When Cutting Costs Destroys Culture: A Cautionary Look at the Six Flags Overhaul
And why structure should always serve the story—not the spreadsheet.
Recently, we came across a sharp LinkedIn article by Mark Wijman that really hit home. In it, he unpacks Six Flags’ latest move to eliminate all Park President roles across their 27 properties—just days after the company publicly praised “local responsiveness” and improved guest satisfaction.
👉 Read Mark’s original article here
A Familiar Mistake
This isn’t the first time we’ve seen this play out. As Mark points out, back in the early 2000s, Six Flags followed a similar path in Europe—centralizing decision-making, cutting on-the-ground leadership, and ultimately weakening park performance.
Now, history seems to be repeating itself. Even high-performing parks like Knott’s Berry Farm are seeing their top leaders removed in the name of “streamlining.” What gets lost in all this? Experience. Culture. Agility. Accountability.
What This Means for Operators Like You
If you’re running a theme park, immersive venue, zoo, or seasonal destination, these kinds of structural shifts should raise a few flags (no pun intended). Because while centralized control can look good on a balance sheet, it often disconnects strategy from reality.
Here’s what we’ve seen happen when leadership is flattened too far:
| What Happens | What It Hurts |
|---|---|
| Local expertise is removed | Guest experience suffers |
| Accountability is blurred | Team morale drops |
| One-size-fits-all plans take over | Unique park identity fades |
| Leadership turnover increases | Operational efficiency declines |
What We Believe at DAK Media Group
We get it—budgets matter. Efficiency matters. But structure can’t come at the expense of soul. If you want a venue to thrive, your team needs more than direction—they need support, clarity, and trust.
Here’s how we help entertainment operators avoid these pitfalls:
Leadership Design That Fits
We work with you to design team structures that make sense for the scale and complexity of your venue. That might mean refining roles, clarifying responsibilities, or even coaching your internal leaders through change.
Strategy Informed by Real Data
You probably already have the data—guest feedback, operational reports, revenue trends. We help turn that into decisions that actually improve the guest journey, staffing plans, and creative timing.
Bridging the Gap Between Creative and Corporate
When restructures happen (and they always do), we help you manage the transition thoughtfully—so creative doesn’t get lost in the shuffle, and your team doesn’t feel like the last to know.
Support That Lasts
Whether it’s interim leadership, team training, or just someone to bounce strategy off of, we’re not in and out—we’re a long-term partner in helping your venue perform and grow.
Final Thoughts
We’re not here to criticize. We’re here because we care deeply about how entertainment works—and how it feels. When leadership is strong, clear, and present, teams perform better, guests feel it, and the business thrives.
If you’re facing structural changes—or trying to avoid the kind of missteps we’re seeing unfold—you don’t need to figure it out alone.
Let’s Talk
We’re here to help you build the kind of structure that protects what makes your venue special, while still making it sustainable.
Let’s create something that works—not just on paper, but in the real world.