View Full Version : Mark Shapiro Leaves Six Flags
gl2007
05-12-2010, 02:42 PM
Just found this article a couple of minutes ago:
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Six-Flags-President-and-CEO-apf-3025612767.html?x=0&.v=1
"NEW YORK (AP) -- Six Flags Entertainment Corp., which emerged from bankruptcy protection earlier this month, said Wednesday that President and CEO Mark Shapiro is no longer with the company.
The theme park operator provided no further details on Shapiro's departure and named Alexander Weber Jr. as president and interim CEO.
Weber previously served as president and CEO of Paramount Parks Inc.
Six Flags said it has hired an executive search firm to find a permanent CEO and will consider both internal and external candidates.
The company sought bankruptcy protection in June, weighed down by high debt and declining park attendance."
Austin
05-12-2010, 02:55 PM
Hmm :) Justice is served.
Shayne
05-12-2010, 03:01 PM
Sounds like any and all details during the fan call about a month back in now in the air.
gl2007
05-12-2010, 03:30 PM
I'm wondering how, or if, this will effect the Kentucky Kingdom situation.
bobbinbop20
05-12-2010, 04:01 PM
nooooooooo! I love Shapiro
Austin
05-12-2010, 04:04 PM
Maybe it will change it.
Theyre out of debt, they technically wont have to spend much to take the park back, they still own their share of the land and will likely get a few hundred K's off the lease payments. Plus the liar is out of the executive office :)
where is the "like" button?
Austin
05-12-2010, 05:48 PM
Haha I know right. But After thinking about it, the interim CEO is pretty good. He built up the Paramount franchise and brought LIM to the forefront of coaster design.
yea i just have a bad feeling they end up hiring another top dollar scrub from another business like they did with Shapiro...
Shayne
05-12-2010, 06:04 PM
Before we start praising him, remember that during his reign at paramount, they often build multiple clones to save money. Now from a business standpoint this is a genius thing, however from the enthusiast point of view how thrilled are you going to be to travel to other six flags parks if his tactics carry over....
palmer
05-12-2010, 06:15 PM
I'm just happy. A change was needed. And coasterguy, if you look at SF parks, I see THBS, B:TR, TDK, Boomerang clones, and S:UF as clones at more than 2 parks. Plus, there was or is, from what I can remember, 3 LIM coasters, Two Mr. Freezes and Chiller. Although Chiller had problems (which is somewhat odd for Premier coasters), LIM has been fine. Seeing some LIMs around SF Nation would be nice. Plus, he can make the rumored Terminator clone work out.
I'm looking at it from an employee's point of view... the only 2 things worst then Mark Shapiro in that case are Keiren Burke and Gary Story....
nitrofan
05-12-2010, 06:24 PM
Plus the liar is out of the executive office :)
That's really not a fair statement unless you have proof I'm unaware of.
I have mixed feelings on this. He did so many good things for the parks that I hope don't get reversed. Ya, he had his faults, but most things he did were good.
Hopefully whoever becomes the real CEO will keep the good changes and begin building real attractions.
Everyone seems to be loving this new guy because he worked for Paramount, and while the Paramount parks look great from the internet, I can say from experience that the guest experience wasn't as good as Six Flags was in 2009.
Austin
05-12-2010, 08:30 PM
Thats what Shapiro did also.
Batman clones, Mr. Freeze, Big Spin.
I can only name Italian Job and FOF as his and they are certainly better clones then the others and they add a slightly different twist in each clone.
I am just glad that I met Mark in February.
This will not change nothing about Six Flags leaving Kentucky Kingdom.
MadCard05
05-12-2010, 10:58 PM
I loved Six Flags + Looney Toons, but I hated that they neglected Kentucky Kingdom after 2007. It was pretty obvious they were dumping us from 08 to 09, but they smiled like nothing was wrong and just told us to rough it.
DarienLake:D
05-13-2010, 05:12 PM
i liked SF until they sold Darien Lake.. thats when i found out they were so deep in debt.. And was skeptical of the new owners for a year then i started getting season passes again and found the park to be doing better without SF. The only good thing they brought to the park was Ride of Steel which was an original until they cloned AND mirrored it all at once. Though i like the setting where it is at Darien Lake... it fits better then where it is at SFA.. its just in the open. The one at DL is in between the road and water park. And that flat track goes over the water at Darien Lake and is amazing to see. SFA its just grass and looks kinda weird. If the CEO who was just booted in charge of Ride of Steel at DL i congratulate him then say FU cause he neglected the park after that.
nitrofan
05-13-2010, 05:54 PM
i liked SF until they sold Darien Lake.. thats when i found out they were so deep in debt.. And was skeptical of the new owners for a year then i started getting season passes again and found the park to be doing better without SF. The only good thing they brought to the park was Ride of Steel which was an original until they cloned AND mirrored it all at once. Though i like the setting where it is at Darien Lake... it fits better then where it is at SFA.. its just in the open. The one at DL is in between the road and water park. And that flat track goes over the water at Darien Lake and is amazing to see. SFA its just grass and looks kinda weird. If the CEO who was just booted in charge of Ride of Steel at DL i congratulate him then say FU cause he neglected the park after that.
Superman at SFA is a fun ride, but it does feel very weird will all of the long flat sections. It's an airtime hill, a very intense helix, then a long flat section followed by a very extreme airtime hill. It has lots of "Ok, what do we do now?" moments.
Superman: Ride of Steel came long before Shapiro's time. I believe Darien Lake was sold right after Shapiro came in.
DarienLake:D
05-13-2010, 06:56 PM
Superman at SFA is a fun ride, but it does feel very weird will all of the long flat sections. It's an airtime hill, a very intense helix, then a long flat section followed by a very extreme airtime hill. It has lots of "Ok, what do we do now?" moments.
Superman: Ride of Steel came long before Shapiro's time. I believe Darien Lake was sold right after Shapiro came in.
yeah well if you ride it at DL you will think better of the ride. But then again its better then that parking lot theme you often see lol!
Reported from Screamscape:
Six Flags - (7/11/10) I’ve heard a new rumor that the new board at Six Flags is making plans to not only roll out a new marketing campaign for the chain’s 50th Anniversary next year, but once again it sounds like Mr. Six may be retired and sent back to the old folks home once again.
Me and my family like the dude for some reason, and it would be said if they put him back in the old folks home..=(
Truth Seeker 1
07-12-2010, 11:24 PM
Well hopefully Weber will have a somewhat reasonable explanation for removing our beloved Mr.Six.
david
07-17-2010, 03:17 PM
From what I heard Shapiro is looking to start his own park chain, buying smaller parks and bringing them to fruition.
This may not be the last of Shapiro. Again, I can't CONFIRM any of this, it's all rumors, but I hope he does do this, and even builds a park in Chicago so that Great America has a reason to build more thrill rides.
acquaz10
07-17-2010, 06:00 PM
I would support that 100% Where did you hear this?
david
07-18-2010, 10:17 PM
I would also support this, and this doesn't sound reliable, but a friend of mine's dad went to school with Shapiro, and is still in touch with him. I heard that Shapiro was only removed because the only one backing him on the board was Snyder, and when Snyder left, he had no more support, and they yanked him out.
acquaz10
07-19-2010, 12:52 AM
Thats part of the reason... Not quite though... On SFGAM World you posted the SEC thing, do some more Google searching. You'll find the answer.
Truth Seeker 1
07-19-2010, 06:03 PM
Let't not forget about Kieran. Recently he bought Nashville Shores waterpark and attempted to buy Kentucky Kingdom.
Austin
07-20-2010, 01:09 AM
He did?
Kieren and Gary Story's group.
DarienLake:D
07-20-2010, 12:01 PM
Oh boy this should be interesting!
Truth Seeker 1
07-20-2010, 03:49 PM
I've known this for months but I had been waiting to see if anyone else noticed it.
david
07-20-2010, 08:29 PM
Shapiro has gotten some of the best experience from one of the biggest theme park operators in the world. He can easily start a successful amusement park, and he's got Moneybags Snyder backing him 250%. He can pull off a takeover of a park like Kentucky Kingdom and have made it excellent. I'm just waiting for more news from my friend. I'll keep you guys posted. :)
Also, I would have bought a Season Pass to a Kieren Burke Kentucky Kingdom! I freaking love that guy!
Truth Seeker 1
07-20-2010, 10:18 PM
You and I David have very different views...
Kieren was horrendous... almost as bad as Gary Story...
Austin
07-20-2010, 11:14 PM
While I agree he can renovate just about any park, he could not do Kentucky Kingdom.
david
07-22-2010, 12:44 AM
Kieran had the right idea with Six Flags, give a park some major attractions, let it sit for a bit, and BANG, hit it with some good rides, and you've got a winner.
Shapiro would run a park with 15 Roller Skaters.
david
07-23-2010, 02:52 PM
Alright. A little update here. Shapiro is looking into properties in the midwest. Not sure where exactly, but from what I hear, he wants a park to bring a big thrill park to Northeast Indiana. I'll keep you guys updated on as much information as I can get. I also hear, he has a few investors from Red Zone along with Snyder.
Austin
07-23-2010, 03:05 PM
Thats a fail waiting to happen. Cedar point will crush him. It will take alot of effort to compare to CP.
david
07-23-2010, 03:08 PM
I don't think he's aiming at CP, I think he's looking at an open market. Many people in Indiana aren't willing to travel up to GAm, so here is a park to take it all over. He can do it. I know he can. I have faith that Shapiro can make a dent in Great America.
Austin
07-23-2010, 03:09 PM
Wouldn't that be the North West then?
david
07-23-2010, 03:15 PM
That was a typo on my part! ;) Yes, Northwest. Never Eat Soggy Waffles.
Austin
07-23-2010, 03:18 PM
Lol we learned our directions differently, Never Ever Smoke Weed. Lol
david
07-23-2010, 04:23 PM
Hahahah! All I know is that Shapiro wants to get back at Six Flags some way.
He must be angry to have left like that.
Truth Seeker 1
07-23-2010, 11:49 PM
Shapiro will ride his little Roller Skater all the way to success!
acquaz10
07-24-2010, 12:05 AM
Thats what you guys think :) He had some big plans for Six Flags actually. Sad that they didn't get to happen.
Truth Seeker 1
07-24-2010, 12:46 AM
Been talking to the Dippin Dots guy ay?
DarienLake:D
07-24-2010, 12:57 AM
haha i should talk to the dippin dots guy here see what they have to say lol! Must be amusing since you guys joke bout it!
acquaz10
07-24-2010, 01:28 AM
Yeah he knows a lot actually ;)
DarienLake:D
07-24-2010, 02:22 AM
lol! maybe the "dippin dots guy" gets paid to feed you lies ;)
david
07-28-2010, 09:49 AM
I have a mini-update. Shapiro is talking to Kiaren Burke about having Kiaren opening a Water park, alongside his property.
If I'm getting this right, Shapiro is attempting a DIRECT hit at Great America, the water park AND amusement park.
nitrofan
07-28-2010, 10:10 AM
While I agree he can renovate just about any park, he could not do Kentucky Kingdom.
You also have to consider the negatives of KK though. It already had a horrible reputation and had huge lease payments on it as well.
Austin
07-28-2010, 10:53 AM
It didnt have a bad reputation at all. I was talking about he couldnt renovate it in his new group he formed. We wouldnt accept him to own the park. No one liked him that worked for him so morale would be at all time lows. Plus he doesnt take care of any parks he owns.
nitrofan
07-28-2010, 11:17 AM
It didnt have a bad reputation at all. I was talking about he couldnt renovate it in his new group he formed. We wouldnt accept him to own the park. No one liked him that worked for him so morale would be at all time lows. Plus he doesnt take care of any parks he owns.
All you had to do was talk to people at SFKK and you would hear about it. NW Territory closing just made everyone think the park was preparing to close. People were just walking up to us warning us about what to avoid because they didn't think it was safe.
I'm sorry that Shapiro screwed up SFKK, but he put the rest of the parks in the best shape they had been in years.
Truth Seeker 1
07-28-2010, 11:24 AM
I have a mini-update. Shapiro is talking to Kiaren Burke about having Kiaren opening a Water park, alongside his property.
If I'm getting this right, Shapiro is attempting a DIRECT hit at Great America, the water park AND amusement park.
What is your source?
Austin
07-28-2010, 11:44 AM
All you had to do was talk to people at SFKK and you would hear about it. NW Territory closing just made everyone think the park was preparing to close. People were just walking up to us warning us about what to avoid because they didn't think it was safe.
I'm sorry that Shapiro screwed up SFKK, but he put the rest of the parks in the best shape they had been in years.
No one warned anyone about the safety of rides. The rides were completely safe. Superman wasnt 100% KK's fault. Anyone who looked at it closely would know that.
nitrofan
07-28-2010, 04:25 PM
No one warned anyone about the safety of rides. The rides were completely safe. Superman wasnt 100% KK's fault. Anyone who looked at it closely would know that.
I didn't say they aren't safe, and I believe they are. I was just saying that lots of people said some of them aren't. Just from me being social in lines I heard a lot of the GP gossip about the park. They all thought the park was closing soon and there were lots of rumors about unsafe rides.
My point was that with the exception of SFKK, Shapiro did take good care of the parks he owned. He only had the job for 4 years, he did a good job with the resources he had.
Truth Seeker 1
07-28-2010, 09:57 PM
Now as all of you know I despise Shapiro. Though I have to admit he kept the parks clean, stopped gang trouble in parks like SFA, and helped Six Flags out of debt. All that aside he neglected KK, staff efficiency was horrible at numerous parks, and focused far too much on little children, I admit most Six Flags parks needed attractions for children just not children four and under.
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