Six Flags [FUN] Corporate Discussion Thread

[SFA Regular]

^I'm starting to agree with Wes. You must be a robot because you obviously didn't read what I said. The Bondholders wanted Synder removed. They specifically asked for his removal, while also asking for Shapiro to stay.

 

Oh, and bankruptcy isn't that simple. You can't just say "I don't feel like paying my debt off anymore, lets go bankrupt."

 

Believe me I'm not a bot. A bot would continue to respond back to you like I am.

[jedimaster1227]

Believe me I'm not a bot. A bot would continue to respond back to you like I am.

 

Point proven?

[netdvn]

^I'm starting to agree with Wes. You must be a robot because you obviously didn't read what I said. The Bondholders wanted Synder removed. They specifically asked for his removal, while also asking for Shapiro to stay.

 

Oh, and bankruptcy isn't that simple. You can't just say "I don't feel like paying my debt off anymore, lets go bankrupt."

 

Believe me I'm not a bot. A bot would continue to respond back to you like I am.

 

So you're saying that even though you aren't a bot, you act like one???

[Six Flags Enthuseast]

A bot would continue to respond back to you like I am.

 

And not use emoticons to show any kind of expression?

[Steelinwood]

This is excellent news, this had me worried for a bit.

[SFA Regular]

Sorry, I meant to say "A bot would not respond back to you like I am. I forgot to put the "not" in there.

[Bolliger&Mabillard]

Of course you forgot...because you're a bot.

[Airtime&Gravity]

Mark Shapiro Out! Ex-CEO of Paramount Parks, Alexander Weber IN!

 

Official Six Flags Press Release:

http://investors.sixflags.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=61629&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1425986

 

Al Weber to Serve as President and Interim CEO of Six Flags

 

Company Well-Positioned for Success under New Leadership as Busy Summer Season Begins

 

Board to Initiate Search for Permanent CEO

 

NEW YORK – May 12, 2010 – Six Flags Entertainment Corporation (“Six Flags”) today announced that Alexander “Al” Weber, Jr., former President and CEO of Paramount Parks, Inc., has been named President and Interim Chief Executive Officer, effective immediately. The Company is retaining a leading executive search firm and will consider both internal and external candidates to serve as Chief Executive Officer on a permanent basis.

 

“I am excited to have this opportunity to serve as President and Interim Chief Executive Officer of Six Flags,” said Weber. “The Company has made great strides to improve park operations and has significantly reduced its outstanding debt, paving the way for Six Flags to continue investing in its operations to provide an even more enjoyable experience for the whole family.”

 

Weber continued, “I thank Six Flags’ dedicated employees for their commitment to the Company and to providing guests with friendly, safe and clean services at all of our parks. Six Flags has been entertaining families and has been an important part of the communities in which it operates for nearly fifty years. Today, the Company is stronger than ever, with a solid financial position and a positive outlook for the upcoming summer season. The Company is poised for continued growth and success and I look forward to working with the Board of Directors, management team and all of the Company’s employees to capitalize on the opportunities ahead.”

 

Six Flags’ recent accomplishments include:

Outstanding customer satisfaction: Six Flags has achieved all-time high guest approval ratings based on product offering, atmosphere, value, employee service and safety.

World-class facilities: The Company has upgraded and invested in all of the parks and added numerous family friendly rides and attractions, and today the parks are in great condition.

 

Focus on family:

Six Flags has become more family friendly through the creation of a more diversified family entertainment experience, with activities that appeal to all age groups.

 

Commitment to the community:

The Company has implemented a company-wide green initiative across its theme park and water park locations, and through its “Six Flags Friends” program, provides community service, supports non-profit organizations and grants educational scholarships.

Financial strength: Six Flags’ recently completed balance sheet restructuring to reduce the Company’s outstanding debt by 60%, making Six Flags one of the least levered companies in the theme park industry and allowing for continued investment in parks and attractions.

 

The Company also today announced Mark Shapiro, the Company’s former President and Chief Executive Officer and a member of the Board of Directors, is no longer with the Company.

 

About Al Weber

Al Weber has 40 years of experience in the regional theme park business. He has successfully implemented new business strategies, organizational improvements and growth initiatives. Previously, Weber served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Palace Entertainment, LLC, the largest water park and family entertainment center company in the United States. Prior to that, Weber served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Paramount Parks, Inc from 2002 to 2006. Weber received a Bachelor’s Degree in Liberal Arts and Master’s Degree in Business Administration from Xavier University, and a Doctorate in Organization and Management from Capella University.

 

About Six Flags

Six Flags Entertainment Corporation, a publicly-traded corporation headquartered in New York City, is the largest regional theme park operator in the world with 13 major parks in the United States, Mexico and Canada and approximately 800 rides (including more than 120 roller coasters).

 

Forward Looking Statements

The information contained in this news release, other than historical information, consists of forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These statements may involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in such statements. These risks and uncertainties include, among others, the potential adverse impact of the Company’s bankruptcy filing under chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code, which occurred in June 2009 (the “Chapter 11 Filing”), on the Company’s operations, management and employees; customer response to the Chapter 11 Filing; and the risk factors or uncertainties listed from time to time in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and with the Bankruptcy Court in connection with the Company's Chapter 11 Filing. In addition, important factors, including factors impacting attendance, local conditions, events, disturbances and terrorist activities, risk of accidents occurring at theme parks, adverse weather conditions, general financial and credit market conditions, economic conditions (including consumer spending patterns), competition, pending, threatened or future legal proceedings and other factors could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company’s expectations. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to have been correct. Reference is made to a more complete discussion of forward-looking statements and applicable risks contained under the captions “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” and “Risk Factors” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009, and its other filings and submissions with the SEC, each of which are available free of charge on the Company’s website http://www.sixflags.com.

 

 

NEW YORK, May 12 (Reuters) - Theme park operator Six Flags abruptly replaced its chief executive on Wednesday, a little more than a week after the theme park operator exited bankruptcy protection.

 

The New York-based company, which operates amusement parks in North America, named Alexander Weber as interim president and CEO. The company said former CEO Mark Shapiro is no longer with the Six Flags, but did not offer a reason.

 

Weber is the former CEO of Paramount Parks, a theme park company that was bought by Cedar Fair (FUN.N) in 2006. Most recently, Weber was a management affiliate with MidOcean Partners, a private equity firm that has had an interest in theme parks in the past.

 

He replaces Shapiro, a former ESPN executive who took the top job at Six Flags in 2006. Under Shapiro, Six Flags shifted its strategy toward attracting more families to its amusement parks.

 

Shapiro's exit comes after Six Flags emerged from bankruptcy on May 3, just before the start of the lucrative summer season. The company has wiped out more than a billion dollars in debt after filing for Chapter 11 last June. [iD:nN03197397]

 

At that time, analysts had expected the management team would survive a restructuring. But Shapiro is the second high- profile executive to leave the company this month.

 

The company's emergence from bankruptcy also ended the reign of Washington Redskins football team owner Daniel Snyder, who led a heated proxy fight for the company in 2005 and installed himself as chairman.

 

Six Flags said it has retained an executive search firm and will consider both internal and external job candidates for the CEO post. (Reporting by Deepa Seetharaman; Editing by Tim Dobbyn)

 

Link

Edited May 12, 2010 by robbalvey

[stewhoutx]

Hmmmm, interesting move so soon after saying they were keeping him around. Maybe the robot bot guy wasn't so dumb after all!

[SharkTums]

WOW!!!

 

Shapiro and Snyder GONE!!!!

 

Very cool having the Ex-Paramount guy in there, should be interesting!

[Skycoastin Steve]

Well THIS should be interesting to see how it shakes out.

[KDCOASTERFAN]

Perhaps now we'll see a reversal of many of the former regime's assinine policies such as preffered parking & mandatory lockers at major rides thus turning them into pay attractions?

 

Niether Snyder nor Shapiro really knew what they were doing when they ran the company....you can't run a chain of parks in the same manner that you run a football stadium with a focus on nickel & diming the guests before they even enter the parking lot,it just doesn't work.

[slither37]

Wow, interesting. I like a good mix up at the top.

[televisedconfession]

I'll be interested to see a reason why they left. This will be an interesting turn of events.

[OldJJman]

WOW!! Interesting news!

 

Though I doubt that at this late time in the season (pretty much all parks open for the summer) that we'll see any immediate changes. But it may make for an interesting off-season, come Sept-Oct.

 

I think that installing Mr. Weber is a good move, if only to have an experienced figurehead at the helm during the upcoming season. Only time will tell if they (Six Flags Inc.) decide to keep him on-board in that capacity. Since the article stated that they have retained an "executive search firm", Mr. Weber may have to sell himself to the board, with his own proposals that would have their backing.

 

Like I said, only time will tell.

 

 

JJ

[KDcoasterMAN]

This looks promising...

 

I hope the Weber continues the families campaign as well revive the coaster wars!

[Capitalize]

Given that the old management brought in little more than mandatory lockers and hideous ads plastered all over the parks I find it hard to imagine this could be a bad move...

[KDCOASTERFAN]

This looks promising...

 

I hope the Weber continues the families campaign as well revive the coaster wars!

Didn't he use that formula with KD by adding family geared rides one year & moderate to extreme thrills the next?That seemed to work rather well for the most part as it provided a nice mix of things for everyone to do.

[thrillerman1]

Given that the old management brought in little more than mandatory fluffy, fluffy bunnies filled with medicine and goo and hideous ads plastered all over the parks I find it hard to imagine this could be a bad move...

 

You left out Six Flags Rollercoaster Cuts - their kids hair cutting business in Ct. and Pa. I wonder how those will fare under Weber. Also I wonder had this happened a few months ago if SFKK would still be around...reminds me a little of AstroWorld and Kieran Burke.

[Zingoman]

Am I the only one who is weeping over the loss of Shapiro?? I'm glad they have the Paramount guy, but Shapiro was the bomb!

[SharkTums]

^Why do you believe Shapiro was 'the bomb'? Just wondering.

 

Because he was 'cool'?

[themeparkman25]

Deleted by author

Edited January 20, 2011 by themeparkman25

[Scream162]

^^^I didn't know people used the term "the bomb" in 2010...

[Sir Clinksalot]

Interesting news. I was neither here nor there when it came to Shapiro. There were for sure some good things implemented under him and some head-scratchers.

 

I for one am fine with the lockers as a way to keep capacity up in the rides. It has REALLY helped for most rides (IMO) and I don't think they will be going anywhere.

[CoasterGuy06]

Perhaps now we'll see a reversal of many of the former regime's assinine policies such as preffered parking & mandatory fluffy, fluffy bunnies filled with medicine and goo at major rides thus turning them into pay attractions?

 

Niether Snyder nor Shapiro really knew what they were doing when they ran the company....you can't run a chain of parks in the same manner that you run a football stadium with a focus on nickel & diming the guests before they even enter the parking lot,it just doesn't work.

 

You realize Busch and Cedar Fair also have preffered parking right? And you know other parks have mandatory "storage bins" right?

 

Given that the old management brought in little more than mandatory fluffy, fluffy bunnies filled with medicine and goo and hideous ads plastered all over the parks I find it hard to imagine this could be a bad move...

 

They also did a little thing the Six Flags had NEVER done it its history: finish a season cash flow positive.

 

Although I wish Shapiro had stayed, from what I have read about Weber from his Paramount days I don't think he is necessarily a bad choice.