This week, we're recapping the updates for IAAPA ME. Then, "Burger King is piloting an OpenAI-powered chatbot called Patty that will live in employees’ headsets and tattle if it thinks workers aren’t being friendly enough." Why are we resorting to negative reinforcement when we could design a better system to…
United Parks & Resorts reported fiscal 2025 results this week; Revenue, attendance, net income, EBITDA were all down. "Our fiscal 2025 results did not meet our expectations. While the consumer environment was uneven and our results were impacted by negative international tourism trends and volatile weather during certain peak visitation…
Six Flags posted Q4 2025 results this week. Modified EBITDA margin fell from 33.2% to 27.1%. Attendance dropped 13%, with roughly 425,000 of those lost visits tied directly to cutting winter holiday events at four parks — a decision the company now calls a self-inflicted headwind. New CEO John Reilly…
Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on February 9 after a $116 million wrongful death judgment. The park generates up to $16 million a year and is operationally healthy, but a judge's "felonious killing" ruling removed Colorado's damages cap, turning what would have been a $1.2 million…
Join Philip and Scott this week for the latest news in the theme park industry, discussing significant changes at Six Flags and Disney! Six Flags is rolling out a simplified season pass structure. Silver passes grant access to a single park. Gold passes now cover all parks within a regional…
Comcast’s Parks division crossed $1 billion in quarterly EBITDA for the first time in Q4 2025, driven by a 22 percent increase in parks revenue and a 24 percent increase in EBITDA. Much of the attention went to Epic Universe, but the most striking numbers came from hotels. Universal added…
Six Flags is expanding Grad Nite in 2026, adding Knott’s Berry Farm and Carowinds to a program the company has relied on for years. These closed-park events are built around a highly invested audience—graduating students—offering predictable attendance, controlled environments, and a clear value proposition for schools looking for local, cost-effective…
Six Flags might be preparing to sell more parks. Here's what we know: A new set of trademark filings has raised fresh questions about Six Flags’ long-term portfolio strategy. An entity called Enchanted Parks Holdings, LLC—linked to Orlando-based Innovative Attraction Management (IAM)—has filed trademarks incorporating the names of several current…
Six Flags has announced a major debt refinancing, issuing $1.0 billion in senior notes due in 2032 at an 8.625% interest rate to retire bonds coming due in 2027. The move extends the company’s debt maturity by five years—but at a high cost. Compared to the retired notes, the new…
We kick off 2026 with a deep dive into the "state of the industry." Given a slow news week, Philip and Scott Swenson provide a comprehensive "business analysis" and "strategic planning" overview. This episode is structured as an environmental SWOT analysis of the attractions industry, intended to support 2026 strategic…
Universal Destinations & Experiences has begun early planning for a **universal studios** park in Saudi Arabia. This project would be structured as a licensing deal with government-backed funding, a model that could generate immediate revenue and provide access to the region's growing tourism market, similar to successful UAE projects like…
Six Flags Magic Mountain has delayed its highly anticipated “first-of-its-kind” coaster to 2027, citing the attraction’s complexity and a commitment to quality. The project—reported to be a Vekoma Thrill Glider—was part of the company’s broader $1 billion investment plan and would have been the park’s first major coaster addition since…
Netflix announced plans to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery in a $72 billion deal—only to face an immediate hostile counterbid from Paramount. Either path would take months, if not years, to resolve and must clear regulatory and shareholder hurdles. But even at this early stage, the implications for themed entertainment are…
A new report reveals how Gen Z and Millennials plan to travel in 2026: 78% say they’ve recreated a childhood vacation or plan to, and 69% avoid overcrowded destinations; 67% cited escape from burnout as a motivator, and interest in wellness and sober travel experiences is rising. That context frames…
Six Flags has appointed John Reilly as its new CEO—a leader who spent 21 years at SeaWorld and later held top roles at Palace Entertainment, the parent company of regional parks like Kennywood and Lake Compounce. Philip and Scott discuss why that résumé matters: Reilly comes from chains where executives…
IAAPA Expo 2025 set a new record with 38,520 verified attendees, more than 28,000 qualified buyers, and an expanded floor featuring over 1,100 exhibitorsgt-nov-23. Philip and Scott break down the trends that truly mattered this year: the push toward indoor attractions (from SeaWorld Orlando’s new Vekoma indoor inverted coaster to…
Six Flags will attempt to leverage Travis Kelce’s 9% investment into a full branding partnership, leaning into ‘the new world.’ Meanwhile, Disney’s stock dipped 7% after its latest earnings show cable is collapsing faster than expected. Streaming and the parks remain its lifeboat, with both those sectors performing well, underscoring…
Three companies, one economic reality—and three very different responses. Six Flags is doubling down on its “smaller and more nimble” plan, prioritizing core parks and openly confirming that more closures or sales are coming. United Parks & Resorts (SeaWorld/Busch Gardens) is battling brand confusion after a 25% profit drop, citing…
