Quote:
Theme park firm Six Flags files for bankruptcy
CHICAGO (Reuters) - Six Flags Inc, the world's largest regional theme park company, said on Saturday it filed for bankruptcy protection.
The New York-based company operates amusement parks across the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Six Flags said it filed for Chapter 11 protection with the unanimous support of its lenders' steering committee.
The plan will result in a deleveraging of the company's balance sheet by about $1.8 billion, as well as the elimination of more than $300 million in preferred stock obligations.
"The current management team inherited a $2.4 billion debt load that cannot be sustained, particularly in these challenging financial markets," Mark Shapiro, the chief executive of Six Flags, said in a news release.
"As a result, we are cleaning up the past and positioning the company for future growth."
Shapiro said the action will not affect day-to-day park operations. The bankruptcy filing "paves the way for a full revival of the company," he said.
Six Flags, which offers 800 rides at its 20 parks, had been burdened with a massive debt load and a looming cash payment in August.
(Reporting by Matthew Lewis, editing by Patricia Zengerle)
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Do you have a special memory of the park? What would you do to make it profitable (a la Roller Coaster Tycoon)?
When I graduated middle school, my class went to Six Flags over Georgia. Unfortunately, I was scared to death of the rides so I just chilled out at the park. Fast forward many many years, I went to an amusement park here in China on Christmas and really enjoyed the roller coasters. It's something that takes time to warm up to and I hope that company emerges better than before.
Where is Mistercoaster?