Six Flags reports October ‘softer’ due to tragic death on Goliath, weather challenges

Six Flags Entertainment, owner of Six Flags Over Georgia and similar theme parks across the United States, reported a softer landing in its third quarter.

According to the company, revenue across the board was down 11%, though it was up 1.4% on a same-park basis.

The news follows the widely-reported death of 42-year-old Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem on the Goliath ride at SFOG in metro Atlanta.

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In the release on their latest earnings report, Six Flags CEO John Reilly said safety remained a priority for the company, directly addressing Kariem’s death.

For the month of October, Six Flags said a combination of unfavorable weather conditions on their biggest weekends and the death at SFOG made the month’s overall economic performance land softer than planned.

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“Safety remains our highest priority. Following the incident at Six Flags Over Georgia last month, we are cooperating fully with the ongoing investigation. We have launched a comprehensive review of ride safety across our entire portfolio, supported by independent third-party engineering and inspection specialists. Our robust safety programs and practices are designed to meet or exceed established industry standards. We will conduct this work thoroughly, looking for opportunities to further strengthen our approach to ride safety,” Reilly said in a statement.

Insofar as the revenue drop year-over-year for the third quarter, Six Flags said the reduction was due to a change in the company’s park roster.

Six Flags sold seven of their parks to EPR Properties and closed an eighth over the past year.

“The prior-year quarter included the eight parks no longer operated,” the company said, but added that per capita spending at the properties still in operation were higher.

More broadly, Six Flags reported to investors that it was still in a strong position.

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