2006 Additions: SFMW, SFNE, SFOT, SFFT, SFMM

SF vs. Red Zone

Six Flags is finally on the rise after years of decreasing revenue and attendance. Mr. Six is considered a success while future additions to other Six Flags parks are listed.

The additions at SFGAdv., SFOG, and TGE are already known as well as SFMM's new flying coaster. Some other additions not previously known are also listed:

SFOT: 10 new family rides.

SFNE: New family ride and new thrill ride.

SFMW: New children’s section.

SFFT: Waterpark expansion.

La Ronde: Waterpark addition (2007)

There was no mention of the supposed new B&M hyper for La Ronde which I found interesting. The name of the new B&M flying coaster is "Tatsu" (like we didn't already know) and is described as being a "blockbuster" coaster. This addition is said to attract a teenage demographic. I was a bit surprised since SF's recent additions have been geared toward families as a whole.

Thanks to Scott from TGE boards for the info! :)

*** Edited 10/18/2005 11:39:29 PM UTC by UBRhino***

Scrolled through, very interesting I guess. Seems as SFA isn't getting as of this document :(.

That is the singular MOST self-serving piece of BS I have read EVER! Wow....kudos!

I wish I could cut/paste but what the heck, THIS is worth re-typing...LOL. :)

Improved Guest Experience
Beginning in 2004, Instituted several initiatives to enhance guest experience.

*Increased seasonal labor staffing at all parks
*Additional spending on landscaping and park appearance
*Continued investment in systems and operating practices to better manage wait times
*Investment in infrastructure and guest amenities

...and wait, here's the kicker:
90% of visitors surveyed believed that the Six Flags park visited met or exceeeded their expectations.

My guess is they surveyed only at "selected locations" in the chain... ;)

Do I think Red Zone is the answer to all the ills of the company? No, clearly not...

Does Six Flags also WILDLY overstate the impact on 9/11 to the industry as a whole? Based on the performance of...well, let's see....Disney, Paramount, HFEC, Cedar Fair, Adventure Parks LLC, and everyone else in the industry, I'd say that's an affirmative... ;)

Six Flags, you might get past Red Zone but the upper management WILL eventually go by the wayside in favor of people who ARE willing to take on all these items you have "claimed" as part of your efforts...
*** Edited 10/19/2005 12:30:18 AM UTC by rollergator***

I'm wondering if the SFFT waterpark expansion could be similar to the "Ultimate Makeover" SFA saw this season. I thought that might happen and would make since sense the HH brand carries a strong identity and would make sense to compete with Schliterbahn and the new water park going in at Sea World San Antonio.

I also think they chose to reveal plans for a select parks that don't compete with other parks in the country or parks that have already announced their plans for 2006. All though revealing the SFFT plans would blow my theory out of the water.

Someone out there will probably HATE me for saying this, but what Six Flags is doing right now is comparable to George W. Bush:

They can throw all these numbers and papers out there about how much better things are getting, but that doesn't mean that they are. ;) *** Edited 10/19/2005 12:38:31 AM UTC by MForce2k***

(In response to rollergator)

Yes but they did mention a decline in Disney's performance to back their arguments.

"-Entire sector impacted by 2001-2004 downturn

-Economic downturn coupled with 9/11 led to overall slowdown in travel, tourism, entertainment spending and theme park attendance

-For example, from 2001 to 2003, Disney's U.S. theme park revenue declined 8.5% and operating income declined 40% or $629 million"

I had no idea Disney performed so poorly those years.

*** Edited 10/19/2005 12:40:32 AM UTC by UBRhino***

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rollergator said:
Improved Guest Experience
Beginning in 2004, Instituted several initiatives to enhance guest experience.

*Increased seasonal labor staffing at all parks
*Additional spending on landscaping and park appearance
*Continued investment in systems and operating practices to better manage wait times
*Investment in infrastructure and guest amenities

---

I don't think that's BS at all. I think all of those things did happen after 2004. That doesn't mean they're necessarily at the level they need to be at, but those things are being implemented.

Additionally, from what I hear the 90% statistic is not made up. It's certainly possible to lie with statistics and to use them to your advantage when trying to argue something, but apparently that number is accurate.

I agree that the impact of 911 is grossly overstated, but why wouldn't you overstate that instead of using the real reasons?

-Nate

A lot of those improvements Six Flags mentioned DID occur, but the damage done from so many previous years of poor service and lack of good management has left the parks in a deep hole. They're climbing out of that hole and because the hole is so damn deep, a lot of us fail to even notice these small growing changes and tend to have that stereotypical mindset that Six Flags says they're making changes, but really aren't. I really believe they're turning around. This RED ZONE LLC scare is really getting mangement into a panic frenzy. If it's one thing Red Zone LLC did right, is get management to shape up. It's shape up, or lose control of your business. But I pray to God that Dan Snyder doesn't get control of the board. I really really am scared for that. If anything, I'd much rather have Kieran Burke hold the reigns to Six Flags than Dan Snyder ANYDAY. At least Burke has had multiple years of experience in the industry. Snyder has NONE.

Waterpark addition in 2007 at La Ronde? Humm, SF must have found some hidden land at La Ronde for that. La Ronde used to have a water park in the late 80's. It was located behind the Nintendo Megadome and where Cobra, Vampire, etc. are located now. Now, that piece of land is used. Only other locations for a water park is behind Monstre (not really good... there's an important service road plus parking lot for events there)and back parking lot (the park needs every parking space they have for firework days, as right now, they have to send people to park elsewhere on those days).

Only ways I see they can add a water park to La Ronde is by using Ile St-Helene, which they'll never own, as its pretty much the equivalent of a state park, but the use can be negociated I guess. Or, they can build it from scratch around Montreal, which will never happen, since land is so expensive, NIMBY syndrome which is getting insane and the stiff water park war in Quebec.

We have, by my estimation, 6!!! water parks in Quebec. One 25 minutes from Montreal, three an hour away, one in Quebec City and one near Ottawa, on the Quebec side (that's the Proslide owned water park). Parc Safari and Zoo de Granby got small water parks too, but those are strange ones, as they combine rides, water park and animals! Parc Safari got a set of Bisch-Rocco flyers, as well as a Rock o Plane.

I was really surprised by some of the attendance increases.

SFGAm. had a 23% increase in attendance with the addition of their water park. It's nice to know it was such a success.

SFNE had an increase of 16%. I knew that adding Mr. Six's Pandemonium and Typhoon would give a nice boost but 16% is really great for two smaller rides. I'm interested to see what two rides they are adding next year.

I thought SFGAdv. would have had more than a 7% increase in attendance with the addition of Kingda Ka and the Golden Kingdom. Then again, 7% of THEIR numbers is quite a jump.

The most surprising numbers to me were TGE and SFEG. TGE's new Looney Tunes National Park has been attributed to the parks 10% increase in attendance. Not too shabby. SFEG added nothing more than a water slide and their attendance jumped 11%. That's impressive.

It seems that MOST of the 2006 additions and beyond here are listed, but obviously not ALL of the 2006 additions are listed. For example La Ronda has markings all over the park this year, and they're clearly not for a waterpark, especially when it's not supposed to open until 2007. SFEG has a sign around their Chaos proclaiming that a new attraction will come there in 2006. It appears that they are only talking about their major parks or the parks getting significant additions. I wouldn't consider this a definitive list of what ALL SF parks are getting next year, just a list of what the major parks are getting.

You could say one of the SFNE additions next year is twisted ;)

/\ STOP BEING SUCH A TEASE MOOSH! Or I will just have to fix you for it. ;)

LOL...Sorry, kRaX! I've probably said too much already ;)

Clap Clap Clap Clap Clap Clap Clap Clap Clap Clap Clap Clap Clap

Family rides and Waterslides...ahhhh

Good Job Six Flags. Every park you gave something too, you gave something they needed(except maybe SFMM. I do think SF would be better off marketing the park in all aspects, rather than just thrills).

ARGH! Moosh you always taunt me with your little hints. I love it. ;)

Maybe Sneider is just mad that SFA hasn't gotten anything in awhile ;).

Hmmm...let's see:

Lose 30 pounds? Check!
Visit SFOG this year? Check!
Plan successful event at Silverwood? Check!
Win costume award at PPP? Check!
Taunt UBRhino? Check!

Wow...I accomplished everything I set out to this year! ;)

LOL. You're an inspiration for the rest of us.

Really? For most people I'm a perspiration! ;)