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CHARLOTTE, N.C.–(BUSINESS WIRE<\/a>)–<\/span>Six Flags Entertainment Corporation (NYSE: FUN), the largest regional amusement park operator in North America, today announced its results for the first quarter ended March 29, 2026.<\/p>\n “We delivered meaningful year-over-year improvement in the first quarter driven by higher attendance, increased guest spending, and disciplined execution.” — Six Flags CEO John Reilly<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n \nFirst Quarter 2026 Results<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n \nAs compared to the first quarter of 2025:<\/i><\/p>\n \nCEO Commentary<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n \n\u201cWe delivered meaningful year-over-year improvement in the first quarter driven by higher attendance, increased guest spending, and disciplined execution,\u201d said John Reilly, Six Flags President and CEO. \u201cDespite the seasonally low first quarter operating profile of our business, these results demonstrate the resiliency of our operating model and the progress we are making executing against our strategic priorities. Although it is still early in the season, demand trends in the second quarter are encouraging. We are seeing positive early response to changes in our season pass and membership offerings, including expanded regional access to more parks on certain products, which we believe are supporting increased guest engagement and a more favorable product mix.\u201d<\/p>\n \nReilly continued, \u201cOur objective for 2026 is to capitalize on our learnings and the improvements we have implemented over the past year to build on our momentum and progress. We have positioned our parks well to capture peak season demand through new entertainment offerings and a relentless focus on operational excellence to improve the guest experience. We remain mindful of broader macroeconomic factors, the narrow operating windows that shape our business, weather and holiday timing variability, and the potential for a more promotional environment in season pass and membership sales to create pressure on admissions yield and mix. We also recognize that rebuilding and sustaining the active pass base will remain important as we move through the balance of the selling season.<\/p>\n \nReilly concluded, \u201cEven with the encouraging start to the year, our most important operating periods are ahead. We are excited to build on our momentum, particularly as we enter the 2026 summer season.\u201d<\/p>\n \nSummarized First Quarter Results<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n \nPlease note: Six Flags typically operates at a Net Loss and Adjusted EBITDA loss in the first quarter because most of its seasonal parks are closed.<\/i><\/p>\n \nDuring the first quarter of 2026, the Company entertained approximately 2.9 million guests, and generated net revenues of $225.6 million, a net loss of $268.6 million, and an Adjusted EBITDA loss of $123.0 million. Attendance for the first quarter increased by approximately 105,000 guests, or 4%, compared to the first quarter of 2025, despite 24 fewer operating days. The decrease in operating days was driven in large part by the removal of four winter holiday events in 2025, which resulted in 15 fewer days in early January of 2026 compared to January of 2025. Excluding the contribution of the incremental days in January of 2025, attendance in the first quarter of 2026 would have been up 7% compared to the prior year quarter. In year-over-year comparisons, 2026 first quarter attendance benefited from favorable operating conditions, particularly on the West Coast, a larger active pass base, the earlier timing of this year\u2019s Easter and Spring Break holidays, and the earlier timing of the Knott\u2019s Berry Farm Boysenberry Festival.<\/p>\n \nThe $23.6 million increase in net revenues, compared with the first quarter of 2025, was the result of solid growth in attendance, as well as improved per capita spending and higher out-of-park revenues. The increase in per capita spending reflects a 3% increase in admissions per capita spending and a 10% improvement in in-park product per capita spending. The increase in admissions per capita spending in the quarter reflects the positive impact of changes in pricing and product structure, as well as a favorable shift in ticket sales to higher priced products. The Company also saw encouraging early response to updates in its pass and membership offerings, which contributed to a more favorable season pass product mix during the quarter. The increase in in-park product per capita spending was driven by higher guest spending on food and beverage items and merchandise during the first quarter this year. The higher guest spending in these areas reflects the success of the Company\u2019s continued investments to expand and upgrade its food and beverage offerings and its retail centers across the parks.<\/p>\n \nOperating costs and expenses in the first quarter of 2026 decreased $50.4 million, or 12%, compared to the first quarter last year, reflecting an increased focus on delivering more cost efficiencies. A $32.6 million decrease in first quarter operating expenses was driven by planned reductions in full-time wages (down $15.2 million), maintenance costs (down $9.5 million), and operating supplies (down $8.2 million). A $17.5 million decrease in first quarter SG&A expenses was driven primarily by planned reductions in full-time headcount and wages.<\/p>\n \nBalance Sheet and Liquidity Highlights<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n \nAs of Mar. 29, 2026, the Company reported the following:<\/p>\n \nDeferred revenues<\/b>, including amounts classified as held for sale, totaled $381 million compared with $374 million on Mar. 30, 2025. The 2% increase in deferred revenues was largely attributable to higher season pass and membership sales, as well as higher advanced single day sales and increased deposits on group events and catering.<\/p>\n \nTotal Liquidity<\/b> was $462 million, including cash and available borrowings under the Company\u2019s revolving credit facility, compared to total liquidity of $241 million as of Mar. 30, 2025.<\/p>\n \nNet debt<\/b>(3)<\/sup> totaled $5.27 billion, calculated as total debt of $5.39 billion (before debt issuance costs and acquisition fair value layers) less cash and cash equivalents of $117 million.<\/p>\n \nApril Update<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n \nResults through the end of April, which normalizes for the timing shift between years of the Easter and Spring Break holidays, were solid. Through May 3, 2026, the Company entertained 5.7 million guests over 694 operating days on a year-to-date basis. This represents a 4% increase in attendance on a same-park basis compared to 5.4 million guests entertained over 722 operating days during the comparable year-to-date period in 2025.<\/p>\n \nDuring the month of April, sales of season passes and memberships were also solid and in line with expectations. The Company was encouraged by early response to enhancements in its pass and membership offerings, including expanded benefits and access to more parks for certain products. As of May 3, 2026, the Company\u2019s active pass base totaled approximately 5 million units, up 6% on a same-park basis compared to the same time last year.<\/p>\n \nLeadership Transition<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n \nIn a separate news release issued today, Six Flags announced the appointment of Amy Martin Ziegenfuss as Chief Marketing Officer and Christopher Bennett as Chief Legal and Compliance Officer, effective by June 3, 2026, and the appointment of Dave Hoffman as interim finance lead. The full release can be found on the Six Flags Investors website at https:\/\/investors.sixflags.com<\/a> under the tabs News \/ Press Releases.<\/p>\n \nConference Call<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n \nAs previously announced, Six Flags Entertainment Corporation will host a conference call with analysts starting at 8 a.m. ET today, May 7, 2026, to discuss its recent financial results. Participants on the call will include Six Flags President and CEO John Reilly, Brian Witherow, and Chief Accounting Officer Dave Hoffman.<\/p>\n \nInvestors and all other interested parties can access a live, listen-only audio webcast of the call on the Six Flags Investors website at https:\/\/investors.sixflags.com<\/a> under the tabs Investor Information \/ Events & Presentations. Those unable to listen to the live webcast can access a recorded version of the call on the Six Flags Investors website at https:\/\/investors.sixflags.com<\/a> under Investor Information \/ Events and Presentations, shortly after the live call\u2019s conclusion.<\/p>\n \nA digital recording of the conference call will be available for replay by phone starting at approximately 1 p.m. ET on Thursday May 7, 2026, until 11:59 p.m. ET on Wednesday May 14, 2026. To access the phone replay in North America please dial (800) 770-2030; from international locations please dial +1 (609) 800-9909, followed by Conference ID 3720518.<\/p>\n \nAbout Six Flags Entertainment Corporation<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n \nSix Flags Entertainment Corporation (NYSE: FUN) is North America\u2019s largest regional amusement-resort operator with 21 amusement parks, 14 water parks and eight resort properties across 13 states in the U.S., Canada and Mexico. Focused on its purpose of making people happy, Six Flags provides fun, immersive and memorable experiences to millions of guests every year with world-class coasters, themed rides, thrilling water parks, resorts and a portfolio of beloved intellectual property such as Looney Tunes\u00ae<\/sup>, DC Comics\u00ae<\/sup> and PEANUTS\u00ae<\/sup>.<\/p>\n \nFootnotes:<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n \nForward-Looking Statements<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n \nSome of the statements contained in this news release that are not historical in nature are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws, including Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, including statements as to our expectations, beliefs, goals and strategies regarding the future. Words such as \u201canticipate,\u201d \u201cbelieve,\u201d \u201ccreate,\u201d \u201cexpect,\u201d \u201cfuture,\u201d \u201cguidance,\u201d \u201cintend,\u201d \u201cplan,\u201d \u201cpotential,\u201d \u201cseek,\u201d \u201csynergies,\u201d \u201ctarget,\u201d \u201cwill,\u201d \u201cwould,\u201d similar expressions, and variations or negatives of these words identify forward-looking statements. However, the absence of these words does not mean that the statements are not forward-looking. Forward-looking statements by their nature address matters that are, to different degrees, uncertain. These forward-looking statements may involve current plans, estimates, expectations and ambitions that are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict, may be beyond our control and could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in such statements. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, we can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct, that our growth and operational strategies will achieve the target results. Important risks and uncertainties that may cause such a difference and could adversely affect attendance at our parks, our future financial performance, and\/or our growth strategies, and could cause actual results to differ materially from our expectations or otherwise to fluctuate or decrease, include, but are not limited to: failure to realize the anticipated benefits of the Merger, including difficulty in integrating the businesses of legacy Six Flags and legacy Cedar Fair; failure to realize the expected amount and timing of cost savings and operating synergies related to the Merger; failure to realize the expected amount and timing of benefits related to the sale of parks and undeveloped land; adverse weather conditions; general economic, political and market conditions, including global trade; the impacts of pandemics or other public health crises, including the effects of government responses on people and economies; competition for consumer leisure time and spending or other changes in consumer behavior or sentiment for discretionary spending; unanticipated construction delays or increases in construction or supply costs; changes in capital investment plans and projects; anticipated tax treatment, unforeseen liabilities, future capital expenditures, revenues, expenses, earnings, synergies, economic performance, indebtedness, financial condition, losses, future prospects, business and management strategies for the management, expansion and growth of the Company\u2019s operations; the impact of any potential shareholder activism; failure to attract, motivate and retain qualified domestic and international employees and key personnel; legislative, regulatory and economic developments and changes in laws, regulations, and policies affecting the Company; acts of terrorism or outbreak or escalation of war, hostilities, civil unrest, and other political or security disturbances; and other risks and uncertainties we discuss under the heading \u201cRisk Factors\u201d within our Annual Report on Form 10-K and in the other filings we make from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Readers are urged not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this document and are based on information currently and reasonably known to us. We do not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect future events, information or circumstances that arise after publication of this news release.<\/p>\n\n
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