SFAW auction Update

[Bubba Z]

An up date from Rastus O'Ginga over at http://groups.google.com/group/rec.roller-coaster


"I got there in the middle of ride sales today. What a joke. XLR-8
went for $7,000!! I don't know if you have to deconstruct it
yourself, or if that is FOB Astroworld's back lot. Quite a bargain.
I'd think the stell in it is worth that EASY. Hell, you could sell
the trains to collectors for most of that money. Then the steel would
be bonus. I doubt this thing is going to be reconstructed, so I'd say
the buyer is doing exactly what I think.


The Barnstormer went for the same, I think. I missed out on Viper and
Greezed Lightnin. I could see those actually going for a real amount,
but I don't know. Serpent, track only, went for $5,000. That was a
head scratcher. If the steel in Serpent's track is worth 5 grand,
XLR-8 should have been worth MUCH more, which makes me think XLR-8
didn't include tear down. Since only about 5 trains were ever made to
run on Serpent's track. I can't see the ride ever being rebuilt.


There were tons of boxes of generic Batman, Spongebob, Looney Tunes,
and urban crap. Even at 75% off it was still a bit pricey, imho.
Hmm, I can't imagine why Six Flags is hurting.


All in all the auction was as crappily ran as the park. The
astroworldauction.com site looks like it was made by a 12 year old and
gives such cryptic info, you have to wonder if they wanted a big
turnout. The lot list exists, but wasn't on that site. They could
have easily put up the list, and stated what lots for what day. I
have to wonder if there are shenanigans going on.


Not to mention that there are really very few signs going up for
auction. I'd guess insiders/A-listers/ACE bought or took the good
ones. The only ride sign for sale is for Thunder River. I'm sure it
will go for quite a bit. As will the Cyclone height sign.


No ride parts for sale. Maybe they shipped extra parts to other
parks. NO coaster wheels, etc. There are still Fright Fest
decorations in the park. Apparently they were bought by an insider,
or are going to be stupidly trashed.


You could see Batman about half torn down right at the auction site.
You could walk around the remnants of Greezed Lightnin'. Only Ultra
Twister's lift remains. Serial Thriller is pretty much gone. Cyclone
still stands.


All infrastructure seems to be still intact. I can't believe the
rumors of the land being sold and it will be flat by Rodeo. Unless
they plan to use a small nuke to do the job. From the employee
entrance, it was quite easy to see that Astroworld's land is not worth
half of what they were claiming. Behind it is basically warehouses
and empty lots. Not exactly high price land.


It is clear Six Flags was VERY desperate for money, and did a very
stupid thing by selling the park. I can't imagine the IRR on selling
it will be anywhere near keeping the park running, even at the
pathetic pace they did it.


They got basically nothing for the rides. Moved some crap rides to
parks that will see basically no attendance increase from them. And
got maybe $50 Million for the land, if they were lucky.


Rastus O'Ginga"

[/quote]

[overlord]

So you are telling me that i could have bought XLR-8 for the price of a fine, used automobile? I could have had a roller coaster in my backyard! Think of all the income i would have.

[innervision]

Man, I paid that much for my car. I definitley could have sold the XLR8 cars for more than that.

[blazzinmatt]

I paid more for my car than a roller coaster. My family wasn't able to head out and we wouldn't be able to afford it anyway. Wow I can't believe it only went for that little.

[GAcoaster]

Actually, XRL-8's high bid was $7000, but the bidder for it did not meet the reserve.   They are being given the option of paying the reserve price for it now, or it will be sold through a broker (or more likely for scrap).

The same holds for Greezed Lightnin', Viper, and Mayan Mindbender.  

Here's a list of the rides that were sold:

Gunslinger (Chance Yo-Yo) for $23,000
Looping Starship (Intamin) for $17,000
Barnstormer (skycoaster) for $5,000
Serpent (Arrow mini mine train) - track only for $4,000

The Carousel and Train were sold before the auction even began.   I wouldn't put too much stock in ANYTHING Rastus O'Ginga posts after reading some of the racist tirades and other ignorant ramblings he's posted (as pointed out through ARN&R) :wink:

[sfgadvfreak]

That is literally unbelieveable.  To think that SF would sell a whole coaster for $7,000.  There is no way to describe how insane that is...oh yeah...desprate.

[stew560]

It wasn't sold for $7000, re-read GACoaster's post...