December 8, 1999
Oklahoma City, OK -- The powerful Six Flags brand is expanding to four more theme parks, including parks in Europe and Mexico - a first for Six Flags Theme Parks, announced Kieran Burke, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Premier Parks Inc. Premier Parks owns and operates 35 parks worldwide, including 17 Six Flags-branded parks in the United States, Latin America and Europe, and is the world's largest regional theme park company.
The announcement represents the continued expansion of Six Flags parks in the United States and a bold initiative to introduce Six Flags' unique brand of thrills and family fun to Mexico and Europe.
"Six Flags is a highly recognized brand that we are confident will deliver great success worldwide," Burke said. "Six Flags has the greatest brand equity among theme parks and ranks as the number one brand with kids ages 6-17. Now families worldwide can experience Six Flags."
"The four Six Flags parks branded in 1999 had terrific seasons, experiencing a 21 percent growth in attendance over 1998 while setting individual attendance records at each of the four parks. The substantial growth at these parks contributed to a record-setting year in terms of attendance and revenue for Premier Parks and total company growth of approximately $100 million in adjusted EBITDA."
"The success we experienced in expanding the brand in 1999 strengthens our initiative to catapult the brand to new heights worldwide," Burke said.
The Parks transforming to Six Flags theme parks for the 2000 season are:
- Six Flags New England, formerly Riverside Park, between Springfield, Massachusetts and Hartford, Connecticut
- Six Flags Ohio, formerly Geauga Lake Park in Cleveland, Ohio
- Six Flags Holland, formerly Walibi Flevo, near Amsterdam in the Netherlands
- Six Flags Mexico, formerly Reino Aventura, in Mexico City
"These are four outstanding properties," commented Burke. "The parks are located in dynamic markets with strong upside growth potential. Over 55 million people live within a one-hour drive of these four parks. The magnitude of expansion underway at each of these parks will give them the sweeping entertainment product delivering the thrills unique to the Six Flags experience."
As part of the parks' transformation for the 2000 season, capital projects totaling over $140 million at Six Flags Holland, Six Flags Mexico, Six Flags Ohio and Six Flags New England will add over 75 rides and attractions at these
parks.
Expanded family sections built around a Looney Tunes theme and several roller coasters that pack one-of-a-kind Six Flags thrills headline the new rides and attractions for these parks.
"We're adding 13 new roller coasters to the four new Six Flags-branded parks as well as over 50 new rides and attractions for children," Burke said. "The new children's sections will give each theme park the entertainment diversity that will appeal to every age."
A licensing agreement with Warner Bros. Consumer Products and DC Comics gives Six Flags extensive theme park rights to the Looney Tunes and DC Comics Super Hero characters.
"We've built a strong and mutually rewarding partnership with Warner Bros. and DC Comics. The global appeal of the characters makes them a tremendous asset, giving Six Flags parks around the world an entertainment advantage over other venues," Burke said.
As part of that partnership, the four newly-branded Six Flags parks will feature Bugs Bunny and his Looney Tunes pals as ambassadors for the parks. The four parks also will present a live-action stunt show featuring DC Comics Super Hero Batman in the Batman Thrill Spectacular. This Hollywood-style show is part of an expanded show line-up that offers fun and thrills for everyone.
Six Flags Holland
Six Flags enters Europe through the heart of the Netherlands, unveiling today plans for the new Six Flags Holland theme park. Twenty new rides and attractions, including four new powerhouse roller coasters, headline the transformation currently underway at this 328-acre (130-hectare) property.
Six Flags Mexico
Located in the southern part of Mexico City, the new Six Flags Mexico represents Six Flags' entry point into the emerging Latin American market. Two blockbuster roller coasters top a list of 13 new rides and attractions currently under construction. A new, suspended looping coaster, themed and
named for the popular DC Comics Super Hero, Batman, is being added along with a giant new wooden roller coaster named Medusa. The wooden coaster is a modern out-and-back configuration featuring a number of twists, turns, drops and spirals.
Six Flags New England
The unveiling today of Six Flags New England completes a four-year, $100 million expansion of the theme park. For the 2000 season, New England's first multi-million dollar hyper-speed roller coaster, Superman - Ride of Steel, is being built as the centerpiece of a new 10-acre section themed after DC Super Hero characters. Built along the banks of the Connecticut River, the new section will be teeming with new rides, attractions, retail shops and restaurants.
In addition, two other new mega-coasters will establish Six Flags New England as a first-class thrill park. "Nothing defines the Six Flags brand more than our powerful roller coasters," Burke said. "Six Flags leads the world in the number of coasters with over 125 worldwide."
Six Flags Ohio
Geauga Lake is a classic among amusement parks, dating back over 110 years. Located in Cleveland, Ohio, Geauga Lake's ambitious expansion this year, totaling over $40 million, is the exclamation mark on its transformation into Six Flags Ohio. Four unique world-class roller coasters anchor the 2000 season.
"This is the largest single expansion in this park's storied history," Burke said. "There will be a whole new thrill element to this park that will continue to broaden its appeal."
"Today's announcement represents a momentous occasion for our Company and these parks," Burke said. "The expansion of the Six Flags brand and experience into Europe and Mexico through Six Flags Holland and Six Flags Mexico create strong springboards into two growing international regions. Six Flags New England and Six Flags Ohio bring the total number of U.S. Six Flags parks to 15 and gives Six Flags a presence in all top 10 markets."
Six Flags Theme Parks is part of Premier Parks Inc., the world's largest regional theme park company, with a total of 35 parks in the United States, Europe and Latin America. Six Flags parks serve 17 of the 25 largest metropolitan areas in the United States. The Company's parks annually host more than 45 million guests worldwide.
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