Fixing SF - what would you do?

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coastinguy said:
1. eliminate the fastpass seats and blend Q-bot users into the line like the freeway at cedar point.

2. hire more workers so that rides are run more efficiently and the lines move faster.

3. make all season passes the same price like other corporate chains.

4. use originol names for rides so there are not five rides of the same name.

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Let's prove you wrong on all four of your points...

1. It IS done this way at some Six Flags parks that utilize Fastlane, namely SFoT.

2. Hiring more workers when the chain's already in deep budget? Not to mention it wouldn't increase the throughput for a majority of the rides one bit.

3. Simply wouldn't work. What sense would it make making season passes the same price at Magic Mountain and Kentucky Kingdom for example? If you go for the higher SFMM prices, the visitors to SFKK get ripped. Go for vice versa and SFMM will start losing major bucks.

4. Once again, who notices the originality of ride names out of the typical general public? Moreover, who cares? Do you really think the average park goer cares that a ride in Georgia has the same ride name as one in California? Not one bit.

Any more ground breaking ideas to "fix" Six Flags?

A major problem with SF's debt is they don't know what to spend money on. They run commercials way more than they have to. They spent millions of dollars on their Q-bots which will never make them back the money they could if they were free. If a person is waiting in line SF can't be making money off of them. If the lines move fast enough that the person gets through all the rides they want, they will go play games or buy food. Therefore SF can make more money off the person. SF doesn't understand simply concepts like that, which most other parks do.

Considering what we just learned about their bond rating, a good way to START the *fixing* would be to pay off some of that enormous debt before interest charges cut into cap ex even further...

Then again, I've contributed to this thread so many times in other threads, this is already passe...I'm moving along! Honestly, IMO, most people here consider upper management to be either a) irrefutable geniuses, or b)absolute idiots. There's really very little that indicates an understanding of the fact that the people in charge of SF are really just that....PEOPLE!

So many "experts..."

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Jeff - Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com - Sillynonsense.com
DELETED! What time does the water show start?

LOL Jeff!

To answer the question posed in the subject the first thing I'd do is suggest to SF brass they ignore what enthusiasts say...and then tell them I am one ;)

mOOSH [having a Devo moment]

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A random Mooshter's Dawntionary listing: Intaxication [adj.] Euphoric feeling over a tax return that last until you realize it was your money to begin with.

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Jeff said:
So many "experts..."

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Now now Jeff, would you rather the discussion center on "taering sux flagz down"?

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"SOME people have NO class!" - Mom from the Whizzer queue

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Jeff said:
So many "experts..."

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On all sides of the fence! Maybe a thousand monkeys with a thousand computers would eventually run SF better. BTW I neglected to mention that my original post was a reaction to the news that their credit rating is on the verge of going down the crapper.

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SFNE#2FAN said:
the one-of-a-kind funnel shape slide Tornado (like Zinga)

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I can't be the only one that finds this hilarious, can I? It's one-of-a-kind, just like that one over there!

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What is the purpose paying for a commercial that advertises crappy slides that aren't even at SFNE? Only Six Flags is this stupid. Hopefully they'll go out of bussiness sooner than later. And isn't this false advertising, showing attractions that are not in the park?

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It's cheaper than incurring the costs of a commercial shoot 20 times over, that's for sure.

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--Maddie--
What do I Listen-To?
May the Schwarz be with you.

What would I do?

Obviously, I'd hit delete and start the senario all over again. I'm assuming we're speaking of RCT here, since everything is made to sound so simple and easy... ;)

Paint would go a long way towards improving SF parks. For example: Screamin' Eagle at SFStL looks like it hasn't been painted in 10 years. Paint chipping and fading are all over this classic coaster.

I would also suggest keep the theming consistent throughout an entire section or "land". For example: why isn't S:UF at SFoG located at least near B:TR in the more comic book themed section of the park. I don't know what comic books have to do with the six different flags of the state's history anyway. Another example: Mr. Freeze at SFStL is nowhere near B:TR and The Joker swinging ship ride. Why the inconsistent theming? My guess is land use (S:UF probably wouldn't fit on any land around B:TR at SFoG), but you would think they would name the coasters something more appropriate with the theme of its particular section.

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Nashville needs a theme park!

I would ask every enthusiast I know for his or her input. Because we all know that what brings us together, as enthusiasts, is our ability to agree on "what's best."

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Is that a Q-bot in your pocket or are you just happy to see me?

I too wouldn't mind seeing SFI (ie Premier) go under. The name would live on and perhaps someone who knows how to run a park will end up with the franchise. Certainly noone could do worse.

Sell off all but the six or so parks with most potential. In my opinion i beieve they are SFMM, SF Chi, SF NJ, SFoG, SFoT, SF WOA. Perhaps the Warner Bros parks in Europe as well. But the rest of the parks generally are smaller or have limited expansion ability or both. If the company sells out the rest of the holdings perhaps they can reduce debt and allow for concentrated development. With a chain of more modest proportions perhaps the company can create a consistant product with standard brand concepts and operating policies. Wow, what a novel idea!

So many critics, but tell me that the so many "experts" that SFI has are doing any better. Weather, while an issue with walk up gate attendance is not a viable cop out for season pass sales; especially considering that they are primarily sold pre season and people get them just for the reason to NOT to have to worry about the weather.

Season pass sales go down for only one reason. Customer belief that the product is not a good value for the cost. And since SF generally have the cheapest season passes...

*** This post was edited by meangene 7/27/2003 12:50:31 AM ***

With all due respect (is any really due and what exactly does that mean?), I'd love to hear how some of you think that the company "going under" is a good thing for anyone, whether it be the parks, the industry, customers or enthusiasts. Frankly that's the stupidest thing I've heard today.

Where do you think Six Flags parks get all the capital to develop quickly? Would SFNE or SFNO be what they are today were it not for the corporation behind them? I think not. If that weren't true, every Holiday World and Knoebels would have a B&M ride.

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Jeff - Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com - Sillynonsense.com
DELETED! What time does the water show start?

The only "fix" Six Flags need is to get their customer service and capacity issues up to par(SF used to have GREAT capacity on their coasters). Other than that, I'd tell enthusiasts where they could stick their suggestions, because they *never* end.

EXPERT: ex-something that is no longer. pert-a squirt under pressure.

Perhaps one of the quickest, easiest fixes available to the comapny would be never to purchase another Vekoma coaster again. My home park (SFA) has three Vekomas. One never runs with all three trains as designed AND is a maintenance hog. Another froze due to a faulty sensor and stranded 20+ customers for over two hours. (I know any publicity is good publicity, but this...?) The third is just abusive and violent.

At least the park has a Premier, an Intamin, and a peir of woodies, but it does make me just a bit jealous of those whose SF parks are filled with B&M's and Intamins. (whins...snivel...pout)

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I am the TickTockMan

thrillerman1 (7 posts up) - I doubt the points you made would help Six Flags one bit. Most of us enthusiasts hate it when theming is inconsistent, or when a Superman themed coaster is not in the superhero area, but renaming rides and such is not going to help Six Flags financially.

What they have to do is work on efficiency, customer service, pricing of tickets, food, and season passes, and a different marketing strategy.

RiFT! Good to see you round here!

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Is that a Q-bot in your pocket or are you just happy to see me?

Man , I truly could go off and write an epic poem about everyone's post on this subject.

But I don't feel like it. ;)

Oh well , I'll get the dumbest one....

coastinguy said ,

4. use originol(spelling error) names for all rides so there are not five rides of the same name.

Okay..... so if they renamed the 30 or so Batman or Superman coasters , wouldn't that take away 30 good coaster names for future rides? ugh
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Ramming your face into the bottom of a swimming pool is not very fun.

Hey Rift. You make good points. I'm just saying what I personally would enjoy seeing when I go to a SF park. No, my ideas wouldn't fix everything, but Marko was simply asking what I would do. Your ideas would be helpful as well I believe.

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Nashville needs a theme park!