The Winners & Losers Of The New Six Flags Merger

Six Flags & Cedar Fair Just Merged & The Chain Now Has 26 Parks To Care For. Which Parks Will Succeed & Which Ones Will FAIL? Which Of The Former Six Flags & Cedar Fair Parks Will Benefit Most From This New Merger & Which Will Lose The Most? Will Cedar Point, Kings Island, & Carowinds Remain Top Parks? Or Will Six Flags Magic Mountain, Great Adventure, & Fiesta Texas Take Over As The Top Parks In The Country?
/ loopingthrills
Instagram: / loopingthrills
Footage Credit:
El Toro Ryan, Amusement Insider, Coaster Thrills, SeaWorld, Kings Island, Zamperla, Universal, Busch Gardens Tampa, Cedar Point, Silverwood, Kings Dominion, Hershey Park, Six Flags, Mack Rides, Carowinds, Airtime Thrills, RampagingRex Productions, Coaster College, Canobie Coaster, Amusement Insiders, Coaster Hipster, X Coasters Forever, Ohio Valley Coasters, Theme Park Nuts, Theme Park Update, Behind The Thrills, Thomas Rosie Fan, Thrill Seekers, Six flags, Cedar Fair, Silver Dollar City, Dollywood
Music in this video is taken from the KZbin Creator Music library
#SixFlags #CedarFair #Sixflagsmerger #Universal

[@Loopingthrills]

Hope you enjoyed! This was by far the most difficult video I've ever produced on this channel & it's a really long one too. Thanks for watching! If you're interested in seeing extra bonus content you can now join the channel as a member. Thanks for all your support.

[@onffxiimanon]

Before merger: Valleyfair! ignored. After merger: Valleyfair! ignored. And so it goes with no new coasters in 16 years...

[@edt-ze3ke]

The SF/CF merger will help SFOG a lot since the park has a lot of potential. It's already or should be a top tier park and the merger will definetly show that given that the park improved a lot on their biggest flaws they once had. With an upcoming competition with Fun Spot, SF would be willing to invest more on the park to compliment it given that its location is in one of the most populated metro areas in the US.

[@travisvanalst4698]

I respect your opinion. But CP is THE amusement park lol. Kings island doesn’t have any answers for CPs Rides. Dorney won’t be sold off. They just got a brand new dive. I don’t think any of the parks will be sold off. Their lesser parks might not have the attendance or make the big bucks but they run solid profit margins and don’t take anything to maintain them. And their attendance base is mostly regional and they are fine with the rides they have so they don’t need to be tossed a new ride every year.

[@yahuahisall4332]

Keep in mind that Cedar are the majority share holders. Six flags will only get to do what the majority share holders want. Dorney won't get sold. There Wild Water Kingdom is far better than Hurricane Harbor at Great Adventure as well as Haunt is better than Fright Fest. Dorney is more convenient and accessible to people in Pa.

[@Loopingthrills]

Thanks for watching! I don't think Dorney will get sold off as they will likely utilize the 2 park ticket option to group it in with great adventure.

[@yahuahisall4332]

@@Loopingthrills I'd like that option. The crowds at WWK have gotten worse since I've been going to Dorney (since 2016). I think a separate price or ticket for anyone who doesn't have a Gold or Gold Plus is the way. Same thing for Haunt to minimize the rude guest who vape, smoke, and line jump.

[@Loopingthrills]

That could be a gr8 idea

[@AFCompany]

Dorney will definitely not be sold off. It is way too valuable to Cedar Fair and if they do a combined pass with Great Adventure they can steal the market away from Hershey. Cedar Fair also has a 10 year plan for the park to bring it closer to one of their tier 1 parks starting with Iron Menace and they wouldn’t have gone through with putting an expensive B&M in if they planned to sell it.

[@Loopingthrills]

Very true. I agree that if they use the 2 park ticket plan they will likely not sell off the park. I think this is probably what will end up happening.

[@yahuahisall4332]

Hershey has the overall better Coaster line up than Dorney and GA, but their Board Walk Area can't Compete with the two mentioned. And, I know they are a independent park, their prices are more expensive.

[@AFCompany]

@@yahuahisall4332 true. Hershey has the best coaster portfolio of the 3 and is the most well rounded, but if you combine GA record breaking coasters and thrill rides with Dorney’s more family oriented coasters and park that is a pretty solid line up and Dorney already has the best water park and halloween haunt of the 3 so it could be very beneficial to combined GA with Dorney for a pass.

[@Loopingthrills]

That is very true. Also GA will be getting a ton of new investment in the coming years to compete with hershey

[@markdaniels2123]

Dorney could be sold off to another park operator if ordered to sell properties to approve the merger. If they were to sell my guess is it would go to Kennywood Corporation - Could also be split off to a smaller company was well with other smaller parks. Still I lean toward they will keep Dorney in the end. Still I think we might not have a merger in the end if the feds choose not approve the merger sale. I predict it will be late in the year though. They have the Kroger/Albertsons sale to deal with and that is ahead of this being that was begun almost two years ago. This is no done deal just yet.

[@shyfromphilly24]

Dorney just got a new coaster. .we go there too not just great adventure

[@kev492001]

Cedar Point, Knotts and Kings Island make more than any of the Six Flags parks, I doubt any of the SF parks will be getting a giga coaster, and CP will always be invested in, it is the flagship park, Dorney is not getting sold off.

[@Johnnyiswhere]

Doubt no more. It’s happened

[@kev492001]

@@Johnnyiswhere Really where?

[@Cap-ku6ok]

Great video, you out did yourself. Strangely, I agree with everything you said, especially about Six Flags America. I feel that park has a lot more potential than Kings Dominion, based on location.

[@Loopingthrills]

Glad you enjoyed it! I've been working very hard on my videos lately & this one was super hard to make. Your comment means a lot. I have a bunch of major documentary videos in the works for the coming months & some regular videos as well! Can't wait to share! I could see the chain focusing on Six Flags America instead of Kings Dominion, so who knows you may be right!

[@tommybullard7962]

I don’t think you know what you’re talking about

[@hundoe100]

I was thinking this exactly. Alot ofnwhats being said makes absolutely no sense. Also everything is "I think...." ima need him to stop thinking...

[@dirtyredd4905]

😂😂😂😂

[@Brodie--lw6eb]

Ummmmmm, Cedar Point will continue to receive emphasis

[@princeerick11]

SixFlags Magic Mountain❤❤❤

[@almond421]

So you mentioned Discovery Kingdom but never talked about its future with the merger 💀

[@SurflinerBoy455]

I hope magic mountain has onsite hotel and a citywalk shopping center

[@Brent-sb8ml]

There is already a mall like 2 miles away and a shopping center. Too much market saturation

[@themeparkreconnoiter9787]

With the Cedar Fair and Six Flags Merger, they should or they actually could revive Kings Entertainment (KECO) for the EX-Paramount Parks so they can bring back the Hanna-Barbera Characters while the Six Flags brand parks still will keep the Looney Tunes Characters since Six Flags has already been licensed by Warner Brothers, and now merging with Cedar Fair, Cedar Flags will have 3 different theme Park banners with 3 or 4 different licensed characters, The Peanuts Hanna-Barbera, Looney Tunes and The DC Characters for example. Kings Island and The Other Kings (KECO) Parks will still be Cedar Flags Park but kept under the Kings (KECO) banner. its just like SeaWorld owning the Busch Gardens parks because Busch Gardens is a SeaWorld Park but kept under the Busch banner.

[@Ptc-tw9eq]

Poor New England, the park deserves better as it kind of feels neglected. The park used to be a top priority back in the day but it all came crashing down after Wicked Cyclone and Joker. I’ve heard that people were pissed about the park receiving a re-theme of their antique car ride theme to dinosaurs last year in 2023, only to see that the park got nothing for 2024. It is very possible that New England could very will be neglected and fall into the lower tier parks

[@Loopingthrills]

Very Sad. New England really has a ton of potential.

[@markdaniels2123]

New England has quantity but not quality. In 2000 they got huge investments and another big one in 2002. Then nothing but used coasters, junior coasters, and a low quality Joker Coaster in 2017. The only big thing of quality they have had was Wicked Cyclone in 2015 and a water coaster. Other than that its just been small things. In that region its cold too long and that is what keeps this park from growing. Its season is shorter than most other parks.

[@295g295]

8:00 - Great Adventure is close, and also Hersheypark, Knobels, Legoland NY, and Sesame Place are close. This year Dorney has a new B&M drop-coaster.

[@deedeeknutsson5205]

I think that some of the lower tier parks need some love too. Michigans Adventure is my *Home Park* It was always fun, but just seemed that it was more of an afterthought park. Any of the other parks that may close, buy the rides and put em in Michigan, I know us Michiganders would apprecitate it a lot, and it might help our economy as well, there is plenty of land to expand into, so, why not ???

[@Loopingthrills]

hopefully...

[@295g295]

10:26 - For 2024 SFGAdv is adding a tents-hotel-resort in the Safari!

[@295g295]

14:23 - I think LaRonde is unique as the world's only thrills park that is built at sea level.

[@HugeRMCFanBoY-bx3od]

I Love Mystic Timbers But Honestly Kings Island Needs To RMC It It Would Make The Lineup Better Then Hersheypark

[@Loopingthrills]

it's way to new of a ride to RMC. A Groundup similar to Arie Force One in much larger would be awesome!

[@HugeRMCFanBoY-bx3od]

RMC Son Of Beast (I Know This Would Probably Never Happen But I Can Dream)

[@DarthMalak1000]

Michigan's Adventure is not going to get sold. The land it sits on is not that valuable so if they did sell it, they wouldn't get much out of it anyway, and it is also among the most profitable parks due to its low operational costs. That's in contrast to a park like CGA which is getting sold because the land it sits on is quite valuable and the park is losing money, which is why it was sold. The only parks I'd find are at risk of getting sold are probably Six Flags parks. Something like Six Flags America or Darien Lake are probably the only ones right now that probably have a chance of getting sold or shut down.

[@Loopingthrills]

You make a good point. Appreciate you taking the time to watch the video & comment.

[@mitchellries256]

I don't think Six Flags New England will be a looser at all. With two of the greatest roller coasters ever built, an exciting waterpark, and no competition from any other Six Flags/Cedar Fair parks nearby, I think we can expect a lot more for that park in the coming years. I also don't agree with Six Flags Darien Lake being a looser. That park has plenty of room for expansion making it the one park with the biggest potential.

[@Loopingthrills]

I hear & I hope you're right. Thanks for watching!

[@Cat3465]

Darien Lake is a looser. Six Flags never invested the property ever since buying them back in 2018. Their last major coaster was a EuroFighter prior to them being bought back. New England on the other hand is also a looser as they’ve started to become overlooked. They didn’t even get anything for 2024 after getting a “new” dinosaur ride last year while there are some parks like Great Adventure and Over Georgia who have gotten a lot of attention with their 2024 editions

[@sk610]

SF can sell Darien Lake like you suggest as they don't own it, just operate it. They can just stop operating it if they want out

[@Cat3465]

Over Georgia has so much potential and I will be glad to see it happen with the merger happening. I’m also excited to what kind of investments the park will see in the near future as it my home park. They’ve gotten solid investments over last few years and are getting ready to open #13 in the summer as the world’s first Intamin Ultra Surf

[@Loopingthrills]

Yes the future of this park is super exciting! It's a southern park as well so it can potentially be a top park with 365 day operations long term if invested in properly.

[@Cat3465]

@@Loopingthrills I agree. Cedar Fair may have interests in the Atlanta market as it is one of the fastest growing cities in America. They could give Over Georgia some pizazz as a way for the park to grow in the coming years along with larger investments

[@sharkheadism]

I disagree, I see a scenario wherein Carowinds gets continued heavy investment and Over Georgia has to exist as the little brother park.

[@Cat3465]

@@sharkheadism Both Charlotte and Atlanta are one of the fastest growing cities in America. There is a chance where both of the parks will get high investment instead of just one of them

[@kennethlorino9214]

Six flags at louis may have finally met its doom and will be the next astro world 5:56

[@slumpdogyt]

I will tell you for Six Flags America, people in that area rather drive to Kings Dominion over Six Flags America. Six Flags America also doesn't have a winter event, so it has a lot smaller operating season then Kings Dominion. I still think SFA will be sold to a housing developer as the new company will need some cash to pay down debt.

[@Neb_fallout]

Dude you must be cedar point hater because the frist thing you said was how kings island is better then going to the main point of why it won’t change. I think it is a winner

[@Loopingthrills]

Thanks for watching. Nothing against CP was just trying to point out why focus might be moving away from CP as the number 1 park with many other top tier parks now in the chain.

[@bonnyd.5334]

The Great Escape: It is clear that you know absolutely NOTHING about the area and haven't visited that region for more than a day or two at a time in fifty years. Lake George/Queensbury/Warrensburg is a DUMP. It's a HAS BEEN resort. It is a LOCAL, very kiddie theme park, with ABSOLUTELY NO HOPE of being better than that. The area lodging is expensive and is poor quality. Lake George is far from large population centers: NYC/Tri-State Area(over 3 hours), Boston (4 hours), Montreal (2.5 hours plus customs... depends on what's going on at the border, eh?). The Capital District Area is not exactly a wealthy area. The reason I think Six Flags held onto this park was to protect Great Adventure and New England from Cedar Fair competition. The best fate for this park would be if it was sold to Herschend Entertainment, for they are experienced in running family parks in a way that attracts more people than just families with the under 12 set. However, given the poor quality of the infrastructure around that supports tourism, that Herschend Entertainment would likely take a pass. The most realistic fate of this park is to be sold to local investors who want to keep it as a family park--and they're doing it for nostalgic reasons, because this park just does not have it to make serious money.

[@rrecherei9092]

New investment here, new theming there, new gigacoasters everywhere. Where is all this money going to come from? Eliminating a few executive positions due to the merger won't cut it.

[@CLAYMAKERSGUIDE]

This person don't have good info

[@Cat3465]

It’s a prediction in terms of being realistic