Six Flags mulls over more park sales

Six Flags may once again be preparing to pare down its lineup of parks, according to a new report in the St. Louis Business Journal. The company has announced intentions to cut operating expenses by as much as $60 million in 2008, and documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission show that as much as half of that is expected to come from "marketing-related" cuts, as the company plans to concentrate on more youth-oriented, internet-driven advertising. Furthermore, the filings reveal that Six Flags will consider selling as many as three more of its 21 theme parks, for the right price. Last year, the company sold off seven parks, and analysts believe that Six Flags Fiesta Texas may be one of the parks on the chopping block. Dennis Speigel, president of Cincinnati-based International Theme Park Services, said of the planned cuts, "None of this surprises me." He added, "You could bring back Walt Disney (to run Six Flags) and that company is still going to struggle."