SANDUSKY, Ohio–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Cedar Fair Entertainment Company (NYSE: FUN), a leader in regional amusement parks, water parks and immersive entertainment, today announced it is taking a leap into the virtual world with the much-anticipated opening of Cedar Point Esports on Friday, October 6, 2023. The grand opening will mark the inception of a new era for the park, as it expands into the exciting realm of esports and gaming entertainment.
The new gaming facility will initially cover an area of more than 1,000 square feet within the existing Cedar Point Sports Center. The first phase of the development will include 32 state-of-the-art gaming stations, each equipped with the latest hardware and peripherals. Through this initiative, Cedar Point Esports aims to establish a dynamic hubs for gaming enthusiasts and competitive gamers, offering them a world-class platform to nurture their gaming passion.
”Our long-term strategy is focused on delivering immersive entertainment experiences that differentiate our parks and make our guests want to come back again and again,” said Richard A. Zimmerman, Cedar Fair president and chief executive officer. “The opening of Cedar Point Esports marks a significant step for us as we diversify our offerings and engage with a broader audience. Given the booming popularity of esports, we are excited about this opportunity to tap into the growing appetite for that form of entertainment and package it with all that Cedar Point has to offer.”
Cedar Point Esports has partnered with North Coast Entertainment, a leading entertainment company with a strong presence in the gaming industry, to deliver an unparalleled gaming experience to its visitors. North Coast Entertainment has an exceptional track record of organizing successful esports events, making them a natural fit for this ambitious project.
“North Coast Entertainment is delighted to collaborate with Cedar Point Esports,” said Scott Norcross, president of North Coast Entertainment. “Together, we aim to bring innovative gaming experiences to the players and fans. This facility will not only serve as a competitive battleground for esports athletes, but also as a nurturing ground for anyone interested in gaming.”
He said Phase I of Cedar Point Esports will focus on organizing leagues, camps and clinics to guide and support aspiring esports athletes and anyone looking for new entertainment. The facility’s state-of-the-art gaming hub will allow participants to hone their skills and compete at the highest level.
Furthermore, Cedar Point Esports is dedicated to becoming the premier location for high school and collegiate gaming events in the region. By collaborating with educational institutions, the facility aims to host regular tournaments, fostering healthy competition and camaraderie among students passionate about gaming and esports. The Phase I Hub will also offer Cedar Point Sports Center’s traditional athletes a wonderful opportunity for low-impact entertainment and recovery between athletic competitions. Cedar Point Esports eagerly anticipates collaborating with regional schools to offer a state-of-the-art alternative for a computer lab and remote learning facility.
About Cedar Fair
Cedar Fair Entertainment Company (NYSE: FUN), one of the largest regional amusement-resort operators in the world, is a publicly traded partnership headquartered in Sandusky, Ohio. Focused on its mission to make people happy by providing fun, immersive, and memorable experiences, the Company owns and operates 13 properties, consisting of 11 amusement parks, four separately gated outdoor water parks, and resort accommodations totaling more than 2,300 rooms and more than 600 luxury RV sites. Cedar Fair’s parks are located in Ohio, California, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Minnesota, Missouri, Michigan, Texas and Toronto, Ontario.
About North Coast Entertainment
North Coast Entertainment is a prominent gaming entertainment company known for its expertise in developing and operating gaming venues and events. With a focus on delivering world-class gaming experiences, North Coast Entertainment is dedicated to shaping the future of grass roots and competitive gaming.
Forward-Looking Statements
Some of the statements contained in this news release that are not historical in nature constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, including statements as to the Company’s expectations, beliefs, goals, and strategies regarding the future. These forward-looking statements may involve risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict, may be beyond our control and could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in such statements. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct or that the Company’s growth strategies will achieve the target results. Important factors, including general economic conditions, the impacts of public health concerns, adverse weather conditions, competition for consumer leisure time and spending, unanticipated construction delays, changes in the Company’s capital investment plans and projects and other factors discussed from time to time by the Company in its reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) could affect attendance at the Company’s parks and the Company’s growth strategies, and cause actual results to differ materially from the Company’s expectations or otherwise to fluctuate or decrease. Additional information on risk factors that may affect the business and financial results of the Company can be found in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K and in the filings of the Company made from time to time with the SEC. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether a result of new information, future events, information, circumstances or otherwise that arise after the publication of this document.
This news release and prior releases are available under the News tab at http://ir.cedarfair.com
Contacts
Investor Contact: Michael Russell, 419.627.2233
Cedar Fair Media Contact: Gary Rhodes, 704.249.6119
Cedar Point Media Contact: Tony Clark, 419.609.2036
North Coast Entertainment Contact: Scott Norcross, 216.392.8049