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Aug 25, 2023 | 5:04 PM
Theme park business is usually booming during the summer months. This year the weather has consistently hampered operations.
As a result, traffic at popular theme parks across the country is declining. Unfortunately, these theme park operators may not be out of the woods just yet, as Tropical Storm Hillary brings heavy rains to California and Nevada, potentially causing massive flooding.
Macquarie analyst Paul Golding said in a research note that adverse conditions, including excessive rainfall, high temperatures, and smoke from Canada’s wildfires, will affect Six Flags Entertainment, Seaworld Entertainment and Cedar in the second quarter. It was a “clear factor in weakening traffic” for the fair. and Emma Liang.
At a recent earnings call, Six Flags Entertainment CEO Selim Vasur said the company “lost nearly 400,000 visitors.”
CFO Gary Mick added that the company’s attendance growth was lower than expected due to severe weather, with “unusually heavy rains in the Northeast and record heatwaves in the South.”
“It will be difficult to make up for lost revenue in the first half,” Mick added. In fact, looking ahead, Mick said the company “needs to have some pretty good weather to make up for what was lost in the first half.”
Mick said the company plans to consider adding indoor venues, air-conditioned venues and air-conditioned restaurants.
![Theme park concession stand and Ferris wheel](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/08/NYPICHPDPICT000026763251.jpg?w=1024)
![Theme park concession stand and Ferris wheel](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/08/NYPICHPDPICT000026763251.jpg?w=1024)
Bassoul also said the company is still seeing “promising trends despite weather challenges.” Pass sales are strong and attendance trends are improving, he said.
Cedar Fair CEO Richard Zimmerman said unprecedented rainfall and extreme temperatures earlier in the season hit parks in California as well as those on the East Coast.
Zimmermann said: “Continued rainfall has caused significant disruption not only to demand in the first half of the year, but also to 2023 pass sales, which will continue to be a headwind for attendance throughout the year.”
![Seaworld aerial view](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/08/NYPICHPDPICT000026763258.jpg?w=1024)
![Seaworld aerial view](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/08/NYPICHPDPICT000026763258.jpg?w=1024)
The chief executive also said colder-than-average temperatures could prevent entry to four of the company’s standalone water parks in Texas, including two water parks in Cedar Point Shores, Knott’s Soak City and Schlitterbahn. He pointed out that it had a big impact on the number of people.
He also said visitor numbers at Canada’s Wonderland and several other U.S. parks have declined due to “public health concerns over deteriorating air quality from ongoing Canadian wildfires.” Stated.
Still, the company said, “Despite continued demand challenges in some of our key markets, particularly California, our solid performance in parks operating under normal conditions is a sign of the resilience of our business model. emphasized,” he added.
![roller coaster](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/08/NYPICHPDPICT000026763250.jpg?w=1024)
![roller coaster](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/08/NYPICHPDPICT000026763250.jpg?w=1024)
SeaWorld CEO Mark Swanson said the effects of extreme heat, cold, rain and the wildfires in Canada “impacted most markets during the quarter.”
CFO Jim Forrester said revenue for the quarter was down 1.7% year over year to $496 million, blaming “a 2% drop in attendance.”
That said, Swanson reported that the company is “planning new initiatives this year and next year to make the company a stronger, more profitable and resilient business.”
![two dolphins in the pool](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/08/NYPICHPDPICT000026763257.jpg?w=1024)
![two dolphins in the pool](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/08/NYPICHPDPICT000026763257.jpg?w=1024)
“We are very confident in our current and future plans and our ability to deliver substantial operational and financial improvements that will lead to significant increases in shareholder value,” he said. .
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