[mark40511]

I can only imagine what this thing must look like in person. Back earlier I read that Intimidator's opening was nothing compared to Banshee, because KI has a higher park attendance.....But to me, this is different. This is only the fifth and largest giga on the planet. I think having this coaster will give Carowinds record attendance.

[Jarsh]

Fury will have an impact on attendance and it will probably set an attendance record for the park, but it won't be anything near what Cedar Point or Kings Island get. CP and KI get well over THREE MILLION people a year and in the minutes of the business meeting for the incentive package, they mentioned that Carowinds got about 1.9 million - about half of what CP/KI get.

So while Fury will be a big hit for the park, definitely pushing it into the low 2 million range, I don't think it's impact will be as big as Banshee/GateKeeper were for their parks simply because they have the fan base to do well. I mean, think about it - parks like Carowinds DO NOT get rides like Fury. It's unheard of. I would equate it to Alabama Splash Adventure getting an Intimidator clone, lol.

So let's hope this addition not just breaks records for the park, but effing annihilates them. I know when Dollywood opened Wild Eagle, Pete mentioned that their season pass sales were about 60% higher than the previous year. SIXTY. PERCENT. That's a huge increase for any park so maybe Fury will do well enough for the park that Cedar Fair will see a good return on their investment.

[kirkgun]

^^Agreed.

And it's not like any *rational* person at CF would expect a return on investment within a single year's attendance pop (although this year's attendance will undoubtedly spike upwards). It's something that'll happen over a longer term. More folks in the Charlotte area will try to go once every summer going forward (instead of once every several years). More folks outside of Charlotte (but within a reasonable driving distance) will choose to try Carowinds instead of SFOG, Dollywood (or other regional parks) over the coming years. More youth groups from churches making it an annual trip to Carowinds each summer. Things like that.


In the case of me and my wife:
Instead of going once every couple years, we got season passes! That would not have happened without Fury. And will probably be adding season meal plans, if I can ever find out *exactly* what menu additions/changes are going to made (and which of those new food options will be included, and not included, with that meal plan). So, it's definitely working on us.

I just hope that the increased attendance happens on the days we aren't at the park.

[jsreid]

I forgot to post this, earlier. This was from a few weeks ago from the 25th floor of the Westin hotel in uptown.

20150116-_MG_0152.jpg (501.75 KiB) Viewed 2579 times

Here it is zoomed in all of the way:

20150116-_MG_0152-1.jpg (250.19 KiB) Viewed 2579 times

[Jarsh]

Awesome shots!

[Littlegiles]

Awesome shots!

I agree! I knew they said it would be visible from uptown, but that is the first evidence I have seen. Amazing!

[hikernut79]

Great shots!

Back to the attendance discussion. Fury definitely compelled me to buy season passes for the first time in several years. We started a family 6 years ago and kind of dropped out of the coaster scene a little bit there but now that my son is turning 6, we bought 3 season passes this year.

[arby]

Those are great shots! Thank you for posting them.

On the discussion of attendance, I think Fury is going to help increase attendance this year. However, I think the biggest factor is Harmony Hall, the new food that they are bringing to the park, and the new shows. If they market that aspect well, they should appeal to a broader spectrum of people and really impact the long term growth of revenue from the park.

I have a lot of friends who have never gone to Carowinds and even when I tell them about Fury they don't care. However, when I start mentioning the food changes under Chef Kris, they are a lot more interested in checking out the park.

[Jonathan]

I bought a season pass for the first time in five years. I also live over 500 miles away. That's probably uncommon, though.

[chknwing]

looks like their putting a roof on the entrance.

[arby]

It looks like the new crane we saw last week is being used for work on the lift hill.

Fury_2_3.JPG (266.87 KiB) Viewed 2499 times

[Capler]

I bought a season pass for the first time in 5 years as well. Considering I don't live in the Charlotte area, it was cheaper for me to simply buy Carowinds and Kings Dominion discount tickets from the credit union. Not interested in a meal plan, otherwise I will be eating for the sake of eating every time I visit the park. That was cool when I was younger, but these days I'm trying to reduce the size of the spare tire around the middle. When you are at the state fair and the poor kid is struggling to clamp you in.... Thank goodness I'm not at a point where I had to get off and take the walk of shame to exit in front of everyone. "Mommy, why they making him get off?"

[uscbandfan]

Thank goodness I'm not at a point where I had to get off and take the walk of shame to exit in front of everyone. "Mommy, why they making him get off?"

I hear that. I went with a large friend of mine a few years ago (before Intimidator) and he couldn't fit on Afterburn. They made a show of it. HOWEVER, there was an option. We waited a ride at the exit and were told that row 5 (I think it was row 5) had extra large seats with 2 belts. So, we did get to ride the next train. I don't remember seeing different size seats on Intimidator when I was there last year so I doubt he'd even be able to ride that one. (Or Fury either for that matter).

[RollerBee]

All of Intimidator's seats are the same. I normally have to do the walk of shame on Intimidator and Reptar, sometimes Windseeker. I tend to lose the weight during when Carowinds is open and gain it back after Carowinds closes.

[coasterbruh]

I guess im not as fat as I thought...I have never been denied a ride on any coaster...