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CEDAR FAIR PREPARES FOR AN EXCITING 2008 OPERATING SEASON
May
8, 2008
A
Cedar Fair Press Release
· BEHEMOTH, CANADA’S LONGEST, TALLEST AND FASTEST ROLLER
COASTER OPENS TO RAVE REVIEWS
· INTRODUCES 18 NEW LIVE ENTERTAINMENT SHOWS
· CONFIRMS FULL-YEAR GUIDANCE
SANDUSKY, OHIO, May 8, 2008 -- Cedar Fair Entertainment
Company (NYSE: FUN), a leader in regional amusement parks,
water parks and active entertainment, held a conference call
with analysts and investors Tuesday, May 6, 2008 to discuss
first quarter operating results and the 2008 operating
season.
On the call Dick Kinzel, Cedar Fair’s chairman, president
and chief executive officer discussed the Company’s $88
million capital expenditure program for 2008, which includes
five roller coasters, three exciting thrill rides and many
new shows. The program is highlighted by Behemoth, a $21
million record-breaking roller coaster at Canada’s
Wonderland. “I had the opportunity this Saturday to visit
Canada’s Wonderland and ride Behemoth,” said Kinzel. “It was
everything that I thought and hoped it would be.”
Kinzel added, “ I think it’s important to point out that in
2008 we will offer 50 live shows across our parks, with more
than one-third of them being new. These added entertainment
options at our parks improve the overall guest experience
and provide significant value to a visit.”
At this time, the Company has seven of its ten seasonal
amusement parks in operation, with Cedar Point and
Valleyfair scheduled to open this weekend. The Company’s
season pass sales and group business are trending ahead of
last year, while reservations at its resort properties are
trending slightly behind this time a year ago. With
approximately 95% of its revenues still to be earned, it is
still too early to accurately forecast 2008’s full-year
performance. At this time, the Company expects to generate
full-year revenues between $990 million and $1.02 billion.
Although there was an inadvertent misstatement during the
conference call, the Company confirms that it does expect
full-year adjusted EBITDA to be in the $340-$355 million
range.
The Company continues to look for ways to add value for its
customers. In 2008, it introduced the “Platinum Pass” which
allows the holder access to its 18 properties across North
America as well as free parking at all of its parks. The
Company also opened two parks, California’s Great America
and Kings Dominion, a week earlier to take advantage of the
early spring holiday and several parks will extend their
operating season this fall by one additional weekend.
“We have also extended the daily operating hours at several
of our parks allowing guests to take advantage of a full day
of entertainment,” said Kinzel. “This is just another way we
are able to improve the guest experience and add value at
our parks. It’s this type of change that guests appreciate
and helps to keep families coming back year after year.”
Cedar Fair is a publicly traded partnership headquartered in
Sandusky, Ohio, and one of the largest regional
amusement-resort operators in the world. The Company owns
and operates 11 amusement parks, six outdoor water parks,
one indoor water park and five hotels. Amusement parks in
the company’s Northern Region include two in Ohio: Cedar
Point, consistently voted “Best Amusement Park in the World”
in Amusement Today polls and Kings Island; as well as
Canada’s Wonderland, near Toronto; Dorney Park, PA;
Valleyfair, MN; and Michigan’s Adventure, MI. In the
Southern Region are Kings Dominion, VA; Carowinds, NC; and
Worlds of Fun, MO. Western parks in California include:
Knott’s Berry Farm; California’s Great America; and Gilroy
Gardens, which is managed under contract. Also included in
that region is Star Trek: The Experience, a Las Vegas-based
interactive adventure.
Some of the statements contained in this news release
constitute forward-looking statements. These statements may
involve risk and uncertainties that could cause actual
results to differ materially from those described in such
statements. Although the Company believes that the
expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements
are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such
expectations will prove to have been correct. Important
factors, including general economic conditions, competition
for consumer leisure time and spending, adverse weather
conditions, unanticipated construction delays and other
factors could affect attendance at our parks and cause
actual results to differ materially from the Company’s
expectations. In addition, risks and uncertainties
concerning the acquisition of the Paramount Parks include,
but are not limited to the ability of the Company to combine
the operations and take advantage of growth, savings and
synergy opportunities. |