the Goddard Group informed us. “We're starting a new project in the US, a seaside entertainment project, and continuing on our Cirque du Soleil joint venture in Mexico, Village of the Moon and Village of the Sun. We have three new projects in China, so we're staying very busy.”
“A lot of the old faces aren't around anymore,” observed Mark Blumenthal from Adventurers Amusement Park in Brooklyn, New York City “But it's been a good show. I used to distribute games, it's different now to be here as an operator. The stuff is out there and I just need to see if it fits our space.”
Len Soled of broker Rides-4-U seemed happy: “Our
booth has been non-stop with visitors from lots of parks, a lot of carnival people, and FEC owners too. Within the first hour we sold an SBF triple spiral spinning coaster to Beach Bend Park. We then continued with several more sales of spinners, both portable and park models. We also had success with KMG rides, selling a Speed to Robertson Amusements and a Freak-Out to Peachtree Rides, as well as an S&S Frog Hopper to Mr Ed's Magical Midways. In total we sold more than 12 rides, both new and used, with many more potential sales in the future.” It was just as well Soled was working so hard, as Peter Theunisz from KMG seemed less than impressed with his booth position this year. “People were looking for us in the main aisle. Unfortunately, we were hidden behind a rollercoaster of SBF in the far right corner. Hopefully we will get a better location next year.
The visitors who did find us
were serious and interested in our latest products like the new Discovery with suspended seats, 30m High Swing tower, transportable 65m Inversion ride and 80m Ferris Wheel without spokes.” Given the option of a booth inside the main hall but
dwarfed by loads of inflatables, California theming company Monster City Studios chose to take space in the outdoor exhibit area instead, where its farm-themed containers (part of an attraction planned for the Seattle State Fair) stood out compared to the small rides and other attractions that surrounded them. “It’s been a great spot,” smiled Kelley Nelson. “People actually stop and ask what we do, it helps to stand out. And you know what? The quality has been high, people that make the effort to come outside are serious.” In 2016, IAAPA Attractions Expo will take place again at
the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, November 14 through to 18. Orlando is bracing itself for another $50 million+ injection, as well as the presence of many of the key figures that shape the industry of which it is such an integral part. Stick it in your planner, if you haven’t already.
iaapa.org
LEFT: Premier Rides’ Jim Seay with Sara Ingram (left) and Joanna Guy
JANUARY 2016
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