Six Flags to Invest More Than $1 Billion Over the Next Two Years to Enhance Guest Experience

Rhea-AI Summary

Six Flags Entertainment announced plans to invest over $1 billion across its 42 North American parks during 2025-2026. The investment, ranging between $500-525 million annually, will fund new roller coasters, attractions, themed areas, and dining upgrades. The 2025 season will feature seven new roller coasters and expanded seasonal events. The 2026 plans include record-breaking attractions at multiple parks, including new water rides, coasters, and family attractions. Additionally, $80 million will be allocated to food and beverage improvements, including new restaurant concepts.

Positive

• Major $1 billion capital investment plan announced for 2025-2026
• Seven new roller coasters planned for 2025
• $80 million dedicated to food and beverage improvements
• Introduction of All Park Passport Add-On for increased visitor access
• Multiple record-breaking attractions planned across various parks

Negative

• None.

Insights

Theme Park Industry Analyst

This massive $1 billion investment plan represents a significant strategic pivot for Six Flags, marking the largest capital expenditure program in the company's history. The dual-year investment strategy, allocating roughly $500-525 million annually, is particularly noteworthy as it addresses multiple revenue drivers simultaneously - from thrilling attractions to dining experiences.

The comprehensive approach targeting eight record-breaking attractions across major parks, combined with $80 million in food and beverage improvements, indicates a strategic shift toward a more premium guest experience. This aligns with industry trends seen at competitors like Disney and Universal, who have successfully implemented similar premium positioning strategies.

The introduction of the All Park Passport Add-On creates a new revenue stream while potentially increasing cross-visitation between parks, a metric that has historically been underutilized in the regional park sector. This multi-faceted investment approach should drive both attendance and per-capita spending growth, two critical metrics for theme park operators.

Financial Analyst

This capital allocation strategy represents a bold but calculated move to drive long-term value creation. The $1 billion+ investment over two years, while significant relative to Six Flags' $4.5 billion market cap, is structured to maintain balance sheet flexibility with even annual distributions of approximately $500 million.

The focus on record-breaking attractions at multiple parks suggests a strategy to drive both local market share and destination appeal. The substantial $80 million investment in food and beverage operations targets higher-margin revenue streams, potentially boosting per-capita spending metrics. Historical industry data shows that major capital investments typically generate 15-20% returns on investment through increased attendance and in-park spending.

• New rides, attractions, themed areas, dining upgrades, technology and infrastructure improvements planned across network of 42 parks in North America

CHARLOTTE, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Six Flags Entertainment Corporation (NYSE: FUN), the largest amusement park operator in North America, today announced it will invest more than $1 billion over the next two years to enhance the guest experience at its 42 parks. The investments, which will total between $500 million and $525 million in both 2025 and 2026, will include new rides, attractions, themed areas, dining upgrades, and technology enhancements that are sure to deliver an unparalleled level of fun and excitement to guests of all ages.

“Our capital investment plans for the next two years reinforce our commitment to providing unmatched thrills, immersive entertainment and lifelong memories to guests of all ages,” said Six Flags President & CEO Richard A. Zimmerman. “The new Six Flags has a unique opportunity to refresh and renew the guest experience, one so compelling that a visit to one of our parks will be viewed as an indispensable choice in family entertainment.”

In August, the company unveiled its capital investment for the 2025 operating season. Those plans include seven new roller coasters, along with an expanded roster of popular seasonal events. In addition, the new All Park Passport Add-On will allow season passholders and members to visit all 42 of the Company’s amusement and water parks beginning January 6, 2025.

Among the capital investments currently planned for the 2026 operating season:

• Carowinds will introduce a record-breaking water ride
• Canada’s Wonderland will add a new record-breaking water attraction
• King's Island will introduce a new family thrill attraction
• Knott’s Soak City will receive a water park refresh and aesthetic enhancements
• Six Flags Magic Mountain will debut a first-of-its-kind coaster in North America
• Six Flags Great America will celebrate its 50^th anniversary, debuting a new kids’ area, commemorative events and park enhancements
• Six Flags Great Adventure will unveil a record-breaking launch coaster
• Six Flags Over Texas will unleash a record-breaking dive coaster
• Six Flags Mexico will introduce a family thrill boomerang coaster

The capital investments will go far beyond new rides. More than $80 million of the overall two-year spend will go toward food and beverage upgrades, including new restaurant concepts and improved menu offerings.

More information on these and other investments will be shared by both Six Flags and the individual parks as details and timetables are formalized.

“This is an incredibly exciting time as we lay the foundation for growth for the new Six Flags and focus on what our team does best: make people happy by delivering the best possible experience and value to our guests each and every day,” concluded Zimmerman.

ABOUT SIX FLAGS ENTERTAINMENT CORPORATION

Six Flags Entertainment Corporation (NYSE: FUN) is North America’s largest regional amusement-resort operator with 27 amusement parks, 15 water parks and nine resort properties across 17 states in the U.S., Canada and Mexico. Focused on its purpose of making people happy, Six Flags provides fun, immersive and memorable experiences to millions of guests every year with world-class coasters, themed rides, thrilling water parks, resorts and a portfolio of beloved intellectual property including Looney Tunes®, DC Comics® and PEANUTS®.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Some of the statements contained in this news release (including the “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” section) that are not historical in nature are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws, including Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, including statements as to our expectations, beliefs, goals and strategies regarding the future. Words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “create,” “expect,” “future,” “guidance,” “intend,” “plan,” “potential,” “seek,” “synergies,” “target,” “will,” “would,” similar expressions, and variations or negatives of these words identify forward-looking statements. However, the absence of these words does not mean that the statements are not forward-looking. Forward-looking statements by their nature address matters that are, to different degrees, uncertain. These forward-looking statements may involve current plans, estimates, expectations and ambitions that are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict, may be beyond our control and could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in such statements. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, we can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct, that our growth and operational strategies will achieve the target results. Important risk factors that may cause such a difference and could adversely affect attendance at our parks, our future financial performance, and/or our growth strategies, and could cause actual results to differ materially from our expectations or otherwise to fluctuate or decrease, include, but are not limited to: general economic, political and market conditions; the impacts of pandemics or other public health crises, including the effects of government responses on people and economies; adverse weather conditions; competition for consumer leisure time and spending; unanticipated construction delays; changes in our capital investment plans and projects; anticipated tax treatment, unforeseen liabilities, future capital expenditures, revenues, expenses, earnings, synergies, economic performance, indebtedness, financial condition, losses, future prospects, business and management strategies for the management, expansion and growth of the Combined Company’s operations; failure to realize the anticipated benefits of the merger, including difficulty in integrating the businesses of legacy Six Flags and legacy Cedar Fair; failure to realize the expected amount and timing of cost savings and operating synergies related to the merger; legislative, regulatory and economic developments and changes in laws, regulations, and policies affecting the Combined Company; acts of terrorism or outbreak of war, hostilities, civil unrest, and other political or security disturbances; and other factors we discuss under the heading “Risk Factors” within Part II, Item 1A of our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, in legacy Cedar Fair’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, in legacy Six Flags’ Annual Report on Form 10-K and in the other filings we make from time to time with the SEC. Readers are urged not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this document and are based on information currently and reasonably known to us. We do not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect future events, information or circumstances that arise after the publication of this document.

This news release and prior releases are available under the News tab at https://investors.sixflags.com

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241114984167/en/

Investor Contact: Michael Russell, 419.627.2233

https://investors.sixflags.com

Media Contact: Gary Rhodes, 704.249.6119

Source: Six Flags Entertainment Corporation

FAQ

How much is Six Flags (FUN) investing in park improvements for 2025-2026?

Six Flags is investing over $1 billion across 2025-2026, with $500-525 million planned for each year.

What new attractions is Six Flags (FUN) adding in 2025?

Six Flags will add seven new roller coasters and expand their seasonal events lineup in 2025.

How much is Six Flags (FUN) spending on food and beverage improvements?

Six Flags is investing more than $80 million in food and beverage upgrades, including new restaurant concepts and improved menu offerings.

What new features will Six Flags (FUN) introduce at Carowinds and Canada's Wonderland in 2026?

Both parks will receive record-breaking water rides in 2026.