Hey there,
I've watched interviews of RMC mgmt, where they explain that the T-Rex prototype interested some parks, and that a project was in the pipeline for 2020 ish. Then the guy at IAAPA couldn't resist saying that the T-Rex could be 2.5 times the size of the Raptor. That actually makes the Raptor a living prototype of the 500ft T-Rex.
So we know that T-Rex is coming and will break the 500ft record. This coaster spreads on a huge area but it has a tiny footprint, as it's high on steel poles, so it would fit CP.
That said, RMC having NO RIDE opening in the USA in 2019. It's a perfect timing to focus on building T-Rex.
Compagnie des Alpes in France has stopped investing in Ski resorts and invests huge bucks in rollercoasters. They are turning their 2 small parks near Paris and Brussels into international attractions. Energylandia in Poland is showing that spending huge amounts of money on rollercoasters can be a sound investment.
Disney invests a lot in park expansions.
Universal studio is having a new park.
I understand that six Flags has and always has had financial issues, but still adds novelties every year.
Cedar Point, since mgmt change, needed to polish the park a bit, making it a holiday resort and not just a coaster park and that's done. Now they want to reach new highs in frequentation.
Not going into the "climat change" thing but, investments are happening in the theme parks industry.
To me it's easy for a park like Cedar Point to have a 5years plan backed-up by banks in those times, given the record breaking history of its coasters.
Ohio is spending 16 billion $ in highway infrastructure.
Cedar Point wants to reach out to visitors from all around the world.
Now if I was to put a 500ft ride in my park so that I break the record first, I could only go for the RMC proposition right now. I mean Polercoaster would be a nice fallback but, a coaster needs speed and air-times these days, and Raptor is doing fine so... I would make a 5y deal with BMC and Alan Schilke, finance the prototyping (RailBlazer), conclude agreements on several rides to diversify risk, free the land for the pillars and hide it behind Forbidden Frontier. Then I'd start pouring concrete when nobody looks and make sure the ground can handle the weight.
I would put the top of the hill in the place of Witches Wheel, so that the ride looks to TTD as TTD looked in comparaison of Millenium Force, and set the station on Adventure Island.
Anyway, RMC would have to start making the HUGE track segments soon and we will be able to see it on Google earth before the end of the 2019 season, so they would have to make an announcement before that.
But, like with TTD, i can imagine that 2 T-Rex will open : one at CP, one at a Six Flags park.