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KENTUCKY KINGDOM TO CLOSE
GADVwow:
--- Quote ---Kentucky Kingdom Rejects Lease
Park to Close
Six Flags announced today that as it nears the scheduled end of its restructuring process, it has decided to reject its lease with the Kentucky State Fair Board relating to the Kentucky Kingdom park. In recent weeks, Six Flags had proposed a new lease arrangement to the fair board that would have enhanced the viability and future of the park. Unfortunately, those proposals were not accepted and the park will cease operations and the company will move expeditiously to re-locate employees and several of the more than 40 rides and attractions to one of its 13 other markets.
"We are deeply disappointed to be leaving such a great fan base in the greater metropolitan area of Louisville and we are grateful to the thousands of employees at Kentucky Kingdom and the millions of guests for their dedication, support and loyalty over the years," said Mark Shapiro, Six Flags President and CEO.
"This action relates solely to Kentucky Kingdom," Shapiro continued. "The substantial lease
payment has been a significant hurdle for this park in recent years. Our other parks, which reside
largely on company-owned land, will be completely unaffected and will open as scheduled for the full 2010 season."
SEASON PASS HOLDER LETTER | GROUP INFORMATION | FAQ
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Does the closing of Kentucky Kingdom mean that other Six Flags parks will be closing or sold?
Does this have anything to do with the restructure/bankruptcy?
I have family members who bought Season Passes to Kentucky Kingdom. What happens now?
What about employees of the park, what will happen to them?
What happens to the rides at Kentucky Kingdom?
Will prices at my local Six Flags be affected the closing of Kentucky Kingdom?
Does the closing of Kentucky Kingdom mean that other Six Flags parks will be closing or sold?
Absolutely not...this is an isolated situation. The current lease was simply not sustainable in the current economic environment. The rent was way too high, making it extremely difficult for the park to achieve profitability year in and year out. Six Flags was hopeful that a deal could be reached with the State Fair Board to re-negotiate the lease price to keep the park open but the State Fair Board wouldn't budge. Therefore, we decided to reject the lease and cease operations, a right we are entitled to in our restructuring process. All of our other parks are profitable and are located largely on company-owned land, therefore the Kentucky Kingdom situation is not at all applicable.
Does this have anything to do with the restructure/bankruptcy?
As part of our restructuring process, we exercised our option to reject the current Kentucky Kingdom lease. Our goal was to renegotiate lease payment terms that would enhance the viability and future of the park. This is an isolated situation. In fact, the restructuring process will be completed in just a few short weeks. All of our other parks are profitable and will be opening for the 2010 season beginning in March and we are full steam ahead with a much improved balance sheet, after completion of the restructuring.
I have family members who bought season passes to Kentucky Kingdom. What happens now?
Costs for pre-purchased 2010 Season Passes will be 100% refunded. Notices will go out to Season
Pass holders shortly. We also invite those Season Pass holders to remain so, as their Passes will be valid at all other Six Flags Theme Parks throughout the 2010 Season. For those guests who choose to keep their Kentucky Kingdom Season Passes, we will be sending them four Bring-A-Friend Free Passes that will be valid at any of our other Six Flags parks as well.
What about employees of the park, what will happen to them?
We will be working with team members on an individual basis to assist during this transitional period. We will make every effort to relocate those team members who want to remain with the company to our 13 other markets. Kentucky Kingdom provided more teen jobs than any other business in the Louisville area.
What happens to the rides at Kentucky Kingdom?
We are still making those decisions, since we had been hopeful that we could keep the park open. We know that some of the rides and attractions will be relocated to other parks, though the final details are still being worked out.
Will prices at my local Six Flags be affected the closing of Kentucky Kingdom?
Absolutely not...Six Flags will remain an affordable family friendly entertainment option in our other locations. In fact, Season Pass pricing at many of our parks is the lowest in years.
--- End quote ---
http://www.sixflags.com/national/footernav/kentuckykingdom.aspx
GADVwow:
http://www.courier-journal.com/article/20100204/BUSINESS/2040358/Bankrupt+Six+Flags+to+close+Kentucky+Kingdom+theme+park
GADVwow:
An Important Message for
Kentucky Kingdom
Pass Holders
Have more fun
Dear Valued Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom Season Pass and Play Pass Holders:
On behalf of Six Flags and the 55 full-time Kentucky Kingdom employees, I would like to personally thank you for your continued loyalty and support. It has been our honor to provide amazing thrills and lifelong memories to you and your families for the last twelve years.
It is however, with much regret that I inform you that despite multiple attempts to reach a new, fair and equitable lease agreement with the Kentucky State Fair Board, Six Flags has been unable to do so. As a result, Six Flags has rejected the current lease and will be closing Kentucky Kingdom, effective immediately. Please know that this action only affects the Kentucky Kingdom theme park - all nineteen other Six Flags parks will be open for business as usual in 2010, including nearby Six Flags St. Louis and Six Flags Great America in Chicago.
As a reminder, your Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom Season Pass and/or Play Pass is valid at any of our Six Flags Theme Parks, as well as Six Flags Mexico and La Ronde Theme Park in Canada. In a few weeks, we will be sending you, via e-mail, four "Bring a Friend Free" tickets valid to any of our Six Flags Theme Parks. These "Bring a Friend Free" tickets will only be valid if you choose to retain your 2010 Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom Season Pass.
Information on our other theme parks, locations and operating hours, can be found at www.sixflags.com. For your convenience, we have also developed a "Frequently Asked Questions" page on our website should you have any additional questions.
If you would prefer to return your 2010 Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom Season Pass, you can find information on how to obtain a full refund at www.sixflags.com/kentuckykingdom.
Again, I want to thank you for your continued support over the last twelve years, and I hope to see you at another Six Flags park very soon.
Sincerely,
Andy Michaelree
Andrew J. Michaelree
President
Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom
nitrorox1414:
--- Quote from: GADVwow on February 04, 2010, 07:01:45 PM ---
--- Quote ---What happens to the rides at Kentucky Kingdom?
We are still making those decisions, since we had been hopeful that we could keep the park open. We know that some of the rides and attractions will be relocated to other parks, though the final details are still being worked out.
--- End quote ---
http://www.sixflags.com/national/footernav/kentuckykingdom.aspx
--- End quote ---
That means it going to Great America :D ;)
B-mac:
Hopefully we get something
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