Hard Rock Park is dead. Long live 'Freestyle Music Park'
Filed under: Extracurriculars, Travel
A New Look for Old Brands
What Changed: Pillsbury is going for more soothing tones in these tough economic times with its first re-branding campaign in years. The Pillsbury Dough Boy is still around, but the focus is on happy families gathering around a table of tasty food.
Paul Sakuma, AP
What changed: Little girls have been inundated with Disney princess paraphernalia for years now, and the line has been so popular that the company wants to try to do the same thing with fairies. Tinker Bell, a mere side character in J.M. Barrie's 1911 novel and the 1953 movie version of Peter Pan, is going to soon be a leading lady. A straight-to-DVD movie, Tinker Bell, comes out October 28, and that will be followed by a line of books, toys, lip gloss and stationary. The new line could mean big bucks as Tink already brings in about $800 million in retail sales for existing products.
AP | Disney
What changed: Pepsi has unveiled its fifth new logo in 2 decades, right, as part of a new plan to redefine itself as a cultural leader. The redesigned Pepsi packages should hit store shelves early next year. Mountain Dew and Sierra Mist drinks will also get a new look.
AP / Pepsico
What changed: For the first time, Long John Silver's will be offering its first non-fried items. The Freshside Grille selections includePacific Salmon (pictured), Shrimp Scampi and Tilapia.
YUM! / AP
What changed: The national restaurant chain went through a drastic decor makeover in 2008 to make the furnishings more upscale and sleek from its former look with Tiffany-style lamps and antiques. Total cost? $65 million. When the company got to the last of its locations, it staged a mock explosion, blowing up the interior and replaying the action on YouTube. Now all 600 locations of the 36-year-old chain have a modern look with black awnings outside and black-and-white checked tablecloths inside, plus a new straightforward logo.
RubyTuesday.com
What changed: Popeye's is sporting a new look with an orange and red logo with the words "Louisiana Kitchen" set off by fleur-de-lis designs and a giant "P" in the middle – the better to emphasize the almost 40-year-old chain's New Orleans roots. Gone is the blue-bordered logo that the company deemed not fancy enough to go after the upscale audience it seeks to court. The logo makeover comes in conjunction with a new $1.49 menu that will include a loaded chicken wrap, the delta mini sandwich and a chicken biscuit. New commercials will feature a fictional chef named Ed, who sits with diners and talks about his food.
Popeyes
What changed: Chex Party Mix, invented in 1955, will get a makeover with new recipes, new packaging and a new spokeschef, Katie Lee Joel, (pictured in the center, with Suzanne M. Grimes, president, Food & Entertaining at Readers Digest on the right and Cheri Olerud, senior cookbook editor and test kitchen expert for Chex cereal on the left.
Business Wire
What changed: The venerable crock pot, long a staple of the American kitchen, is trying to become the ultimate multi-tasker for the contemporary two-income family that wants to eat healthy. Crock Pot's owner, Jarden Consumer Solutions, wants the slow cooker to become a "trophy" product that people want to give as gifts and buy for themselves. So new cookers will come in bright colors – no more cream and burgundy – and will feature updated packaging that evokes savory root vegetables rather than grandma's quilt.
Crock-Pot | Hughes Design Group
What changed: The 400-location hotel worldwide hotel chain is in the middle of a $1.7 billion project to renovate about half its U.S. hotels. The new look includes brighter colors in the room, with pillowtop beds and white duvets and flat-screen TVs. Sheraton is rolling out a branded line of toiletries, called Shine by Bliss, and fitness centers will get upgrades. Lobbies will feature restaurants, most with a casual dining chain called Relish, and cafes with Internet stations. Some locations may also have a steakhouse developed by Shula's.
AP
What changed: Now owned by Stride Rite, which re-acquired the rights to the sneaker brand from hip-hop mogul Damon Dash (a recent foreclosure victim), PRO-Keds are going to get a makeover as they come back into the fold. Stride Rite will focus on classic styles, such as the "Royal" canvas basketball shoe, first introduced in 1949, and give it an overhaul that will hit stores in November and retail for $50 to $80.
ProKeds.com
Heavy rock music influences are now being combed out of the park, along with, one would assume, the stigma of the Hard Rock Park name. As the name announcement put it, "many of the rides, restaurants and areas throughout the Park are being re-themed to better fit into the vision of Freestyle Music Park." Freestyle's owners eventually want to take the brand global, if only they can make it out of its first season in Myrtle Beach. The park's new logo is cool, but that heady expansion plan is hard to imagine.
So while Six Flags and other major amusement parks teeter on the abyss, threatening to change American vacationing forever, another theme park is saved from catastrophe -- for now -- along with all those jobs, since the 55-acre Freestyle Music Park is now hiring.
The new name will cut down on the expense of leasing the Hard Rock Park name, but it will also make it harder to market the park, which is about to enter its second season with zero name recognition. Whether it will turn out to be an advance in family vacationing is hard to envision.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
4-11-2009 @ 4:02PM
Monna said...
Being that I live in SC I was thinking about going to Hard Rock Park last year. The high price of admission and rumored problems with rides kept us from going. I'm sure if they offer reasonable rates at the gate and fix any problems they will do just fine. I think with everything going on people might be ready for some fun. I'm just waiting to see what they charge.
Hey Freestyle Music people! You will have more buisness within the park than you will know what to do with and will gain recognition for the name if you just cut people a break at the gate. Remember most people have to budget for a room, food, travel, and whatever else the family wants on a vacation. I might just make due with fun at the beach if I can't budget in getting into your park with 4 older kids. Hope you make it worth my while to come. Look to the future. If my kids like it they will be more likely to bring their families back as adults.
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4-12-2009 @ 2:04AM
wicc ed said...
I went to Hard Rock Park.. I was excited to be going. At first I was ok with the 50.00 entrance fee, until I had explored the whole park within 3 hours. As I recall there were only 13 or 14 rides, and one of them, maximum revolution (the main one I was going for) was not open. We ended up riding most of the rides 3 times, with the exception of the big coaster, which we rode 4 times. Im not saying we had a bad time, the lines were very short for a theme park, the shows were very entertaining. The only regret was paying such a high gate price. A month later, I decided to go back only because they were offering residents a discounted price. This time the the Max Rev was working, and was well worth the 20 minute wait (and this was the longest wait of any ride). Most rides had a 1 run wait due to the low number of customers. I know even with a 2 hr drive, I would visit several times a season, if this park had a budget friendly entrance fee. (I hope the new owners keep this in mind).
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4-12-2009 @ 10:37AM
kittykat said...
Could they have picked a lamer name? When I heard they announced the name I laughed because it was sooo pathetic, if that's they name they picked I'd like to hear the names they turned down. Why not just call it Please Come Park? It sounds cooler than freestyle music park.
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4-12-2009 @ 11:39PM
Terrence said...
Wicc/ Monna Heres The New Gate Admission Info,
GENERAL ADMISSION
Adults: $39.95
Children: $24.95 (Ages: 3-9)
2 and under free
SEASON PASSES
Adults: $74.95
Children $44.95 (Ages: 3-9)
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4-12-2009 @ 12:33PM
Terrence said...
let me know what you think of the new pricing.
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4-12-2009 @ 10:58PM
Nathan said...
NOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!! I drove there from Atlanta just to go to the Hard Rock Park!!! I was there the day before the grand opening and it was INCREDIBLE!!! I was sooo looking forward to going back this summer, but this is complete BS!!! Why take out the heavy rock and roll themes to make it more "family friendly"??? The best thing about the park was that it was more adult oriented and not full of stupid childish attractions. The Zeppelin Coaster was definitely my favorite rollercoaster I have ever ridden and only because of the theme! This is a THEME PARK! Don't change the theme!! Plus I read that they are getting rid of the Nights in White Satin ride, because it's drug references are not "family friendly". I loved it so much that I rode it like 5 times! I swear to god, if they change this park too much, they have just lost all the metal customers that were excited about it in the first place. I am so glad that I got the oppourtunity to go last year, because its not looking like Im going to wast my money this year on the crap they are doing to ruin it...
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4-13-2009 @ 2:15PM
Dave said...
No HARD ROCK? Guess they will just have to SHAG.
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4-13-2009 @ 2:16PM
Ashley said...
I went to Hard Rock Park twice last year and I absolutely loved it! I have to admit, the entry fee was expensive, along with the food, drinks, etc. but what do you expect from a theme park?!?! I hate the new name but I'm praying they don't change any rides. The Zeppelin was freaking amazing!
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4-13-2009 @ 2:34PM
Nancy Smith said...
I have a great new name. Chapter 7 amusement park. I chose that name because that is where it will be after this year.
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4-13-2009 @ 2:44PM
Taisiya said...
We live in Myrtle Beach, we have a large family and were unable to attend last year due to financial issues. The gate prices were just shy of Disney's prices. Myrtle Beach is a FAMILY vacation spot more than anything else. So yes, a family friendly theme park is better for OUR economy. So what that guy said about losing the heavy metal fans?.. So what? Go somewhere else. Singles even in groups spend less money here than families do. We need the revenue. We need the jobs. And Freestyle Music Park is offering that at the moment. THough I would have been a lot happier to see the prices dropped at least $5 or $10 more I understand they have overhead and such to pay for. They need to add more rides. a lot more rides to keep people interested and coming. Even at the new prices it would take $180 just to get my family IN THE GATE. Not to mention food and drinks. They also need to offer a SEVERE LOCAL DISCOUNT with ID. One of the best things about living in MB is that a lot of places have great deals for locals.
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4-13-2009 @ 2:53PM
landsaways11 said...
That's cool.
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4-13-2009 @ 3:10PM
sandman said...
why didn't they call it OHIO east? From june 1st til august 15th..half the population on the roads are with ohio plates?
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4-13-2009 @ 3:18PM
Ken said...
They did'nt just randomly pick the FreeStyle name out of a hat the day before announceing the new name ,they always had it as a back up plan as they were working with Hard Rock international but because they could not agree to any terms they had to use the name of thier already developed Company,yes It's a strange name but I do see thier ambitious vision. As for those who are sad that some of the heavy metel is toned down or in some cases totaly rethemed,remember Parents "complained alot" last year due to some of the so called adult referances seen in the park.
As for the gate admission, take it mind thats at the gate,they are working on "discount packages" with hotels&visitors centers all along the strand so there are discount deals to check out. I look forward to some of the changes,I also loved Nights In White Satin but look forward to whats new,Who Knows it may be an improvement (:
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4-13-2009 @ 10:36PM
Jane said...
I simply refuse to give my money or expose my children to a "theme" park that glorifies drug use and the way of life as portrayed by most rock and roll artists. Myrtle Beach was developed around families, and it has been families that have kept that area thriving. Who cares what the name is if the rides, atmosphere, and overall appeal is for those who want to "trip" on rides and "shrooms"? No thanks - we will go to Family Kingdom, where we belong!
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5-05-2009 @ 3:19PM
Tree said...
Jane, get a grip, the Hard Rock Park (not the "Freestyle Music Park") did not make drug use look cool. The Hard Rock Park was for people who like ACTUAL music (not for drug addicts). There were very many "clean" rock bands, but you are so cut off from society I doubt you know what that means.
R.I.P Hard Rock Park
4-13-2009 @ 3:59PM
Shannon said...
I was there last year - would be better if there were more water rides - very hot in Myrtle Beach in July
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4-13-2009 @ 4:20PM
Frank said...
I went last year and it was overpriced and lame. I am thinking its going to be the same again this year. New rides? New shows? cheaper food? if not L-A-M-E. So for 40 bux this year you can spend an hour or two.
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4-13-2009 @ 4:27PM
jim said...
All these theme parks need to get a grip on what they should be charging!!!!! They all complain about losing money but keep their ridiclously high prices. The last places I would ever go on vacation at those prices especially Orlando, much higher quality fun at the beach or out in the swamps!
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4-13-2009 @ 4:29PM
ANITA said...
I live in Myrtle Beach but never visited the park last year. It was not for a particular reason...just didn't make it. I like the new logo very much, but the name is not that appealing. However, I am sure those living in the area are VERY grateful to the jobs this Park will provide, especially the few hotels and restaurants adjacent to it. What a "cruel trick" it seemed for these businesses to watch the Waccamaw Pottery "die" a slow death...only to get their hopes up for new "life" with Hard Rock...and then slapped down again! Maybe everyone should stop looking at what is superficial, and get down to the really important things and that, as mentioned above, is new jobs and new life for the area.
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4-13-2009 @ 4:43PM
Joe Pinner said...
Jason...Hard Rock Cafe' or Park just sounds sleazy!
As for "...zero name recognition."...au contraire, mon ami...all you have to say is Myrtle Beach! Part of South Carolina's Coastal Kingdom by the Sea. So many options for entertainment and relaxation. Come, see, feel, enjoy! Joe
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