News Project 2026 (?)/Cyber Cycle: Prototype Vekoma Thrill Glider (Inverted Straddle Coaster)

[Viator]

Heyo! Posting this here as it might be a good point to bring up now that it's being blown up by other people, but from Chris Galindo on the Inside Universal Forums--Six Flags is seemingly going to begin work for a 2025 coaster replacing Ninja, that would be a Mega coaster with a drop at 300 feet tall.

Galindo had spoken that they have been making preparations to the plot, such as changes to the fencing as part of it; and that the coaster would be a speed based Mega coaster rather than an airtime driven attraction. No other information is out, be that of the type of manufacturer, or what type of a coaster to be present, as things are to be reported.

 

[MaxxForceFan]

I think Superman: Escape from Krypton is the coaster leaving. It is next to the Golden Bear Theater that is rumored to be on the way out.

 

[DE_Creative]

I think Superman: Escape from Krypton is the coaster leaving. It is next to the Golden Bear Theater that is rumored to be on the way out.

If that were the case, would they leave up the main tower to preserve Lex Luthor, or do we think they’ll just tear everything down?

 

[Viator]

I think Superman: Escape from Krypton is the coaster leaving. It is next to the Golden Bear Theater that is rumored to be on the way out.

So-far, it seems like the gist of SFMM's plans go from dealing with both Laughing Dragon, and now Golden Bear Theater.

Assuming if the coaster is replacing Ninja, and it starts with a giga lift and drop that valleys at Golden Bear Theater, then you can easily make a case where the coaster doesn't have to replace Superman.

Also could've sworn Superman just got parts from Tower of Terror AUS.

 

[Tacky3663]

This park has been overdue for a Giga Coaster for years. If this is true, you will hear me screaming “HALLELUJAH” at the top of my lungs lmfaooo

 

[Viator]

And to post this here, you can absolutely do a straight shot beginning from Ninja's current station to have the drop valley at the base of Golden Bear Theater.

 

[Viator]

From Screamscape:

hile we don’t know much yet about what Six Flags Magic Mountain has planned, sources tell us to keep an eye on the theater spot, as we previously indicated. The park’s next coaster is expected to go in this location, and is expected to open in 2025 if all goes as planned. While there have been lots of rumors about finally brining a Giga style coaster to the park, the latest rumor actually claims Vekoma may be involved.

While Vekoma has never built a Giga (or a true Hyper) to my knowledge, they have started to work with Six Flags lately, adding the family Rookie Racer coaster to Six Flags St. Louis just this past week, and the new Super Boomerang was announced for 2024 at Six Flags Great Adventure. So more Vekoma products may be planned for Six Flags in the years to come.

 

[CoasterMac]

Did Six Flags acquire another Vekoma coaster from a cancelled overseas project? Cause that's the only reason they installed Rookie Racer & Flash

 

[Thriller]

Six Flags has virtually no cash. On their last financial statement, they had more outstanding invoices than cash. This new CEO has totally wrecked the company and I don’t see them building any major roller coasters in the near future

 

[MaxxForceFan]

^ A couple of quotes from the last earnings call.

"For 2024, capital expenditures are expected to range between $200 million and $220 million, and capex in 2025 is expected to be between $230 million and $250 million before returning to a long-term run rate of approximately 10% of revenue. We have exciting new rides in the pipeline, and we look forward to providing you an update in the near future. Our liquidity position as of July 2nd was $362 million. This included $310 million of available revolver capacity, net of $21 million of letters of credit, plus $52 million of cash. In the second quarter, we successfully increased our revolving credit facility from $350 million to $500 million, which provides us greater capacity and flexibility to pay down debt in the coming years. During the second quarter, we paid down 94 million in debt, and we have paid down an additional $50 million of debt since the end of the second quarter through today.

We will continue to use free cash flow to pay down debt and reduce net leverage toward our target of between three and four times."

"And for the teens and thrill seekers, we have an exciting lineup of marketable capital for 2024 and 2025, supported by our biggest investment in new rides and attraction in many years. Thrill rides is our DNA. We have significantly increased our capex investment this year and over the next couple of years in anticipation of multiple major ride introductions."

Six Flags Entertainment (SIX) Q2 2023 Earnings Call Transcript | The Motley Fool

 

[Tacky3663]

From Screamscape:

……now you have me intrigued

 

[Thriller]

As of their last quarterly report they had 51 million in cash and 54 million in accounts payable. Accounts payable is not debt or even payroll . It is normal operating cost invoices, such as utilities, food, supplies, maintenance, supplies, etc.

They don’t even have enough money to pay their outstanding invoices. Let alone pay down their debt and they’re going farther in debt with these small rides they’re adding next year.

 

[Jonesta6]

Not sure if that's the right way to read that, but given the chain's history with financial issues it wouldn't be exactly surprising

 

[Thriller]

It is how to read it. If a person has more bills than they have money, they have a cash issue it’s the same for a business.

 

[Jonesta6]

Reading the piece about lines of credit indicates to me not necessarily a sound fiscal policy, but something more akin to paying bills with a credit card.

It can work for a time where each month's statement is less than cash on hand making it possible to pay, but unless the business is able to retain or grow liquid cash, they'll eventually run out and go bankrupt.

IIRC that's basically what happened with the chain during the Premier Parks acquisition and immediate park-buying spree.

 

[Connor Conant]

Did Six Flags acquire another Vekoma coaster from a cancelled overseas project? Cause that's the only reason they installed Rookie Racer & Flash

This is where I remind you that Energylandia's tilt coaster recently got cancelled.
Could they possibly...?

 

[Thrills & Chills WQAQ]

I think if SFMM gets a tilt it won’t be in this location, they’re obviously planning something absolutely massive here, and we just have to wait

 

[MaxxForceFan]

I will laugh if this ends up being a TrailRunner Family Coaster from Skyline Attractions.

 

[Coasternerd]

That actually wouldn’t be a half bad idea.

 

[Fiender]

That actually wouldn’t be a half bad idea.

If Skyline's P'sghetti bowls didn't have issues immediately after opening, I'd agree with you.
Granted, rides having problems in their inaugural years isn't special to Skylines, but it's a bad look after all their other failings. (Skywarp, tepid response to first infinity flyer installation, loose reports of titan track damaging Predator's trains)