Six Flags CEO Says Coaster Death Impact Will Last Months, Not Years

Six Flags executives told investors on Thursday that the financial and reputational damage from recent ride tragedies will persist for months rather than years.

The company faces a difficult period following the October death of a rider ejected from a seat on the Goliath coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia. That incident followed earlier this year, when two riders on the X2 ride at Magic Mountain were hospitalized with brain hemorrhages. CNN has reported that many other X2 riders are claiming similar injuries. The X2 ride is permanently shuttered, and the Goliath incident prompted temporary closures of similar coasters across the network.

President and CEO John Reilly addressed the challenges during a call with investors. He noted that October attendance dropped by 9 percent. Reilly attributed the decline to poor weather on specific weekends, but also to the impact of the Georgia incident and the resulting ride closures. Local authorities and the ride manufacturer are investigating the Georgia event. The company is assisting with that investigation while conducting its own internal review.

Reilly stated that the leadership team is committed to earning back guest confidence through action rather than statements. He emphasized that every guest and team member deserves to feel safe in the parks. The company is undertaking a safety review of its entire ride portfolio. This review will be supported and verified by independent third-party engineering and inspection specialists.

The company plans to implement specific hardware changes. Six Flags intends to add seat belts to certain coasters that use a descending lap bar similar to the one on the Goliath ride. The AireForce One coaster is moving from the closed Fun Spot America in Atlanta to Magic Mountain. Magic Mountain will undergo a major refurbishment. Similar programs are underway at Six Flags Great Adventure in New Jersey and Six Flags Great America near Chicago. These projects aim to make the parks more family-friendly by adding comfort, shade, and amenities.

Reilly predicted that the impact on future attendance will be limited to Georgia and Magic Mountain, with some isolated effects at parks experiencing temporary closures. He stated that industry studies suggest these types of impacts are typically a matter of months if the company executes the right steps. The executive noted that the company is exploring the sale of parks. He said discussions are underway regarding portfolio optimization now that the bulk of the season has passed.