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First Diamondback ride brings in more than $100,000 for charity

By Derek Potter
Published: April 16, 2009 at 12:45 PM
And now for some good news from the industry...

The online auctioning off of the first rides on Diamondback, Kings Island's newest coaster opening this Saturday, netted about $102,000 for the nonprofit organization "A Kid Again". Final bids ranged from $100 to $5000. Many of the seats were won by local and national businesses, who in turn donated the seats to the children who are a part of the charity. The park had to increase the number of "first rides" due to the auction popularity.

Kings Island opens the 2009 season this Saturday. It will not be open this Sunday though, due to a private function. The park will continue to be open weekends until May 22, when it will open daily for the summer.

Readers' Opinions

From James Rao on April 16, 2009 at 1:32 PM
What a huge success for King's Island. Kudos to them! Worlds of Fun is running a similar auction for first ride on THE PROWLER, but it does not look like the final tally will be nearly as dramatic. We'll have to wait and see.

Still, good to see people in a giving mood!

From Anthony Murphy on April 16, 2009 at 1:33 PM
Wow!

If Six Flags can only figure this out......

From Mike K on April 16, 2009 at 4:11 PM
Cedar Point has done this for at least the past ten years with new rides, but it has never done this well. This is great for everyone involved.
From Joshua Counsil on April 16, 2009 at 11:09 PM
Great idea. I've never heard of this before.
From Don Neal on April 17, 2009 at 10:13 AM
+2 for KI!! Will be going in July as a chaperone with our youth group. Hope to get a ride on Diamondback then. Can't wait!

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