http://www.rttnews.com/sp/breakingnews.asp?date=01/17/2008&item=123
Above is an article, about the recently announced corporate alliance partership between Tyson Chicken and Six Flags Theme Parks. And I honestly found it very interesting.
When Dan Snyder first took over, and gutted the Six Flags board of directors, he, along with CEO Mark Shapiro went on and on about how damaged the brand was. Well...
“Six Flags entertains millions of visitors every year and now those visitors can experience the same Tyson chicken they cook at home for their families at a Six Flags theme park. We're delighted to be partnering with a brand that resonates so strongly with Moms and kids.”
So says a representative from Tyson Chicken. I still think that the parks have a long way to go, but this really shows that it's not just us hardcore enthusiasts who seem to think that Six Flags has a fighting chance here. While the chicken thing is minor, considering most of us don't eat chicken at Six Flags energy, it really goes to show how much Six Flags has grown, and will continue to grow as a stong brand.
Your thoughts?
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Sunday, January 13, 2008
The Red Zone Brigade
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/01/08/AR2008010804042.html?hpid=topnews
I found this article to be very interesting. It kind of opens us up to the reality that Six Flags has kind of become Red Zone Parks and Resorts. I dont' mean that literally, it's just that Snyder and Red Zone is really building up a giant entertainment empire here.
Definetely my favorite part of the article is the quote "Check Back Next year." I think it's going to be a banner year for Six Flags, especially seeing the Q4 numbers that were recently released but never discussed.
http://www.forbes.com/markets/feeds/afx/2008/01/08/afx4505982.html
I think that Six Flags is more on-track now then it has been since the Shapiro Brigade took over, and looking across the rest of Red Zone's Holding, that seems to be so everywhere. They really are in position to become an entertainment Giant. And I think that means great things are on the Horizan for Six Flags.
Your Thoughts?
I found this article to be very interesting. It kind of opens us up to the reality that Six Flags has kind of become Red Zone Parks and Resorts. I dont' mean that literally, it's just that Snyder and Red Zone is really building up a giant entertainment empire here.
Definetely my favorite part of the article is the quote "Check Back Next year." I think it's going to be a banner year for Six Flags, especially seeing the Q4 numbers that were recently released but never discussed.
http://www.forbes.com/markets/feeds/afx/2008/01/08/afx4505982.html
I think that Six Flags is more on-track now then it has been since the Shapiro Brigade took over, and looking across the rest of Red Zone's Holding, that seems to be so everywhere. They really are in position to become an entertainment Giant. And I think that means great things are on the Horizan for Six Flags.
Your Thoughts?
Country Rocks and Reflections
So today, I was reading a topic on laughingplace.com, which led me to watch both "Dream Lights" and "Fantilusion" (Tokyo Disneyland, and Disneyland Paris' night parades) and then to watch the High School Musical Pep Rally from Disney's Hollywood Studios.
I've never seen high school musical, It's not that the idea appalls me, I really like musicals, however the idea of staring at Zac Efron for more then an hour does slightly put me off. Either way, I understand that it is a strong franchise, with powerful money-making potential. Which first of all makes me jealous of Disney for having this amazing outside product to bring into the park to create a successful show, and second of all because it is a small outdoor show with a small stage, and yet it manages to create lots of hype during it’s 15 minute performance.
Here at SFGAm, we have two outdoor purely musical shows, Country Rocks, and Reflections: Sounds of the 80s. Not to mention Spirit of America, Great American Idol, Manny B. and Serpent Safari, as well of course, Operation Spygirl. But it really got me thinking about Country and 80s. Both are very popular musical genres, with very good songs, and yet no one stops to watch them? Why is that?
Could it be the small casts? The Low volume? The low-energy dancing? The Off-putting staging areas (I don’t think they even deserve to be called stages)?
D. All of the above.
If they had even put maybe two or three more dancers in each show, I imagine they would have almost automatically had more energy. Not to mention the ever-present problem which also plagued Dead Man’s Party, and that’s Low-Volume. I had trouble understanding any lyrics in DMP, and even if you were slightly out of range of either of these “pop-up” shows then you couldn’t even notice they were singing. PUMP UP THE VOLUME six flags! If you want people to watch the shows, make people aware they are happening!
Next, and this is a problem that was present in every show for many years now, Show Stoppin’ being the notable exception. The choreography. These are mostly dancers that you’ve hired, give them something challenging and high energy to do. If the audience can watch and say “whoa good dancing” then the mostly mediocre singing will not be so distracting.
Finally, I think the biggest problem with these two shows are, as I said, the off-putting staging areas. The Country Rocks stage was too high, and placed so that the sun was in your eyes no matter where you stood because it was only performed in the afternoon. And reflections looked like a joke. I actually heard a woman comment “that’s the stage? I was expecting more.” Guests should come with high expectations and have them exceeded, not completely deflated.
So my suggestion is to take a leaf out of High School Musical’s book. And spend some money on stages that can move. Even if they are dragged out by SUVs or trucks. And give your dancers something to work with, and have speakers that can project more then just a few feet. Plus, just the moving stage will attract spectators, even if just to see what’s going on, then you have to deliver a product that will keep them watching.
I really liked both these shows, but even the general public could tell they were put together half-cocked. Considering we’re trying to expand our entertainment offerings, and we just leveled a theatre, we should probably be pouring money into our other shows to keep people watching.
Well? What do you think?
I've never seen high school musical, It's not that the idea appalls me, I really like musicals, however the idea of staring at Zac Efron for more then an hour does slightly put me off. Either way, I understand that it is a strong franchise, with powerful money-making potential. Which first of all makes me jealous of Disney for having this amazing outside product to bring into the park to create a successful show, and second of all because it is a small outdoor show with a small stage, and yet it manages to create lots of hype during it’s 15 minute performance.
Here at SFGAm, we have two outdoor purely musical shows, Country Rocks, and Reflections: Sounds of the 80s. Not to mention Spirit of America, Great American Idol, Manny B. and Serpent Safari, as well of course, Operation Spygirl. But it really got me thinking about Country and 80s. Both are very popular musical genres, with very good songs, and yet no one stops to watch them? Why is that?
Could it be the small casts? The Low volume? The low-energy dancing? The Off-putting staging areas (I don’t think they even deserve to be called stages)?
D. All of the above.
If they had even put maybe two or three more dancers in each show, I imagine they would have almost automatically had more energy. Not to mention the ever-present problem which also plagued Dead Man’s Party, and that’s Low-Volume. I had trouble understanding any lyrics in DMP, and even if you were slightly out of range of either of these “pop-up” shows then you couldn’t even notice they were singing. PUMP UP THE VOLUME six flags! If you want people to watch the shows, make people aware they are happening!
Next, and this is a problem that was present in every show for many years now, Show Stoppin’ being the notable exception. The choreography. These are mostly dancers that you’ve hired, give them something challenging and high energy to do. If the audience can watch and say “whoa good dancing” then the mostly mediocre singing will not be so distracting.
Finally, I think the biggest problem with these two shows are, as I said, the off-putting staging areas. The Country Rocks stage was too high, and placed so that the sun was in your eyes no matter where you stood because it was only performed in the afternoon. And reflections looked like a joke. I actually heard a woman comment “that’s the stage? I was expecting more.” Guests should come with high expectations and have them exceeded, not completely deflated.
So my suggestion is to take a leaf out of High School Musical’s book. And spend some money on stages that can move. Even if they are dragged out by SUVs or trucks. And give your dancers something to work with, and have speakers that can project more then just a few feet. Plus, just the moving stage will attract spectators, even if just to see what’s going on, then you have to deliver a product that will keep them watching.
I really liked both these shows, but even the general public could tell they were put together half-cocked. Considering we’re trying to expand our entertainment offerings, and we just leveled a theatre, we should probably be pouring money into our other shows to keep people watching.
Well? What do you think?
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Welcome
Hey all, I'm an avid visitor of Six Flags Great America. I've had a season pass for several years now, and I'm really liking what's going on with the park. I'm very excited for the addition of "The Dark Knight Coaster" next year. I think Wiggles world is our best kids area, Tornado is terribly boring, but a good way to keep HH in the news, as I think Hurricane Harbor is, on the whole, a very good waterpark.
I'm behind Mark Shapiro, Our CEO, and his turnaround plan, and the board of directors. But there are also times when I think...what are they thinking?
So here's my plan. In the weeks, that follow, I plan to give you my turnaround plan for the park, and while I know readership for this blog will probably not be the highest on the planet, I really hope that some of you agree with me. Plus it would be great to hear your creative feedback, criticism, and maybe some ideas of your own.
I dedicate this blog to the ideals, The dreams, and the hard facts that have created America. I hope you enjoy as much as I do.
I'm behind Mark Shapiro, Our CEO, and his turnaround plan, and the board of directors. But there are also times when I think...what are they thinking?
So here's my plan. In the weeks, that follow, I plan to give you my turnaround plan for the park, and while I know readership for this blog will probably not be the highest on the planet, I really hope that some of you agree with me. Plus it would be great to hear your creative feedback, criticism, and maybe some ideas of your own.
I dedicate this blog to the ideals, The dreams, and the hard facts that have created America. I hope you enjoy as much as I do.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)