Shapiro discusses 2006 plans and beyond for Six Flags

Bold statements, but these ideas need implemented.

I've read the interview before as it was posted on ************* last week.

SF may be a discount knig, but not the entire industry.

He may want to start by not giving away the gate on annual passes then screwing the guests on everything else that is sold at the parks.

Notice the part where he sidesteps the question about SFMM actually costing more than Disneyland? It certainly is true the parks are undervalued, but the solution isn't raising the prices higher than the competition and not offering a superior product. Guests will wonder why they pay 15 to park in a dirt lot with no tram service vs. Disney's parking garage.

And let's look at Tatsu. Cost of 21 million. They might get a bump of 3% over the 3 million visitors they had last year, about 90,000 people coming specifically for Tatsu. Between full price tickets and parking, that's almost 7 million in year one, not including other in-park spending. Assuming that the attendence remains flat after 2006 (the new 90,000 return every year), Tatsu will pay for itself in about 2.5 to 3 years. Any numbers higher than 3% in attendance increase only brings the ROI even quicker.

So the question is what other attractions could trigger a min. 3% increase that costs less than 21 million and isn't a coaster? I hope they have a plan. It's not like we haven't seen some parks that have swung to far in the other direction (DCA) experience trouble in attracting customers.

Or in the case of SFA, where this year it's gonna cost more to park and more to get in the gate yet at least two attractions removed. I said over in another post that I'm willing to verlook this however, if most of the remaining rides are up and running at or near peak capacity and I see other improvments around the park. Parades, costumed characters and $400 trash cans wont be enough to cut it.

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I said over in another post that I'm willing to verlook this however, if most of the remaining rides are up and running at or near peak capacity and I see other improvments around the park. Parades, costumed characters and $400 trash cans wont be enough to cut it.

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So.. I have to ask you, Rescue131. What would you consider to 'cut it' as far as improvements go SFA for next year. You [should] see at least better than average employees next year, fresh paint, better landscaping, more garbage cans, a cleaner park, more costumed characters, and possibly a new parade and/or fireworks?

For a company saddled with over two billion dollars of debt, and Shapiro only being behind the reigns what? less than six months, and next year's capital budget already allocated by the time Red Zone took charge, I'd like to know what specifically, you're gonna be looking for next year?

Because, in my mind.. your's regarding next year.. is already made up.

RobCoasting, I'm not expecting any major rides or attractions. I guess what I would like to see is mostly what you have listed, better employee attitudes, fresh paint all around, clean eating areas, no trash cans flowing over, rides up an running at better capacity. I really like SFA, so I sure don't want to see it close, and I don't mind the price increases, or the fact that some older or unreliable rides are removed. I guess I'm just expecting to see more of the little things. And truthfully, I think we will see them, eventually across the board. I believe Shapiro has his head and heart in the right place, it's just gonna be getting the parks to where he wants them that will take some time, I understand this. You can bet I'll be at SFA this season many times no matter what, but it will be the little things that will catch my attention.