The Official SFGAm Rumor Thread

[david]

^ In about one month the stock price went from about $37, to $32. I don't think the NYSE is right for Six Flags. haha. Although, recently the stock has gone up quite well. (Hopefully no trim brakes!)

[Cole]

^^Great post.
Weber wants to get the company back to profits, so that he can add major additions to the parks without getting bankrupt.

[monsterfan99]

^ In about one month the stock price went from about $37, to $32. I don't think the NYSE is right for Six Flags. haha. Although, recently the stock has gone up quite well. (Hopefully no trim brakes!)

Without being on the NYSE, there is zero chance for the company is ever survive. It is it's only line to getting a massive amount of credit at decent rates.

[acquaz10]

He's slashing hours at parks that don't bring in as many people. I think Magic Mountain, Great Adventure. Over Georgia, and Great America aren't getting cuts.

I just did some research. As far as I know are the parks have gotten cuts. Weber's eliminating all the dead weights. Chopping off late hours when the families, the money spenders, won't be in the park. He's not using as much propane with the Bizarro's (or its just because of the heat wave and people in line complaining that the fire is to hot.) He canceled the helicopter tours at SFMM, SFoG, and SFGAdv. He also canceled a few of GAdvs new shows. I think he did the same for SFMM.

BP/19 - I know we got off on the wrong foot, but that was an excellent post and I'm sorry for coming off arrogant. Thats an apology to everyone else to. I'm not trying to start more drama here, but you guys have a pretty damn awesome park yet your complaining about it. That made me mad. I don't know. Nevermind.

[CoasterPrince]

Why is Weber cutting things like this. Some of these things would have made parks better at a small price. I wonder what will happen with 2011 and Weber.

[david]

I can vividly see another Chapter 11 filing within the next two to three years. If they expect to maintain a park with family rides and family rides alone, I think they are falling into a path of uncertainty. Look at a park like Holiday World. They are a very very small regional water park and amusement park. They are focusing on the water park because it is wildly popular. They manage to find a balance. If our water park were as popular as many of you make it out to be, the park would have expanded and made it a separate gate a long long long time ago. And I doubt a water coaster is enough reason to do so, it would require an expansion, not an addition. Now, I'm not saying Weber is doing the wrong thing with taking Chang to a different park. But I think he's doing the wrong thing by not assisting our park. Salemi said himself that this is the first real thrill addition in a long long time. It must be so embarrassing for him to have approached the board and was about an inch away from the finish marker and then telling them they won't show.

For god's sake, Weber isn't even the permanent CEO and he's making huge changes. If he were the permanent CEO, I could definitely see where he's coming from, but for all we know, tomorrow, Six Flags could find their new guy.

I think Weber, if he is indeed pulling Chang, should pull Scream! from MM and bring that over here. It's a floorless looper. What's not to love? And since it's basically considered the trashiest coaster there, it was one of the only coasters there not to get a re-paint under Shapiro, and the company can easily re-theme it to Bizarro since they know all of the plans and such. This would make clear sense. And it does seam that Weber is not a fan of the most coasters title.

I can honestly say that right now, I miss Shapiro. I personally don't see why he was removed. Sure, the bankruptcy, but what did he do wrong with the parks? Other than favoritism.

[monsterfan99]

I can vividly see another Chapter 11 filing within the next two to three years. If they expect to maintain a park with family rides and family rides alone, I think they are falling into a path of uncertainty. Look at a park like Holiday World. They are a very very small regional water park and amusement park. They are focusing on the water park because it is wildly popular. They manage to find a balance.

Outside of the coasters, almost every addition since 1990 has been water ride related. Looking at those brochures, unless it is a coaster, water rides are the focus. The flat rides that were added replaced the ones that were aging out. They are smart enough to realize people care more about water parks than a small regional theme park.

This is also a park that has maybe 15 flat rides, 4 coasters and 2 kids areas. If you want thrilling rides, there is not much to do there.

If our water park were as popular as many of you make it out to be, the park would have expanded and made it a separate gate a long long long time ago.

If they made the water park a separate ticket, kiss this park being top of the chain goodbye. You can not charge for something that has been free from the start.

Now, I'm not saying Weber is doing the wrong thing with taking Chang to a different park. But I think he's doing the wrong thing by not assisting our park. Salemi said himself that this is the first real thrill addition in a long long time. It must be so embarrassing for him to have approached the board and was about an inch away from the finish marker and then telling them they won't show.

Plans change, no need for embarrassment. And of course the park will say it is the first thrill ride in a long time, it draws people in over "this is our 5th thrill ride in 5 years."

For god's sake, Weber isn't even the permanent CEO and he's making huge changes. If he were the permanent CEO, I could definitely see where he's coming from, but for all we know, tomorrow, Six Flags could find their new guy.

If they ditch Al Weber for some moron like Shaprio, welcome to bankruptcy part 2.

I think Weber, if he is indeed pulling Chang, should pull Scream! from MM and bring that over here. It's a floorless looper. What's not to love? And since it's basically considered the trashiest coaster there, it was one of the only coasters there not to get a re-paint under Shapiro, and the company can easily re-theme it to Bizarro since they know all of the plans and such. This would make clear sense. And it does seam that Weber is not a fan of the most coasters title.

Except you are looking at millions of dollars to move the ride. Plus SFMM is in the "who has a bigger dick" battle with Cedar Point over a pointless title.

I can honestly say that right now, I miss Shapiro. I personally don't see why he was removed. Sure, the bankruptcy, but what did he do wrong with the parks? Other than favoritism.

When a company goes bankrupt, that is reason enough to ditch the CEO.

[acquaz10]

I can honestly say that right now, I miss Shapiro. I personally don't see why he was removed. Sure, the bankruptcy, but what did he do wrong with the parks? Other than favoritism.

That path Shapiro was planning on taking the company on was back to Six Flags older days. "Phase one" , getting through bankruptcy, was completed and ended with the addition of Thomas Town to SFA. Then it would be back to the pre-Shapiro days, if he stayed. Thats all I'm going to say. Except this time they wouldn't go bankrupt, they'd be liquidated most likely.

[david]

I wouldn't mind seeing some new management at Great America. Since it's almost obvious the park would not shut down. I don't think the city would let it shut-down. It's the #1 tax flow, and offers loads of jobs.

[monsterfan99]

^As shown by SFKK and various other parks shutting down over the past 30 years, the city has zero say.

[david]

What I mean is the city would undertake the lot and find a buyer. I'm pretty sure Cedar Fair could be interested in expanding more. They'll own both Great Americas!

http://www.zamperla.com/en/product/88/d ... egory_id=5

That seems perfect for the SWF area.

[DanM64]

That looks different, but I still want a ZacSpin for the SWF area. http://www.rcdb.com/4309.htm?p=24899

[david]

If I'm not mistaken, a Zac Spin is nearly the same cost as a small B&M coaster. Like 7 million-ish.

[DanM64]

That's true- but it would easily cost that much to move Chang or Scream or anything else to our park, and honestly, I think at least a ZacSpin would be something different. Not saying the B&M's aren't fun, because they are, but we're still talking about nearly a 10 year old ride. While it would be new to us, it really wouldn't feel much different than what we already have. A ZacSpin is something completely unique, and not a ride experience you could find anywhere else.

[david]

For that money, they could go ahead and add an x2 clone at our park. Aren't those like 10million?

[DanM64]

For that money, they could go ahead and add an x2 clone at our park. Aren't those like 10million?

I think the conversion from X to X2 was 10 million. Building X new was close to $30 million.

[DanM64]

The most recent US-built "small" B&M, Patriot, an inverted coaster, was $14 million. So even though $7 million sounds like a lot, it's not. Like I said, the cost of removing, shipping, refurbishing, and reconstructing Scream from SFMM would easily cost $7 million anyway, and that's for a used ride.

[david]

Actually, a re-location is fairly cheap. The only thing that would need refurbish are the trains, possibly all new ones with on-board audio. Paint is also not to costly. It would be a seemingly a new coaster to the GP.

[DanM64]

Actually, a re-location is fairly cheap. The only thing that would need refurbish are the trains, possibly all new ones with on-board audio. Paint is also not to costly. It would be a seemingly a new coaster to the GP.

I would like to find out how much a relocation actually costs. I'm not saying you had a bad idea, I just think that a Disk-O would be better in a different spot, and to me it's more of a flat ride than an actual coaster. Looking at the Disk-O and ZacSpin, I bet if they really wanted to they could fit them both in there!! I'd love any major coaster at this point. I guess I just always like the more unique rides, not just another SF clone, which is sort of how I feel about Scream. We're actually pretty lucky as far as coaster selection goes if you think about it. Our BTR is the original, then you figure we have Wolf, AE, Bull, Demon, Whizzer, and Viper which are basically one of a kind.

[monsterfan99]

^Little Dipper alone was a million and that was moved around an hour. Imagine the cost of a giant steel coaster.

[UWW-10]

What I mean is the city would undertake the lot and find a buyer. I'm pretty sure Cedar Fair could be interested in expanding more. They'll own both Great Americas!

The last thing Cedar Fair needs to do is acquire more parks....they have plenty on their plate as it is

[acquaz10]

Well, looks like Weber spent some cash for the first time. Buzzsaw at SFNE has had its sign missing for a while now. It was just a general sign too. Now look at this beast of a sign.



Yeah call me a fan boy. But I think its sick! Plus its the first time we saw something added from Weber. Good sign? I think so.

A Zacspin does sound like a good idea though

[david]

At least we can see Weber cares for theming. Although, I think something like this is in-park.

[onyxhotel08]

I am 110% for the Ride Relocation Program to continue for years to come. Even in a better financial place, Six Flags cannot afford to put itself in jeopardy again. No more days of SFMM, SFGAM, SFGadv, SFOG, etc. getting 15-25 million dollar rides. Not for a while. In the case of SFMM, even when a ride like Tatsu was installed numbers did NOT got up. Scream! is a flop at SFMM. Time to gift it to another park. Perhaps v2 could go to another park? Since everyone complains about a silly holding break like crazy anyway. Did the RRP ever move around flat rides? That is a good idea too.

[monsterfan99]

^The ride relocation program was beyond stupid then and is now as well. The rides are not free or cheap to move, so why spend the money. Maybe, and here is an idea, the parks should not get anything for a year or 2 in the rides department. Take a break and repair the parks. The ride sign at SFNE is a great idea.