November 17, 201113 yr I dunno know why, but this thing on their website sticks out like a sore thumb to me: "When scheduling your visit note that Cleveland is in the Eastern Time Zone." Like you'd come to Cleveland and never note that or think about it until you went to the friggin' AQUARIUM. Whatever. Awkward. You would be surprised at how many people don't know time zones.
November 17, 201113 yr I have a feeling this will become a popular target of groupon. Personally, I will probably bite the bullet and buy a family pass. I was actually more concerned that there might be a separate charge for the seatube (wasn't/isn't that the case for the rain forrest at the zoo).
November 17, 201113 yr We're members of the Shedd Aquarium (Chicago) and paid about $130 for a family membership...one thing to consider is that part of this $130 is tax deductible...not sure if that would still be the case here since the GCA is going to be 'for-profit.'
November 17, 201113 yr Well, let's not kid ourselves. The Shedd Aquarium is enormous (at one time it was the biggest aquarium in the world) and a major tourist draw on a global level - I'm surprised a family membership is that cheap actually
November 17, 201113 yr Well, let's not kid ourselves. The Shedd Aquarium is enormous (at one time it was the biggest aquarium in the world) and a major tourist draw on a global level - I'm surprised a family membership is that cheap actually Well, let's not kid ourselves. The Shedd Aquarium is enormous (at one time it was the biggest aquarium in the world) and a major tourist draw on a global level - I'm surprised a family membership is that cheap actually NOW! But it always wasn't that way when it opened?
November 17, 201113 yr The price is what it is. I am sure they did enough market research to determine the cost. I just looked at about six other regional aquariums and the price is in line with those. And there will probably be discount opportunities with various cross promotions. The Science Center when you add the Omnimax is about $25, the RockHall about the same. Even the zoo gets close to $18 when you add the rain forest. Any decent dinner entrée is about 18 - 25 bucks. There is not alot you can do for under twenty bucks a piece these days. The last thing you want to do is undervalue your product. Admission to the zoo and Rainforest is $11 in the summer, $8 in the winter.
November 17, 201113 yr It's completely amazing the complaining about prices for things in Cleveland. I travel everywhere and this is nothing crazy and very much in line. If this is a greate experience it will be well worth it. I mean if you can't afford it then it's not for you. I am sure they did their due diligence on what to charge and again they are not just thinking of the locals thankfully, they are also targeting people from out of town who will not blink an eye at paying around $20 to see something like a great aquarium.
November 17, 201113 yr It's completely amazing the complaining about prices for things in Cleveland. I travel everywhere and this is nothing crazy and very much in line. If this is a greate experience it will be well worth it. I mean if you can't afford it then it's not for you. I am sure they did their due diligence on what to charge and again they are not just thinking of the locals thankfully, they are also targeting people from out of town who will not blink an eye at paying around $20 to see something like a great aquarium. Exactly, however to put it in perspective, when you live in an area that is relatively cheap, you become accustom to it. Where, I, who live in two place look at prices and say, "damn, at home I can get x for y!" Personally, I don't think the price is too much, but that's just me.
November 18, 201113 yr There is still a chance that they will give residents of Cleveland/Cuyahoga county discounts. Potentially corporate sponsor(s)? That will defray the cost as well. I was wondering about this. I don't know if they've received any taxpayer subsidies, but if they have, then it's probably the right thing to do to give locals a break on admission.
November 18, 201113 yr Why aren't we taking into consideration cost of living variations in these different cities? If a family pass to the Great Lakes Aquarium is the same price as one to the world-class Shedd Aquarium, then that seems a little fishy. Also what seems "cheap" to a San Franciscan or New Yorker may seem expensive to a Clevelander.
November 18, 201113 yr Why aren't we taking into consideration cost of living variations in these different cities? If a family pass to the Great Lakes Aquarium is the same price as one to the world-class Shedd Aquarium, then that seems a little fishy. Also what seems "cheap" to a San Franciscan or New Yorker may seem expensive to a Clevelander. You cannot compare another museum say the shedd which has had time to curate exhibits to a new aquarium. What was the shedd like upon opening and translate that into 2012 dollars.
November 18, 201113 yr Aquariums have to care for hundreds of sea animals.... quite a task. It costs $1000s/hour to run the Experimental Hatchery at the University of Miami, and it's a fraction of the size and only grows sea hares. The machinery that goes into these aquariums is more advanced than anything at the Zoo/Rock Hall/Science Center. It also takes very specialized workers (research/science divers, marine biologists, specialized vets) and lots and lots of expensive food. $22 isn't that bad of a price, compare it to an $11 movie (I would say it's worth at least twice that). Also, Mystic Aquarium in Connecticut is $29 and I think the size is comparable.
November 18, 201113 yr Does anyone know where the closest aquarium to Cleveland is located?? I'm talking about a freestanding aquarium, comparable to the Cleveland Aquarium. If there aren't any comparable aquariums relatively close, I think the price wont be much of an issue. I could go to the Cleveland zoo once and then not have an interest in going back for a while because it would be possible for me to go to the Toledo, Detroit, Columbus, Cincinnati or Pittsburg zoos without too much of an expense. But if our Cleveland Aquarium is the only one in a 350 mile radius, it would seem likely that people would pay a higher price to get in and that there would be repeat customers.
November 18, 201113 yr Pittsburgh and Columbus' zoos both have aquariums. As far as pricing goes, my wife and I attempted to go to the Miami Seaquarium a few month's back and I couldn't believe the prices. I understand that it's a much larger facility but: Daily Rates General Admission $38.95 Children (3 to 9) $28.95 Plus 7% Florida sales tax Parking $8.00
November 18, 201113 yr I disagree, I don't find the price a problem. His point wasn't whether you find the price to be a problem or not, but the fact that you're talking about value when others are talking about price.
November 18, 201113 yr looking at price... if you are a family, I don't know why you wouldn't just by the family pass for $130. if it costs $116 for a family of 4 to visit once, for $130 you have unlimited access for the year. If you go twice, you've already saved a ton of money and two trips would average $16.25 a person, which doesn't sound that bad. Or for gottaplan's family of 6, if he goes 4 times in a year, it's actually downright cheap. How many other places could you take your family of 6 for $32.50?
November 18, 201113 yr We're members of the Shedd Aquarium (Chicago) and paid about $130 for a family membership...one thing to consider is that part of this $130 is tax deductible...not sure if that would still be the case here since the GCA is going to be 'for-profit.' $175 http://www.sheddaquarium.org/becomemember.html Although if it's tax deductible the effective cost is closer to $130.
November 18, 201113 yr We paid a renewal special of about $130, plus my employer is one of the major underwriters of the Shedd...I think there was a discount for employees available as well...which was a few dollars more than our discounted rate as a returning member. Either way, it's a great deal for that facility, plus it IS tax deductible. MTS, you are right...when the Shedd was first built it was really beautiful, but really small. You can see that when you visit the main lobby and a few of the wings that are located just off the lobby.
November 18, 201113 yr Does anyone know where the closest aquarium to Cleveland is located?? I'm talking about a freestanding aquarium, comparable to the Cleveland Aquarium. If there aren't any comparable aquariums relatively close, I think the price wont be much of an issue. I could go to the Cleveland zoo once and then not have an interest in going back for a while because it would be possible for me to go to the Toledo, Detroit, Columbus, Cincinnati or Pittsburg zoos without too much of an expense. But if our Cleveland Aquarium is the only one in a 350 mile radius, it would seem likely that people would pay a higher price to get in and that there would be repeat customers. The Cincinnati aquarium is the closest, and even then it is 250 miles away. That should mean that Cleveland is able to bring in Nothern Ohio, some of Detroit area (they may go to Chicago for Shedd), and Pitsburgh. Columbus will be a toss up. That is a pretty big catchment area. If Phase 2 is completed, and according to their press release when construction started 9ish months ago it started then, I think there would be a significant increase in size. Phase 1 is 70,000 sq ft. and cost $33M. Phase 2 (as of the press release) was set to cost $40M. The Newport Aquarium is 100,000 sq ft. I would say if the size and exhibits can match or exceed that space then we may be able to draw people from Southern Ohio as well. From the Press Release: "Design work for the $40 million Phase 2 of the Greater Cleveland Aquarium has begun and includes a series of glass atriums along the Cuyahoga River with exhibits that educate visitors about “Rivers and Oceans of the World”. Phase 2 will also honor major events in Cleveland’s history, including Moses Cleaveland’s landing in the Flats, the birth of Industry in Cleveland, the start of the Environmental movement in the United States and Cleveland’s renaissance in the 1980’s." http://blog.downtowncleveland.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/greater-cleveland-aquarium-press-release.pdf
November 18, 201113 yr I found this on Marinescape's website. It's a "typical" layout of their projects worldwide. We know Cleveland will have a 145 ft seatube, not sure what other attractions from this diagram will be here. Since there's been an extensive discussion on price/value, maybe this diagram can assist with this debate. It seems like if our facility incorporates a good number of these attractions it may well be worth the price, but I've only been to a couple in my life so I really do not have a base for comparison. http://www.marinescape.co.nz/wb_pg/features2.html
November 21, 201113 yr they can charge anything if they get a sharktopus! http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1619880/
November 21, 201113 yr Good Lord, could you imagine if that thing ever got loose and into Lake Erie! It would bring Big Chuck and Hoolihan out of retirement!
November 21, 201113 yr ^ Ha ha. Hmm, on a related but still off topic note, I DID run into Little John in Vermillion recently. He may have been scouting the waters.
November 21, 201113 yr ^ Ha ha. Hmm, on a related but still off topic note, I DID run into Little John in Vermillion recently. He may have been scouting the waters. So when you ran into him, did you apologize for kneeing him in the left eye?! OK...no more...no more.. LOL
November 21, 201113 yr Back to the aquarium.... annual pass holders get a sneak peak look at the aquarium Jan. 19th and 20th http://greaterclevelandaquarium.com/#moreinfo
November 25, 201113 yr More coverage from the PD: New aquarium taking shape: Attraction at Powerhouse in Flats to feature walk-through shark tank Published: Friday, November 25, 2011, 9:36 AM By James Ewinger, The Plain Dealer The finishing touches are weeks away, but the Greater Cleveland Aquarium appears on track to open Jan. 21. Built into a portion of the old Powerhouse in the Flats, the 40-tank aquarium is the handiwork of New Zealand-based Marinescape, which has more than 20 other such attractions around the globe and bills itself as the pioneer in walk-through aquariums. http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2011/11/new_aquarium_taking_shape_attr.html
November 29, 201113 yr Walking from my car into work this morning (I work in Stonebridge on the West Bank of the Flats) and a trucker stopped me to ask for directions to Sycamore St. I apologized and said I've heard of it but don't know the street names around here at all. So then he says he's looking for the aquarium. Oh! I point him in the right direction and he thanks me and drives away. It was then that I realize he is hauling countless HUGE bags of sand. Amused me to no end. Guess things ARE progressing ...
November 29, 201113 yr ^ Maybe I'm being a pessimist, but isn't it sort of a bad sign that he had trouble finding that aquarium? That's my biggest qualm with putting the aquarium in the powerhouse instead of building one near the RRHoF and GLSC. People unfamiliar with the area will have trouble finding it.
November 29, 201113 yr ^Nothing a little creative signage can't fix! They should also make some investment to enhance the intersection of Main, Washington, and W25th. It's pretty ugly right now. Repave Main Avenue and make changes to the street flow that encourage people to flow down Main Avenue. It should feel like the main drag and the other roads should feel like side streets. I think this would make it much easier for people to find the attractions in the West Bank of the Flats.
November 29, 201113 yr ^Nothing a little creative signage can't fix! They should also make some investment to enhance the intersection of Main, Washington, and W25th. It's pretty ugly right now. Repave Main Avenue and make changes to the street flow that encourage people to flow down Main Avenue. It should feel like the main drag and the other roads should feel like side streets. I think this would make it much easier for people to find the attractions in the West Bank of the Flats. That is a great idea. I wonder why that wasn't addressed during the Flats peak?
November 29, 201113 yr Also, connecting Main Avenue by a bridge across the Flats west bank to the new east bank development would do wonders for connectivity of the area and access to the aquarium. But I understand that this is unlikely.
November 29, 201113 yr That is a great idea. I wonder why that wasn't addressed during the Flats peak? Back then, you just followed the line of backed-up cars down the hill to any open parking space you could find, then walked the rest of the way. "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
November 30, 201113 yr That is a great idea. I wonder why that wasn't addressed during the Flats peak? Back then, you just followed the line of backed-up cars down the hill to any open parking space you could find, then walked the rest of the way. LOL. That's so true. BTW. My wife told me that the Aquarium is currently hiring.
December 20, 201113 yr Where are they? I don't see a construction link on the remodeled website. no, the Facebook page. I can't seem to link it...? www.facebook.com/pages/Greater-Cleveland-Aquarium/
December 21, 201113 yr We have fishes!!!!!! http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2011/12/first_fish_delivered_to_the_ne.html
December 21, 201113 yr UPDATED construction pics posted on their Facebook page tonight. Facebook: "The page you requested was not found." In any event, how silly of the aquarium to put them on facebook instead of their own page.
December 21, 201113 yr Let's try this link...more pics added today: http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.287926631258127.98725.209356435781814&type=1
December 21, 201113 yr UPDATED construction pics posted on their Facebook page tonight. Facebook: "The page you requested was not found." In any event, how silly of the aquarium to put them on facebook instead of their own page. And figured out how to do a working link for the Dec construction pics: http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.275669729150484.96625.209356435781814&type=1
December 29, 201113 yr Greater Cleveland Aquarium plans gala in celebration of grand opening The Greater Cleveland Aquarium is proud to announce that, after a year of construction, Ohio's only freestanding aquarium is set for its Grand Opening on January 21, 2012. In celebration of Cleveland's newest downtown attraction, the GCA is hosting a Grand Opening Gala on January 19, 2012. http://www.woio.com/story/16411133/greater-cleveland-aquarium-plans-gala-in-celebration-of-grand-opening
January 5, 201213 yr And 500,000 gallons later... Shark tank is filled with water as opening day nears for Greater Cleveland Aquarium Published: Thursday, January 05, 2012, 5:15 AM Regina Garcia Cano, The Plain Dealer CLEVELAND, Ohio -- We're getting close. The Greater Cleveland Aquarium's feature attraction -- a 150-foot-long walk-through tank -- was declared ready for occupancy Wednesday, and 500,000 gallons of water was poured in. Next will come the fish. The 15 sharks and assorted other creatures due to reside in the 4,738-square-foot enclosure will arrive by truck in two weeks. Opening day of Cleveland's newest sight quickly follows on Saturday, Jan. 21. http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2012/01/shark_tank_get_filled_with_wat.html
January 5, 201213 yr Ooops, I read the comments section to that article. I know many people are disappointed that the aquarium is not on the lake, including some of the commentators to this article, but can someone explain this to me? Is it because it belongs with our other big attractions (R&RHOF, etc.) or is it something about actually being near a big body of water? I guess many big aquariums are on waterfronts, so people feel this way all over the place, but I really don't get it.
January 5, 201213 yr Well, the Powerhouse is technically close to the river... but you can't please everybody I guess.
January 5, 201213 yr Newport is on a river just like ours. The extremely underwhelming Baltimore is on the harbor, but it's not some massive body of water. Shedd is actually on Lake Michigan. I don't see the big deal, especially as phase 2 is supposed to be along the river and mostly associated with Ohio riverlife etc. Just because a facility is huge, does not make it better. I would never go back to most of the aquariums I've been too. Personally, I'm excited about the lack of strollers lol. It seems many parents forget that the rest of the world still exists.
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