An Interview with Shapiro

[Maggie&meSFGAm?]

This is basically in general. I like how now he says that he wants 15 to 20 characters roaming in the park compared to 25 to 30. This guy changes his mind so fast it's not even funny. So, if he says our prices aren't rising, I can't believe that. Anyone, read the rest. I do agree that SFMM does have too many coasters (16) compared to the other parks. However, I think that other parks do need more rollercoasters.

This six and seven rollercoasters isn't going to do it for the teens with one, or two being a kiddie. When I look at SFStL, I see five teen roller coasters. I also count the fact that you have a + or - two factor. So, out of the roller coasters teens would want to ride, you can almost guarantee that not every roller coaster is going to be a hit.

For the most part, I don't see teens riding the Mine Train (I'm one of the exceptions.), or the Roller Skater coaster. So, you are down to five for teens. Of course, for the "teen" rides, they might not like two of the remaing coasters. So, for teens it is like having 3 coasters that they might in the park. So, the Sharpiro theory about it not being about rides in my opinion is garbage. A park should have enough rollercoasters, but should not go away from the family aspect either. SFGAm is really what the entire chain should be hoping for along with SFGAdv. Look at the high attendance figures.

If there is not a need for teen riders, why is SFMM have the highest attendance out of all of the other parks?

Enjoy the article for yourselfs.
http://themeparks.about.com/od/sixflags ... ro2006.htm

[Galvan]

I like how Shapiro mentioned he loved our own American Eagle...

For all those people that where ready to jump off a ledge because you where so worried about never riding a new rollercoaster at a Six Flags park, because Shapiro was never going to build them again...

There's no moratorium. That's a misconception. But we need to diversify. We have 17 roller coasters at Six Flags Magic Mountain--that's too many. It's become like a drug. This industry has become addicted to roller coasters. We put them up. The attendance goes up. If we don’t do something the next year, we fall behind. We can't be so reliant on roller coasters. It's about balance. The pendulum has swung so far to teenagers, that our research shows Mom and Dad are pausing when it comes to Six Flags. I need to get rid of that pause. We can--and will--add roller coasters, but we can't abandon the rest of the park. Look, I love coasters. My favorite ride is the American Eagle (racing wood coaster at Six Flags Great America near Chicago). That's where I grew up. I'm proud of our thrill ride heritage. But, so much of our focus has been on roller coasters that our eye was off the ball when it came to taking care of the parks and taking care of our guests.

It's time to come off the ledge.

[RagingBullFan]

But the view from the edge is so nice.. I might stay longer.

[FParker185]

If there is not a need for teen riders, why is SFMM have the highest attendance out of all of the other parks?

Enjoy the article for yourselfs.
http://themeparks.about.com/od/sixflags ... ro2006.htm

They have the highest attendance only cause they are the only Six Flags park open year round.

Also being in the middle of one of the biggest population centeres in the US helps.

[AllfortheBest]

That's kinda cool how Shapiro grew up here and likes the Eagle. Maybe he'll start promting SFGAm and we won't be the most underrated park in the country.

[twixmix0303]

What do you mean by promoting? He's not a god or anything; more people won't start visiting the park simply because Mark Shaprio is endorsing it.

[Imeanbusiness]

Why do all your posts have a sarcastic additude to them? Sarcasm is the protest of those who are weak. Anyways what he is saying is pumping of money into the marketing/promotion division of the SFGAm budget.

[rct2wizard360]

If you NEED new rollercoasters to pick up park attendance then why...

-Is Iron Wolf still a hit with teens?
-Raging Bull?
-Deja Vu?
-Batman?

Sadly you don't. Because no matter what, people are gunna come back.

[Maggie&meSFGAm?]

I don't know if you were talking what I posted, or someone eles. Even I don't think that Iron Wolf is such a popular ride with teens, I wasn't commenting that SFGAm doesn't get enough teens already. SFGAm has 13, I mean 12 rollercoasters to satisfy people. The teens will come back if nothing comes into the park. It's the park that only has 6 or 7 non-quality coasters that I may see as a problem. How many of those 6 or 7 are really good rides, and how many are kiddie rides?

I look at Darien Lake, and I wouldn't be surprised if many people are turned by the boomerang or the SLC. I really enjoy boomerangs, but the GL (formerly SFO) was rough, so I wouldn't expect alot people to completely enjoy that ride. One ride seems to be a kiddie ride. I don't why, but it seems that alot of people complain about Dinn coasters. Is this a bad coaster over there? If the teens don't like rough rides, and the Dinn coaster is horrible, they are down to 3 wih one not even built yet.

I have been to GL which has 10 coasters, but the thing was that not all of them were that great. Just because it has 10 coasters doesn't mean that it is automatically a great park!! The park is suffering for the fact that they have those, it's in a bad location, and it's an hour away from Cedar Point.

As I said before, SFGAm is BLESSED to have the rides it has. It is one of SF's main parks. The park has 4 B&Ms for goodness sakes. How many other SF parks have 4? I don't think many do. Alot are content on one. They have the way better Boomerang!! They have a smooth woodie which is hard to come by, and is a bore to me. They have an Impulse coaster. SFGAm can hold it's wait for a couple more years without a rollercoaster.

Again, quality is better than amount. Just because you have 10 doesn't mean that you will succeed. Are they good or not? Yes, it is better to have more than enough, but the quality should be there.

[monopotassium]

If there is not a need for teen riders, why is SFMM have the highest attendance out of all of the other parks?

Because it's not. Where did you get this information? Last I heard, SFGAm was tops in the objective numerical categories (i.e. attendance, revenue, throughput).

[Ilovthevu']

So, I was wrong. It is tied with attendance figures. SFGAdv has the highest out of SF parks.

http://www.sfgamworld.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=5456

[Imeanbusiness]

Those attendence figures are wrong, they are just estimates. Six Flags Inc. does not release numbers

[T.K.]

In one of the articles about "Shapiro visiting SFGAm". Shapiro himslef says that Six Flags Great AMerica had above 3.3 million- I don't remember the article. I have no link to it either. Thank You.

[sfgam05]

Screw Shapiro, let the bashings begin, "I love shapiro, your just too stupid to realize how much he's helping our park," something along those lines.

[Ilovthevu']

Can we talk about the senior citizens thing? Do you really think that seniors are going to pay full admission to go on hardly any rides, and just watch some shows. It is worth the 54.99 (I think that's what the price is going to be now.) for them when they aren't even going on the $15 million rollercoasters?

In my opinion, you kinda of secluded them from coming to the park altogether. Is it such a big deal that they pay less than other people. It's all about families, and so what do senior citizens have to do with this??????

[twixmix0303]

Are grandparents with children and grandchildren not considered family?

What's the difference between getting your "thrill" from roller coasters and getting your "thrill" from the shows? My point is, who's to say that the shows aren't any more exciting than the roller coasters? Every has different tastes.

Granted, I do think that it is a nice gesture for seniors to get reduced admission, as is done at many places besides theme parks.

I'm not really directing this at anyone, just putting in my two cents.

[Galvan]

In an unrelated article from the Washington Post,

Shapiro recently visited Six Flags America, The visit however left some uncertainty if the park will even exist in the coming years.


Read More from the Washington Post

"This park has a great history," Shapiro said as he toured it. However, he added, "We have to look at it in terms of expenses."

I dont know about you, but those words dont really sound too encouraging. Especially since Astroworld's land was estimated at between 90 and 140 Million. And we all know how that ended.

Now, im not saying that SFA is next to go, but what I am saying is that the writing maybe on the wall when your CEO basically says "We evaluated everything on a case by case basis."

Quite a different tone from what he said when he visited Great America.

[Mr. SFGAm]

I agree. He had more good things to say about SFEG than he did about SFA. So far, I think this is the first time he has mentioned anything about a specific park, instead of the general "we may close more parks" statement he has made at the rest of his park visits.

Who knows what will happen in the next few years.

[Ilovthevu']

Didn't I read that they are taking out two rides out of that park from Screamscape? The Chaos, and the Rotoshake are rumored to go. They did the same thing with SFNO, and NO is still not open. Of course, that's for different reasons.

Some park he said might be worth alot of money to sell, and that would be the reason why he wanted to. Was this that park??