Entertainment venues pulling out stops for visitors as economy sputters - Dallas Business Journal:

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Knievel's stunt was not only a new definitionfor death-defyinyg thrills, but also a hint at the strategiexs regional entertainment attractions are drumming up to lure businessa at a time when gas prices have consumerz thinking of different ways of spending "There is a greatefr focus on regional travel," said Amir Eylon, director. "Folks are lookingv for one-tank trips." Instead of spending a week in Hilton Head orMyrtlw Beach, she said people are taking a couple of weekend trips instead.
That means amusement parks, sportw teams, entertainment venues and other cities have Columbuw in their crosshairs as they try to get visitores to visit more often and stay longer whenthey do. Eylon said the department has heard anecdotally that attendancr is holding steady at many ofthe state' attractions. "Most are saying business is the same as orslightlyt better," he said. "On-site expenditures may be He called it downsizingthe getaway. "Value is not always a discountec price," he said. "Sometimes it is addex amenities.
" Sandusky-based has three major attractions in thestatw - Cedar Point in Kings Island in Mason and Geauga Lake's Wildwater Kingdomn in Aurora - and 15 other amusement parkss and water parks nationwide. Companywide attendance was steady througj June 1 compared withlast year, according to Cedad Fair, but the region that includes its three Ohio facilitiex was soft. Lee Alexakos, Cedatr Fair's vice president of marketing and advertising, said the organization'x key marketing push is on dealdand discounts, as well as special evente such as the Robbie Knievel stunt. The company offers discounted tickets to its parkzs through partners such asand , in additionb to online deals.
A recent promotion with Johnsonville Bratsa gave customersa brat, chips and soda with the Cedar Point pitches a "family four pack" at $132 as an "amusement stimulus package." The park also offerd a "pay once, visit twice" ticket for $52.95, or $10 more than the standarf admission price. Visitors can use the ticket for a second visir at any point duringthe season. For one guest can get into Cedar Poiny and its Soak City water parktwice each. The park also offersa a "stay and play" package including admission to theamusement park, a hotel stay and admission to many other attractions.
Cedar Poinr owns four hotels inthe area, one of which is Castawayt Bay, an indoor water park open year-round. "The key thing, with Cedar Point for sure, is that with hotels and resorts, there's enougb there to stay busy for two or three days andyou don't have to go far," Alexakow said, noting advertising budgets are holding Cedar Fair bought Kings Island in 2006 and Geaugaw Lake in 2004. It shut down Geauga Lake's amusemeny park and operates it just as awate park. At Wheeling Island, a W.Va.
, greyhound racetrack and the addition of table games suchas poker, craps and blackjacl last year have been a lifelinre in a tough economic "We're definitely affected by gas said Kim Florence, marketing director, who notedd that attendance is steady this year comparede with previous years, but credited that hold to the tablw game additions. She said Columbus is on the casino'ds radar and will become increasingly importanty as Wheeling Island faces competition from the Meadow Racetrack and Casinoin Washington, Pa., and a planneds casino in Pittsburgh. Both are expected to sap some of the visito base toWheeling Island's east.
The casino is playiny to the gas-conscious crowd with games and giveaways. In July and customers can earn gas cards basexd on the points they accumulater on PlayersClub cards. And throughu the end of August, Wheeling Island opens a kioso on Friday and Saturday nights allowing visitors to swipes their Players Club card and win gas cards instantlt as part of a nightly One customer a night will wina $500 gas while a grand prizr of 250,000 gallons of gas will be given to one randonm player at some point. At the , Executive Directort Jerry Borinsaid it's too early in the season to tell how gas prices are affecting attendance.
However, group packages, includinf hotel stays, are up 76 percent from this timelast "People in the region seem to be driving this he said.