2009: A Modest Year for Coasters
So the off season has hit, and it's hit hard. It's very quiet in the amusement industry world at the moment, but that's almost a nice break before IAAPA starts.
During this slow period I was pondering how few coasters have been announced for 2009 and decided to look at the numbers. Here is a rough, i.e. not perfect, look at the number of new or moved, 'family' or larger coasters to debut in North America in '08 and then as of now for '09.
2008
Moved:
Aftershock, Silverwood Theme Park
Dominator, Kings Dominion
Goliath, Six Flags Fiesta Texas
Hornet, Wonderland Amusement Park
Thunderhawk, Michigan's Adventure
Voodoo, Dorney Park
New:
Avatar Airbender, Nickelodeon Universe
Behemoth, Canada's Wonderland
Dark Knight, Six Flags Great America
Dark Knight, Six Flags Great Adventure
Eagles Life In The Fast Lane, Hard Rock Park
Evil Knievel, Six Flags St. Louis
Fahrenheit, Hershey Park
Led Zeppelin, Hard Rock Park
Maximum RPM, Hard Rock Park
MotoCoaster, Darien Lake
Pony Express, Knott's Berry Farm
Ravine Flyer II, Waldameer Park
Shake, Rattle & Roller Coaster, Hard Rock Park
Slippery When Wet, Hard Rock Park
Rock Bottom Plunge, Nickelodeon Universe
Steel Hawg, Indiana Beach
Steel Lasso, Frontier City
Tony Hawk's Big Spin, Six Flags Over Texas
Tony Hawk's Big Spin, Six Flags Discovery Kingdom
Total: 25
2009
Moved:
Carolina Cobra, Carowinds
New:
Diamondback, Kings Island
Flying Turns, Knoebels
Grover's Alpine Tours, Busch Gardens Europe
Rockit, Universal Studios Florida
Manta, Sea World Orlando
Prowler, Worlds of Fun
Terminator, Six Flags Magic Mountain
Total: 8
That's quite a difference between years! For the record, a quick count of '07 and '06 gives about 15 coasters each, '05 about 20, and '04 about 25 so natural fluctuation is to be expected.
But as of now it's been a decade or more since we've seen a year with so few new coasters as 2009!
2 comments:
Knoebel's Flying Turns should have an asterik next to it.
While I applaud Knoebel's for taking a chance and bringing back a ride like Flying Turns, I'm not optimistic that they'll get the train situation worked out for the 2009 season.
We'll see
I think the other thing you have to consider is 2009 is the year right before 2010. If I were planing things out I'd want 2010 over 2009. I think if the economy doesn't hurt the parks to much, 2010 will be bigger than 09. On the flip side, new coasters get a lot more editorials and advertising because there's not as many competing for the spotlight. In short, it's just an off year.
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