Third time lucky for Freestyle Park?

[Ian]

There's a chance that Freestyle Park (née Hard Rock Park) could reopen in Summer 2012.

The mortgage owners, FPI US LLC, forced the previous operators, FPI MB Entertainment LLC, to close the park last year.

On Monday, FPI US LLC successfully "repurchased" the property at auction for $7m (£4.3/€4.9) on Monday.

FPI US LLC have three options; Reopen the park themselves, sell it to another company or allow another company to operate it on their behalf.

The attorney for FPI US LLC said no decisions have been made, but remarked it “would be great” to open for Summer 2012.

I'm not holding my breath.

 

[tomahawk]

If a major company comes in to run it (don't know why they would) then I can see it as a far chance. Other than that, let it die.

 

[Snoo]

It should die. Terrible planning.. almost zero success.. bad market choice.. never gonna work.

 

[Mark]

Does anyone think Merlin could make a go of this?

I really hope the park does survive on. Everyone loves an underdog and it would be great to see the park start to make some progress. CF was all for the park to the point they even used a members comment on their marketing.

Fingers crossed they can find an operator and pull things back from the brink.

 

[Xpress]

Six flags should buy this. More room to add more coasters and try to claim another park for having Tthe most coasters in the world!

 

[Gavin]

No park chain in their right minds would go near this knowing that there just isn't much of a market for it.

Having said that, $7 million is small change for those companies. How much more would they have to plough into advertising, so that people actually know it exists, though?

 

[CoasterCrazy]

It wouldn't take more to make this into a great family theme park. If Merlin or SF could give this park a major retheme and a few more rides then they could turn this into a great family theme park! :--D

However, the only problem would be that they'd have to cut the budgets for their other parks

 

[SaiyanHajime]

Surely $7 mill is worth it just to nab the rides and relocate them, before selling the land for... something useful?

 

[Mysterious Sue]

At first glance, US$7M seems like a tiny amount for a whole park including land, buildings and rides. Surely an operator would be crazy not to snap it up?!

However, I'm sure the reality is a little more depressing. Just how easy would it actually be to relocate some of the larger rides, which are fairly old by now? It's one thing relocating a wild mouse, but another to move a whole B&M!
The park has also failed in the same location in two previous incarnations, so there's obviously going to be some major issues for anyone who wants to simply re-open the park where it is.

I have to say, it doesn't look too rosy...

 

[Hyde]

It should die. Terrible planning.. almost zero success.. bad market choice.. never gonna work.

But they did quote us for their billboard! :razz: