Six Flags gets treated like a ‘day-care center for teenagers.’ Its CEO is not happy

People ride a roller coaster at Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia. The nation’s largest regional theme park company, which operates Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia and 26 other parks across North America, is trying to attract more middle-class families by raising ticket prices and upgrading its food, beverages and amenities. Offering too many discounts and promotional deals has turned the amusement parks into “a cheap day-care center for teenagers,” Six Flags President and Chief Executive Selim Bassoul said during an August earnings report. He wants to put an end to that with what he calls his “premiumization initiatives.” Ticket prices have yet to rise this year at Six Flags Magic Mountain, but Bassoul said other parks have already imposed higher prices and ended discounted food deals. It all boils down to maximizing profits.” Sarah Anderson, an Orlando, Fla., resident who helps run a YouTube channel about roller coasters, called Bassoul’s comments about Six Flags customers “classist,” saying the plan will “price out those families and kids looking to have a fun time within their means.” Derek Perry, a Los Angeles nightclub DJ and longtime coaster enthusiast, said he is skeptical of the changes because higher-paying families typically spend their vacation dollars at Disneyland or Universal Studios Hollywood whereas thrill-seeking teenagers and young adults prefer the adrenaline rush of the roller coasters of Six Flags parks.