"Huge Loss": Maryland's Six Flags America to shut down later this year, local leaders react
ABC 7 News - WJLA
[{'start': '0.160', 'end': '5.440', 'text': 'The end of an era in Maryland. Six Flags'}, {'start': '3.360', 'end': '8.080', 'text': 'America and Hurricane Harbor are'}, {'start': '5.440', 'end': '9.840', 'text': 'shutting down at the end of this season.'}, {'start': '8.080', 'end': '11.759', 'text': "The amusement park in Prince George's"}, {'start': '9.840', 'end': '14.160', 'text': 'County currently employs around 70'}, {'start': '11.759', 'end': '16.240', 'text': 'people full-time, and those eligible'}, {'start': '14.160', 'end': '19.600', 'text': 'will be given severance. But the other'}, {'start': '16.240', 'end': '22.039', 'text': 'big question is what happens to the 500'}, {'start': '19.600', 'end': '24.400', 'text': "acre property that's now marked for"}, {'start': '22.039', 'end': '27.800', 'text': 'redevelopment? 7 News Christian Flores'}, {'start': '24.400', 'end': '27.800', 'text': 'takes a look.'}, {'start': '28.320', 'end': '31.920', 'text': "Prince George's County Council members"}, {'start': '30.000', 'end': '34.000', 'text': 'tell me Six Flags America announcing'}, {'start': '31.920', 'end': '36.000', 'text': "it's closing in six months came out of"}, {'start': '34.000', 'end': '38.000', 'text': "nowhere. The company claims it's no"}, {'start': '36.000', 'end': '39.840', 'text': 'longer a fit with their long-term goals.'}, {'start': '38.000', 'end': '42.480', 'text': 'And now, county leaders are left'}, {'start': '39.840', 'end': '44.879', 'text': 'exploring what to do with the land. The'}, {'start': '42.480', 'end': '47.039', 'text': 'memories for most people here. And soon,'}, {'start': '44.879', 'end': '48.800', 'text': "memories will be all that's left after"}, {'start': '47.039', 'end': '50.239', 'text': 'the theme park announced it will close'}, {'start': '48.800', 'end': '52.719', 'text': "its Prince George's County location"}, {'start': '50.239', 'end': '55.440', 'text': 'after the 2025 season, which ends in'}, {'start': '52.719', 'end': '57.120', 'text': 'November. This is a huge loss at the'}, {'start': '55.440', 'end': '58.719', 'text': 'worst time. The company is selling the'}, {'start': '57.120', 'end': '61.680', 'text': 'land for redevelopment, which council'}, {'start': '58.719', 'end': '63.680', 'text': 'member Walla Blege sees as a 500 acre'}, {'start': '61.680', 'end': '65.360', 'text': 'opportunity in her district. We are'}, {'start': '63.680', 'end': '67.200', 'text': 'really looking for economic development.'}, {'start': '65.360', 'end': '70.320', 'text': "Big a big part of what I've been"}, {'start': '67.200', 'end': '73.040', 'text': 'discussing is expanding our commercial'}, {'start': '70.320', 'end': '74.400', 'text': 'um development um for our tax base and'}, {'start': '73.040', 'end': '76.799', 'text': "we're going to do that. We don't want"}, {'start': '74.400', 'end': '78.320', 'text': 'Six Flags to sit there as a eyesore, but'}, {'start': '76.799', 'end': '80.320', 'text': 'we want to redevelop that entire'}, {'start': '78.320', 'end': '81.920', 'text': 'location to be helpful to Prince'}, {'start': '80.320', 'end': '83.360', 'text': "George's County. This comes after the"}, {'start': '81.920', 'end': '85.920', 'text': 'Washington commanders reach a deal with'}, {'start': '83.360', 'end': '88.320', 'text': 'DC to build a new stadium there, leaving'}, {'start': '85.920', 'end': '90.080', 'text': "Prince George's County if the DC council"}, {'start': '88.320', 'end': '91.439', 'text': 'approves the deal. We have to move'}, {'start': '90.080', 'end': '93.200', 'text': "forward. If they're not going to be"}, {'start': '91.439', 'end': '95.840', 'text': 'here, we need to make sure whatever'}, {'start': '93.200', 'end': '98.000', 'text': "we're prepared and it starts today. The"}, {'start': '95.840', 'end': '100.079', 'text': 'stadium itself did not generate a'}, {'start': '98.000', 'end': '101.680', 'text': 'massive amount of revenue to begin with.'}, {'start': '100.079', 'end': '103.280', 'text': 'I believe that whatever we replace it'}, {'start': '101.680', 'end': '105.520', 'text': 'with will actually be a larger'}, {'start': '103.280', 'end': '107.520', 'text': 'contributor to the county financially.'}, {'start': '105.520', 'end': '109.759', 'text': 'And same for Six Flags. You know, Six'}, {'start': '107.520', 'end': '111.520', 'text': 'Flags employs 70 full-time employees.'}, {'start': '109.759', 'end': '113.439', 'text': 'Another gap county leaders are working'}, {'start': '111.520', 'end': '115.280', 'text': 'to address. Are you worried about the'}, {'start': '113.439', 'end': '116.880', 'text': 'potential of this closing maybe having'}, {'start': '115.280', 'end': '118.399', 'text': 'an impact on juvenile crime? We know'}, {'start': '116.880', 'end': '120.560', 'text': 'that there were a number of young people'}, {'start': '118.399', 'end': '122.320', 'text': 'who were hired at Six Flags over the'}, {'start': '120.560', 'end': '123.920', 'text': 'summer and that was one of the greatest'}, {'start': '122.320', 'end': '126.719', 'text': "benefits and so we'll be working to"}, {'start': '123.920', 'end': '129.119', 'text': 'ensure that we are able to help find'}, {'start': '126.719', 'end': '131.280', 'text': 'other placements for young people moving'}, {'start': '129.119', 'end': '133.040', 'text': 'forward. We need to have a robust summer'}, {'start': '131.280', 'end': '135.760', 'text': 'program at the county level. Christian'}, {'start': '133.040', 'end': '137.920', 'text': 'Flores, 7 News. The acting Prince'}, {'start': '135.760', 'end': '140.239', 'text': "George's County Executive is also"}, {'start': '137.920', 'end': '142.640', 'text': 'reacting tonight. Tara Jackson released'}, {'start': '140.239', 'end': '144.560', 'text': 'a statement saying, quote, "For decades,'}, {'start': '142.640', 'end': '146.959', 'text': 'Six Flags has been more than just a'}, {'start': '144.560', 'end': '149.440', 'text': 'theme park. It is a cherished part of'}, {'start': '146.959', 'end': '152.000', 'text': "our county's identity, a source of joy"}, {'start': '149.440', 'end': '154.080', 'text': 'for families, and a hub of economic'}, {'start': '152.000', 'end': '156.480', 'text': 'activity." She goes on to say she\'ll'}, {'start': '154.080', 'end': '159.920', 'text': 'work toward redevelopment that supports'}, {'start': '156.480', 'end': '161.440', 'text': 'jobs and long-term community benefits.'}, {'start': '159.920', 'end': '163.360', 'text': 'All right. Just last year, 7 News'}, {'start': '161.440', 'end': '166.560', 'text': 'reported about Six Flags America'}, {'start': '163.360', 'end': '169.120', 'text': 'requiring chaperones for young guests in'}, {'start': '166.560', 'end': '171.200', 'text': 'an effort to boost safety. The policy'}, {'start': '169.120', 'end': '173.920', 'text': 'change was for anyone under 15 years old'}, {'start': '171.200', 'end': '176.239', 'text': 'inside the park after 400 p.m. And at'}, {'start': '173.920', 'end': '178.160', 'text': "the time, Six Flags didn't point to a"}, {'start': '176.239', 'end': '180.080', 'text': "specific incident, but as we've"}, {'start': '178.160', 'end': '183.200', 'text': 'reported, the county receives complaints'}, {'start': '180.080', 'end': '185.519', 'text': 'about unruly visitors each year. And one'}, {'start': '183.200', 'end': '187.840', 'text': 'of those violent nights happened back in'}, {'start': '185.519', 'end': '189.680', 'text': '2021. You may remember, several fights'}, {'start': '187.840', 'end': '192.239', 'text': 'broke out in the parking lot during the'}, {'start': '189.680', 'end': '194.159', 'text': "amusement park's annual Fright Fest."}, {'start': '192.239', 'end': '196.720', 'text': 'Videos captured some of the melee'}, {'start': '194.159', 'end': '199.840', 'text': 'involving teens. One group even seen'}, {'start': '196.720', 'end': '201.760', 'text': 'destroying cars and smashing windows.'}, {'start': '199.840', 'end': '204.560', 'text': 'Six Flags America was forced to close'}, {'start': '201.760', 'end': '205.840', 'text': 'early back then. 7 News will continue to'}, {'start': '204.560', 'end': '208.400', 'text': 'follow this story. will bring you'}, {'start': '205.840', 'end': '212.920', 'text': "updates about what's next for that land"}, {'start': '208.400', 'end': '212.920', 'text': 'here on air and on wja.com.'}]