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Park News - (5/9/08) In a weird bit of news, the city of Santa Clara has sent word to Cedar Fair that they actually don’t need their approval to build the new 49ers stadium on the park’s overflow lot. It seems the terms of the city’s land-lease agreement only require that if the city does develop the parking lot property, that they only need to replace any lost parking spots. This means that the option is open to build a huge parking structure in the theme park’s main parking lot that would make up for the loss of the overflow lot. The hitch here is… just who would pay for it? The city or the 49ers? Seems the city already has already committed $42 million towards building just such a parking structure as part of their deal with the 49ers and could simply opt to move to. Apparently Cedar Fair is also still open to the idea of selling off the entire theme park to the 49ers, which would allow them to do as they please.
  (4/17/08) We haven’t heard much lately about the proposal to build a new football stadium for the 49ers on the park’s overflow lot, but this is due to the fact that not much is going other than talking it seems. The city and the team are on the same page it seems, but no one can move forward until Cedar Fair is happy and allows the project to happen. According to a Cedar Fair spokesperson quoted in this article, “We are agreeable to the overflow lot if certain concerns are met from our end," Frole said. "And we have to work through some of those items.” Apparently the rush is on since July 22nd has been set as the “soft deadline” for all the these negotiations to take place that would still allow for time for the issue to be placed up for a public vote this November.
  (3/28/08) California’s Great America is advertising the return of the Backyard BBQ all-you-can-eat event on select days throughout the season.
  (3/18/08) The 49ers have wrote a check to the city for over $14k to begin the planning review process for the new stadium they hope to build in the overflow lot at California’s Great America. Currently the 49ers and Cedar Fair are said to be in negotiations about the issue but so far Cedar Fair has not given their approval.
  (3/6/08) A new 2008 dated map has been added to the California’s Great America website that includes several name changes to the various attractions, though for some reason Drop Zone hasn’t been changed to Drop Tower yet, so this map is likely to change yet again. Another mistake was also found under the #17 listing for the “Inside PGA” gift shop near the main entrance. Again, expect more changes in the future.
  Other noted changes include the addition of Firefall, Hollywood Plaza is now Celebration Plaza, the Paramount Theater is now the Celebration Theater, the Paramount Pavilion is now just called Picnic Pavilion, Top Gun is now Flight Deck.
  (12/26/07) Here’s the latest talk about the various issues involved with building a new 49ers Stadium in the overflow parking lot at California’s Great America. It shows off Cedar Fair’s basic stand on the issue, since they have really nothing to gain by allowing it, so to make it worth their time, Cedar Fair is asking for a cut and some compensation.
  (12/17/07) The latest news about the proposal to build a new stadium for the 49er’s next to California’s Great America is interesting. In addition to some money haggling over who is paying what between the city and the team, Cedar Fair has also demanded “unilateral control of stadium scheduling” during the park’s season (March – October) along with reimbursement for lost revenues because the parking and traffic demands of the home games will require the park to close down entirely on at least four days during home games. Previously Cedar Fair has been entirely opposed to the project, but this is now a first step towards negotiating to allow the project to happen, a step that the team in glad to see. Though I’m a bit sticker shocked to see that the total price for this project may end up costing $916 million. Oh, to dream of just what kind of theme park I could design and build for $916 million… Screamscape: The Park.

2008 - Firefall & More - (5/1/08) While I haven’t heard anything about a new official opening day for Firefall, we have heard from witnesses who have seen the ride making test cycles, so apparently they have been able to repair the problem. Anyone know more?
  (4/28/08) From what we’ve been told Firefall failed to open as planned last Friday. One of our readers had won a bid to be on the first ride and upon arriving at the park, they were given the bad news that the ride would not be opening as planned. The blame has been placed on a missing part that was in route from Germany from Huss. The part never arrived after somehow become lost in transit, and right now they don’t know when they will be able to get a replacement. If anyone knows more about when it might open, let us know.