New interview with Shapiro...

http://www.star-telegram.com/business/story/503068.html

As usual an interesting read. He states that bankruptcy is not a plan that they are considering. He also states that they don't want to sell anymore parks. Wasn't it just a month ago where he was saying the sale of 3-4 is likely?

Made some optimistic comments about economy and gas prices. Also had some good comments about the liquor license at SFOT.

The final interesting comment I saw was when talking about "International strategy" he calls it "Hot and Heavy". With his interview about a month ago talking about possible ventures outside of the US it could be interesting. Perhaps we will hear something in the Q4 Conference call on the 10th. Perhaps its just a great strategy for La Ronde and SFM. Who knows.

SFD? (OK, I'll let anyone out there explain the "D")

Denmark? Dominican Republic? Djibouti? Oooh! Oooh! I know: Dubai! ;)

I really love this quote: "It's not a make-or-break year." He should run for president. He says he wants to do things, and he always changes his mind. You just can't trust him.

What is something he has said he wants to do that he has since changed his mind on?

I'm pretty sure a few months ago he said "This is a make or break year."

There are a few things he's said that I've yet to see happen off the top of my head...

- Promised the return of Metro at Magic Mountain by the end of the 2007 season in a conference call with investors. It's March of 2008 and the thing hasn't been touched at all.

- Said he would not longer "give away the gate" and said old management did that too often with heavy discounting which cheapened the brand. I'm still seeing cheap season pass deals and heavy discounting.

There are probably a lot more. That guy is a lot of talk and only filling up barely half the glass with actually doing what he says will happen.

No rant here, just I know originally he said that he would bring regional foods to parks. (I.E even though there is Papa John's at all parks, he would still bring Chicago Style pizza to SFGAm.) I haven't seen this happen anywhere yet. Anyone else?

I believe that was supposed to happen in the 2008 season, so I guess we'll find out sooner or later.

I'm just curious. I dont necessarily follow the SF chain, but he is certainly a good "talker". What I am getting from some of you, however, is that his talk is akin to that of a used car salesman. The ideas I have heard come out of his mouth make sense, but that is not worth much if he doesnt deliever.

I think the problem is that we're interpreting what the company plans to do with what the company announces they're going to do. When Shapiro mentions an idea to do something, it's not him offering you the product personally as a consumer because that's what PR and press releases and commercials are for. It's a little unfair to chastise Shapiro for being candid about what's on the drawing board and then not having absolutely everything come to fruition. Plans change, priorities change, and rigidly sticking to everything without making modifications for the sake of pleasing enthusiasts is a straight road towards disaster. *** Edited 3/1/2008 7:20:14 PM UTC by matt.***

^He should NOT say anything he doesn't mean, or isn't going to happen! If Target's CEO says in 2007, we are going to open up 25 stores, and doesn't open any, is that a responsible CEO?? It sounds like that CEO just wants people to think that things are going to improve even though they might not even have the budget for those things. If you are making the big bucks like he is, you have to be trained to not saying anything you feel like saying.

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kRaXLeRidAh said:

- Promised the return of Metro at Magic Mountain by the end of the 2007 season in a conference call with investors. It's March of 2008 and the thing hasn't been touched at all.

- Said he would not longer "give away the gate" and said old management did that too often with heavy discounting which cheapened the brand. I'm still seeing cheap season pass deals and heavy discounting.

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Yes, those are all true. He said the company was thinking of selling the parks like the first person said, and now it's sounds like absolutely no. I was thinking of that he said that they would get a Thomas train, and I forgot they are getting a Thomas train area this year.

He said that operations will improve, and there was plenty of low-staffing last year at my park. He said that they will hire moms, and seniors, but I hardly saw any at the parks I went last year. He just makes a big deal about all the rides being open especially the new ones, and it's so untrue.

He really cares about the entertainment department one year, and now he's dumping shows, and having video recorded instead of live actresses/ actors.

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Spinout said:
^He should NOT say anything he doesn't mean, or isn't going to happen! If Target's CEO says in 2007, we are going to open up 25 stores, and doesn't open any, is that a responsible CEO??

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Again there's a difference between saying something will happen as it's in the planning stages, and issuing some sort of official press release or statement. If he were not so frank, candid, and open (relatively) in interviews you wouldn't know any better.

Plans change. Would you prefer SF follow through with ideas they mentioned in prior years even if they now think they are bad, unpractical, too expensive, or of low priority? I think being dynamic and not being resistant to change and adapting as you learn could be a sign of good management within reason.

I prefer the "less talk...more rock!" approach. I like HW's mantra, "under promise...over deliver".

^I am more of a build a bunch of expensive roller coasters and dig yourself into a giant hole process, but this time Six Flags should bring a ladder.

Well, all in all, from the outside looking in I would say SF is certainly headed in the right direction. The question now is, will the boat sink before it reaches safe haven?

^Re: "the boat". It's still leaking, but they are patching the leaks...drydock seems a long way away. The debt certainly feels like someone (Burke et al) threw the anchor overboard. Shapiro/Snyder are bailing...the two billion dollar question is, "when do they stop bailing OUT the boat and start bailing OFF the boat"?

Hehe, love the nautical themed posts... :)

Yeah, the Burke guys were patching the holes with water.;)