Six Flags-Cedar Fair Merger

It seems to me that the Six Flags-Cedar Fair merger is going to be bad for the legacy Cedar Fair parks. It appears Six Flags is concentrating investment in the large metro areas of the Six Flags parks. Great Adventure, Great America, Over Texas, Fiesta Texas and Magic Mountain are receiving huge investments while the Cedar Fair parks aren't getting near the investments. Thoughts?

1. CP is still just 2 years out from 2 major roller coasters.
2. KI just majorly upgraded its dark ride, they are also demolishing the SOB station this year. Might be a sign something is coming in 2028.
3. Knotts is still trying to open Monty 2.0, supposedly this will happen next month.
4. CW is 1 year removed from Alpenfury.

It’s probably just because of the cycle, I suspect the CF parks start getting more in 2028.

They already sold a bunch of the smaller parks. Also, they're only Six Flags in name. The people in charge largely were Cedar Fair people, and that's where the headquarters is.

My understanding is after Zimmerman was replaced with John Reilly, Reilly replaced most of the very senior-level legacy Cedar Fair people - Fisher (COO), Witherow (CFO), Christian Deickmann (Chief Commercial Officer), Brian Nurse (Chief Legal Officer) - who were all based in Charlotte or Sandusky. The new executives are remote or Arlington based, and any new hiring they're doing is all at the Arlington offices. Wouldn't be surprised for HQ to formally move to Arlington.

There are a handful of legacy Cedar Fair leaders at the park-level but most were either cut during the initial merger (CMO, CHRO, SVP of F&B, most of the park GMs) or have since been let go by Reilly. Every single Cedar Fair board member at the time of the merger is no longer on the board.

The current company couldn't be any further from the one Kinzel built and Ouimet really took to the next level. Disappointing to see what's become of the company since Ouimet left the Executive Chair role in 2020 and the Board in 2023. Had endless potential. As someone mentioned above and was easily predicted, the biggest loser in all of this is the legacy Cedar Fair parks.

The biggest losers also include legacy Cedar Fair shareholders who have lost a ton of $$$$$ because of this entire debacle. Of course Sandusky no longer being the corporate headquarters at the crown jewel park also is a slap in the face to the park and market that provides SIX with the most significant profit margins and cash flow. Seriously, who does this?!

Expect to hear disappointing results on August 6. Weather, ride opening delays, and the economy have had a negative impact on attendance and spending. SIX has now resorted to using radio advertising once again to advertise July sales promotions to try and get bodies in parks after largely abandoning tv/radio advertising for social media.

At this point we should expect to hear of additional park sales including New England, potentially Dorney or Fiesta, and maybe even a “flagship” level park in order to deal with the financial challenges that continue to hover over this failed merger.

Fiesta is unlikely it’s getting a new coaster next year. I would look to parks not getting capex if the chain is going to sell again.

I thought of another instance where Six Flags clientele came ahead of Cedar Fair clientele. Cedar Fair started charging for haunted attractions last year. Meanwhile, Six Flags (who brought the bigger deficit to the merger) still honors Diamond/Legacy elite/VIP members. These people get massive discounts: 50% off food and merchandise plus preferred parking and four fast lane passes per visit.

When you fire management from the profitable company and retain people from the failing company or hire people without park experience you don’t really get success, do you? 🤔

Made me happy to see this today. I think all of us here respect Colleen for her work at Cedar Fair, and it's so refreshing to see this "Park President" having some fun;

She's probably following Mike Fehnel's lead. He's been very visible in social stuff for Great Adventure.

Now to give thoughts on other stuff here.

Great Adventure is in the largest market for the Corporation and they gutted the park 2 years ago. They are now working to restore that park and doing a good job of it. The park isn't slammed busy but it's busy. Bakunawa was probably bought pre merger. Hell even the next coaster probably was too.

If they didn't honor legacy memberships they'd have a class action on their hands. I do know they are raising the prices on those every now and then. Probably hoping that gets those who have them to convert over to the current plans if they are cheaper. I'm in the process of moving my home park from Kings Dominion Prestige Pass to Great Adventure. So not sure whether I am going to a membership or biting the bullet and dropping the full price.

John Reilly has had a hand on the rudder for a short time most of the stuff we are seeing is Bassoul/Zimmerman led stuff that was purchased and being implemented (Maybe not where originally planned but their purchases)

OhioStater:

Made me happy to see this today.

That's pretty awesome. My first coaster, and as I've said here before, I will chain myself to the structure if they try to tear it down.

I love mine train rides. My opinion is I’ve never ridden a bad one.

Then you’ve never read HP’s Trailblazer

dragonoffrost:

Bakunawa was probably bought pre merger.

I recall seeing it on a Kings Island survey a few years ago asking what the park should build for a new ride. I don't recall if it was before or after the merger, but I'm guessing it was before.

Cedar Point's Mine Ride... I always imagined what the ride would be like if they added a mountain for it to travel through and around. Add a scenic waterfall, some simple animatronics or whatever. Give the ride new life. I don't think it will ever happen, but I can dream.

When I was a kid I always thought it needed a tunnel of some kind. Now I think it would just look fake. The mountain on the old White Water Landing was kind of silly.

Six Flags earnings release for 2d quarter was this morning. Didn't listen to the call but the transcript of it will be available online.

Press release: https://s204.q4cdn.com/1552...6-2026.pdf

Touchdown:

Then you’ve never read HP’s Trailblazer

There's nothing bad about Trailblazer.