Events Calendar
In This Section
Nudity concerns in Colorado town prompting new rules
Boeing accelerates production of 747, 777 models
Ilgauskas back in Cleveland area
Ohio AG warns about new bogus check scams
Mentally ill Ohio inmates refuse post-prison help
When it comes to sleep, few of us are getting enough
Pain in the tank: Gas prices highest since 2008
Ohio officer who died during chase laid to rest
Obama effigy hung at Rhode Island school with fired teachers
Most Read Stories
Suspect arrested in killing of soldier in Akron
Passers-by call police over topless gardener
Tallmadge man dies after motorcycle crash
Wadsworth police chief not interested in desk job
Teen accused of drinking, dancing topless in club
Akron police arrest suspect in Iraq war veteran's killing
Quake leaves area travelers high and dry
Cavs' Varejao earning big contract
Falls considers spending $195,000 on Portage Trail design plans
Blogs:
Akron Docs in Haiti:
Almost home
First Bell - On Education:
21st Century Skills and Akron’s new middle school
Pets:
Lost Mini Schnauzer around Cascade Valley Park
The Heldenfiles:
Fess Parker, R.I.P.
Akron Zips:
Is it time to go after transfers?
Tribe Matters:
Wood sidelined at least six weeks
Cleveland Browns:
Yates latest to re-sign
Balanced Ledger:
How times have changed?
Kent State Sports:
Kent State @ Illinois – News, Notes & Links
Cleveland Cavaliers:
Gameblog: Cavs at Chicago Bulls (Green Mascot and All)
Buckeye Blogging:
Bucks High Seed – Turner High Praise
Varsity Letters:
Jackson advances to Division I state semifinal
All Da King's Men:
ObamaCare To Reduce Premiums By 3000% ?
Blog of Mass Destruction:
The Bigotry Of The Baggers
Akron Law Café:
More on Shaming Corporate Criminals
Car Chase:
2010 CONCOURS SEASON IS UPON US
Let's Talk Real Estate:
Deals in Miami?!.
Sound Check:
Willie Nelson & Family coming to the Akron Civic Theatre May 11
See Jane Style:
Who Wore What – The Oscars
HRLite House:
Horses of Courses
Akron Gamer:
Video: Gamers expected to 'reach' for new 'Halo'
POSTED: 10:02 a.m. EST, Jan 22, 2008
John ChavezThe Blade, Toledo
Jan. 22-When Cedar Point announced yesterday it was holding the line on its main ticket price for 2008, amusement park consultants weren't surprised.
Fears about a possible national recession have sent chills through the industry.
"People are looking at ways to hold prices yet entice people to come out and visit," said Dennis Speigel, head of International Theme Park Services Inc., an industry consultant in Cincinnati.
"If there was a way to raise prices and Cedar Point felt comfortable with it, they would had done it," he said.
Cedar Point's regular gate admission this season will stay at $43, the as at the end of last year.
Cedar Point, which produces about 30 percent of the overall revenues of its parent firm, Cedar Fair LP, announced all of its 2008 gate prices yesterday, although five types of tickets, including its regular adult ticket, had been available for sale on the amusement park's Web site since late November.
Last year, the company began the season with a $42 price at Cedar Point but raised that by $1 on Aug. 21, the first such in-season increase in memory.
The company's official posting of ticket prices on its Web site was three months later than usual. "We wanted to make sure it was carefully thought out," said Robin Innes, a Cedar Point spokesman.
Although the one-day adult admission is unchanged, Cedar Point's junior/senior ticket - for children older than 3 and less than 48 inches tall as well as for seniors over age 62 - went up $3 to $16.
The two-day Cedar Point/Soak City combo ticket went up $1 to $72, and the two-day junior/senior combo ticket went up $3 to $34. A ticket for visitors in the military rose $1 to $32.
Rick Munarriz, a stock analyst for the Motley Fool investing Web site, said the park could try to increase revenue in other ways, such as raising prices for food and drinks.
Mr. Speigel said other amusement companies are searching for ways to cut costs. For example, Six Flags Inc. is raising prices at its parks, but also said it would cut $100 million through decreased marketing and cuts in operations.
"The last two months everybody's been watching the 1/8stock3/8 markets and commodities to see where things were shaking out for 2008. The people I've talked to throughout the industry, they've all been watching the economic indicators for a sign," Mr. Speigel said.
Contact Jon Chavez at: jchaveztheblade.com or 419-724-6128.
To see more of The Blade, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.toledoblade.com.
Copyright (c) 2008, The Blade, Toledo, Ohio
Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For reprints, email tmsreprintspermissionsgroup.com, call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA.
John Chavez
The Blade, Toledo
Jan. 22-When Cedar Point announced yesterday it was holding the line on its main ticket price for 2008, amusement park consultants weren't surprised.
Fears about a possible national recession have sent chills through the industry.
"People are looking at ways to hold prices yet entice people to come out and visit," said Dennis Speigel, head of International Theme Park Services Inc., an industry consultant in Cincinnati.
"If there was a way to raise prices and Cedar Point felt comfortable with it, they would had done it," he said.
Cedar Point's regular gate admission this season will stay at $43, the as at the end of last year.
Cedar Point, which produces about 30 percent of the overall revenues of its parent firm, Cedar Fair LP, announced all of its 2008 gate prices yesterday, although five types of tickets, including its regular adult ticket, had been available for sale on the amusement park's Web site since late November.
Last year, the company began the season with a $42 price at Cedar Point but raised that by $1 on Aug. 21, the first such in-season increase in memory.
The company's official posting of ticket prices on its Web site was three months later than usual. "We wanted to make sure it was carefully thought out," said Robin Innes, a Cedar Point spokesman.
Although the one-day adult admission is unchanged, Cedar Point's junior/senior ticket - for children older than 3 and less than 48 inches tall as well as for seniors over age 62 - went up $3 to $16.
The two-day Cedar Point/Soak City combo ticket went up $1 to $72, and the two-day junior/senior combo ticket went up $3 to $34. A ticket for visitors in the military rose $1 to $32.
Rick Munarriz, a stock analyst for the Motley Fool investing Web site, said the park could try to increase revenue in other ways, such as raising prices for food and drinks.
Mr. Speigel said other amusement companies are searching for ways to cut costs. For example, Six Flags Inc. is raising prices at its parks, but also said it would cut $100 million through decreased marketing and cuts in operations.
"The last two months everybody's been watching the 1/8stock3/8 markets and commodities to see where things were shaking out for 2008. The people I've talked to throughout the industry, they've all been watching the economic indicators for a sign," Mr. Speigel said.
Contact Jon Chavez at: jchaveztheblade.com or 419-724-6128.
To see more of The Blade, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.toledoblade.com.
Copyright (c) 2008, The Blade, Toledo, Ohio
Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For reprints, email tmsreprintspermissionsgroup.com, call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA.
