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Well today it was announced by FPI MB Entertainment that Hard Rock Park is now called Freestyle Music Park. It comes shortly after FPI purchased the park for only $25 million, a small cost considering the park cost $450 million to build. There have been many people who don't like the name and those who like the name.

A poll running on the Sun News regarding the name change indicates that readers are not to thrilled about the new name.

Are you planning on visiting the Hard Rock Park this summer 2009?

Yes it is official FPI MB Entertainment LLC have become the new owners of Hard Rock Park in Myrtle Beach (a rock-and-roll theme park), the sale was finalized in court in Wilmington, DE today February 17th, 2009. 

The price tag was $25million dollars, a fraction of $400 million dollars which it cost to build Hard Rock Park, which opened in May of 2008, only to be closed down and go up for auction in November 2008.

Will the new owners keep the Hard Rock Park name? Well FPI wants to keep the Hard Rock Park name. Hard Rock International and FPI are in talks to see if they can keep the name. If they can't they will need to destroy all things Hard Rock before they open for business. FPI plans to open the park by Memorial Day weekend, three (3) months from now, just in time for summer.

Time line for Hard Rock Parks demise:

It was in August 2008 they started laying people off
In Sept 08 they filed for chap 11 bankruptcy
In Oct 08 Hard Rock park closed their doors
In Nov 08 Hard Rock park went up on the auction block

Here is what we think needs to happen with the park, this is strictly my humble opinion.

1.  The Hard Rock Park name needs to stay, why you ask? The reason is simple, its one of a kind park, there simply isn't anything like it. Hard Rock Park was meant to be an entertainment complex for men, women, children, old and young, a place where all could enjoy an afternoon like they haven't engaged in ever before. The Hard Rock Park name just sticks, if you name the park Myrtle Beach Great Adventure it just doesn't have flair to it.The Hard Rock Park is the only one in

2. Make the entry free and charge for a wristband, something around $25-$35 dollars would be acceptable price with free parking. Also should be able to get into the park free, but without a wristband you couldn't ride the rides, you couldn't watch the shows, the only thing you could do is observe from wherever you stand. Doing so would serve two purposes, it would bring more people in who don't want to ride the rides, see the shows, but want to bring their kids, they could still do so without having to spend admission. These same people would spend money at the restaurants and concession stands, money at the bar, would be buying a t-shirt, or other merchandise for the ones that are riding the rides. See you still get their $50 and these people are ecstatic now because you just saved them money and they were still able to please the kids or other family members. You want your daughter or son saying  "thanks Mom and Dad" I really wanted to go and I am glad you brought me. Wouldn't it be a shame if you had to tell your son or daughter, "we can't go to Hard Rock Park" we just can't afford it this year, no kid needs that news.

3. They desperately need to add more rides. They only rides worth riding are the Led Zeppelin and the Eagles roller coaster. The other rides are rides you could find at the state fair, and that simply isn't acceptable for my $50 dollars, $250 for a family of 5 not including parking, food, drinks, t-shirts, etc. One thing is for sure, if the new owners, FPI wants to be successful they have to add more rides, not just more kid rides. I keep hearing people say add more kid rides, well yes they do, but they also have to add more rides for those -- "You have to be this tall to ride this ride", rides. They can get rid themselves of a great majority of the merchandise stores inside, no one wants to buy 1,000 t-shirts while they are there. Hard Rock Park simply had to much merchandise, a theme park is about entertainment not about shopping, yes you need a few stores to buy that souvenir but do you need one everywhere you get off of a ride? Seriously, I am surprised there wasn't one in the middle of the kiddie water park they had so many. If I wanted to shop I would go to Coastal Grand Mall or Tanger Outlets.

4. Advertising, advertising, advertising...yes more advertising. This is key, without it people won't know you are here. Hard Rock Park simply didn't advertise enough, well there were probably 1,000 reasons why the bottom fell out, but lack of advertising was prob - numero uno. A $50 admission price also hurt them, people simply couldn't afford it, specially when they heard of what the park was like, their $50 a person entry fee could be spend better elsewhere around Myrtle Beach. Look at it this way, for $55 dollars you can get get a 2 day admission pass at Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio - which is the worlds best amusement park, they have 17 roller coasters, the smallest one there is the size of the Eagles roller coaster at Hard Rock Park.

In May before the Grand opening I sat and listened to the CEO of Hard Rock Park talk about how they were comparing it to Disney MGM, how they had so much more. They did a great job hyping the park up, they said they could justify the price of $50 because of how unique the park was, from the rides to the shows, to the music playing on all the rides and throughout the park. MGM Disney simply is a lot better than Hard Rock Park as of this time, Hard Rock Park could be so much more but it just wasn't thought out as well as they thought.
The amusement park business is a tough business, not just in this economy, but in general, there are just so many exciting amusement parks within 5-8 hours of Myrtle Beach.

We will keep you informed of things as we get them. We can't wait to see what happens and are happy that the Hard Rock Park (maybe under a different name) is opening again. Unless there are some drastic changes going to happen I would rather see it remain closed.

Have you been to the Hard Rock Park? What are some things you would like to see from this park? Should they keep the Hard Rock Park name? Would you like to work at the park? Will you be bringing your family? How much would you pay? Sound off tells us what you think.

Overall I think this is a good deal for everyone involved. Lets see what happens, I can't wait to see what changes are made and to give our insight, and share the insight from all you with the new owners

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The former Hard Rock Park is in the news again, as there is scheduled to be another auction this Tuesday February 17th. There will be a sale hearing approval for a group that plans to spend only $25 million to purchase it. Another group hopes to be in the running to purchase the park, it is headed by local water park owner Mark Lazarus and Tom Jones formerly of Burroughs & Chapin. $400 million was originally invested by the former owner to build it. In order for the park to be successful it needs more than just new ownership, but that would be a good start.  Major undertakings need to be to create new rides, cut down on the merchandise, a new name change, along with a smart and very aggressive marketing campaign.

FPI has seeking the court approve a down payment of  $2.3 million free of liens. If they win the purchase of the park they plan to reopen in May of this year. Not sure if this is possible with all the things this park needs. It seems such a short time to make the much needed adjustments to be ready to opening in May, but there should be enough time to rid itself of the Hard Rock theme, and begin shaping its new identity. 

Jones and Lazarus say if they purchase the park they would make it a free to the public and charge per ride like what the Myrtle Beach Pavilion did,  we all know how many people loved the Myrtle Beach Pavilion. This would be a great move, but would it be profitable?  Can this park survive doing this? Really I don't think it can, one of the reasons the Pavilion was successful was because right on the beach and you could walk to it from your hotel and you couldn't help but see the Pavilion as it was in the center of Myrtle Beach right off 501.

There should be a price to this park, but it should be a little more reasonable than the $50 admission that the Hard Rock Park charged to get in. People will not pay more than $30 dollars to get into this park, there are just to many other established theme parks in a days drive. People who come to Myrtle Beach are working folks, people whos money has grown tighter in this ecomony as most peoples has. The major thing people come here for is the beach which is free to go to.

Well one thing opening the park in May will do, is help the local economy with jobs as the opening of Hard Rock Park did back in April of 2008, with the hiring of more than 1500 people who were no sooner than getting used to their jobs only to be laid off in the fall and taking their place in the unemployment line.

As we get more information about the court hearing we will let you know. Stay tuned to our website and this blog for the details.

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