In a groundbreaking move within the amusement park industry, Six Flags and Cedar Fair have announced their merger. The merger is set to create a formidable force in the world of amusement parks and is expected to be finalized in the first half of 2024.
In a strategic move aimed at establishing a stronger position in the face of competition from rivals, such as Disney’s theme parks and Universal’s theme parks, Six Flags and Cedar Fair hope the merger will provide a robust revenue and cash flow generation profile.
“Our merger with Six Flags will bring together two of North America’s iconic amusement park companies to establish a highly diversified footprint and a more robust operating model to enhance park offerings and performance,” said Richard Zimmerman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Cedar Fair. “The combination . . . creates an enhanced financial profile with strong cash flow generation to accelerate investments in our parks to delight our guests, driving increased levels of demand and in-park value and spending.”
The combined company will retain the Six Flags name and will operate a total of 27 amusement parks, 15 water parks, and 9 resort properties across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Selim Bassoul, President and Chief Executive Officer of Six Flags, said, “The combination of Six Flags and Cedar Fair will redefine our guests’ amusement park experience as we combine the best of both companies. Six Flags and Cedar Fair share a strong cultural alignment, operating philosophy, and steadfast commitment to providing consumers with thrilling experiences. By combining our operational models and technology platforms, we expect to accelerate our transformation activities and unlock new potential for our parks.”
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