Six Flags losing $$?

My friend told me that Premier is losing money. I find this hard to believe since they are opening so many coasters this year, and have recently acquired 4 new parks!! Can anyone collaborate on this? My friend and I both work for Cedar Fair, and we've noticed that Premiers parks are not as maintained as well as Cedar Fairs, and the service is no where as good as Cedar Fairs. We have both been to many SixFlags Parks. Can anyone justify what my friend says? Does anyone agree with me that Premier Parks lack quality?!

that is probably why they are losing money because, they spend it on buying new parks and adding attractions at an unreal rate, although I don't care.

Premier obviously is out to buy as many parks as possible. They probably figure the more parks they possess the less competition for them to worry about. I am sure that they are drooling at the thought of owning Cedar Point. Andy made a good point about Premiers maintenance and service. It gets to a point that when you own to much of something you dont take as much pride in it as opposed to lets say a family owned park.

I think I would die if Six Flags took over CP. I really don't want my favorite park to be dirty, littered with Superman logos, and un safe. I am just picking on Six Flags, but their parks sure do operate differently then CP, Busch, or IOA.

You just contradicted yourself Chitown

Why Bob? Because I like SFGAm. I happen to think that park is great. I have been to other SixFlags and didnt think as highly of them. If you are basing it on my topic of SFGAm it doesnt mean I contradicted. I have taken into account of what other people have said about Premier. Some people like Premier and some people dont. I just made a point that it makes sense that a company wont take as much pride in something if they own to much. I personally think SFGAm is probably one of the few parks that they focus on do to the Chicago and Milwaukee market. I cant speak for all of them. As far as me contradicting "Try again"!!!!!!

Whoa Chitown, settle down there big boy. I don't think Bob meant it as harshly as you think he did. This isn't fight, he was just making a point. No big deal.

As for Premier, I think it's a great company and don't mind the bad maintenance. The fact is, they create a ton of fun, and when you dont have easy access to Mickey Mouse, they are usually the next best thing. Other than maybe some dumb park called Cedar Point.

Why does Cedar Point get dragged in to every discussion? Is it possible to talk about anything without Cedar Point? Just once?

Premier builds great rides, no question about it. I did make the four hour drive to Buffalo twice last year. My problem with the parks isn't maintenance or even the over saturation of cheesey characters and themes. It's the inefficiency in their operation that bugs me, namely the indifference about moving people through the queues quickly.

Are they losing money? Not really, but their aggreesive capital spending plan isn't very well thought out, seeing as how they had to scale back plans for SFGAdv last year and probably SFO this year. The company will likely remain financially sound, but their long term debt will eventually top them out and prevent them from adding new attractions at the parks they've been pouring dollars in to.

-------------
Jeff
Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com

Well, Six Flags Great America did not start out as a Six Flags thing. I mean, it was owned by Mariott, and that is why it's so much better. It got a better start than other parks owned by Premier or Six Flags... although Great Adventure was a Mariott park too....

GAM got American Eagle, Demon (and the former) Rolling Thunder, Tidal Wave, and the Edge, a bunch of rides I really liked compared to some Arrow clones that Six Flags put in the park (not to mention aaaccchhhhShockwavechhooo! any names.)

Your right, Marriot opened Great America in 1976 and it was a huge hit. There was no other theme park of that size in the Chicago/Milwaukee market. Us Illinois people were happy when it opened. Like I said before, I think that is why Premier gives extra emphasis in this park as opposed to alot of there other parks. This park has always been a money maker from whoever owned it (Marriot, SixFlags, Premier). I was always wondering about the 3rd park that Marriot owned but never found out. They owned what is now PGAm which from what I am told Marriot built both of these parks completely identical in the beginning. They even debuted rides with the same name and same year of operation. Example: Turn of the Century which is now the Demon. Willards Whizzer, and Tidal Wave. Is SFGAdventure an identical make or did Marriot build that park different?

SFGAdv started out as an independent park in the early-mid 70's. Its layout is nothing like the Great America parks. Six Flags bought the park around the late 70's-early 80's. As far as I know, Marriott never had business with Great Adventure.

-------------
Scott W. Short
sshort@mediaone.net
http://welcome.to/midwestcoastercentral

I think everyone one with a 6 flags in their hometown, likes to think that their park is the exception. People in SoCal feel that way about SFMM that, I am sure that people in Ny feel that way about SFGAv and likewise with the new SFO. I personally do not feel that there is any park that is getting particular attention, but if I did have to venture a guess it would be SFMM because of the Market size and the new competition. People do take things too serious on this board...not to mention any names. *** This post was edited by Bob Dole on 3/23/2000. ***

I don't feel that SFO is getting special attention. I'm not being arguementative, but GLP WOULD NOT have "cut the mustard" as a Six Flags without those additions this year.
My limited experience with Six Flags and the opinions i hear all tell me that Premier only cares about the rides, pushing through lines and other guest services (and employee services) are all the first things to be lost if they need that last buck to build a ride. Bad service comes from the company not willing to take care of its workers in the trenches.

To start things off I really dont see how a company the size of Six Flags could be losing money.Im sure if they really where they could just as easily sell off one of their parks to cover their loses.Im sure Paramount Parks or Cedar Fair would just love to get their hands on one of SF`s parks in the state of Texas alone.The second and final thing I wanted to add is that Ive never really noticed a difference in customer service out of all the major amusement park chains.They can only set the guide lines for their employees to follow.

Does anyone know if Marriot owned a 3rd park? I also heard that they tried to open a park in Washington D.C. but it was turned down by the local officials out there. Also I am so serious about these posts that I cant sleep at night!!! NOT!!!!!!!!

Size has nothing to do with profitability.

Like I said, I wouldn't say they're losing money, but they are incurring a lot of debt.

-------------
Jeff
Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com

I think that the early Six Flags, Such as Six Flags St. Louis Which Have been open since the 70's are quality Parks with good Theming. The newer Six Flags Such as Six Flags Elitch Gardens Are Unthemed and are giving the six flags name a bad rep.

That is an interesting point madcow.

Yes I totally agree with mad cow! Elitch Gardens is my hometown park. I think its cool that they may get some great new thrills over the years but it will never be like any of the early Six Flags.

AND RIGHT NOW ELITCH GARDENS SUCKS AND IN MY OPINION SO DOES PREMIER!

It pains me to know that a company such as Premier with its bad reputation owns my beloved home park, Six Flags Over Texas. But, thankfully, I haven't really seen any ill effects from their ownership. The park is still clean and well-kept and operations are good. I'm sure areas could be improved upon, but from what I've read about all the other Six Flags/Premier parks, we got lucky. It is still such a shame that Premier is degrading the Six Flags name with the way they operate their newer parks. The Six Flags name is nearly as important to the amusement park industry as Disney having opened in 1961, only 5 years after Disneyland and being the first successful regional theme park and the beginning of a new era.