News
1,633,935 ATTEND THE BIG E IN 2024, SEVEN SINGLE-DAY ATTENDANCE RECORDS SET
A whopping 1,633,935 fairgoers attended The Big E, in West Springfield, Mass., this year, setting an all-time record for net attendance. Additionally, seven daily attendance records were set during the sunny, 17-day event: Saturday, Sept. 14 – 121,854; Tuesday, Sept. 17 – 58,996; Friday, Sept. 20 – 99,912; Saturday, Sept. 21 – 178,608; Sunday, Sept. 22 – 148,297; Monday, Sept. 23 – 86,673; and Tuesday, Sept. 24 – 79,852. The middle Saturday, Sept. 21, additionally set a record for single-day
Quassy Amusement Park Swings Into 2025 with Exciting New Rides
Quassy Amusement Park & Waterpark will introduce two thrilling new attractions for the 2025 season including a brand-new spinning family roller coaster. This coaster will boast a figure-eight track design with spinning carts, allowing families to share in the excitement as they zip around the winding course, circling around and back again and again for maximum fun. In addition to the new family coaster, as part of the park’s continuous efforts to enhance the guest experience, Quassy will be retiring the
Fred Rogers Productions and Palace Entertainment Announce Expansion of Partnership to Span Theme Park Locations Nationwide
This Extends Fred Rogers Productions First-Ever Theme Park Licensing and Intellectual Property Agreement Fred Rogers Productions, the iconic producer of Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood and other hit PBS KIDS series, and Palace Entertainment, a leading theme and water park operator in the United States and Australia, announce a new multi-year licensing deal across six Palace Entertainment parks throughout the United States. This new licensing deal will allow both organizations to bring programming from
TrainerTainment's Beth Standlee Elected as AAMA President and Recipient of the Joseph Robbins Coin-Op Award
TrainerTainment is proud to announce that Beth Standlee, CEO and founder of TrainerTainment, has been elected as the new President of the American Amusement Machine Association (AAMA) and honored with the prestigious Joseph Robbins Coin-Op Award. This recognition was presented during the AAMA Annual Meeting held from Monday, September 16th to Thursday, September 19th at the Chicago Marriott Schaumburg. The Joseph Robbins Coin-Op Award celebrates those who have demonstrated outstanding participation,
Recap of the 2024 IAAPA Public Affairs Conference
IAAPA held the Public Affairs Conference on September 9, 10, & 11. This event was packed with great speakers and meetings with House and Senate staff. NEAAPA members attended this event that highlighted issues facing the attractions industry. Representing the NEAAPA region was Ed Hodgdon from Hodgdon Consulting and NEAAPA Secretary; Erik Beard from International Ride Training and NEAAPA’s First Vice President; Carl Berni of Canobie Lake Park and NEAAPA Past President; and future NEAAPA member Jamie Fisher
Amusement Today staff surprise Publisher Gary Slade with Legend Award
Publications are routinely about deadlines and reporting on stories accurately. Rare in the field are opportunities for surprises. The staff of Amusement Today and friends within the amusement industry collaborated on honoring the publication’s publisher, Gary Slade, with a secret acknowledgment during the recent 2024 Golden Ticket Awards. The final awards of the evening recognize industry Legends, typically awarded by Slade. Before he had the opportunity to take the stage, a team member introduced the
Phantom Fall Fest Brings Two Terrifying New Haunts to Lake Compounce
Scream Dreams Come True Every Weekend This Fall With Double the Scare Actors & New Roaming Horror Hoard There’s more horror around every corner as Phantom Fall Fest takes screams to the extreme at Lake Compounce. America’s First Amusement Park will feature more fog, more effects and more screams this fall as the park doubles its scare actor team and introduces two all-new haunts including its longest and most interactive haunted house in Phantom Fall Fest history. Three years into the park’s new
Tatvam Launches Revolutionary New Mobile App
Tatvam by NetServ is proud to announce the launch of its first Mobile Application. Developed with the user in mind, it is a game-changer in the social listening and customer experience space, offering a unique blend of features and functionality that sets it apart from the competition. Tatvam Mobile is designed to offer a one-click solution to simplify and analyze qualitative customer feedback. With the new mobile app, users can gather feedback from multiple touchpoints like social media, review sites,
International Ride Training’s Patty Beazley receives AIMS International 2024 Safety Award
Founder and managing member of International Ride Training Patty Beazley was awarded Amusement Industry Manufacturer and Suppliers (AIMS) International’s 2024 Safety Award during Amusement Today’s 26th Annual Golden Ticket Awards on Saturday, September 7 at Kennywood in West Mifflin, Pennsylvania. This award is presented annually by AIMS International to an organization or individual that demonstrates leadership, innovation, and foresight in improving safety in the attractions industry.Patty is a current
The 2024 Golden Ticket Awards recognize 30 winners live from Kennywood
Amusement Today honors parks, rides and individuals in the amusement industry The Golden Ticket Awards were established by Amusement Today in 1998 to shine a spotlight on the amusement park industry and attractions by recognizing the “Best of the Best.” Today, they are among the most recognized awards among theme parks, amusement parks, family entertainment centers and water parks. In 2024, Amusement Today presented awards in 22 categories, as well as special recognition with Publisher’s Picks awards and
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AIMS INTERNATIONAL ANNOUNCES 2024 SAFETY AWARD RECIPIENTS
Patty Beazley Awarded 2024 Safety Award; Jim Seay To Receive Prestigious Lifetime Contribution Award AIMS International, the unmatched leader in amusement safety education recognized two amusement industry veterans at Amusement Today’s Golden Ticket Awards last night. Patty Beazley of International Ride Training was awarded the 2024 AIMS International Safety Award and Premier Rides’ Jim Seay was awarded the prestigious AIMS International Lifetime Contribution Award. Improvements to safety come in
IAAPA welcomes new Global Director of Health & Safety and Security
Linda Freeman joins IAAPA as Safety Expert, bringing over two decades of industry experience IAAPA, the global association for the attractions industry, is excited to announce the addition of Linda Freeman as its Global Director of Health & Safety and Security. With over 24 years of experience in the amusement industry, Freeman brings a wealth of knowledge and a unique perspective, having worked closely with manufacturers, operators, and inspectors since 2000.Freeman's extensive background includes being a
