Six Flags Marine World Sets All-Time Attendance Record

Vallejo, CA -- Six Flags Marine World announced the Park's best-ever attendance totals today, along with plans for a $15 million world-class supercoaster to open in Spring 2000.

For the first time in Marine World's 32-year history, attendance topped two million guests in the 1999 season, which ended Sunday, October 31, according to Tom Mehrmann, vice president and general manager. Previous best year was 1.9 million guests in 1993. Last year's (1998) attendance was 1.825 million.

The 1999 attendance record marks the second year in a row that attendance has gone up at the Park. Marine World's 1998 attendance was up 65 per cent above the previous year, the biggest increase of any theme park in the nation, according to industry trade rankings. From 1994 through 1997, Marine World attendance decreased each year, dropping to 1.1 million in 1997.

Six Flags Marine World's two millionth guest, Jose Leon and family from Pleasanton, entered the Park at 9:45 a.m. on Sunday, October 31, the last day of the 1999 season. The Park's exact attendance count for 1999 will be released to the City of Vallejo following Marine World's annual audit, expected to take several weeks.

Mehrmann attributes the Park's growing popularity to its unique combination of animal exhibits, shows and theme park rides, and the powerful appeal of the Six Flags brand name. "Six Flags Marine World offers an unbeatable mix of entertainment and educational elements. We literally have something for everyone to enjoy," he said.

"This was Marine World's first year as a Six Flags park," Mehrmann added. "Along with the name came the great reputation for America's favorite thrills. As a Six Flags park, we added Batman and Looney Tunes elements to the Park, a great new wooden roller coaster, new shows and new animal attractions. Our season pass sales were up by 35 per cent this year, and that's a strong vote of confidence from our Bay Area and Sacramento markets."

Mid-year in 1997, management of Marine World was taken over by Premier Parks, Inc., the world's largest regional theme park company. Over the last three years, Premier Parks has added $74 million in new attractions to Marine World, including the popular wooden coaster ROAR!, four other new rides, five new shows and a new Lorikeet Aviary in 1999.

Mehrmann projects increased revenue earnings for the Park in 1999 as well. Final 1999 revenue and attendance figures will be presented to the City of Vallejo following the annual audit, expected to take several weeks to complete. Six Flags Marine World is owned by the City of Vallejo and mananged by Premier Parks under a long-term agreement which includes an option to buy the Park starting in the year 2002.