Ideas how to raise attendence at Six Flags parks

[superflybri]

I was just thinking about the different ideas in order to raise the attendance at parks. During my thought, I came to a conclusion to a couple of ideas how I would go about on raising the attendance. What about this idea, once a month there was to be a "customer" thanks day. Where the park was to offer free parking, half priced admission, half priced games and .99 cent refills on souvenir cups. ( I know some parks already did the .99 cent refills) Now I know that it would be a busier day if they did do something like this, in which, most of us would stay away from the park. I really do think that it would be something that the customer would want and take advantage of. Then they would be able to build a relationship in order to up sell season passes during the event.

How do you guys think about this approach or any other ideas?

[Colonel Mustard]

Personally I think that's a bad Idea, half price admission is huge! Maybe you could do stuff like half price games, or special food and merch discounts every once and a while, but on the whole, I say no to that.

Honestly, I would continue with the current trend. Continue to add more attractions that cross demographics, while spending money to improve staffing, so service is guarenteed, and also diversifying entertainment by continuing with new and exciting live shows.

Also I think that Six Flags should invest in a large and advertisable Nighttime Spectacular. Ours is probably the best in the chain, and it's great, but it could be so much better. I would also continue to look for more popular culture icons to incorporate into the parks. Wiggles and Thomas cover the pre-school demo, Looney Tunes Cover the parents, and everyone loves scooby doo. But since we're catering to tweens a lot right now, let's find something that tweens can relate to. Unfortunatly, this market is almost dominated by Disney with Hannah Montana being the notable front runner.

We're getting Dark Knight, so I say we should get into contact with Kids WB. Kids WB runs many DC superhero shows, Teen Titans has made itself into a solid brand, as has Johnny Test, Tom and Jerry, of course the latest incarnation of Scooby Doo. I'm not saying we should have a "kids WB land" or anything like that, but I think that getting the rights to these characters to incorporate into shows, parades, Meet-n-greets, and maybe in the future, rides, would be an excellant Idea in my opinion, and would be marketable to the ever-growing market of tweens.

[DominatorDude05]

On thing I liked that CF did (not sure if they've done this before), maybe like 1/2 priced admission or free admission to anyone who's served in the armed forces.

[Coaster Justin]

For SFOT and SFFT, I think they should compliment each other instead of copy each other with different rides and attractions.

SFOG, SFMM, And SFGAd could use a good flat ride expansion like SFOT got in 2006

SFA could use a Custom built coaster.

TGE could use some more intense rides. An Evel Knieval would be a great attraction. They probably won't due to Nearby SFNE.

SFKK needs a Major Intense Coaster like Fahrenheit to bring people back to the park after Superman.

SFGAd could use about 15 Flat Rides and no more kids rides for 10 years. That park is supposedly very crowded and removing flat rides isn't the answer. They dont even have a Drop Tower. A Screaming Swings, Giant Frisbee, and Gyro Drop would cost about as much as Ka did if not less.

SFMM should either be sold to The Merlin Group or Massive turnaround and upgrade in almost every department besides coasters. The last free Non coaster ride in the amusement park before Thomas Town was Yosemite Sam in 1993 and the last true flat ride was in 1988.

Really Six Flags should follow what Disney, Cedar Point, and Universal Do and add hotels and on-site lodging. They keep people on the Property and they don't spend money at Motel 6 or Whatever, but at Six Flags. Plus, I think hotels would increase Season Passes and/ or 2 Day Tickets. Why do you think WDW has like 30,000 rooms? To keep people on the Property and Spend More Money.

Cedar Point Resort in 2005 or 2006 made 210 million dollars in Revenue, which is around 20% of Six Flags total revenue.

I KNOW THAT SIX FLAGS GREAT AMERICA IS LANDLOCKED BUT SIX FLAGS AMERICA, SFSTL, SFGAD AREN'T!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Another idea would be for Each park to hire Undercover Visitors like malls do Undercover Shoppers and report on the service.

How about Rename each Southwest/ Wild West area "Wild Wild West" for a Fee.

[superflybri]

^ Where I work we have secret shoppers and actually, our company gives out free cars to the top customer friendly store if you are part of the transaction that happened with the customer... (no I have not won a car yet...) haha

Anyways, I noticed that coasterboy brought up that they should get some hotels. The only problem I have with that idea is that a lot of parks really don't have the room for that, or it would be akwardly placed. (SFGAm being most of our home parks, it would now be pointless to put in a hotel due to the hotel/water park/resort that is being built now, btw... is that thing open yet?) Another problem with that is that you have to think that most Six Flags parks have an off season and the hotels bills would probably cost more then the income that is recieved.

[sfgam1992]

It opens on February 29th.

http://www.keylimecove.com/

[superflybri]

Yeah, Thanks! ^ Won't be staying there anytime soon, see those prices! Holy moly! like 300.00 a night.. It's all inclusive, right?! jkjk

[Colonel Mustard]

Yes, We are working closely with Key Lime Cove, and I do think that if we really teamed up with advertising on both counts, that could drive up our attendance numbers, obviously people can't stay on proporty, but an indoor waterpark across the street could well have a huge effect on attendance in times like September, and May when the water park isn't open.

I also think, specifically for SFGAm, that a return to the american theming would be a great route to go. And I think one of the best ways to do that is costumes. The blue Polos with Khakis (which I've heard are changing) are so unspecific. Give the kids working in southwest sherriff stars to wear. Or like Mine hats at Giant Drop, things like that. Let the rides, food service locations, and merch locations in Mardi Gras wear Mardi Gras beads!

Details are the things that matter most in my opinion. Let's start working on them.

[Coastermonkey61]

You can do all the theming in the world, but if it costs upwards of $300.00 for a family of four to spend a day at a Six Flags park, it's just not gonna happen. Six Flags needs to look at not just having half price admission specials, but permanently dropping prices. I'm not saying slash prices in half permanently, but a decrease, and a noticeable one, may be needed. SF is in debt, but dropping prices will bring in more people than what they are getting now, and eventually a profit will show up, a bigger one than they are getting now (if they even are getting one).

The hotels are another option. To compete with other hotels that will inevitably be around these parks, offer deals for tickets to the park by staying at the hotel. Hell, put hotels IN the park. Do what Disney does and leave the park open a little longer strictly for hotel guests.

I just listed things that will never happen, but...that's how I roll...

[Coaster Justin]

How about this. Instead of offering Savings Booklets, why not E-mail them to season passholders.

Also, how about Where if you bring unopened food valued at, at least 30 dollars you pay only 15 dollars admission. That way they can give food to charity and get a tax-break, General public can get a tax-break, and higher attendance. For those who think that this idea is dumb, look here:

http://www.thrillnetwork.com/stories_vi ... money.html


How about using renewable energy? I know that no solar panel or Wind Belt can operate all of the park, but By the park making its own energy would probably cut bills by at least 30% and possibly get another tax break.


How about an Admission and Meal package like Cedar Fair parks do?

[FParker185]

Europa Park in germany has a large collection of solar panels and they generate some of their own power. But honestly I think the best way for SF, or at least SFGAm to really boost it's income would be to, say one year really lower prices, reduce parking, keep the gate about where it's at except give SP holders a load of bring a friend free coupons, make food and drink "cheap" as in like 10-15% over street value, that way they could get a bunch of people though the gate, get out good word of mouth and get people inside so they can see all the "change" that's happened and the word could spread and people would return. SFGAm has gotten sort of a bad image recently with prices out of control and a lackluster park expierience, though it has improved by leaps and bounds recently, but that doesnt help if no one knows about it. If they got their act together and get a bunch of good will out, people would show up and then they could get back to raising prices incrementally. The real key to that though is they have to keep guests happy, from the time they walk though the gate til the time they leave. If SF as a whole followed something along those lines, I think they would be really happy with what follows.

Next year would actually be the year to do that, as in case no one knows, SF is on a 3-4 year plan, Year 1 was deal with what Burke and Co. left them, year 2 they appeal to young kids/families (Wiggles World, Thomas, etc), year 3(this year) is to appeal to families (Tony Hawk spinners and Dark Knights), year 4 is thrill rides to appeal to older folk such as us. So next year is going to be a good year coaster wise, but it all depends on revnue, if the money isnt there it will be pushed back. But from the sound of things at NCC, the park has big plans for next year (with the former DV/Splashwater sites. I wish the best of luck to them and despite what alot of people say, SF is entirely salvageable at this point still. It's just going to take some more work on SF part, and $15 parking isnt the way to do it. It just gets people pissed off before they walk in the gate.

[Colonel Mustard]

This year is the completion of the 3 year plan we've all heard about, bringing it back around to thrill rides with Dark Knights, Evel Knievil (Or However you spell it), and Goliath. Next year I think will probably be another general quality control year with very few major capital additions.

[zjohn1988]

I was just thinking about the different ideas in order to raise the attendance at parks. During my thought, I came to a conclusion to a couple of ideas how I would go about on raising the attendance. What about this idea, once a month there was to be a "customer" thanks day. Where the park was to offer free parking, half priced admission, half priced games and .99 cent refills on souvenir cups. ( I know some parks already did the .99 cent refills) Now I know that it would be a busier day if they did do something like this, in which, most of us would stay away from the park. I really do think that it would be something that the customer would want and take advantage of. Then they would be able to build a relationship in order to up sell season passes during the event.

How do you guys think about this approach or any other ideas?

More money would be lost than a regular priced day.

[tp41190]

More "bring a friend free days" in mid summer. I know a lot of people that would only go if its free. For example, the only reason why 2 of my friends got to go to the park was because of my "bring a friend free" coupons. And those are two people that would not have gone at all if it wasn't for that offer.

Even if someone goes in the park free, they are not going to loose money. It pretty much costs the park the same to operate from dead days to busy days. So anyone else they can get in the park will give them more money.

Think about games, food, drink, shirts, up-charge attractions, ect. So if they pick a few more dead days out of the year and make them "bring a friend free" days, they could raise attendance.

[superflybri]

^ It's not like it would be an everyday lost. If the lost was to occur that day, it would not be that much. Maybe faimlies will spend money elsewhere in the park via food stalls, games, on-ride photos, ect. I was just thinking they could do a day where there was discounted admission to focus on raising the attendance. Heck, they don't even have to offer 'free' parking, never would anyways. But something to give back to the people as a 'thanks' for supporting us, thanks for coming, thanks for choosing Six Flags.

[tp41190]

They could do a "ditch-day" like SFOG. It was when the park had free admission for a day. The park was full to capacity by morning. Think of all the money they would make on food, games, ect. It would be a bad idea, but i might work.

Heres the video of it.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=BQDvb54HuFw

[Colonel Mustard]

After all the who hah that happened at georgia, you can safely assume that will never happen again.

[Galvan]

They could do a "ditch-day" like SFOG. It was when the park had free admission for a day. The park was full to capacity by morning. Think of all the money they would make on food, games, ect. It would be a bad idea, but i might work.

And think off all the money they'd lose on not being able to charge those some 35,000 people 50 bucks a head to go into the park, oh yeah thats a smart business move

[superflybri]

^ actually it wouldnt be a bad move, it's not like you are giving the whole year away, just think of it this way.. It's just like "dream" night but with a lot more people. You would still get people buying food, playing games, other activities.

You really do not have to always be negitive on what you say or have remarks bashing others ideas...

[Colonel Mustard]

Dream Nite is not coming back this year for a reason...

[tp41190]

They could do a "ditch-day" like SFOG. It was when the park had free admission for a day. The park was full to capacity by morning. Think of all the money they would make on food, games, ect. It would be a bad idea, but i might work.

And think off all the money they'd lose on not being able to charge those some 35,000 people 50 bucks a head to go into the park, oh yeah thats a smart business move

But those could also be 35,000 people that would not go to the park at all....

And if they do it on a Sunday in May, a day that would be dead, it would bring a lot of people into the park. If you figure the amount of money they would make on admission that one dead day...have 35,000 people buy food, games, ect would cancel that loss out and it would give them a profit.

[cycamps]

It's hard telling if it would be worth it or not. While it could be extremely busy, and the park could make a profit out of food, games, etc, it could be the opposite. People may think that it would be packed, and that would deter them from going.

[Colonel Mustard]

^They might make a meager profit, but when you consider stocking the food and merch, staffing the rides and attractions, and food and merch, and admissions and parking and maintenance and landscaping, not to mention powering everything and full time management, It just wouldn't be worth it.

[DominatorDude05]

Really all the entrance is paying for is running the rides and POSSIbly staffing the rides thats about it.

[tp41190]

^Yeah, but its either that or lets say only 2,000 people, half of them being season pass holders.

Thats why having 35,000 people coming in for free and buying food, games, ect might balance it out.

But yeah, I know it wouldn't work out but it is a good idea.