Duffey rules out Six Flags Orlando after declaring US market 'covered'
by Tom Anstey | 03 Nov 2016
Six Flags has had success at its regional parks – 16 in the US, one in Mexico and one in Canada – but now the company is heading East.
Six Flags CEO John Duffey has quashed rumours of a new theme park in Orlando after saying the US was “covered” in terms of reach at its existing parks, with the operator instead opting to focus on its continued international expansion.
Speaking during Six Flags’ Q3 earnings call, Duffey said there were no plans to construct any new parks in the US, which the company believes is already well serviced by its existing US portfolio.
“If you look at all of the markets they are really covered by existing parks,” he said. “As a matter of fact I think the last park we built in the US was Hard Rock Park on the East Coast, which was actually shut down. So we believe we have all of the markets covered.”
Rumours of a Six Flags property in the theme park capital have long been speculated – with an Orlando Business Journal report that a top US theme park operator was interested in developing a major project on 200 acres of land on International Drive adding fuel to the fire.
Six Flags has recently been focused on its overseas expansion, with properties to operate under a franchise model all breaking ground this year in the UAE, Vietnam and China.
“We don't see anyone really building brand-new theme parks in the US,” said Duffey. “That's why we believe that the growth opportunity of having this brand and being able to take that overseas is a significant growth driver for Six Flags.”
Six Flags has a particular focus on China, with Duffey recently revealing to Attractions Management plans to build “multiple” Six Flags parks in China in the next 10 years, all in partnership with the real-estate company Riverside Investment Group.
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Exclusive: Six Flags heads East with eye on further expansion, says CEO John Duffey
Six Flags CEO John Duffey has quashed rumours of a new theme park in Orlando after saying the US was “covered” in terms of reach at its existing parks, with the operator instead opting to focus on its continued international expansion. Speaking during Six Flags’ Q3 earnings call, Duffey said there were no plans to construct any new parks in the US, which the company believes is already well serviced
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