Author Topic: OPINION: Advertising on Roller Coasters is Bad (Read 8606 times)

jglonek · « **on:** May 25, 2010, 12:21:17 PM »

So, something I want to do more of on the new site is editorial/opinion pieces - articles that express the views of a specific member of the staff and may not reflect the views of Great Adventure Outpost as a whole. But, I came across something recently where I feel I should start it now.

About a week ago I came across an article on Screamscape discussing the fact that Six Flags Great Adventure is putting advertisements on roller coaster trains themselves, specifically Kingda Ka and El Toro. I posted a general thread about it in the forums, and you can read that here, with photos from detailing the advertising.

On Sunday one of our members, Millenium Force 44, posted a photo he took of El Toro with the advertisements. The picture is below (great camera, by the way).

Look at that. It. Looks. Terrible.

In my own opinion (and again, this may not be the views of everyone at Outpost), this is, well, not a good thing to be doing, to put it lightly.

It's one thing to have signs that say "Nitro sponsored by Starburst!" or something like that. It's a completely different matter to completely cover the trains in advertisements. What purpose does it serve? Is it bringing in that much extra money that it's worth defiling the trains and look of the ride? Why don't we just replace the Kingda Ka trains with giant Twix bars?

Some of us really enjoy theming of attractions, and we enjoy what little we can find at Great Adventure. But to go and take away part of that theming for advertisements.. it just doesn't feel right at all.

I hope the park will realize, or already does, that advertising on the attractions themselves is just silly and we won't be seeing anymore of this. The park has already had so many new sponsors and coporate agreements the past few years that I really, really don't think this is necessary. But I have a sinking feeling this won't be going away anytime soon.

One thing I'm not sure of: Is this happening at other Six Flags parks, or just ours?

Well, that's what I have to say on the matter. I'm very interested in hearing everyone else's opinion as well.

Coasterdude28 · « **Reply #1 on:** May 25, 2010, 12:27:12 PM »

Amen. I absolutely hate the idea of this. It makes the ride look terrible. And yes, do believe a few other parks are doing the same thing.

AV Matt · « **Reply #2 on:** May 25, 2010, 12:43:27 PM »

My opinion. Advertising in parks for ANY product outside of the park is lame. I go to parks to escape everyday life. Anytime they introduce obnoxious technology (giant plasma sceen TV's) or plaster corporate sponsorship everywhere, it ruins the illusion.

DianaR · « **Reply #3 on:** May 25, 2010, 12:54:15 PM »

I guess i'll be the oddball here and say It didnt bother me to see the Stride El Torro train (as Coastin Steve pointed out at CC, It looks great in pictures!) or, the Karate Kid Kingda Ka train. If it brings in revenue for repairs or additions, I'm all for it. It would be even nicer if helped the park reduce the food prices but I know that's not going to happen.

nitrorox1414 · « **Reply #4 on:** May 25, 2010, 04:03:43 PM »

I do not like the idea of the advertisement

B-mac · « **Reply #5 on:** May 25, 2010, 05:30:11 PM »

It completely depends. if it's light advertisements where it's just, let's say a sticker on the back of the headrests, I'm perfectly fine with it. But the ads on toro completely ruin the ride, themeing and all.

coastersue · « **Reply #6 on:** May 25, 2010, 06:54:15 PM »

It's definitely not just our park. Viper at SFMM had advertisements on 1 train and I just saw pictures on Screamscape today showing them on coasters at SFGAm.

For the record, I don't like them.

dkny6363 · « **Reply #7 on:** May 26, 2010, 12:03:32 AM »

I don't mind it on steel coasters, especially the average ones. Bright colours don't look out of place on steel. Purple, Blue, and Orange on El Toro ruins the look of it. I know some ppl don't think El toro is a true woodie, or at least rides like a steel. But the fact is this. El Toro is challenging for #1 coaster in the world every year. Does mucking it up with stride wrapping paper help its cause? You have to think not. Ka, Nitro, Bizzaro, Gasm, Batman, Superman... Go ahead advertise away. But keep it off the wood.

Ogolo · « **Reply #8 on:** May 26, 2010, 07:08:06 AM »

At least one train is still El Toro!

The Stide Enhanced train needs a dragon head added.

SFGA could have a new ride for 2010 called "The Dragon".
Now all we need is some fire!

AV Matt · « **Reply #9 on:** May 26, 2010, 07:22:21 PM »

Quote from: dkny6363 on May 26, 2010, 12:03:32 AM

But the fact is this. El Toro is challenging for #1 coaster in the world every year. Does mucking it up with stride wrapping paper help its cause?

At this point, I don't think it matters one bit to Great Adventure what we think. Going up any further in the "rankings" isn't going to amount to any significant boost in attendance/revenue. And the GP aren't going to stop riding it, even if they paint the whole thing hot pink and change the name to Barbie The Ride.

rjholla2003 · « **Reply #10 on:** May 26, 2010, 08:41:39 PM »

Anyone see the Axe Twist wrap on GASM yet? Looks better than El Toro...but far from American.

I personally feel like sponsorship is a necessary evil, but there's a right way and a wrong way to do it. Disney is VERY good at doing that the right way. The sponsorships are blatant, but not rude. They keep the class of the parks with their sponsorships, and tie them into the theme of the ride in an organic way. Six Flags...they are a mix of a mall and NASCAR...

nitrorox1414 · « **Reply #11 on:** May 26, 2010, 09:08:05 PM »

If its a way to get money. Why not.

But if its really ugly **couph couph** then dont put it on!

Ogolo · « **Reply #12 on:** May 26, 2010, 09:42:56 PM »

I hope the ads come off without damaging the original train design.

Millennium Force 44 · « **Reply #13 on:** May 29, 2010, 09:49:57 PM »

Here are a few more pictures I took yesterday. I have to admit though, the Scream Machine ads make the train look like the green trains on Viper at Magic Mountain, which I think is pretty neat. The El Toro trains still look weird though. I think it would have looked a little better if the entire train was one color, and not alternating colors every car.

Stride butt

nitrorox1414 · « **Reply #14 on:** May 30, 2010, 12:03:30 AM »

what GASM train is that?

GADVwow · « **Reply #15 on:** May 30, 2010, 07:00:54 AM »

It doesn't contribute to the park atmosphere favorably...on El Toro, ... or GASM.

Steve · « **Reply #16 on:** May 30, 2010, 10:30:30 AM »

Quote from: nitrorox1414 on May 30, 2010, 12:03:30 AM

what GASM train is that?

The white one.

GADVwow · « **Reply #17 on:** May 30, 2010, 10:41:22 AM »

I am going to be good here. I really am.

Otherwise a rather racy comment would be forthcoming!

Millennium Force 44 · « **Reply #18 on:** May 30, 2010, 01:07:10 PM »

picture from a SF Great America trip report on TPR. El Toro's advertisement train's cousin.

B-mac · « **Reply #19 on:** May 30, 2010, 04:44:34 PM »

Now that train doesn't look half bad... Just if it's put in with a theme it completely ruins the ride.

WadeJ · « **Reply #20 on:** May 30, 2010, 06:26:39 PM »

LMAO wow lol

nitrorox1414 · « **Reply #21 on:** May 30, 2010, 06:43:03 PM »

It looks pretty bad. This is crazy. Why ruin a coaster like that. Put the ads on the season pass cup. or on your ticket SOMETHING other then the train

Fjask · « **Reply #22 on:** May 30, 2010, 08:52:54 PM »

It reminds me of Xanadu at the meadowlands. Looks like they took a whole bunch of paint buckets and went crazy with it.

rjholla2003 · « **Reply #23 on:** May 30, 2010, 09:07:37 PM »

Wow, you're funny man!

These coasters...why can't they do it the same way that Disney does?

nitrorox1414 · « **Reply #24 on:** May 31, 2010, 07:42:54 PM »

Isnt that tall thing a ski hill?

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Author Topic: OPINION: Advertising on Roller Coasters is Bad (Read 8606 times)