It does not look good for 6 flags america

[pkdcoaster]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/02/23/AR2006022301967.html

 

Just going by the land value and how seemingly overnight they closed Astroworld, I would not be surprised if the same thing happened here.

 

If they want to attract families, I would not advise jacking up prices $13 for G.A. and an extra $5 for parking in 1 year, especially when you are not even adding anything major. SFA owns a ton of land in that area and I am Sure snyder is well aware of that and how quickly it would sell for big bucks.

 

I guess I better go this year

 

JEFF

[TheGreatOne]

Just because the land is valuable doesn't mean they'll sell it. If they can turn a really good profit this season...they might be inclined to keep it around.

[pkdcoaster]

The park has never really turned a good profit.

 

They invested millions trying to get attendance up:

Roar 1998

Jokers Jinx,2 face and total rehab for park becoming 6 flags in 1999

Superman 2000

Batwing 2001

 

If 5 major roller coasters in 4 years did not do much, then taking down a caricature stand isnt going to make them into a huge money maker.

 

Bottom line is it is not a very family friendly park...Especially when you have Hersheypark 2 hours North and BGW 2.5 hours south. Those are the family destinations for Theme parks in the mid-atlantic. SFA is more of a Summer babysitter.

[TheGreatOne]

This is exactly why Shapiro does not want to unload parks right away, he wants to see if they'll turn profit under his guidelines for improving the family experience.

[pkdcoaster]

Yea, but you cannot really turn a park around in a year...it just cannot be done. Don't get me wrong, I like the park and do not want to lose some quality rides but the drought of new Coasters in the central VA/Midatlantic area has just got me down, we have not had a new major coaster at the 3 biggies around me (PKD, BGW, SFA) since 2001 (Hypersonic-if that counts and Batwing) and Italian Job just isnt gonna cut it....especially if we lose flight of fear.

I guess we will wait and see next year how this goes.

 

Parades I think is an awful idea if he is trying to save money. Look at the payrolls of all those people that is alot of money. Fireworks on the other hand get families to stay in the park till the park closes and eat dinner there and have desert and buy light toys etc.

 

PKD used to do fireworks everynight in the summer and FAMILIES STAYED till closing to see them. Now they do not have them except July 4th and nobody really stayed past 8 o'clock (note they have cut back their hours to 9 o'clock closings this year... a 1st) I do not understand why more parks do not do it...I would think the profits made on the food alone would more than cover the cost of the pyrotechnics.

 

JEFF

[gigaFreek]

Now that they have gotten rid of smoking there are only a few problems. Mainly cussing teenage employees, bad loading times for Batwing, and trash.

[TheGreatOne]

http://www.tmcnet.com/usubmit/2006/02/24/1405348.htm

 

A much better article of what Shapiro wants to do with parks like SFA.

[tngdiablo]

The park employees need to shape up as well. When I went last summer, there were employees sitting in the coaster and pulling the restraint down over them. Employees being on the queue side of the air gates and the ride op closing the airgates. It was absolutely AWFUL. The maintenance guy who came up to Superman on an ATV from over the hills looked as if he was just smoking some MJ. I think that is what needs to improve most of all.

[Dailey Enterprizes]

Someone above me got it right, there is very strong competition in the "family" market in this corner of the U.S. To the north is Kennywood (...when the Mon Valley Expressway is built, it's going to make it much easier for people living south of Pittsburgh to get to the park), Idlewild, Hersheypark, Dorney Park, Knoebles, then around SFA is Paramount King's Dominion and Busch Gardens Williamsburg.

 

You all know how much trouble Cedar Fair had with the competition when they purchased Six Flags Worlds of Adventure (Geauga Lake). The park probably has one of the cheapest gate prices ($24.95) and still has problems, mainly due to them not purchasing the Sea World part of the park which was the main draw for a decade or more.

 

I hope SFA stays though because I still want to get the chance to see it.

[gigaFreek]

Last year there were employees at Superman just sitting on one of the train cars, that had people in it, after the other train was sitting outside of the station for 5 minutes.

 

you Six Flags!

[coaster1]

Let's see SFAW was closed because they think the land is worth the price, which in reality it's not worth the $150 million they thought they could get. Right now the land is looking at going for $25-$30 million.

 

The real problem was the park was negelcted and the parking situation with the NFL and Houston Sports Comission didn't help the problem in the long run. The park did fine on attendance and was one of the money grabbers in terms of Season Pass sales and what not. The former management was just stupid and thought they could unload debt by ridding themselfs of a nice park which they though sucked. Synder tried to stop the closure, so if that speaks in terms of SFA .. I doubt they will close the park, Sale the park maybe .. but don't count on closings happening.

[Darien Laker]

I don't think SFA will be sold really, though we'll have to wait and see. SFA seems like a great park lost in Six Flags hell. The rides are great, don't get me wrong, but it's got to be least family-oriented park I have ever been to.

 

SFA is going to take some major work to bring it up to Shapiro's standards. I've only been there once, and I hope it's not always as crappy as it was then. There was lots of garbage everywhere, especially in some of the queues. Even my Mom kept complaining about how rude the ride-ops were, and my little sister kept pointing out how filthy it was.

 

Also, not too many family-oriented attractions are present. Assuming it stays in the chain, Shapiro really has some switching around to do.

 

It really made me appreciate having SFDL as my homepark. It may not have a flyer....or a launched....or a GCI....or even a good woodie at all for that matter....but it's clean, the ride-ops are at least polite while goofing around, and just has an atmosphere that still manages to bring families in.

[Rider117]

I got to say the three SF parks I been to, SFA is on the bottom. I really hope Shapiro can make it better because they need to clean up the place and make the employees better.

[DerekRx]

I can't see them selling the park, only continuing to improve it. I can even start seeing Snyder having package deals with the Redskins. "For only $509 you can spend 4 hours at Six Flags before coming to the game. Just be aware, if you leave, you will have to pay for parking again."