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News: New Six Flags CEO talks about upcoming changes

Posted at 7:22 PM EST (0022 GMT)

Dec. 15th, 2005 -- Mark Shapiro is collaborating with Microsoft for an Xbox-themed area and is in talks with Director Wes Craven (creator of "Scream" and "A Nightmare on Elm Street") to create haunted houses for the chain's 29 theme parks.

"This industry relies too much on big rides. We have to diversify," Shapiro, who was recruited by Snyder to run Six Flags, said in an interview yesterday. "We have to focus on more concerts and more themed attractions."

Everything underneath Shapiro's wing is up for review: Everything including the ad campaign star "Mr. Six," the giant roller coasters Six Flags built its brand on and the parks themselves.

Majority shareholder Daniel Snyder noted in a press release, the "effect that such debt has on any transaction" and said debt reduction would be a priority for the company.

To raise money, the new management is looking at selling some of its land. Last month, Snyder submitted a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission that identified unused and underused land worth a combined total of at least $262.1 million. Land around the Largo, Md., park valued between $104.5 million to $118 million.

Visit The Washington Post for the complete original article.

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Chris L Joined: May 2001 Posts: 7362 View Park/Ride Count	Good job Shapiro. On one hand you talk about how Six Flags is not focused enough on families and children and your first ideas are to build a grotesque haunted house attraction based on Wes Craven horror movies and a themed land based on the Microsoft XBOX console - who's main market segment core is young adult/teenage males. Does anybody else see the irony in all of that? There is absolutely not mention of any priority regarding the change, reform and improvements regarding costumer and guest services. The only difference between Burke's Six Flags and Shapiro's Six Flags is THE INCREASE IN ADVERTISING and outside vendor integration into the parks. Oh yeah, and don't forget about all the unused land around the parks being sold. 10 years down the road, let's see how some of the parks manage to expand.
12/15/2005 7:26 PM
slnewbus Joined: Aug 2003 Posts: 1652 View Park/Ride Count	When your in debt, you have to do things to get yourself out of it. That is why they will be selling off land. SFA is a giant field anyway, so what's the big deal?
12/15/2005 7:38 PM
Chris L Joined: May 2001 Posts: 7362 View Park/Ride Count	/ Sorry, I'm just a little bit upset by some of the decisions and ideas being thrown around by Shapiro right now. I know not all of them are in bad interest for the company and its parks, but some of it just doesn't look too good. I guess we'll find out as it happens. :
12/15/2005 7:42 PM
Homer Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 868 View Park/Ride Count	I am pretty sure that the Wes Craven haunted house would be for Fright Fest. Also, an XBOX themed area? COME ON! Nintendo deserves a theme area, but not XBOX? Oh well, might as well settle for Master Chief: The Ride.
12/15/2005 8:08 PM
Marc Joined: Jul 2001 Posts: 2709 View Park/Ride Count	The company could use less expansion. They are carring a huge debt. Selling parks as a whole means that the park is losing revenue. Many of the parks have huge plots of undeveloped or underdeveloped land. This land is costing the company in taxes and there is no practical way to use it. The idea is to sell off much of the excess land and leave a little room for expansion depending on potential. Large rides carry huge installation costs. The land could easily be developed for family attractions and resorts instead of large thrill rides. There is more return on investment when attracting families in a resort situcation as they bring far more money than thrill seeking crowds. The idea of a company is to make money. It is ideal to get more for less as opposed to getting less for more. Family attractions bring in more money per investment than thrill attractions do.
12/15/2005 8:18 PM
Montu Man Joined: Jul 2004 Posts: 2949 View Park/Ride Count	An Xbox themed area sounds...stupid. Wes Craven themed haunted houses just sound lame. Like they are trying too hard. Unless of course, it tuned into an insane dark ride, but SF isn't exactly king at theming, so I doubt that would happen.
12/15/2005 8:36 PM
BobFunland Joined: Aug 2005 Posts: 1282 View Park/Ride Count	"There is absolutely not mention of any priority regarding the change, reform and improvements regarding costumer and guest services. " http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/busine...sixflags15.html "Chief Executive Officer Mark Shapiro says he plans to increase corporate sponsorships, improve customer service and make the company's amusement parks more appealing to families as part of his turnaround plan." Note the word "more" when talking about familes. It doesn't say a complete turnaround to become family-only parks, just to even it up a bit. "Six Flags is in talks with Papa John's International Inc., though, about being the national pizza provider for all the company's amusement parks, Shapiro said in an interview Wednesday." I don't know about you but I happen to think Papa Johns is excellent pizza. Snyder won't half-ass these partnerships... Watch this video: http://msnbc.msn.com/id/10467156/ /> Shaprio said that the park needs to shift from a position they are in as in they need to add coasters just to prevent a loss in attendance. Cedar Point, for instance, has seen in the past two years that they need to make this change too, since their attendance has fallen a bit after their non-stop coaster-splending splurge came to an end.
12/15/2005 9:22 PM
lectricShark Joined: Oct 2001 Posts: 1278 View Park/Ride Count	/ Papa John's over Domino's anyday!!
12/15/2005 9:31 PM
SFGAm Guru Joined: Apr 2004 Posts: 279 View Park/Ride Count	I personally love the idea of him bringing in outside companies to cater the food of the parks and help theme an area. I personally don't care if a ride is sponsored by Microsoft. I mean, its the same ride and they get money to get themselves out of debt by putting Microsoft's name on things.
12/15/2005 9:31 PM
raser Joined: Jul 2001 Posts: 2048 View Park/Ride Count	The day that Snyder took over I recommended to our Corporate people that Papa John's should get a contract with Sf. I told them that Snyder owns the Redskins and they said that they would pass it on to higher ups (Nigel Travis and John Schnatter) and get Jerry Jones involved. It looks like this has worked...
12/16/2005 3:06 AM
Zingoman Joined: Dec 2004 Posts: 1299 View Park/Ride Count	Hmm. On one hand, it is good to hear that he recognized the flaws of the company, like relying on the thrill rides, and needing to focus on entertainment, and theming. I think adding darkrides (as long as they aren't cheesy), is a great idea, and I'm glad he wants to diversify. I'm a bit concerned about the idea of seeling off property just for future expansion concerns. I hope they will be smart about it. Some parks are already land locked. I would hate to see more of that. Outside businesses sounds great! I think that would be wonderful, but I hate McDonalds. I can't believe they are in Disney now!! The XBox thing, is a bit odd, but they can make get a lot of support with a name like Microsoft in the parks. I'm not sure what the future holds for sure, but change is exciting. Lets just hope they do it right. I think this link will be a bit better than the wierd thing above BTW. Typing directy after inserting a link is not a very good idea. lol http://msnbc.msn.com/id/10467156/
12/16/2005 3:20 AM
Tanks4me05 Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 843 View Park/Ride Count	Well, there goes SFDL getting anything new.
12/16/2005 6:13 AM
RllrCoasterFan Joined: Mar 2004 Posts: 744 View Park/Ride Count	I like the sound of some Wes Craven haunted houses, now that peeks my interest. Especially if they aren't just for Fright Fest but are more year round dark rides and walk throughs. There is hope there for me but I am not going to get carried away because I know Six Flags and Dissapointment can fall into the same sentrence. As for the X-Box area. That is stupid. I would rather see a Nintendo (more known ride and attraction options, IMO) and if not that then a Sony themed are with influences of Playstation. That to me would be better.
12/16/2005 2:08 PM
Marc Joined: Jul 2001 Posts: 2709 View Park/Ride Count	A 5-15 million dollar investment results in one ride. Just think of what it could do if the money was diverted to other places. After all, that is a heck of a lot of money. A couple examples: - A good sized area fitted with exceptional landscaping. - Research towards a better food lineup. - A decently themed kiddy area. - A quality show. - Exceptional employee training. - Mid sized hotel or resort. - Improved maintenace programs and equipment. - Bonuses for employees that perform well. - Better advertisement. --- TV --- Radio --- Billboards --- Sponsorships - In park franchising especially quality sitdown restaurants. --- Burger King --- Subway --- TGI Fridays --- Starbucks --- Olive Garden ... So much for a couple examples.
12/16/2005 4:24 PM
Kingdakasurivor Joined: Aug 2005 Posts: 302 View Park/Ride Count	Now Nintendo sounds like FAMILY fun Kids and adults Love mario games By the way some of my Non-normie friends said that they read some where that Snyder Thinkd Nitro takes up too much space and wants to demlize it to build a hamtaro kiddie park and is thinking of intamins new ball coaster
12/16/2005 4:24 PM
cannonballer Joined: Jun 2004 Posts: 1374 View Park/Ride Count	I think if they want proper themeing the x box thing shouldnt even be an idea, why not retro theme the parks into what each park is suppose to be in the first pace? like SFOG the history and regions of georgia? I do however like teh wes craven ide IF they can fit an area with the theme without taking the overall theme of the park (see above) away!
12/16/2005 10:50 PM
siestakey Joined: Jul 2005 Posts: 1668 View Park/Ride Count	I don't support it. People go to Six Flags for coasters, and for scary stuff, that's what Fright Fest is for...if Snyder is still going to have it, he fired Mr. Six, so I wouldn't be surprised to see him get rid of FF. XBox section? WHAAT? Don't want to attract teens, huh? There are almost no games for kids on XBox. Most games are rated T or M, there aren't many E games... I would much rather have a Sony section in the park. PlayStations are better. Even though, I do like XBox.
12/19/2005 10:23 AM
fuzzybxxrs Joined: Jun 2004 Posts: 48 View Park/Ride Count	Well, I know the reason I travel across the US to visit Six Flags parks is for coasters. The year they stop building new exciting rides is the year I stay home & just go to Six Flags Great Adventure here in NJ (which is no slouch of a park). I think these CEOs are a bunch of windbags who wouldnt know a good amusement park if they owned one. They have their bottom line, all companies do - but I have a choice where I spend my time & money and I can say that if Mr. Snyder's visions all come to fruition, I might need to find a new hobby.
12/19/2005 11:48 PM
Kyle L Joined: Jun 2001 Posts: 6900 View Park/Ride Count	Xbox themed? Damn now I get to RIDE a overated game system? Sweet!
12/20/2005 11:04 PM
5150 Joined: Jul 2004 Posts: 364 View Park/Ride Count	Have you folks forgotten that Gates owns a chunk of Six Flags as well?? XBOX theme is not by chance. Oh yeah, Papa John's has comercial ties with the Redskins too. It's all coming together.
12/23/2005 3:19 PM

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