Shapiro's SFKK visit - CoasterBuzz

http://www.courier-journal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060201/BUSINESS/602010400/1003

Obviously, they are not selling SFKK. ;)

Im guessing its just the non-flagged parks we should worry about. Anyways, Chang is finally getting the needed paintjob & its good to know SFKK is on the safe-list.

Someone's been listening to enthusiasts' worrisome prognostications:

"[Shapiro] said that Six Flags will be able to add 'bigger and better rides down the road' and that he's not turned off by the prospect of more costumed characters and kiddie rides."

So the tune has changed from "No more Goliaths" to "No more Goliaths...for now."

Everyone happy?

Good article. I like his realization that charging for the rock-climbing attraction was an example of "nickel and diming".

The more I read about Shapiro and his Six Flags "tour", the more confidence I have in him. I'm not sold on the idea that costumed characters are going to get people in the gates but I do like the fact he knows how bad operations are and what has to be done to fix them. Enthusiasts have maintained that the parks would be better with less yearly investment in new rides and more investment in good operations so why not give the guy a chance to do the right thing?

Mamoosh said:

"[Shapiro] said that Six Flags will be able to add 'bigger and better rides down the road' and that he's not turned off by the prospect of more costumed characters and kiddie rides."

I was under the impression that Jonathan kid said that.

Uh, Moosh, you are wrong, that statement was not by Shapiro...that was the 17 year old who said that.

Kentucky Kingdom fan Jonathan Fields, 17, of Okolona, said he and his friends will welcome the changes.
"They've needed improvements over there for many years," said Jonathan, a student at Manual High. "Lots of people say the employees generally don't care and it leads to longer lines."
He said that Six Flags will be able to add "bigger and better rides down the road" and that he's not turned off by the prospect of more costumed characters and kiddie rides.
"You come to an amusement park to be in a different world," Jonathan said. "Otherwise it's just a parking lot with a bunch of roller coasters on it."

Damn, Rob beat me to it by 38 seconds... ;) *** Edited 2/1/2006 3:55:25 PM UTC by redman822***

--George H

I have no problem with anything he's done, implied, or instituted since he took over. You can't make a bouquet without cutting flowers! ;)

mOOSH [gawd that analogy sounded gay]

Yeah it did... have you been watching too much Martha Stewart or something? ;)

But yeah, it makes total sense. When a company is as screwed as Six Flags is, there has to be some painful losses in order to make a big gain. Years and years of damage are hard to erase.

*** Edited 2/1/2006 4:01:37 PM UTC by Rob Ascough***

Yeah, but that 17 year old kid seems to be the voice of reason. Realistically, he's right.

I'm happy Shapiro recognizes that rides do need to be painted and maintained. Whatever you think about "the new team", it looks like the parks will at least reap some benefit in the short term. The alternative under Burke would have been much different.

I purchased my first season pass in 3 years yesterday. Something IS working. ;)

Right. Under the Burke regime, the money would have been spent on another coaster that would have turned into a rust bucket in a couple of years. Rides need to be painted, especially large rides like coasters that look like sh** when they go years without paint. Also, rusty coasters appear neglected and dangerous to the unknowing public, even though we know they're not.

The biggest issue here is that in the past, SFKK has been one of the most neglected Six Flags parks in the entire chain. Its good to see that finally they are paying attention to SFKK and giving the park what it needs!!!

How do you figure? The park got a standup coaster in 1997, a dual track wood coaster in 1998, a wild mouse in 2000 and a shuttle looper in 2004. Four coasters at a small theme park in less than a decade is not what I'd consider to be corporate neglect. Parks like Astroworld, Darien Lake, Wyandot and Elitch Gardens are/were victims of neglect.

This is great news, and is just what SFKK needs. They're finally repainting Chang too. Hopefully this will produce a better KY Kingdom in the long term, but at least for now they're making progress.

Now they need to get the wood coasters running well.

Rob Ascough said:
How do you figure? The park got a standup coaster in 1997, a dual track wood coaster in 1998, a wild mouse in 2000 and a shuttle looper in 2004. Four coasters at a small theme park in less than a decade is not what I'd consider to be corporate neglect. Parks like Astroworld, Darien Lake, Wyandot and Elitch Gardens are/were victims of neglect.

I wasn't referring to Big rides and such, rather I was referring to park appearance, which is something the Burke management failed to assist the park with. That's why I like Shapiro's move...he intends to stop wasting money on the roller coaster race, and spend more on trying to fix problems within the parks.

(Also, Greezed Lightnin' was installed in 2003 ;) )

Okay, I can see that kind of logic. Then again, there are a LOT of Six Flags parks that need the details tended to so I don't think SFKK is alone. Even the better Six Flags parks (Great Adventure, SFOG) have needed some serious work in a lot of areas in the past.

I am actually kind of shocked about the rock climbing wall thing. There are many "up-charge" attractions that could get rid of the "up-charge" but I would have kept the up-charge on the rock-climing wall. It is a good thing I suppose, it is just going to be weird to see a rock-climbing wall have a 30 min wait.

Things like go-karts should be free.

I am glad to see though that SFKK is safe. I really did think it was doomed.

I cant' wait until next season!

I too was suprised about the Rock Wall. Part of me really wonders if they can realisticly do that. The park I work at experimented with pricing with their Go-Cart ride, including one day when it was free. Needless to say, the line was rediculous, even with a mild weekday crowd. Operationally, this will turn into a headache for the park.

They were talking about a "rope climb". I wonder what they are talking about? Rock wall or rope ladder?

I going to save all of the SF talk, this time it was going to be positive and happy.

I give todays SF article 4 out of 5 stars.

We won't nickel and dime the few thousand people who climb the wall, we'll just nail the 850,000 people who use the parking lot.

And you, granny, fork it over-- full price, sister. Write that down!

I will grant that Shapiro said a lot of the right things in this article. The changes the parks need are far from glamorous. The only problem is that Wall Street gets less excited over paint, disinfectant and trash cans than it does over prospective land sales and new Board members.