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Hospitals are grateful for their volunteers
Akron, Summit County jobless rates increase
Future members of school board get early lessons
Browns lose game they never should have lost
After 30 years at the helm of Akron Children's, Considine still looks to future
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2 men shot during party in Fairlawn
Cancellation of Christmas not an option
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Several people hurt in Akron crash
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Akron Children's Hospital CEO, wife announce $1 million gift to support research
Police: Pennsylvania man killed misbehaving puppy before Steelers game
Akron Circle K store robbed for second time this month
KSU suspends basketball player
Police accuse bank robbery suspect of gobbling up note (with dashcam video)
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A Dog Named Christmas – Pet for the Holidays
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Of pass interference and alleged "fake" injuries
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No. 1 Akron to play Stanford next
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Seven players added to Tribe’s 40-man roster
Cleveland Browns:
Audio: Mangini disputes Poteat call, accuses Lions of faking injuries
Kent State Sports:
Flashes travel to Florida Atlantic
Cleveland Cavaliers:
Gameblog: Cavs vs. Philadelphia 76ers
Buckeye Blogging:
Buckeye Football – Present and Future
Varsity Letters:
Gulley to visit Central Michigan in December
All Da King's Men:
The Onion, By Any Other Name…
Blog of Mass Destruction:
Glaring Contradictions
Akron Law Café:
Don't Try to Have Fun if you are Depressed
See Jane Style:
Vintage Chic
Car Chase:
What Automotive Thing Are You Thankful For?
Let's Talk Real Estate:
Faye Dunaway to be Evicted?
Ohio Travels with Betty:
Monique asks how to get tickets for the Polar Express.
Sound Check:
Steely Dan Plays "The Royal Scam" at E.J. Thomas Hall
HRLite House:
Personal Rant – Why I am Glad I live in NEO
Akron Gamer:
Nintendo's Mario endures even as games come and go
Drop in visitors unlikely despite gas prices, economy, Cedar Fair CEO says
By John Seewer
Associated Press
Published on Friday, May 09, 2008
SANDUSKY: Amusement parks and water parks aren't likely to see a drop in visitors this summer despite surging gas prices and the struggling economy, the head of North America's third-largest park operator says.
Families and teens still will come to ride roller coasters and gobble up funnel cakes and corn dogs, but they'll probably spend less on games and souvenirs, said Richard Kinzel, chief executive of Cedar Fair Entertainment Co.
''It's always been sort of recession resistant,'' Kinzel said. ''That's what we're hoping for and that's what usually has happened in the past.''
Cedar Fair operates 11 U.S. amusement parks, including Cedar Point in Sandusky and Kings Island near Cincinnati, and six outdoor water parks, as well as Canada's Wonderland amusement park near Toronto.
Nearly two years ago, it paid $1.24 billion to buy five parks from Paramount Parks Inc. The deal made Cedar Fair the third-largest in terms of attendance.
Most of its parks now are operating, and its flagship, Cedar Point, opens Saturday.
New this year at its parks are 18 live shows, three thrill rides and five roller coasters.
Kinzel, who was set to retire before the deal with Paramount, is entering his 37th year in the amusement industry and has three more years left on his contract.
He got his start in 1972 at Cedar Point supervising food stands along the midway. Three years later, he became the park's director of operations.
Gas prices will keep families closer to home, which should benefit Cedar Fair, he said.
''It really is a cheaper alternative than going to Florida or California or the lake for a week,'' Kinzel said.
He said season pass and group sales are up over last year, although hotel reservations are down.
The Walt Disney Co. said Tuesday that attendance at its parks in California and Florida were up 5 percent in the first three months of this year. It credited a weak U.S. dollar with keeping Americans closer to home and attracting tourists from abroad.
Visitors to Cedar Fair parks will find higher food prices this year. The company increased prices by a nickel or so after its food costs came in 4 percent higher over the winter.
SANDUSKY: Amusement parks and water parks aren't likely to see a drop in visitors this summer despite surging gas prices and the struggling economy, the head of North America's third-largest park operator says.
Get the full article here.
