Park People
www.parkworld-online.com
With the exception of the Boomers and SpeedZone businesses, each of your outlets operates with a unique brand identity. Would you ever consider a new corporate brand for the parks? That is an interesting question, which we certainly have discussed internally. Without giving too much away, stay tuned!
Apex has not gotten involved with any external intellectual properties to develop branded rides and attractions to the same degree as other operators. Has this been a deliberate decision or are you waiting for the right IP(s)? I have always thought that IPs, especially those that resonate well with children and tweens, are a great investment for park operators. All one needs to see is the smile on a child’s face when they are greeted by a park mascot to understand the importance of an IP, however, many great IPs are already owned by existing park operators. Apex will continue to explore its options and see if an IP is the right fit. Organically grown mascots are also an option.
What's your personal view on virtual reality in rides and attractions? Will be seeing more in this area at your parks? Like most everyone, the pace of technological improvements in both VR and AR has impressed me. I am something of a tech geek myself. But our objective at Apex of delivering family thrills and entertainment is something more visceral and shared. We might employ VR for holiday and special event programming, but it is not something that we are focusing on right now.
What new attractions opening this year within the Apex portfolio are you most excited by and why? The Skyroom at Indiana Beach and the electric go-kart track at our Dallas Speedzone location immediately come to mind. The first is a nostalgia play, which should remind one of the halcyon days at Indiana Beach and energize those who have been coming to the park for years. The second, Formula V High- Voltage Racing, will surely be a guest favourite. Electric vehicles, of which I am a fan, have maximum torque from zero miles-per-hour, and accelerate much more rapidly than an internal combustion engine. This means that on Formula V, you get the handling of a go-kart with Tesla-like acceleration. Now, that’s fun!
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JUNE 2017
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