Six Flags Files for Bankruptcy

I just read that Six Flags is going to file for bankruptcy protection. The company hasn't seen profits since 1998... 11 years ago. I've been to Six Flags and it is an enjoyable experience for the most part... other than the waiting in the long lines as the 'fast pass' users blow by you. For those of you who don't know what that is, people get to pay extra for the right to skip ahead in line. Yes, even Six Flags has exploited the line between the "haves" and the "have nots" forcing us to watch the "haves" walk right past you in a separate line. Then, there is the price of food and beverage.

So, what is going on that Six Flags hasn't been able to make it? The balance sheet has been in the red since 1998, so you can't say that it's the current economy that's the issue. I'm sure it didn't help.

The Chicago market has seen a flurry of Six Flags advertising with the tag line "More Flags... More Fun!" After reading the book, "Purple Cow" by Seth Godin, I have to wonder if the Six Flags marketing strategy is out dated. Mass media used to work, but Americans, in general, I think, have lost trust in the news media. Fox News is right-wing. MSNBC is left-wing. These slants in the media may have caused us to not only distrust the news media, but the advertising that goes along with it. Maybe we need to get back to "just the facts."

Now, for Six Flags, it looks like it might become "No Flags... No Fun."