Six Flags' Mark Shapiro Visits Europa Park

[robbalvey]

This just in from Europa Park:

 

Six Flags CEO came for a visit to Germany’s biggest theme park

 

Mark Shapiro enjoyed southern atmosphere at Europa-Park

 

On 5 April, two leisure professionals from the US landed on the Black Forest Airport in Lahr: Mark Shapiro, President and CEO of Six Flags Inc., and the Vice President of the US-American leisure company Mark Quenzel came to Germany’s biggest theme park for an informative visit and enjoyed not only many fascinating thrill-rides but also the southern ambience of the 4-star superior hotel “Colosseo”. They had been invited for an informative stay by Europa-Park’s managing director Roland Mack.

 

The theme park experts were especially impressed by the variety of attractions and by the large offer for families at Europa-Park, because the reorientation of the altogether 21 American Six Flags theme parks clearly involves that the parks have to be designed more attractive for families. Especially with regards to family-offers, Shapiro and Quenzel were able to get new impressions and ideas at Europa-Park.

 

Among other attractions, the following rides were tested by Shapiro and Quenzel: the dark coaster “Eurosat”, the YoungSTAR Coaster “Pegasus”, the “Euro-Mir” in the Russian themed area and water coasters such as “Poseidon” and “Atlantica SuperSplash” – all of them built by MACK Rides in Waldkirch.

 

But not just the “thrill rides” in Germany’s biggest theme park were among the favourites of the US-American visitors: they also went on an expedition to find the sunken city in the new theme ride “Atlantis Adventure” in the Greek themed area and the new “Science House” offered interesting insights into science and technology.

 

In the evening, the Six Flags delegation stayed in the Roman-Italian themed hotel “Colosseo”, which has given proof of the high standards of quality in Germany’s biggest theme park already in 2004, when the IAAPA Summer Meeting was held in the new hotel. During its 32 years of existence, Europa-Park has continuously developed and is meanwhile the largest seasonal theme park in the world.

 

Europa-Park is open until 4 November, daily from 9 am to 6 pm (longer opening hours during peak season). Further information on www.europa-park.co.uk.

left to right: Mark Quenzel, Thomas and Roland Mack, Mark Shapiro, Jürgen and Michael Mack in front of the historical “Balthasar Castle”

Three theme park professionals: Jürgen Mack, Mark Shapiro and Roland Mack (left to right)

[deano]

I cant help but think that this may mean some new MACK rides for the U.S.A.

[Jew]

Sounds like a sales pitch to me. But hey, if you are going to take ideas from (or buy rides based on concepts at) a theme park...Europa Park is a great place to start! The park has themeing on par with any Disney park, awesome rides, and the hotels were awesome too.

[IwantRevenge]

I'm guessing the people with the last names Mack are the owners of Mack

 

I seems like a good idea to me, Europa park seems like it has good coasters, good atmosphere and I think Six flags could take something good out of it.

[Wishmaster]

^ Wrong. Roland and Jürgen Mack own the park, Michael Mack is Roland's son. The coaster company is owned by Kurt and Christel Mack-Even. Kurt and Christel are cousins of Roland and Jürgen though. The park was originaly build as a sort of showroom for Mack Rides.

[Meteornotes]

Europa park is among the very best parks I've ever visited. Only good things could come from SF being inspired by this place.

 

dt

[BeemerBoy]

The theme park experts

 

That's a pretty generous description. But hey, I'll give the guy cedit for taking the opportunity to explore a little of what else is out there. The baby steps continue on the road to becoming a true "theme park expert."

[baclueless]

Maybe Mark can learn a few things about capacity while visiting Europa! Im not sure if Europa even knows what single train operation is...

[thomas2]

Booh they didn't even ride Silver Star

 

Well this is a good for Shapiro to see how a good theme park is being run. Hopefully he'll copy that into the SF parks

[Dailey Enterprizes]

It seems like Europa is a model for some park builders and operators because I know that Kennywood's Jerome Gibas went to Europa to scope it out. It had to do with something about a B&M hyper in the future... I can only hope though.

[DerekRx]

Europa is one of those parks that has extensive theming and not a bad coaster in it. If Shapiro learned anything from this, Six Flags may just see some more appropriate theming returning to its parks, or at least a Mack coaster.

[ParkTrips]

I think its pretty cool that he took a trip over there, I know how much people love Europa

 

Maybe Mark can learn a few things about capacity while visiting Europa! Im not sure if Europa even knows what single train operation is...

I don't know if you've been to a Six Flags this year, but I know my local Six Flags has been running things to max capacity consistently, and I recall reading Great Adventure doing the same...

[Sue]

Not that there's really been the need for all trains to run so far this year with the cold weather and low crowds, but quite a few coasters at SFGAd haven't been running to capacity.

 

--El Toro just started running 2 trains on Monday.

--Nitro and Runaway Mine Train's 3rd trains are both still in pieces

--Rolling Thunder has only been using one train on one track

--GASM and Medusa have only been using 2 trains

--S:UF seems to mostly be one train

 

It definitely seems like they're going to make the effort this year, but it's not there just yet.

 

Shapire visiting Europa can only be a good thing. I haven't been there yet, but from what I've heard, it's definitely one of my must-get-to parks.

[okinawaboy11]

Hopefully he'll bring some themeing to SFA. Actually, all SF parks for that matter. Although, SFGAm isn't exactly "themed" it has the best atmosphere of any Six Flags park I've been to.