Six Flags & Cedar Fair MERGE! What Does The FUTURE Hold?

[@psychopompinc.646]

A lot of your analysis is spot on in terms of how things are going to move forward with this merger. All of the IPs are being shared across all of the parks, at least until the licensing of those properties run out. But that's not for a bit yet. As to park names, I and a lot of other folks agree with you that since a number of the Cedar Fair parks have established identities which are their own brand, there won't be a Six Flags put in front of the name. They would indeed be done more like Frontier City with the subtitle being "A Six Flags Park." As far as rise naming goes, to my knowledge there won't be any established ride rebranding unless necessary. Intimidator would be an example since the license from Dale Earnhardt's family is supposed to be ending soon so I can see it getting a retheme and rebrand, especially since it isn't a popular ride with the GP. It would be smart to try to change the reputation with a rebrand. From what we know at present there are no plans to scrap any of the parks. The exception of course being California's Great America because that is all about the lease being up on the land. Somewhere in the next eleven years the park is scheduled to close down. We'll see if that happens or not. My understanding about the overall business plan is that the parks are divided into regions which are only responsible for a certain amount of profit being generated per year. The way the regions are configured, each is only responsible for around 1/3 of the total income. The biggest earners in each region will get the most funding. A big part of the plan is weather-proofing seasons. The parks are spread out enough that if it is rainy in one part of the region, the weather will be better elsewhere and those parks can carry the load during that period of inclement weather. It's not a bad plan and with the combined strength of the southern and western parks having longer seasons, it should balance out well. (Side note, other people can explain the plan better and more thoroughly than I can.) As you said, both parks are going to bring their own strengths to the merger. Cedar Fair is bringing park management and guest experience, Six Flags is bringing the tech. I like the combined pool of ride manufacturers being worked with now too. Definitely some amazing possibilities on the horizon. In the near future, i definitely see the Texas parks getting extra funding to try to steal some guests from the soon-to-be-built Universal Texas park. It is supposed to open in 2026 and I wouldn't be surprised to see if the Six Flags chain bought a resort in the Vegas area to build it up a bit to counter Universal's Horror Unleashed which will also be opening soon. Magic Mountain and Knott's will be getting a lot of funds to counter Hollywood Drift and Disney, plus attracting international crowds for the World Cup games in 2026 and the Summer Olympics in 2028. Quiddiya is its own thing. That park is being fueled by oil money and doesn't really figure into the overall business plan from what I know. If I hear something else, I'll amend my statement, but i don't see any other mega parks being built around the world in the future. But who knows. I hope I am wrong and we see some incredible new parks open around the globe.

[@CoasternautYT]

Thankyou for such an in-depth comment again, your knowledge of these chains is outstanding! Thanks for the continued support and interaction with the channel!

[@psychopompinc.646]

@@CoasternautYT Thank you. I follow some good informative sources and have been a fan of the chain for decades. I think my first park experience was when I was around six or seven. I am currently forty-seven so I have certainly seen some changes over the years. My childhood was right in the middle of the Coaster Wars which was amazing to watch. I was lucky that my family could afford for us to travel a little bit here and there and that both of my parents, especially my mother, loved roller coasters.

[@CoasternautYT]

@@psychopompinc.646 growing into an enthusiast at the height of the coaster wars must’ve been epic in all the awesome US parks!

[@MrSRArter]

2:05 I wouldn't be surprised if Rougarou was re-themed to Superman the Ride since I learned in the Cleveland airport that Superman was created in Cleveland.

[@CoasternautYT]

I think lots of coasters that are potentially on the chopping block may have their lives extended for a few years through a simple rename and paint job, it’d be an easy way for the parks to market something ‘new’ to the GP and extend the life of some rides without spending much money