Six Flags Rides Upswing

Asked about the prospects of moving into TV and films, toward becoming a full-entertainment or diversified media company, Shapiro says, "That will come much more down the line. First I need to get the blocking and tackling right."

Yet while Shapiro insists that Hollywood glory is in the distant future some feel that signs point to such ambitions. When Snyder & Co. emerged victorious in December, they added one Harvey Weinstein to the board.

Prudential analyst Kathy Styponias wrote last month that adding Weinstein to the board signals the Hollywood aspirations of the Snyder-Shapiro team.

"In early discussions of Mr. Snyder's intentions, some indications were that he hoped to create a more diverse entertainment company, beyond regional theme parks," wrote Styponias, who goes on to note that Shapiro's talents were in cable programming and content development for ESPN, and not in theme parks. "Adding Harvey Weinstein to the board, one of the most influential people in Hollywood, is one way in which Mr. Snyder can at least ensure that he will 'get a meeting' with key Hollywood insiders and immediately be plugged into the entertainment industry."