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Virus scare impacts spring attendance for parks

Pam Sherborne Amusement Today

As a growing panic from the H1N1 virus (swine flu) began subsiding the first couple of weeks of May, U.S. amusement facility managers and operators were sitting, looking at the impact of a sweeping fear that began only the month before.

Cases of the new virus swelled in Mexico, then crept slowly into the U.S. and worldwide. The first U.S. death related directly to the H1N1 virus was reported in Houston, Texas.

School districts began closing as suspected cases were reported and outings, festivals, and other events, many of those associated with Cinco de Mayo, were canceled.

By May 12, scientists were reporting they felt the worse was most likely over, even though everyday more cases were being reported, due, they said, to a backlog of testing. For many associated with the amusement industry, however, the impact was already real.

“This was going to be a difficult year for us anyway due to the economy,” said Pat Thomson, Western Playland Amusement Park, Sunland Park, N.M

In one fell swoop, Thomson’s spring attendance hit a low. He had about 3,000 cancellations from school groups alone. Then, they had to cancel their Fiesta Cinco de Mayo festival, a week-long event that normally draws between 5,000-6,000 people.

“There was talk at the time that they might close the border and we are right on the border,” Thomson said. “People go back and forth. They were afraid they might get stuck here. The promoter was worried about ticket sales. Even by that time, it wasn’t that serious here.”

Western Playland wasn’t alone. Cancellations spread with the alerts as the virus spread in the U.S. The southwest was particularly hard hit because of its location next to the Mexican border. But, schools nationwide also shut down.

Looking at the southwest, Wonderland Amusement Park, Amarillo, Texas, also felt a hit. That was mainly due to the cancellation of the Greater Southwest Music Festival, set for the first weekend in May in Amarillo.

“We had an unconfirmed case in this area,” said Paula Borchandt, owner. “So, the board (of the Greater Southwest Music Festival) decided to cancel the whole thing. This is a tri-state music festival with bands from the three states coming here. Before they go back home, they come out here and visit the park. So, instead of having about 4,000 people visit the park during that time, we had about 1,000 that lived close by.”

And, it wasn’t just the park that was impacted. The hotels and restaurants that literally bank on this event will also come up short at the end of the year.

“Hopefully, it won’t bankrupt the event,” Borchandt said.

Wonderland added three rides this year and Borchandt felt it was too bad the groups didn’t get the opportunity to enjoy them. The rides included a Vekoma coaster, the Hornet; a Chance Yo-Yo swing ride and a Moser 200-foot drop tower.

The Greater Southwest Music Festival Web site stated that the event was canceled as of May 2. It went on to state: “At this time, it is not possible to set any kind of deadline for possible estimated refunds. We still have incurred all the expenses that must be paid for all the arrangements made for this year’s festival.”

Events all across Texas, New Mexico, Southern California, and elsewhere felt the punch. A small sampling showed that:

•The Mayfest in Fort Worth, which was set for April 30-May 3, was cancelled. That four-day event normally attracts about 200,000. A report in the Dallas Business Journal stated that profits from that event, “which to date top $5.8 million,” is invested back into the community. In its 37-year history, it has never been canceled.

•Cleburne, Texas, canceled its Springfest and Big Bend Ranch State Park’s party of tours and free barbecue.

•Special Olympics Texas called off some of its events held during the first weekend of May.

• Cinco de Mayo events in Fort Worth, Cleburne and Denton were also canceled or postponed.

Even though Six Flags Inc. corporate communications couldn’t be reached for comments prior to going to print with this issue, it was reported that the theme park shut down its indoor facilities, including restaurants and show venues, at its Mexico City facility. On May 1, the government asked all Mexico City amusement facilities to close for a few days during the peak of the outbreak. By May 5, however, the Mexican government announced it would be back to normalcy for the city.

Jeffrey Siebert, communications director, Schlitterbahn, said schools were closed in Comal County, Texas, where the New Braunfels park is located. An adjoining county, Quadalupe County, also closed schools.

“All those folks that worked here that needed to stay home did so in conjunction with the school districts,” Siebert said. “Anyone that lived in either of those counties that worked here were asked not to come to work. Any employee that had flulike symptoms, were also sent home.”

Siebert said the park reduced its operations, opening only one section of the park because of the reduced number of employees.

“The community did respond to the situation until more information was available,” he said. “At the park, we added more hand sanitizers and added more signage in the restrooms asking not only our employees but guests alike to remember to wash their hands. We had a crew that did nothing but keep the hand rails, table tops and other place such as that, sanitized.”

Of course, turning away guests was a touchy situation. Guests weren’t asked if they lived in the counties where the school districts were closed. But, he said, some guests were turned away if they came and were obviously sick.

As of May 5, however, all schools in those two counties were back in session. Many amusement attractions felt fortunate not to have been impacted.

Fran Stephenson, director of communications, SeaWorld San Antonio, Texas, said her park did have some groups postpone that first weekend when the media was playing the story big.

“But, they postponed,” she said. “They didn’t cancel. We did have several school groups cancel, but we weren’t sure why. We didn’t have any school closings in San Antonio. We worked closely with the city officials. We were open that first weekend in May.

In fact, that first weekend in May started a three-weekend long festival the park calls Bud & Barbecue Music Festival.

“Sarah Evans played on May 2 and we had a great crowd,” she said.

Linda Hays, vice president, Cliff’s Amusement Park, Albuquerque, N.M., said her park wasn’t impacted as much as some.

“When the schools closed down south, it was announced during the week,” she said. “Then, it was decided to reopen them that same week. So, as far as we can tell there wasn’t much fallout.”

BRIEF

OmniTicket Network, Best Union now one company

After a successful 2008 during which OmniTicket Network (OTN) increased its 2007 revenue by 37 percent, OTN accepted the offer from Best Union Company (BUC), an Italian ticketing and service provider listed on the Milan stock exchange, to merge its operations with BUC via the sale of 100 percent of its capital.

Following the merger the OTN operating companies will continue doing business as usual under the OTN name.

Paolo Moro, former OTN president and CEO, will remain with the company as corporate business development executive and will work side by side with Luca Montebugnoli, BUC’s CEO.

The merger of BUC and OTN forms a new group that worldwide is one of the top five global providers for ticketing systems, ticket distribution and related services, one of the top three in Europe and by far the top company in Italy.

In terms of ticketing and access control system sales this further enhances their already established worldwide leadership.