Six Flags layoffs continue across the company

Sharpel007:

Hell Over Georgia is looking better

Hell Over Georgia > Demolished RRR

Jeff:

Crap rolls downhill,

I’ve just pictured a huge ball of poop, crashing down the hillside tangled with rollercoaster bits, ones from Ka and other closures, with Bassoul running backwards on top of it. King of the ****ball!

Sharpel007:

And having been to SFNE and GrAdv, and CP this year, some of the Ouimet approach was still in effect, food was vastly better at the Legacy SF parks, and maintenance and painting, and security.

A more serious reply: this is consistent with what it seems everyone thinks about this merger, which is that merging old SF with Cedar Fair is like mixing poop and vanilla ice cream. It’s not so bad for the poop …

[OK, not totally serious]

I sure hope Zimmerman replacing Ouimet doesn't go down in history like Chapek replacing Iger...but if the result is the same...Ouimet comes back like Iger did...then it wouldn't be so bad.

But, I haven't read anything to make me think that Ouimet would go back, even if he was wooed.

Somebody call this guy!

I would like to see Ouimet return to the board. As for the day-to-day mgmt there are Ouimet protégés still in positions to make a difference and move up, if all this goes south like many expect. Right now they all have to play in the sandbox ordered by the crazies.

This company has major problems and it doesn’t appear they are trying to fix them. Cost cutting is just a bandage to slow down the bleeding, but it also will have a negative effect on attendance.

They keep chasing the same customers which are coaster, riders, and little children and their parents. Everything they install is for them. They cut live entertainment at most parks. The coaster wars of the 90s 2000s resulted in a lot of parks losing their true family rides, like dark rides and transportation rides

All the food festivals in the world with mediocre lukewarm overpriced food are not going to bring in the non-thrill riders, and there are a lot of those people out there that are potential customers

They also have a problem that their assets sit empty over half the year earning no revenue. Their solution is to cut back schedules instead of figuring out how to grow operating days.

As much as people get tired of me, talking about this subject, these ghost weather closures, like Carowinds closing today at 2 PM with no further rain in the forecast, do not encourage attendance at all. It discourages long distance, travelers and discourage everyone from coming to the park if there’s any rain in the forecast. It’s a bad business plan to plan on perfect weather to make a profit. It’s also goes back to their lack of indoor attractions to make it a more pleasant experience when the weather is inclement

Their pricing strategy is awful. They give away season passes and food plans to the season passholders and then highly overcharge for everything else to the regular customers. Neither of this really encourages spending at the parks.

The low price season passes, and meal passes are so engrained in their customers now. Season passes were originally designed to encourage visits with repeat spending on meals and drinks but now they gave that away too

Any drastic changes to these would result in a huge loss of customers as proven by Six Flags a few years ago. so they boxed themselves into a corner . They have a large number of low profit customers buying these passes

Most of Six Flags parks were in such horrible shape that it was evident that they would also drag the cedar parks into their cesspool It would take way too much money to elevate the Six Flags parks to a decent level and that does not fit their cost cutting strategy

I absolutely don’t see them doing anything to turn things around. They are just regurgitating the same customers.

If you’re a suburban soccer mom bringing your kids to a SF park with an entrance that looks like this I’m pretty sure you’d turn around and go home. Maybe instead of spending billions on rides while firing all your talent you invest in some great architects/designers to clean up the streetmosphere…oh wait, they got fired too!

Oh, I wonder what the planning and design department has endured. I think that's one of the most talented parts of the company. Considering the merger, RIF'ing that group would be just plain stupid.

Gunkey's photo takes me right back to Magic Mountain...in the late 70s.

Jeff:

Oh, I wonder what the planning and design department has endured.

If the socials are to be believed, that department no longer exists after last week.

As Zimmerman/Bassoul/Fisher kill budgets for parades, live E, street bands, special events, etc. there is data (known internally I might add) to support they are doing exactly the OPPOSITE of what motivates consumers:

“Live performing arts and sports events are more appealing than static attractions because they offer a unique, unrepeatable experience that cannot be replicated elsewhere. The "you had to be there" feeling and the fear of missing out on memorable, shareable moments motivate people to prioritize attending these events over other forms of entertainment. The atmosphere at live events is infused with energy and excitement, creating emotionally resonant moments that static attractions cannot match.”

Static attractions are in peril with the consumer, especially under 40. I’m hesitant to say that they are only focused on achieving the goals they promised in a “cut and run” mentality to get their bonuses but what else do we need to see? When does the FUN board start to be held accountable for their failures as well?

Only poor people are held accountable. Board members are on a different standard.

There are several new board members up for election this year. Michael Cogalazier worked for five years as president of Disneyland resort, a position Ouimet held. Maybe his input would help steer the company towards providing a better guest experience. On the other hand, Sandy Cochran is on the board of directors of Dollar General, and Dollar General doesn't exactly have the best reputation for providing the best customer experience.

It looks like they let go of Camille, the GM at Michigan's Adventure for 37 years. I'm sure she had a contact for x years after the acquisition, but that's f'd up.

What is even worse is Camille’s dad built that park!!! It was her family history!! It was fine as part of Cedar Fair, she could do her thing and be left alone as long as the numbers were there while benefiting from being apart of a larger company for cost efficiency (merch, game prizes, food costs, etc.)

I don’t know what Bassoul and Zimmerman think they are doing but the stock price sucks, the numbers aren’t good, and the general public are hearing stories of mass firings which would make you question if things are on the up-and-up. I’m sure there are maintenance folks who would like to comment……..

Bassoul and Zimmerman are draining the company to enrich themselves and other wealthy shareholders. Running theme parks is way down their list of priorities.

Over the past few weeks I've visited Six Flags Great America, Six Flags America, Kings Dominion, Cedar Point and Six Flags Great Adventure. With the exception of Cedar Point (Since it was on opening day for Siren's Curse) every park was completely dead, to the point where I was getting solo ride's on coasters at every park. It can't be a good sign for the chain that it's basically peak summer season and the parks all seem to be empty. I know it's been hot.....but that never seemed to keep crowds away in the past.

In comparison my visits to Hersheypark and Busch Garden Williamsburg were met with the type of crowds you would expect in the summer. Hersheypark was packed, while Busch Gardens had moderate crowds.

Has anyone else noticed their local Six Flags parks being empty lately, or did I just get really lucky?

I visited CP and KI in June. CP was moderately crowded (weekday visits) and KI was busy (weekend.). I visited Knotts on July 2 and it was also seasonally busy as expected. I go to CW soon, with Alpen Fury opening I suspect it too will be summer crowded.

I saw a post from Camille linked from somewhere ... spends 10 mins trying to find it

https://www.facebook.com/ca...jdf8sWjUCl

Interestingly, she calls out Kinzel as a great leader and someone who was the opposite of a micromanager.