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News: Six Flags New Orleans doors remain shut, future uncertain

Posted at 3:44 PM EST (2044 GMT)

Mar. 9th, 2007 -- Over 18 months ago Hurricane Katrina ravaged New Orleans and its neighbors as well.

Six Flags New Orleans was just one of many attractions in the area that were devastated.

Today not much has changed at the park. Batman – The Ride was quietly dismantled and removed by Six Flags, but much of the park remains the same.

The parking lot is no longer filled with patron’s cars, but is today being used by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) as a staging point for trailers.

There have been hints that Six Flags is trying to pull out of the park. In June, the Mayor of New Orleans stated that Six Flags wanted to pull out of its 75-year lease agreement with the city. Six Flags offered to pay the city $10 million, along with giving the city 66 acres of land the company owns next to the park and 20 percent of any insurance proceeds above $75 million.

In a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, the parent company said Six Flags New Orleans was covered by up to $180 million in property insurance, with a $5.5 million deductible.

The uncertainty is certainly no help to the city as nearly half of the park’s visitors were normally not from New Orleans and brought in much needed revenue.

At this time Six Flags has made no official statement in regard to the fate of the park.

For more information visit the Gwinnett Daily Post.

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Comments
coasterman1234 Joined: Nov 2006 Posts: 1462 View Park/Ride Count	Even though I don't know how much damage was done to SFNO, I doubt it will operate again within the next 2-3 years, but I wouldn't be surprised if it is shut down completely.
3/9/2007 3:51 PM
Timbersman Joined: Dec 2006 Posts: 577 View Park/Ride Count	A hope Cedar Fair will buy batman the ride.
3/9/2007 4:34 PM
Wes Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 11076 View Park/Ride Count	I've heard rumors that it will end up at another Six Flags.
3/9/2007 4:48 PM
coasterman1234 Joined: Nov 2006 Posts: 1462 View Park/Ride Count	Batman probably will be relocated at another Six Flags that is in need of an inverted coaster, or sold to an international park like Corkscrew (Myrtle Beach Pavilion) was. I can't see Cedar Fair buying the ride because they wouldn't want a cheapo standard Six Flags copy ride, they would want a custom unique design.
3/9/2007 5:15 PM
CHILLERLC1 Joined: May 2001 Posts: 7799 View Park/Ride Count	Six Flags is not in the shape to deal in a suddenly shaky market that would drag it down.
3/9/2007 5:39 PM
Fantom Joined: Dec 2005 Posts: 466 View Park/Ride Count	^^Not saying that B:TR is a bad ride... SFI will probably ignore the park until they have considerably less than a debt than they have now. They have enough problems to deal with.
3/9/2007 7:42 PM
vedved82491 Joined: May 2006 Posts: 912 View Park/Ride Count	I'm not sure about the layout of SFNO's Batman, but if its a copy, Cedar Fair wouldn't buy it since Six Flags owns the clone, and they're all named Batman. For Cedar Fair, it would be like buying Six Flag's hand-me-downs. I definetly think its going to another SFI park, but which park doesn't have a batman ride already?
3/9/2007 9:00 PM
Mrceagle Joined: Sep 2002 Posts: 1922 View Park/Ride Count	30 million and 66 acres is a crappy deal. they couldn't rebuild the park for that. SFI shouldn't be allowed to keep any money past 75 million since that was there investment in the property. so they ow The city at least 100 million in insurance and the pay off deal for 110 million minimum.
3/9/2007 9:15 PM
coasterman1234 Joined: Nov 2006 Posts: 1462 View Park/Ride Count	^^That Batman is a clone. Great Escape doesn't have an inverted coaster. But RCDB lists a Vekoma SLC from Astroworld as in storage there. I think thats the only SF park w/o an inverted coaster (either Vekoma or B&M). ^I doubt the city will take that deal and I really doubt they will allow SF to back out of their lease.
3/10/2007 10:28 AM
Nitro Luvr Joined: Aug 2004 Posts: 398 View Park/Ride Count	Vedved82491, Six Flags does not own the clone on these inverters. It is actually owned by B&M so this coaster can go anywhere in the world, including to Cedar Fair. There is about 5 other non six flags parks with this exact coaster, including Sea World in San Antonio. They would just have to change the name, thats all. After googling some pictures of this ride, it looks like B:TR was at an elevated position in the park where it would sustain minimal damage yet they removed this almost brand new coaster, but not other ones? That alone indicates to me, IMO, that Six Flags has no intentions of trying to salvage this park. Take out your new equipment and hit the road basically. I dont forsee this inverter going to another Six Flags park though because it has been HIGHLY overused, but I see them selling it to a possibly smaller park. I mean who wouldnt buy a fairly new coaster at a discounted price?
3/10/2007 12:10 PM
Mrceagle Joined: Sep 2002 Posts: 1922 View Park/Ride Count	Coasterman1234 - I would like to see TGE get the Batman Clone. It would be something deferment in the area since SFNE and DL have SLC inverteds. And yes it is basically the only one with out an inverted. They do have AstroWorlds SLC in storage and I think they would be more likely to get 4-5 million for the SLC then 7-9 million for the Batman Clone. Nitro Luvr - Like I said above they would be able to sell the SLC easier then the B&M. SFI owns this coaster. they don't own the design but they own this coaster. They bought it used from Japan. so unless they sell it it will remain in the SFI chain. i don;t know were your getting this B&M ownership idea from.
3/10/2007 5:40 PM
Timbersman Joined: Dec 2006 Posts: 577 View Park/Ride Count	SFFT doesnt have a invert
3/10/2007 10:57 PM
Nitro Luvr Joined: Aug 2004 Posts: 398 View Park/Ride Count	Mrceagle, I was referring to the design of the ride, it isnt owned by Six Flags, but instead B&M. Of course they own the coaster though. It would be easier to sell a SLC than B:TR because for one it is cheaper, but I just don't see where logically Six Flags could put the B&M clone at where it could be profitable. Like I mentioned, the design is simply overused now. Selling to a different park would more than likely be the better choice.
3/11/2007 1:28 AM
Mrceagle Joined: Sep 2002 Posts: 1922 View Park/Ride Count	Like mentioned above The Great Escape could profit from the batman Clone. The closest Clone is in Montreal. Which might as well be in a different Country. Not many People that would visit TGE would go to Canada to go to LA Ronda. The major parks in the area SFNE and DL which both have SLC coasters. The batman clone would be a huge draw By not only guests but local Enthusiasts that are looking for something better. Not to mention give TGE another Standout coaster quality wise. all they have now is Comet. The SLC won't stand out beyond the parks normal visitors. As for the SLC already at TGE that would do more good at SFFT. while the coaster isn't great it is a different attraction from the 2 batman Clones in the area.
3/11/2007 4:03 PM
CHILLERLC1 Joined: May 2001 Posts: 7799 View Park/Ride Count	I already had the arguement with someone else about two Batman clones in San Antonio, though mirrored, being obviously cloned and picked up by the GP. Someone else here argued that the GP doesn't know better and could care less about clones. They're just at the park for the experience. I wish this park went the way of Astroworld instead after this terrible flood.
3/13/2007 12:04 AM
Michael C Joined: Sep 2002 Posts: 1922 View Park/Ride Count	I don't like seeing any park close but SFI did the same thing with SFNO as they did with GL and SFDL Flagged the park and added a bunch of rides that year. then did nothing after that and provided no advertising to support the park.
3/14/2007 12:03 AM

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