Just recently Mark Shapiro who is the CEO of Six Flags talked to some website people. People were saying in that conference that they can't believe Six Flags is taking out so many flats, and that these parks are just dominated with roller coasters. He said in thei future he would be looking into adding more, but he said that he wouldn't even advertise them if they did come to the park.

I personally don't think this guy would add flats to the park because the reason why he was taking them out is because he is worried about the bottom line - money. In his head, he sees what's on paper with capacity, and employees. Well, if a roller coaster gets this many people, and a flat gets this many people, why keep the flats? Also, you also have to worry also on maintenance for flats even though most of them are low mantenance anyway. On top of that, he said that he wouldn't even advertise them, so why in the world would you put them in if you don't tell people you put them in the park?

Look at Six Flags America, and you see his agenda. Six Flags has been taken tons of flats out of that park, and now they want to take out a Flying Bobs ride. To me, the guy doesn't know what he's doing. He says to not advertise any flats, but look who's riding them? Yes, you do have toddler flats, but you also have the kids above toddler flats, and you also have the "2 SUPER (in my opinion not so) INTENSE" teenage flats.

Are parents that don't go to the park going to say hey look they have toddler rides, and they have roller coasters, and completey not know about Chubasco, River Rocker, Fiddler's Fling, East River Crawler, Condor, Rue Le Dodge, Triple Play, Hometown Fun Machine, The Orbit, and so on and so on.

Who is this Screamscape outfit? Why does he give them exclusive interviews?

Jon links to them at the bottom of the site.

Rumor city.

^ Six Flags is the official headquarters of the Chang Rumor.

Mr. Shapiro is probably a coaster enthusiast just like many people here.
But now, there's no room for error. So we'll see if he knows what he's doing or not.
He has to operate at the most efficiency, for the least amount of expense without sacrificing service or product perception. He has to offer exciting improvements while keeping initial outlays low. And he has to market it all just exactly right or kablooey!
This economic environment is what investors rely on to; "thin out the herd."
You either do everything exactly right, or you go down. There's no windfall profits to fall back on, there's no ancillary profit to keep you propped up. And in the case of this industry you are at the mercy of disposable income levels. So we'll see.
He did make one crucial mistake. When land prices were low and money was flowing pretty well, he didn't build a hotel, convention, retail, year-round facility as part of the park. That would have helped now because people are looking for an affordable one stop, all inclusive destination. You don't really have that at SFGA.

I think a big reason for the Six Flags getting that money over profit has to do with the advertising in the parks everywhere (on tv's, billboards, and so on), but than you have to look at how many flats he took out. You think of employee wages, and maintenance on flats, and the money adds up, but your customers might not be too happy when you take out so many flats in a year, and don't even replace them. I think that was last year that they actually gained a profit, but now the attendance has dropped, and no more profit. I don't know if they had the lockers the time they made a profit or not, but with those lockers attendance is dropping, and you know why.

SFGAm took out:
Splash Water Falls
Trailblazer (I can't think what year.)
Space Shuttle America
Deja Vu had no cost for a year (That spot was empty except for basketball game = money.)

Six Flags New England:
Got ride of a Huss flying flat ride (Replaced with an old Wipe Out ride they had.
Breakdance is gone.
I think bumper cars is gone.
They were thinking of getting rid of Swat, and I don't know if they did.
Inverter is gone.

SFMM took out:
Spin Out (Rotor ride)
Baveryn Kurve ride
Flashback roller coaster (It wasn't running, so there was no cost.)
Freefall Drop Ride
A Tilt-A-Whirl
Antique Car Ride

Six Flags America just took out:
Avalanche (Alpine Bobs - has been replaced with umbrellas)
Octopus ride
Two-Face roller coaster (saving on costs not putting nothing there for 2 years)

Six Flags Over Texas:
Bumper Cars
Crooked House
Texas Giant - Not going to open for a year. Save on costs for a year - of not operating ride

Six Flags Great Adventure:
Houdini ride
Music Express
Batman and Robin Chiller - The "replacement" was the Dark Knight though even though not in the same area.
I think bumper cars.

Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom:
They had a reason to take out Superman Tower of Power, so I understand.
Took out Rainbow
Left up their "Splash Water Falls" without operating
Left up double track wooden coaster without operating

Great Escape
Took out Rainbow

Six Flags Over Georgia
I believe they took out that Chute the Chute ride (like Splash Water Falls)

and there are probably more Six Flags parks that got rid of something AND didn't replace the ride with anything except umbrellas / new game / or left abandon, but I just don't know.

But the big question is: Did you contact SF Corporate and express your disappointment?
You would be surprised what receiving calls and/or letters can do to turn around even large corporations.
You seem to have a well rounded knowledge of their parks and a valid opinion on their mistakes. Share it with them. It can't hurt.

Suprised david hasn't posted yet.

HA. HA. Why don't you keep your nonsense posts for the world?

Anyways, This blogger call was open for literally anyone, but Six Flags only chose people who had blogs and could spread the "good word".

That's some really good advice. You should use it yourself.

I don't see any nonsense posts of mine here, have you?

Please, by all means, correct me at your will.

no you're pretty ok here on the other hand SFGAMWORLD you got galvan and chitown steming up there.

I think I am the reigning champion of nonsense posts. I don't mean to be. But sometimes I just ask stupid questions due to inexperience.