You're the new CEO of Six Flags

[TopThrill182]

I honestly believe that SF has many quality parks already, and they have already taken steps in the right direction to fix a lot of problems.

 

The first thing the chain really needs to concentrate on is getting people into the parks. People are busy these days. Kids are on sports teams, are involved with different clubs, go to camps, etc. School sometimes even plays into this. Their free time is significantly less these days in comparison to years past (when kids may have had more laid back summers). Parents are just as busy. Many work in addition to being involved in different types of activities (not to mention having the responsibility to carry their kids to all of their activities). With people being so busy, SF needs to find incentive to get these people to make a day to go to a park and set aside whatever else they may have going on. Three new kiddy rides / new paint on buildings won't get people into the park. They still need to have major capital expenditures and other things that will get the bodies into the park (and make people want to pay the money to do so). Some things that could do this include:

 

- A new major coaster

Yes, I think parks still need to focus on this. "Tallest" and "Fastest" get people into the park. Many people at my school would take off and go check out CP's new huge rides like TTD and MF

 

- A new major ride

As someone else said on here what happened to major family rides? River rapids rides and large family rides like that are hugely popular.

 

- Concerts

A well known artist coming to the park would be a great way to get people into the park. Teens and young adults travel quite a ways to get to different concerts, especially if the artist is currently quite popular.

 

- In Park Promotions

The park could do something cool within the park that didn't involve a ton of money. Maybe something like a 24 hour weekend where they are open all the time. There are tons of different options for something like this (in park contest, etc).

 

And obviously once the guests come into the park you have to make them happy but I think SF has done a lot for that. They are adding the kiddy rides, painting everything, etc.

[larrygator]

The first thing the chain really needs to concentrate on is getting people into the parks.

 

They have enough people in the parks. They need need to make more money off each person while at the same time making it a enjoyable visit.

[mike robinson]

I think I would give each Park manager a budget and tell them the rest is up to them. Six Flags parks were the best when each park was run from in the park, not from corporate. The GM's know what the parks need. Let them do their job.

[GuruGuys]

The food issue needs to be corrected. Its so bad that I had leftover food vouchers that I didn't use at both Six Flags ACE events in Texas last year! Perhaps I'm the first ACE member to turn down free food (if you can call it that). The chicken strips, in particular, are horrid.

 

-GG

[nathanhillinbl]

1) As a former employee in my HS and college years (during the TW era), we were focused on guest service first are foremost. During the Premier era of ownership, that changed to barely servicing the customer and avoiding assistance of any need. In addition, the quality of people hired for non-supervisory positions slipped dramatically. I would do things to bring those folks in: A) Increase base pay to a liveable wage(9-10/hr) for these persons (usually HS/College Kids) and B) Highly invest in proper training on not just the technical skills, but the human skills as well.

 

As a current SF employee, I can tell you that SF's training policies today are more guest-centric with what they call "Guest First Standards". Their training seems that its geared in the right direction, although it seems to bounce off some employees, who keep their i-dont-give-a-crap attitude, and just do their job mediocre at best. I don't exactly agree with their guest first standards, I believe that Employee first standards would be the right strategy as if you treat your employees right, the employees are happier and, in turn, treat your guests right.

[/hr rant]

 

As CEO I would first raise prices for a season pass. I remember in my local area (near TGE), we used to have commercials that promoted the whole "it pays for itself after 3 times". They couldn't do that promotion now, as season passes early season would pay for themselves after 1 and 1/2 times or something like that, its way too easy for parents to drop their spoiled-brat teenagers off to wreak havoc around the park all day instead of getting a job and being responsible(don't mean to toot my own horn, but I've been working at SF for going on 4 seasons, since I was legal to work).

 

Next, I would get rid of all of the chain restaurants and get back some of the uniqueness that most SF parks lack entirely. As another person said, when you know the prices of food @ papa johns, then go into the park and see that its sooo much higher than you'd be paying if you got it outside the park , then it hits home a lot more on how much you're being gouged than if it was at a restaurant unique to the park. I would also try to have more healthy options in the parks. I think people overall are trying to eat healthier, and be proactive about their health, and fry-o-later'd chicken and fries along with a soda don't exactly fit the bill for these people.

 

For rides, I'd treat each park uniquely as what to add/remove. TGE for example, started off as a kiddie park, and has stayed as such. The family emphasis that SF has now is all good, but family's include thrill seeking teenagers, and our park has nothing signature (coaster wise) about it, with the exception of The Comet. We have plenty of kiddie rides, and absolutely 0 good flats with the removal of The Rainbow this year. The cookie cutter approach on theming wouldn't also fly, there would not be 2 coasters with the same theme if I could help it. I think most of the GP doesn't realize that they're riding something cloned unless it has the same name/theming.

 

I would also put an emphasis on landscaping for all parks, as TGE expanded their landscaping budget a few years back, and it has done wonders with the aesthetics of the park.

[CoasterGuy06]

Honestly, food prices at Six Flags differ little from most other parks. People know they are going to pay more at a park than they would elsewhere, just like at a sporting event. Heck, it cost me over $12 for a hotdog, fries, and bottle of water at the Alabama/Florida State game this year, but it only cost me about $10 for pizza and a large drink at SFOG. I knew going in it would be more expensive eating at the park, which is why I only had one meal there. As long as people keep buying it, why change it?

 

As far as admission prices go, many people forget you DONT have to have an increase in attendance to make the most money. Say 1.7 million people pay an $30 each to get in. The park brings in 51 million dollars. Raise the prices so they are spending $40 per person on average to get in (tickets, parking, etc.) but you attendance falls to 1.5 million. You would bring in 60 million dollars. Sure you lose 200,000 guests, but you make 9 million more in revenue.

 

Now to my changes:

 

Operation changes: Better staffing for rides. Going to SFOG this year it seemed like they had a good number of employees working, but my visit to SFFT in 2006 was the opposite. It was a busy Saturday and they were running all 3 trains on S:KC, but they had a height checker (outside the station, also serving as FlashPass attendant), 2 attendants, and the panel op. The attendants were doing their best but they were still stacking like crazy because there was simply no way to check quick enough.

 

I would also put the Universal style lockers at the entrances to the 4 or 5 most popular attractions. They would be free for the first hour/ hour and a half and lose articles would not be permitted (unless secured in a zipper/velcro style pocket). This would save so much time on platforms.

 

New rides: Let individual parks decide what their guests need/want instead of just dictating from corporate.

[IggyACE]

I remember back in the early 80's you had to wait to play the chance games. Skeeball you couldn't even get close to them machines. SF needs to buy smaller and more likable prizes and lower the game prices. $3.00 to play one game is sick. How many times do you walk by and only 2 to 3 people are playing the games. If you lower them to $1.00 and a smaller prize I bet you will have all 10-15 spots taken and many people will play more for the value let alone have people waiting to play. I will not and do not let my kids play any $3.00 game for stupid stuffed animal that ends up in the garage sale or garbage can a year later. Not many kids care how big the prize is but do care about playing and possibly winning.

 

Craig

[robbalvey]

^ It's funny you mention that. One of the things Jay said they are doing this summer at Magic Mountain is having a lower price games option for kids. They will all be marked with a "kids" logo so parents know that is a game they can let the kids play at a much lower (or even possibly free if memory serves correctly) and get a smaller prize.

 

--Robb

[Hang And Bang]

Sounds good but what about us adults who are kids at heart!

 

Seriously though this isn't a bad idea at all.

[PURE]

I don't play the games. I have much better things to waste my money on lol.

 

If I was CEO of Six Flags the first thing I would do is try to bring back the Looney Tunes theme and incorporate it back into the company. I know they still have characters walking around and a kids land but I feel like they've moved away from Looney Tunes. I'm a big fan of them, I feel like if they wanted to the company could expand them to the capacity Disney has with Mickey and the like. Not exactly that huge, but I feel like there's a HUGE potential to take the characters and make them popular again to the younger crowd AND to the older guests. It seems to me like they have this great tool (Bugs and the gang) to grow the company with, and they've kind of left them in the dust.

 

Playing their cartoons in the queue lines, continuing Looney Tunes Land for the kids, having more of those types of theming fit in with the awesome DC characters they have already roaming the Six Flags midways. Incorporating the rides with the theming can entertain the younger crowd and families, and grow them into older individuals that want to carry the Looney Tunes characters onto their children.

 

These types of things can continue the new beginning the SF company has already started, there's no reason why each park couldn't be as delicately put together as well as any other parks in the world, combining them with some of the best coasters on the planet.

[coasterlover420]

If I was CEO of Six Flags:

1. I would put a forum on the SF website, because that's the easiest way to see what the GP are saying about the parks. When the GP are happy, they come to the parks more often. (i'm not sure if "GP" is plural or not, but whatever)

 

2. I would spend time, even a little if not a lot, at all of the parks. The only way to know how they're doing is to see for yourself. If changes are necessary, I would make them ASAP.

 

3. I would keep my prices at a competitive rate. If some other park of the same status is charging $20 lower per ticket, the GP would be attracted to the other park. Competition is very important IMO.

 

4. I would try to price everything reasonably. I'm not sure how stuff like this works in theme parks and I'm sure they need all the money they can get, but I'd do everything in my power to try to keep prices from going any higher or maybe even dropping them a bit. Like how everyone has been talking about the prices of games. They should be lowered, because it's really pathetic how there can be a whole row of games and no one playing them because the prices are too high.

 

Most people will say that lowering the prices would just lower income, but that's not how I see it. Please correct me if I'm wrong, I have no business experience, but if prices are lowered, wouldn't that attract more people? Then that way, your prices are lower, but your selling more tickets. Using simple algebra, there could be a way to even that out without having prices through the roof. Right?

 

I'll also add to that. I think the admission price should be lowered, but at the same time, the season pass prices should be raised. It's ridiculus the way that at parks a day will be like 50 to 60 dollars, but a pass for the YEAR!!!??? Let's say that you go 20 times in a year. If season passes are $90, which they are, that's basically paying $4.50 a day to go to the park. That doesn't seem very fair to the people who maybe live on the other side of the country and just want to go for a day or two. Why can't they pay $4.50 per day? I just think the prices should be more proportionate.

 

5. I would not sell any kind of alcohol or drugs in the park. That's just a dumb idea. Theme parks are for families. There's a reason kids aren't allowed in bars, right?

 

These are my opinions. I have no experience in business or anything like this, but that's what I think...

[ChrisZer0]

5. I would not sell any kind of alcohol or drugs in the park. That's just a dumb idea. Theme parks are for families. There's a reason kids aren't allowed in bars, right?

 

Im going to have to shoot this one down chief, Most theme parks who have adult beverages dont have many issues with underage drinking due to two things:

 

A) Excellent education of staff on how to detect underage drinkers

B) Swift penalties (i.e. removal from park, removal of pass media) for anyone who dares to break the rules.

[larrygator]

$3.00 to play one game is sick.

 

$3 for games is an unfair taxes on minorities. I rarely see Caucasians playing these games. What's up with that.

 

Most people will say that lowering the prices would just lower income, but that's not how I see it. Please correct me if I'm wrong, I have no business experience, but if prices are lowered, wouldn't that attract more people? Then that way, your prices are lower, but your selling more tickets. Using simple algebra, there could be a way to even that out without having prices through the roof. Right?

 

Incorrect - Unfortunately it is not that simple and that is why so many new economy internet based companies failed. A company making only $1 on a widget while a competitor makes $10 on the same widget would theoretically need to sell 10 times as many widget to be in the same profit range. But a company selling at a lower price now needs to manufacture more output meaning more overhead expenses (electricity, insurance, employee wages) so he would not be as well off.

 

Now factor this into an amusement park and would SF customers be happy with double or triple the crowds every day at the park.

[ParkTrips]

If I was CEO of Six Flags:

1. I would put a forum on the SF website, because that's the easiest way to see what the GP are saying about the parks. When the GP are happy, they come to the parks more often. (i'm not sure if "GP" is plural or not, but whatever)

but would it really be good? would it really be the public posting? Yes.. but then the bands of internet coaster nerds would come out, correct the poor 'GP' when they say something like "batman is way too intense for me - 100mph through loops is too much!" and it would end up being no different from already-existing coaster sites where the nerds moan

[mcjaco]

Moooooaaaaaaaannnnnnnnn.

[nathanhillinbl]

If I was CEO of Six Flags:

1. I would put a forum on the SF website, because that's the easiest way to see what the GP are saying about the parks. When the GP are happy, they come to the parks more often. (i'm not sure if "GP" is plural or not, but whatever)

 

See myspace.com/sixflags then scroll down to the discussion board on there. Its like a circus full of water headed retards. (Don't take that the wrong way, I have a great uncle who is mentally challenged)

[dandaman]

So. You're the CEO now. What do you do?

 

Go to Disney World?

[MRHS Falcon]

If i was the New CEO heres what i would do:

 

1) Staffing; The first thing is better training in Guest service, Safety training, Cleanness (i know a few parks did well at this, GADV was the #2 park at this for 2007), and Dept preparedness ( meaning you better able to handle situation for your dept). The Next thing i would do is treat the employees better (which would include the internationals that are brought), the better they are treated the more they would care about the job.

 

2) Season Pass Prices: The first thing i would do is have a two teir season pass system; Basic Season Pass and The Premium Pass. The basic pass would include; admission to the park you bought it at only, A Rise and Scream type of thing, and free parking. The premium pass would include; admission to all parks in the Six flags chain, free parking at all parks, discounts on food, flash passes, merch, and any extra pay attraction (such as Sky coasters, go carts, Ect), and finally A Rise and Scream type of thing. The prices would be: basic pass 100.00 and the Premium Pass 165.00.

 

3) Park admission and discounts: The park admission to the parks would stay the same as they currently are. I would eliminate of all the discounts except for the online ones but they would only be 15. Off instead of what they currently are.

 

4) Games: Open the games at noon or one o clock, and make it all prizes won have to be picked up on the way out of the park. Have a prize building after you have left the park ( outside in the entry plaza) were you take a card that says what prize you won, and the attendant gives you the prize based on the card. And you would not be allowed to reenter with prizes

 

5) Security: I would give the tools and training to do their jobs correctly. I would increase their present by; having them in the lines of rides, path ways, and every other areas. Also make sure they know were people hide to smoke.

 

6) Food and Drinks: I will do away with all food location except for Cold Stone (Johnny rockets, ben and jerrys) I would replace these location with local food location that are seen in the areas of the park. I would keep the prices of Drinks and food the way they are now. I would also bring in a Restraunt like TGI Fridays or Ruby tuesday.

 

7) Rides Operations: All coaster would run with all trains on the track. All rides would be opened with the park

 

8) Reduce Marketing

 

9)Park GM: The individual park GMs would have control over the things done in the park. The GM would add new rides, on a budget that would be given to each GM, they could not exceed the budget. This budget would be decided on what the parks needs, Popularity, and Profitability of each park.

 

10) Operating schedules and hours: All parks would operate from Good Friday to Halloween. The Spring and fall would be weekends only with Friday and Sat. opened from 10:00-11:00 ans Sun 10:30-9:00. the summer (starting around memorial day and running till labor day ) would everyday of the week with hours being 10:00- 10:00 except for Sat. which would have an 11:00 closing. Also at select parks i would add a holiday in the park type of event (SFGADV, SFGAM, SFMM, and SFOG)

 

11) Entertainment (regular season): Two independent budgets ( one for regular Season and One for Fright Fest), All show Stadiums would be in use with live shows. I would get rid of the strolling and street performer, Bring back a batman stunt show, a stuntshow geared to a popular WB movie, Nightly Fireworks and Two parades per day (night and day parades)

 

11) Entertainment (Fright Fest): For Fright fest i would do things diffrent; First off i would continue to promote Family by Day and chills by night. I would make it were the park is opened till 4:00 pm than at four the park would close down everybody will be made to go to the entry gate. ( their would a five dollar charge to be allowed to stay for the FF activity. their would also be an age limit of 8 years old to reenter the park) Then at five the park would reopen just like in the morning, but only people who are 8 and and the people with the special FF ticket (would be let back in you will still be able to buy rugular admission) . The attraction would include every area of the park having strolling ghouls, The Awakening Parade, Three haunted trails, Two haunted houses and atleast one hayride (possibly two at the more crowded parks). As part of this it will utilize all areas; Back areas, Catering areas, The kidies sections, Arcades, anyother large buildings and any Hurricane Harbors that are attached to parks

 

12)Sponsors: I would continue the in park sponsors and corporate Sponsorships

 

13)Selling of parks: I would Reduce the Chain to seven Property, These Propertys would include SFGADV, SFMM, SFNE, SFOT, SFGAM, SFOG, and SFSTL. I would sell all but two of these parks as Parks (meaning they will cotunue to operate as parks), the two i sell as opened property only would be SFA, and SFFT. The rides would be romoved and relocated to the some of the other seven parks ( marketed as new attractions) or sold to other theme park companys. The land would than be sold for market value (Market value in these location is very good for land)

 

14) Corparate HQ: i would keep the HQ in the current location i NYC, and the crown jewel of the chain would be SFGADV (all new ideas tried here prior to adding to other parks)

 

These are what i would due to chain to improve it and reduce the dept.

[texcoaster]

Someone's "curfew" idea led me to remember this idea I had awhile back:

 

Have one day per month be "adults only" day, where you had to be at least 21 years old to get in.

 

I can't tell you how many times I've heard people say that they avoid the parks because they hate being around throngs of teenagers. The crowds are rowdy and obnoxious and the lines are too long. Putting up with the teen crowds is bad enough, but standing in line for two hours in close quarters with them is unbearable.

 

While I personally don't really get bothered by the teen crowd at parks, I could also tell you that I'd pay a little extra to go to a park if I knew that it would be all adults, a smaller crowd, and shorter lines that day.

[ginzo]

Someone's "curfew" idea led me to remember this idea I had awhile back:

 

Have one day per month be "adults only" day, where you had to be at least 21 years old to get in.

 

This is a great idea, but I think it would work best as a "hard ticket event" after regular operating hours. No season passes, you need a ticket. And the coasters stay open until 2 or 3. During regular hours I think there would be problems with too many teens showing up and getting denied.

[ChrisZer0]

Someone's "curfew" idea led me to remember this idea I had awhile back:

 

Have one day per month be "adults only" day, where you had to be at least 21 years old to get in.

 

I can't tell you how many times I've heard people say that they avoid the parks because they hate being around throngs of teenagers. The crowds are rowdy and obnoxious and the lines are too long. Putting up with the teen crowds is bad enough, but standing in line for two hours in close quarters with them is unbearable.

 

While I personally don't really get bothered by the teen crowd at parks, I could also tell you that I'd pay a little extra to go to a park if I knew that it would be all adults, a smaller crowd, and shorter lines that day.

 

Tex, that was me. Im also on board with a age-limiting event once or twice a month throughout the season, as well as my other idea(17+ after 7pm). Hopefully when the liquor license goes through, we can start seeing events of this nature occure.

[montezooma]

^^^MRHS Falcon has some great ideas. Smart kid and very business savy for being 19 years old. Six Flags should take note. I especially love the ideas of prizes being picked up at the entrance gate and giving the power back to the parks.

[Hang And Bang]

13)Selling of parks: I would Reduce the Chain to seven Property, These Propertys would include SFGADV, SFMM, SFNE, SFOT, SFGAM, SFOG, and SFSTL. I would sell all but two of these parks as Parks (meaning they will cotunue to operate as parks), the two i sell as opened property only would be SFA, and SFFT. The rides would be romoved and relocated to the some of the other seven parks ( marketed as new attractions) or sold to other theme park companys. The land would than be sold for market value (Market value in these location is very good for land)

 

I like this one a lot. SF definitely needs to downsize. However I think they should keep 8 properties - the 7 you listed plus SFFT. As far as I know (I'll admit I'm not an expert) SFFT is very profitable and widely considered one of the better, more unique, parks in the chain.

[PURE]

Moooooaaaaaaaannnnnnnnn.

[Sticky Nicky]

13)Selling of parks: I would Reduce the Chain to seven Property, These Propertys would include SFGADV, SFMM, SFNE, SFOT, SFGAM, SFOG, and SFSTL. I would sell all but two of these parks as Parks (meaning they will cotunue to operate as parks), the two i sell as opened property only would be SFA, and SFFT. The rides would be romoved and relocated to the some of the other seven parks ( marketed as new attractions) or sold to other theme park companys. The land would than be sold for market value (Market value in these location is very good for land)

 

I like this one a lot. SF definitely needs to downsize. However I think they should keep 8 properties - the 7 you listed plus SFFT. As far as I know (I'll admit I'm not an expert) SFFT is very profitable and widely considered one of the better, more unique, parks in the chain.

 

SFDK also should stay in the Six Flags family.