What's next for Busch Gardens Tampa??

[GA-MBIT]

Does SWE usually give heads-up when these rides close or should I get my last rides in asap?

 

[Speed]

Does SWE usually give heads-up when these rides close or should I get my last rides in asap?

Gwazi's closure was announced I think around 2 months prior, Iceploration's was around 3 months also so they do give some notice

 

[GAcoaster]

They have a history of reusing stations, so they could easily build a new coaster using the existing station, queue, and train shed. There's plenty of space back there to build a 200'-300'+ coaster around/over those drainage ponds with a twister portion at the end utilizing some of the existing terrain/tunnel/bridges/etc.

 

[Magic-Man]

Kumba isn't going anywhere. Screamscape just published a Ride of Steel Closing rumor last month that was debunked by Darien Lake themselves. Kumba just got a repaint anyways.

 

[shiekra38]

Screamscape is reporting Kumba's days may be numbered. As one of the oldest B&Ms and and with year round operating season it is probably near the end of its operating life (like Hulk and DD).

If that is the case that would be an ideal space for them to build a hyper or giga to replace it...

Kumba doesn't do near the cycles Kumba does, however, it is 6 years older than OG Hulk was

This may be nostalgia talking, but I would love to see them re-track it and perhaps throw in some newer trains with the B&M vest restraints

I feel like this could operate for at least a decade more

However....If they must replace it

Mack is doing some amazing hypers with inversions and it would be a worthy replacement

That also begs the question...how far behind would Montu be in also getting replaced? It's only a few years younger than Kumba

Python was my first looping coaster. It's gone. Kumba was my first B&M. So it's probably toast.

We're getting old

 

[GAcoaster]

This may be nostalgia talking, but I would love to see them re-track it and perhaps throw in some newer trains with the B&M vest restraints

I feel like this could operate for at least a decade more

However....If they must replace it

Mack is doing some amazing hypers with inversions and it would be a worthy replacement

Re-tracking is great if the coaster is so beloved (or in the case of Hulk) something that they really can't replace with something else because of existing infrastructure/licensing. When it comes to replacing a coaster that has lower ridership, there's no reason to spend millions on an exact replacement (which will not draw much more ridership and isn't really "marketable" as a new coaster) instead of spending the same (or just a little more money) to build something brand new that is a new ride and will draw guests. How do you market "it's our new coaster that's exactly the same as our coaster you already road, but this one is brand new!".

The GP won't think "Kumba was a little rough, but this new version of Kumba will be so much smoother! Let's get to Busch Gardens to ride the same coaster we already rode, but just a little smoother!!!"

 

[shiekra38]

Re-tracking is great if the coaster is so beloved (or in the case of Hulk) something that they really can't replace with something else because of existing infrastructure/licensing. When it comes to replacing a coaster that has lower ridership, there's no reason to spend millions on an exact replacement (which will not draw much more ridership and isn't really "marketable" as a new coaster) instead of spending the same (or just a little more money) to build something brand new that is a new ride and will draw guests. How do you market "it's our new coaster that's exactly the same as our coaster you already road, but this one is brand new!".

The GP won't think "Kumba was a little rough, but this new version of Kumba will be so much smoother! Let's get to Busch Gardens to ride the same coaster we already rode, but just a little smoother!!!"

The re-track option is purely coming from my nostalgia talking, see the second half of my statement on what I think would work as a replacement

 

[Speed]

I know the social media team probably wouldn’t know about it yet but they’re very confident that Kumba is staying

 

[Scott W.]

I know the social media team probably wouldn’t know about it yet but they’re very confident that Kumba is staying

I'm sure they'd ask somebody in the know before posting this.

 

[Parkscope Joe]

I'm sure they'd ask somebody in the know before posting this.

Or they're told to do it.

I can see how this rumor gets out, someone not in the direct decision-making sphere gets told that Kumba has hit EOL and there's a canceled refurb. Easy to put 1 + 1 together there, but I'm happy BGT made the decision to do a (presumed) refurbishment.

 

[TheGentTrent]

So Nov. 1st appears to be the unofficial "Save the Date" if Screamscape is to be believed. As someone who always came off Kumba with a headache, I won't shed a tear over its demise.

 

[shiekra38]

As wonderful as it is to see Kumba getting some love on social media, BGT also denied Gwazi getting the RMC treatment...until they didn't

Regardless of if it's leaving, I do hope people feel urgent to give the coaster some extra attention

Riding in the back row the other day after riding IG really reminded me how intense and special that coaster is

 

[OhHaiInternet95]

If Kumba is leaving will Montu follow? Only a three year difference.

 

[Speed]

 

[GAcoaster]

If Kumba is leaving will Montu follow? Only a three year difference.

Quite possible.

My thought is that IF (and it's possible the rumor is really wrong) Kumba goes, the site sits vacant for a few years while a new coaster is budgeted and designed for it. Being on the back edge of the park it wouldn't feel like a big unused space the way Gwazi did while it was out of commission.

 

[OhHaiInternet95]

Quite possible.

My thought is that IF (and it's possible the rumor is really wrong) Kumba goes, the site sits vacant for a few years while a new coaster is budgeted and designed for it. Being on the back edge of the park it wouldn't feel like a big unused space the way Gwazi did while it was out of commission.

I hope they retrack at least one of them if need be.

 

[GAcoaster]

I hope they retrack at least one of them if need be.

And of the two, Montu would be the more logical re-track. It's consistently popular and very specifically designed for the site.

 

[OhHaiInternet95]

And of the two, Montu would be the more logical re-track. It's consistently popular and very specifically designed for the site.

So, a reverse of what Universal did.

 

[OLSinFLA]

So, a reverse of what Universal did.

If you mean Dragons, once they stopped dueling they were pointless. The whole ride was design around that. Without it they became short, pretty dull coasters by B&M standards

 

[OhHaiInternet95]

If you mean Dragons, once they stopped dueling they were pointless. The whole ride was design around that. Without it they became short, pretty dull coasters by B&M standards

Given that they installed metal detectors they could’ve easily kept dueling. So I’m guessing those drastic measures were part of the settlements. Point remains—Uni retracted their sit down and tore down their invert(s), and I could see Busch doing the reverse.