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Zamperla Air Race Ride Wins Sales at IAAPA Attractions Expo

Posted in Amusement ride, tagged Air RAce, Attractions Expo, Coney Island, IAAPA, Luna Park, Zamperla on December 5, 2010| Leave a Comment »

Zamperla's Air Race Ride Seat & Video on Display at IAAPA Attractions Expo in Orlando. November 17, 2010. Photo © Intercot via twitter

A seat from Zamperla’s prototype Air Race ride at Luna Park Coney Island took a trip to Orlando last month. The Air Race seat and ride video were on display in Zamperla’s booth at the Nov 15- Nov 19 IAAPA (International Association of Amusement Parks & Attractions) Attractions Expo. Valerio Ferrari, CEO of Zamperla USA and Luna Park, tells ATZ that two Air Race rides were sold to parks in Europe at the trade show. A few other deals are in the discussion phase, he adds.

An Air Race has also been sold to a park in China, ATZ learned from Alberto Zamperla, president and CEO of Antonio Zamperla S.p.A., in October. Designed by Mega Disk’O creator Gianbattista Zambelli, the Air Race sends riders upside down at up to 4g forces. The thrill ride made its world debut at Zamperla’s new amusement park in Coney Island in June.

Zamperla Air Race Ride in Operation at Luna Park Coney Island. Photo © Bruce Handy/Pablo 57 via flickr

Zamperla Air Race Ride in Operation at Luna Park Coney Island. June 10, 2010. Photo © Bruce Handy/Pablo 57 via flickr

The IAAPA Attractions Expo, the premier annual conference and trade show for the amusement industry, drew 25,000 participants from 96 countries to the Orange County Convention Center. Zamperla’s booth displayed the Luna Park NYC logo while individual video terminals showcased the park’s Zamperla rides.

In an article we wrote about the new Luna Park for IAAPA Funworld, Ferrari says, “Our intention is to have the latest rides that we develop in our park.” The fact that the world’s largest manufacturer of amusement rides is trying out prototypes at Luna Park is an exciting development that calls to mind the heyday of Coney Island when the first models of any new park or carnival rides would make their debut here.

Zamperla also benefits because the New York City amusement park functions as a showroom for Zamperla’s New Jersey-based North American operation. Luna Park closed for the season after Halloween and will reopen on Palm Sunday (April 17, 2011), but the majority of rides remain in place and on view.

Meet Sodexo: Luna Park Coney Island’s Partner for “On-Site Service Solutions”

Posted in Food & Drink, Redevelopment, tagged Boardwalk, Coney Island, Luna Park, Sodexo, Zamperla on November 23, 2010| 5 Comments »

Sodexo Kiosk at Luna Park Coney Island. May 31, 2010. Photo © Tricia Vita/me-myself-i via flickr

If you had Fresh Fruit Fresca, Dippin’ Dots, Coke or any other food or beverage at Luna Park Coney Island this summer, you were experiencing the “Quality of Daily Life Solutions” of Sodexo, one of the world’s largest food and facilities management companies. Zamperla’s new Luna Park was one of Sodexo’s “wins” in 2010, though the partnership is certainly news to the public since it wasn’t mentioned at any of the NYCEDC/Luna Park press conferences.

In addition to managing the kiosks in Luna Park, Sodexo’s involvement extends to planning and running the restaurant currently under construction at Surf and 10th Street in the Gregory & Paul’s location which closed two years ago. Luna Park CEO Valerio Ferrari told ATZ that $1.4 million is being invested in the new sit-down restaurant. It will be open year-round and feature waiter service and a variety of food. As for the Boardwalk, Sodexo-run restaurants are set to take over “some but not all” of the Boardwalk locations, Ferrari says, including Paul’s Daughter and Pio Pio Riko, which flank the Boardwalk entrance to Luna Park.

In May, a Sodexo manager posted news of the win on the company’s Facebook career page: “Sodexo is excited to announce the newest addition to our Leisure account portfolio is none other than Coney Island. We look forward to a wonderful partnership!” Luna Park Coney Island is also listed in Sodexo’s third quarter press release. It is Sodexo Operations LLC’s name on the liquor license at 1000 Surf Avenue. And if you look up Dippin’ Dots retail locations for 11224 on their website, you’ll find the listing Sodexo Inc – Luna Park @ Coney Island.

Sodexo Careers Page on Facebook: "Sodexo is excited to announce the newest addition to our Leisure account portofolio is none other than Coney Island. We look forward to a wonderful partnership!"

Though Sodexo’s partnership with Luna Park may be news to New Yorkers, the company’s presence was known within Coney Island. The Sodexo rep setting up the food service for Luna was a gregarious fellow who introduced himself to people working in neighboring businesses. It wasn’t till mid-summer, when some Boardwalk business owners who’d never heard of Sodexo received a visit from the rep asking details about their business and leaving his card, that some began to ask who is Sodexo?

Founded in France in 1966 by Pierre Bellon with a single dining room, the company now has more than 350,000 employees on 30,600 sites in 80 countries. According to the company’s official bio: “In North America, Sodexo Inc has 7.7 billion (USD) in annual revenue and 120,000 employees and Sodexo serves more than ten million customers daily in corporations, health care, long term and retirement centers, schools, college campuses, government, and remote sites.” Sodexo is an acronym that comes from a French phrase, Societe d’Exploitation Hoteliete, which means a company of service and hospitality. In 2009, “Food and Facilities Management Services” became “On-site Service Solutions.”

Sodexo Kiosk at Luna Park Coney Island. May 31, 2010. Photo © Tricia Vita/me-myself-i via flickr

According to the Leisure and Entertainment page of the company website….

Sodexo is a global leader in providing guest and facilities services to museums, zoos, aquariums, historic properties, sports venues, and more.

While you focus on your core business and mission, we create and offer a wide array of services specific to your venue that enhance your guests’ experience. A few examples of our services:

Guest Services, Restaurants & Dining
Catering & Special Events
Gift Shops & Retail
Vending

Facilities Services, Planning & Assessment
Operations & Maintenance
Landscaping & Grounds
Housekeeping & Custodial
Construction Services
Unarmed Security

Sodexo Kiosk at Luna Park Coney Island. May 31, 2010. Photo © Tricia Vita/me-myself-i via flickr

Wherever people come together, Sodexo matches the menu to the venue and creates a truly unique dining experience for your guests. We feature fresh, seasonal cuisine presented in a style appropriate to your venue and to creating a truly memorable dining experience. Our customized services will maximize participation and guest satisfaction.

From fine dining at our museums, aquariums, and historic properties to elegant tea rooms in botanic gardens to family meals or high volume concessions at your zoo or arena, we have the perfect solution.

Halloween Treats at Luna Park Coney Island. October 15, 2010. Photo © Tricia Vita/me-myself-i via flickr

After the Boardwalk businesses received the November 1st notice to “vacate the premises” from Luna Park/CAI, Cha Cha’s told the blog Grub Street that “a French company that was handling Central Amusement’s food and beverage program asked him to submit a business plan and he did so, promising to spend half a million dollars turning his dive into ‘the lost city of Atlantis, with live music and entertainment and food.’ ” Another Boardwalk owner told us he was promised a multi-year lease by the Sodexo rep and was asked to sell some of their products. The business owners, now known as “The Coney Island 8,” are going to court to try and hold onto their longtime spots on the Boardwalk. A plan has also been floated to relocate the evicted businesses to the north side of Surf Avenue.

UPDATE March 31, 2013:

Surf’s Up for CAI Foods in Coney Island, Sodexo Is Out. Sodexo’s departure had long been rumored and is something to cheer about. According to the partnership agreement, after 3 years either party was free to terminate the lease, with CAI having to reimburse the remaining value of Sodexo’s initial investment, with interest.

First Pieces of Zamperla Flying Coaster Arrive at Coney Island’s Future Scream Zone

Posted in Amusement ride, Redevelopment, tagged American Eagle, amusement park, Coney Island, flying coaster, Luna Park, Scream Zone, Volare, Zamperla on November 11, 2010| 3 Comments »

Just Arrived: Supports for Zamperla's Volare Flying Coaster in Coney Island. November 7, 2010. Photo © Bruce Handy/Pablo 57 via flickr

Over the weekend, the supports for Zamperla’s Flying Coaster (aka Volare) arrived in Coney Island and were unloaded on the lot behind Beer Island. The supports were the first pieces of equipment to arrive at the future Scream Zone, which will be built on City-owned parcels on Stillwell Avenue. As ATZ reported last month, the Flying Coaster from Denver’s Elitch Gardens was bought back by Zamperla with the intention of refurbishing it and installing it in Coney Island in 2011.

The Flying Coaster along with a Steeplechase-themed Moto Coaster, Sling Shot and Turbo Force will be set up on the east side of Stillwell behind the Boardwalk buildings occupied by Nathan’s, Cha Cha’s and Ruby’s. The entrance to Scream Zone is expected to be where Shoot the Freak is now.

Just Arrived: Supports for Zamperla's Volare Flying Coaster in Coney Island. November 7, 2010. Photo © Bruce Handy/Pablo 57 via flickr

In September, ATZ attended a panel discussion in which Zamperla USA’s CEO Valerio Ferrari unveiled a rendering of the flying coaster “American Eagle” aka the Volare in a presentation about new rides slated for Coney Island’s Scream Zone. On Zamperla’s website, the coaster is called Volare, which means “to fly” in Italian. You can watch a YouTube video of the coaster in action here.

Zamperla's American Eagle Coaster aka The Volare will be the second coaster in Coney Island's Scream Zone. Photo © Jim McDonnell via smugmug

The Elitch Gardens Flying Coaster was a prototype that made its debut in May 2002 and has been SBNO (standing but not operating) since 2008. The Coney Island Rumor Mill had been speculating for months that the Elitch Gardens coaster would come to Coney. Zamperla flying coasters can also be found at Rye Playland (“Super Flight”), Canada’s Wonderland (“Time Warp”), Vienna’s Wiener Prater, Genting Theme Park in Malaysia and Kaeson Youth Park in North Korea, among others.