This has been confirmed by several people, and it is not a rumor. The trains are off of AER's track. There is nothing more that has been said or confirmed. Here's a link: http://www.midwestcoastermadness.com/sm ... opic=319.0
P.S.-Please don't start rumors over this, or flame wars. Everyones opinion counts and nothing has been confirmed yet so it doesn't matter what people say.
It is probably off for the rest of the season, probably because of staffing. You need twice as much staff to run a racer than to run a single tracked coaster.
I agree with the staffing issue, and maybe there is just a minor issue with that particular part of the ride. It's nothing huge thats for sure, nothin to be worried about.
Might just be staffing. I don't think they would be retracking or painting while the park is still in operation. And if they were painting, why would they just paint the red side?
I wish it was sign of them dismantling the ride, but since that isnt the case i hope they are back on soon because every ride that is down increase's the wait times and staffing issue's wouldnt/shouldnt be a reson to remove trains from them track as they could just as easily not run one side.
I don't want AE to go, to me it's the symbol of Great America. I love the feeling going down 1-94 when we finally see the Eagle, when we've reached the park. I know it's not the oldest ride in the park but it still holds the most symbolism for me.
While a giga-coaster would be great, i would replace it with a wooden coaster . SFGAM needs another excellant woodie to go with Viper and while AE has been a very good ride, i think its time has come and gone. We need a coaster with alot of air time and alot of speed. Get the gravity group to build us something that has the good qualities that Hades has.
AER is not off the track because of staffing or painting. First of all, they have been painting it gradually thoughout the year. Second of all, why would they take of red's trains? If AEB goes down, then they wouldn't be able to open red.
Coasters Ridden: 131 Top 5: Maverick, El Toro, Voyage, Fahrenheit, Dominator
While i would like a new coaster without removing a current coaster, SFGAM doesnt have alot of unused land to build a large coaster which takes up alot of room.
As for SFGAM, it would get along just fine without AE, symbols like RB/BTR/Superman/Carousel are much more recognized symbols of the park than AE which is now rarely run as a racing coaster anymore anyway.
http://themeparkcritic.com/scripts/profile/ViewProfile.asp?ViewID=2909 A furious storm once roared `cross the sea, catching ships in its path, helpless to flee. Instead of a certain and watery doom, the winds swept them here to Typhoon Lagoon!
yeah, I'm voting for the trackwork option. They did that last year or the year before with Blue, now red is likely in need of some work. I'm thinking after they do the work, they may start painting at least sections of the ride. (at least that is my guess, seeing as they painted Blue's first drop last year after some new trackwork)
Favorite Wood Coasters: The Voyage, Ravine Flyer II, Thunderhead, Balder Favorite Steel: Voltron Nevera, Steel Vengeance, Expedition GeForce, Olympia Looping Parks visited: 232, Coasters Ridden: Steel: 894, Wood: 179, Total: 1073