[redrunner97]

Personally, I'd love black, white, and carolina blue as a color scheme.

But hypothetically, in a few years Panther's could move and then they'd have to completely retheme the coaster, probably multiple times. It's too risky.

But just flat out calling it "Panther" would be cool too. Maybe "Hornet"?

[LemondsHead]

Personally, I'd love black, white, and carolina blue as a color scheme.

But hypothetically, in a few years Panther's could move and then they'd have to completely retheme the coaster, probably multiple times. It's too risky.

But just flat out calling it "Panther" would be cool too. Maybe "Hornet"?

I highly doubt the panthers will ever move but that is a cool idea.

[redrunner97]

I highly doubt the panthers will ever move but that is a cool idea.

It's not impossible. If Jerry Richardson gets hit by a bus and dies two days after the unveiling of an extremely expensive coaster, there's a big chance his family sells off the Panthers to another owner, and potentially another city.

That's bye-bye Panthers. And bye-bye themeing.

But its even more unlikely that they'd ever call the new coaster the Carolina Panther, as others have said the licensing would be so insanely expensive and they'd have to renew it every few years, and retheme if the panthers ever moved. So that seems too risky for an amuesement park ride. Plus the cost would be more than $30M (if they counted ALL cost going into the coaster, not just construction).

[LemondsHead]

well you are right about that i just hope the coaster is made by the same people that made MF. You can call it whatever you want after that.

[Merthecat]

That would be Intamin. I'd really like to see something exactly like MF, but I think B and M is the way to go for giga coasters.

[pproteinc]

Don't forget about the Knights!!! . I think Carowinds would have a Hornets ride before Panthers based on color scheme. The Hornets colors scheme is definately bright and refreshing which CF loves. I can see that at the front of the park, but I digress.

[KingHippo1]

If you read the closed session documents its going to be a 300 ft. Winged coaster at 66 MPH. The Wright Bros. flying machine would fit just right.

[chknwing]

ok for like the 5th time in this thread already. all that is inaccurate. the only truth is that the coaster will be 300 ft. thats it. cedar fair will not waste the money to build a 300 ft coaster only to have the speed at 66mph. Gatekeeper is 170 feet tall and 67 mph.

[KingHippo1]

Then that would make the 300 ft tall coaster inaccurate as well. Think before you speak. Both statements were made.

[chknwing]

so you have the original documents and not some article on biz journal? I'm sure you will be more than happy to share with the rest of the forum.

[KingHippo1]

This is what I have.

[redrunner97]

Then that would make the 300 ft tall coaster inaccurate as well. Think before you speak. Both statements were made.

Umm... Actually the Charlotte Observer, the local news, several local papers, and Cedar Fair themselves have said it will be over 300 ft.

The only "new info" was that it will allegedly be a winged coaster and the speed will be 65mph. All of which is obviously either a lie or inaccurate. The height has already been proven by many media outlets.

This is what I have.

Then please, do share.

[KingHippo1]

e City Council of the City of Charlotte met in closed session on Monday June 24, 2013 in room CH-14 of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Government Center at 6:18 p.m. with Mayor Anthony Foxx presiding.
Present were Councilmembers: John Autry, Michael Barnes, Patrick Cannon, Warren Cooksey, Andy Dulin, Claire Fallon, David Howard, Patsy Kinsey, James Mitchell, LaWana Mayfield and Beth Pickering.
Staff present during the Closed Session: Stephanie Kelly, City Clerk; Bob Hagemann, City Attorney; Ruffin Hall, Assistant City Manager; Ron Kimble, Deputy City Manager; Ron Carlee, City Manager; Eric Campbell, Assistant City Manager; Julie Burch, Assistant City Manager; Peter Zeiler (N&BS Economic Development); Pat Mumford, KBE N&BS Strategic Support and Brad Richardson, Manager, N&BS Economic Development.
Motion was made by Councilmember Mayfield and seconded by Councilmember Cannon and carried unanimously to adopt a motion pursuant to NCGS 143-318.11(a)(4) to go into closed session to discuss matters relating to the location of an industry or business in the City of Charlotte, including potential economic development incentives that may be offered in negotiations.
Peter Zeiler, Charlotte N&BS Economic Development said we are here tonight with another business investment program grant opportunity for the City of Charlotte in combination with Mecklenburg County. This is for a company called Cedar Fair Southwest, Inc.; I think you may better know them for their ownership at Carowinds Amusement Park down off of I-77. This one is a little different. It’s outside of the typical parameters of our program. We wanted to make sure that we brought this to you to give you the opportunity to have a full robust discussion on it.
Cedar Fair Southwest is a publically traded company with 11 theme parks with annual revenue of $1.1 billion and over $23 million annual … We have 11 park locations including four that have attendance of more than $3MM per year. Those are actually ranked 14th, 15th, 16th and 17th out of the 20th largest theme parks in the United States. Two are in Ohio, one is in California and one is in Toronto. They own Carowinds as I mentioned earlier. They also own Kings Dominion which is in Richmond Virginia and both of these parks have an annual attendance of right around $1.9MM annually.
Cedar Fair is looking to establish a large park to push to the 2.5-3 million annual guest range somewhere in the southeast and their target expansions are going to either be Carowinds or Kings Dominion. If they were to select Carowinds as their large southeast park, the first phase would consist of $43.5MM of investment. The first $30MM of that would be in a new 300 foot tall rollercoaster. For comparison, the Intimidator, which you can see from I-77, is 230 feet. They would include a $2.5MM water slide, a $7MM food complex and a $4MM ticket booth and parking field improvements. Much of what you will approach and see as you come to Carowinds now, would be completely reconfigured and moved out into where some of their parking field currently is. $33.1MM of this investment will be in Mecklenburg County within the business investment zone. The other $10.4MM will be in York County. Just as a reminder, Carowinds is 398 acres right now between the land they currently own and is undeveloped plus the land that is developed as the park. About 220 acres of that is in South Carolina. The remainder is in North Carolina.
This map gives you a sense of where the facility would be. The yellow line is the state line between North Carolina and South Carolina and this would be the new rollercoaster feature here. The water slide and the food facilities would be here, some of it extending over into South Carolina. This white building right here is their current front gate and ticketing. This is what would be reconfigured and expanded out towards here.
Councilmember Andy Dulin said excuse me sir, that white building is the Amphitheater. The state line goes through the front gate.
Mr. Zeiler said you’re right. This shows where the general location of the rollercoaster would be. This is an example from their Cedar Point Park, which is known as America’s Rollercoaster. This is an example of the type of facility that would be created. This is actually the front gate and ticketing for Cedar Point. This ride opened up this year and you will see that it actually goes
kmj

[KingHippo1]

Closed Session Minutes – Cedar Fair Southwest, Inc. June 24, 2013 Page 2
over the gate and the flip to a 90° angle and go vertical to the ticketing gate through these two columns and back throughout there.
Councilmember LaWana Mayfield said what does the liability look like when we have malfunctions out at Carowinds? Is the City in any way having any liability responsibility if something were to happen?
Bob Hagemann, City Attorney said I don’t see how. No.
Mr. Zeiler continued and said so this particular ride is 170 feet tall. The one that would be put in Carowinds would be about 310-315 feet tall.
Ms. Mayfield said that just doesn’t seem safe. Realistically around the country you’re hearing where they are having major problems just because you’re trying to make bigger and better and more extravagant rides. You are hearing about some major problems that are happening with these rides so is that even safe that we are considering trying to mirror that coming to Carowinds.
Mr. Zeiler said that 300 feet for a rollercoaster is not a record. Rollercoasters are pushing 470- 490 feet at this point. This rollercoaster would max out around 65 mph. Some of the rides at Cedar Point and in Kings Dominion are topping out at close to 95mph.
Ms. Mayfield said and you could tell that I don’t go to theme parks so thank you for answering the question for me.
Councilmember David Howard said could you go back to the map for me? One of the things you have to worry about when you start talking about doubling attendance would be traffic. I’m actually for this so I’m not talking it down at all, but the majority of the I-77 that would deal with the ramp off is South Carolina, it’s not us, so are they talking about doing any traffic improvements to deal with this during the season?
Mr. Zeiler said yes there will be two series of improvements. They will significantly reconfigure their parking field and how that is accessed in and out. We are also in negotiations and discussions with the State. Right about here Carowinds Blvd narrows down to two lanes coming towards I-77 and one going out towards Tryon. The State is investigating the possibility and the cost of widening this from either two lanes from Catawba Trace all the way out to Tryon or possibly three lanes going out to Tryon which would give you access to I-485.
This will also be one of the first of what are called winged rollercoasters in the southeast. It’s not a traditional rollercoaster where you sit in a car that goes around. You actually dangle on posts that are from a single track. So there is nothing below you. You are sitting on basically a swing as you go around.
Ms. Mayfield said again, Bob, no liability for the City if one goes flying off that and they land on North Carolina side as opposed to South Carolina?
Mr. Hagemann said … no liability for us.
Mr. Zeiler said this first phase is expected to project an annual attendance of about 385,000 guests. When they installed the Intimidator, their attendance when up by about 300,000 guests per year. It’s expected to create a demand of approximately additional 20,000 hotel nights. That represents about a .4% increase in Mecklenburg County annual nights and would represent about $250,000 in new state and local hotel taxes.
Councilmember Patrick Cannon said do we know if there are any projections, or is there any thought to have any more hotels along that area?
Mr. Zeiler said I’m not aware of any new hotels that are proposed for the vicinity.
Mr. Cannon said they have a couple of go-tells over there that have been around for a long time. I’m just wondering about the plan.
Councilmember Patsy Kinsey said I would like

[KingHippo1]

There are 5 more pages if you want them. But clearly they say a 300 ft winged coaster