Hard Rock / Freestyle Music Park Discussion Thread

[KennyweirdI play Metroid every day!]

That's a shame. Hopefully they can pull out of it and make a comeback, but then again this is the amusement industry, where the rule is parks failing instead of succeeding.

[ShavethewhalesI wish they would make Street Fighter Donkey.]

Personally, after seeing the Photo TR by Rob, I knew that would happene. You look at the aprk and it's just so random. Bland park with a rock theme... somewhere.

By that logic, how do you explain Visionland or most Six Flags Parks? The music themes are carried out very well, and the park is an overall solid, professional attraction. The problem is simply the dynamics of their marketing. As Lance said on Screamscape, many people still don't even know the park exists yet.

Say what you want about what attractions the place needs, but most parks half it's size and magnitude have fared better just by sending out tons of annoying radio ads. It's all a marketing thing.

[YoshiFanDon't make me kick you in the donkey!]

They really need to lower their prices. There isn't enough there for the $50 gate price.

I don't know if they could pull it off but I think if they did a pay per ride system with free admission and sold wristbands for those who want unlimited tides, they would get a lot more visitors.

[knottslover77TPR's Movie Freak]

The park will catch on, it just needs 2-3 years to grow.

--Jay

[fallen xxiMacaroni and Donkey]

Saying that it's sub-par is absolutely not true. They're a very small step below a Universal park (minus Knights in White Satin). It's just that the prices are rediculous, as said before. It just dosen't even out. I think you shouldn't make inferences about parks you've never been to.

[BeemerBoyWDW Monorail Fanatic]

Location, location, location.

[coasterdude5Randomness]

I think the park needs to "fill in" and mature a bit. With a new advertising strategy, I'm sure this park will suceed in the long-run.

[crazydavehI know more about donkeys than women!]

If it's this dead during the summer, I'd hate to see it in the off season. I have not been, but would like to try it out.

Living in Florida, we have not seen anything for the HRP. This is understandable, as I'm in Orlando, and advertising here is stupid for them. HRP should advertise all over the Carolina's, Atlanta, Virginia, and possibly Maryland and WV.

I hope the park survives, they have a good idea that they can build on. I'd like to try it out soon.

[OldJJmanBorn when stamps were 2 cents]

Location, location, location.

That's quite true.

I said it from day 1 (I'm not going to bother looking up where I said it though.), this park will fail.

Reason - That area of the country CAN NOT support a quality amusement park.

They could barely support MBP. MBP was losing money. plain and simple. The locals couldn't support it enough to keep it alive. The owners saw an opportunity to sell, and did. It is now my understanding that the condo towers that were supposed to go up there, have stalled due to lack of sales. (i.e. NO MONEY coming in.)

The property that HRP was built on, (IIRC) or near, an ABANDONED shopping mall. It take quite a lot to kill an indoor shopping mall!

If the local economy can kill a shopping mall, what chance does an amusement park have?

Look at the demographics: it's damn close to being a retirement community. No other real points of interest (unless you LOVE playing golf!) that could bring in the tourist dollars needed to make it survive, because the locals can't support it. It just won't happen.

Myrtle Beach IS NOT a major tourist destination anymore!! It will never be that way again.

Scott is right. It all boils down to location. The Hard Rock people made a POOR decision by building the park in Myrtle Beach. Especially, considering the initial investment made by the Hard Rock company. It would be interesting

You can argue that "Where else would they go?"

There's plenty of available land in SoCal or Orlando that could have been looked at. That way they could have been a year 'round operation. Even with the stiff competition, they could've had a fighting chance. Especially with so many more attractions to draw people in, and (very important I might add) better, larger airport accessibility.

The first year, IOA didn't do all that great. I believe that USF still outdraws IOA in sheer numbers. But IOA is gaining ground. Plus, it's open all year to keep up with the Disneys, and other attractions down I-4.

Think about it, with no real competition, HRP is falling way below expectations. They have nothing else to offer.

I see the park opening next year, and the same thing happening. By then the locals will have already have that "been there, done that" syndrome.

After that, I seriously doubt that they will be open for a 3rd season.


JJ

[jarmortoken black guy]

I just think they are unaware of what a theme park should be. Yeah the dude work for universal or what not but its not like he working in the creative department. It goes to show just cause you worked at a theme park doesn't mean you know how to run a theme park...