SF: beginning of the end?
I'm not saying it is impossible.
rc-madness makes a good point in regards to the effect on the coaster building business. It has been a strong couple of decades but we may see that settle down some...and I'm not sure that is a bad thing. As the focus went toward bigger, faster coasters the industry has seen a decline in attendance. The blame is quickly aimed at the economy and gas prices but I suspect the neglect of the family and children has had as much to do as anything. Look at the parks who have done well in the past few years and you will see a family focus.
- SFMM – (CFLP?) I don’t know if they would want the hassle though
- SFMW – (Busch)
- SFEG – [closed]
- SFOG – (CFLP)
- SFGAm – (CFLP)
- SFNO – Closing?
- SFKK – [closed] Maybe sell ride to the State Fair board?
- SFA – [closed] Maybe Paramount if lucky
- SFNE – [closed] I really don’t thing anyone would want the park
- SFStL – (Busch)
- SGAdv – (CFLP?)
- SFDL – [closed] I really don’t thing anyone would want the park
- SFAW – Closing
- SFFT – (Busch)
- SFoT – (CFLP)
*** Edited 9/15/2005 7:27:19 PM UTC by Swoosh***
Jeff said:
...I can't imagine that the general opinion of the park isn't any better than it is on this site.
Friends of mine that live in the LA area refer to SFMM as "Tragic Mountain" and pretty much have the same feelings towards that place as us.
I'd love to see Busch Gardens buy one of these parks, maybe SFOG. That is one park Six Flags got right.
*** Edited 9/15/2005 7:33:05 PM UTC by rc-madness***
How can coaster fans not be sad to see a company so focused on coaster construction, now place it self on the chopping block.
I'm not sad at all. I think this is great! This side of SFFT---I have not enjoyed a trip to Six Flags in years (and I've been to almost all of them---though not in the last 2 years due to protest)! I know I should feel differently, but deep down I'm laughing at their decline. For every closed concession stand to every one-train operation to the next apathetic customer service representative...this is my revenge!
Six Flags has left such a bad taste in my mouth that I’ve no sympathy at all. Of course I would love to see some mom/pops or Cedar Fairs (the CF I remember not the one you guys were complaining about this year), buy some of the parks so they can save some rides. But in reality, I’m enjoying the decline that the company seems to be going through! Not that it will make my life better in any way, but the thought of some Six Flags’ head honchos suffering some sleepless nights makes me feel a little better. Screw the whole company!
By the way…I’m of the opinion that at this point of time, the best thing they could do is drop the Six Flags name! I know how valuable name recognition can be…but I cannot help but think that in this specific case, the name is an anchor! I'd prefer they call themselves Enron's Magic Mountain!
P.S. When speaking of valuable land…has anybody seen what is happening around SFMM? Tell me some multi-million dollar homes would not look good on the hillside…? It is just a matter of time before the “neighbors” start complaining about traffic/pollution/noise/etc!
I do think though that it is possible that SFI could be looking to unload one of their big guns at some point. And property doesn't come much more valuble than the Valencia area. Of all the parks in the chain (and I've also been to them all), none has seen the steady decline that the so-cal park has over the last 10 years. Really, it's time for someone to step in and save this park ASAP.
And also GAdv/DP for that matter.
Say what you will about SFMM, but it's still one of their top three in attendance.
Not to mention that CF...
- Owns a CA park that outdraws SFMM
- Owns a CA park that has half the coasters
- " " maintenance nightmares
- " " maintenance expenses
...and is still turning a money-losing SF park around as we speak.
Possible? Sure! Likely? Hmmmmm.
-'Playa
NOTE: Severe fecal impaction may render the above words highly debatable.
Swoosh said:
I would think that they would be MOST interested in SFMW as they could easily convert it into another SeaWorld adventure park. The infrastructure is already there... in fact it might be occurring as we speak.
Only thing is, SFMW is thankfully not owned by SF, therefore they can't sell it off. Now if The City of Vallejo want Busch to manage the park after SF will most likely bail out, I'm all for that!
SFEG and SFNE are the right size and right locations to me to be successful independant parks. I doubt they'd close up shop, especially not SFNE with Superman, that alone is a marketing tool above all else.
Busch isn't getting into the biz, they're trying to get OUT of the biz. That said, I think SFFT is another good choice for independance, due to their good shows reputation. SFStL could probably struggle along as an independant a couple of years, but might ultimately fail if the St Louis area doesn't grow too much.
SFDL - KennyCorp to the rescue!
Other than that, the other parks are either not remarkable enough, not marketable enough, or the land value is too high for other uses to really make them viable to stay open. I'd hate to see parks go, but someone else will step up to the plate. We may have seen the end of the coaster wars, but I think we're going to see the beginning of ground-up family-oriented parks rising from the ashes of Six Flags.
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