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Motley Fool: Apple is Good Candidate for Buying Six Flags

Motley Fool: Apple is Good Candidate for Buying Six Flags

by , 2:30 PM EDT, August 31st, 2005

Regional theme park giant Six Flags is on the selling block, and Apple Computer would make a good candidate for buying the company, according to Rick Munarriz of The Motley Fool. The surprising suggestion is based on the idea that doing so would allow Apple to reach out to its iPod constituency, and promote the Mac platform at the same time.

"Apple Computer has the greenery on its balance sheet to make an all-cash buyout happen," he wrote. "Given its volatile share price, though, Apple would be taking a real gamble if the market interpreted the acquisition as misguided -- even though it wouldn't be."

He continued, "From digital delivery of onboard photographs to podcast updates and park reviews, Apple could really turn Six Flags into an Apple-centric experience in no time."

The thoughts are part of a two part article where Mr. Munarriz looks at 12 potential suitors for Six Flags, including Sony, Viacom, Disney, News Corp, General Electric, among others.

*In the interest of full disclosure, the author holds a small share in AAPL stock that was not an influence in the creation of this article.  

If you are interested in Apple's stock, join our forum members in the Apple Finance Boards, a moderated forum for Apple Investors and people who are interested in Apple's financial dealings. For other stories regarding Apple's stock activity, visit our updated Apple Stock Watch Special Report.

Observer Comments

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Close Name:Guest
Wed Aug 31, 2005 2:53 pm Subject: Pixar

Perhaps Pixar should buy Six Flags. They seem like a better fit, and perhaps could give Disney a run for the money.


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Close Name:murlyn Posts: 10 Joined: 30 Nov 2004
Wed Aug 31, 2005 3:33 pm Subject: Re: Pixar

Wow.. now that would be awesome.. definitely make sure and get an iPod experience in there somewhere also.. I could just imagine Pixar and Apple both having stock in it.. now THAT would be an amusement park a high-tech amusement park (HTAP) very cool


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Close Name:Biff Posts: 1479 Joined: 08 Apr 2004
Wed Aug 31, 2005 3:34 pm Subject:

LOL. Thats awesome. Steve can buy it just to spite Disney. They can convert Superman Ride of Steel into a Monsters Inc. ride where you zoom around on one of those doors.


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Close Name:macnut Posts: 52 Joined: 28 Jul 2004
Wed Aug 31, 2005 3:39 pm Subject:

What would Apple do with a theme park?


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Close Name:Bosco Posts: 1002 Joined: 03 Jun 2002
Wed Aug 31, 2005 4:18 pm Subject: Rides I won't go on...

Mac OS 9: The Ride -- On this ride, your car slams into a brick wall at 75 mph, symbolizing the constant crashing of the old operating system. Since the report you are working on needs to be sent out in 2 hours, you poop your pants and utter all sorts of swear words.

OpenDoc: The Ride -- On this ride, your car goes straight up hundreds of feet giving you an incredible view above the smog of the Santa Clarita Valley. Then, the roller coaster track abrubtly ends because Steve Jobs cancelled it. Long fall...

XCode: The Ride -- On this ride for developers only, you enter a car and are locked in, for good. Don't even think about going on other rides, like the REALbasic ride where you can deploy to Windows and Linux from the same source base. No, no, no... You are locked in.


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Close Name:Guest
Wed Aug 31, 2005 4:25 pm Subject:

lame

Quote
Bosco wrote:
Mac OS 9: The Ride -- On this ride, your car slams into a brick wall at 75 mph, symbolizing the constant crashing of the old operating system. Since the report you are working on needs to be sent out in 2 hours, you poop your pants and utter all sorts of swear words.

OpenDoc: The Ride -- On this ride, your car goes straight up hundreds of feet giving you an incredible view above the smog of the Santa Clarita Valley. Then, the roller coaster track abrubtly ends because Steve Jobs cancelled it. Long fall...

XCode: The Ride -- On this ride for developers only, you enter a car and are locked in, for good. Don't even think about going on other rides, like the REALbasic ride where you can deploy to Windows and Linux from the same source base. No, no, no... You are locked in.


 Reply | Quote
Close Name:CeeG5Addict Posts: 9 Joined: 02 Feb 2005
Wed Aug 31, 2005 4:27 pm Subject:

I 2nd that.... lame

Quote
Guest wrote:
lame
Quote
Bosco wrote:
Mac OS 9: The Ride -- On this ride, your car slams into a brick wall at 75 mph, symbolizing the constant crashing of the old operating system. Since the report you are working on needs to be sent out in 2 hours, you poop your pants and utter all sorts of swear words.

OpenDoc: The Ride -- On this ride, your car goes straight up hundreds of feet giving you an incredible view above the smog of the Santa Clarita Valley. Then, the roller coaster track abrubtly ends because Steve Jobs cancelled it. Long fall...

XCode: The Ride -- On this ride for developers only, you enter a car and are locked in, for good. Don't even think about going on other rides, like the REALbasic ride where you can deploy to Windows and Linux from the same source base. No, no, no... You are locked in.


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Close Name:Guest
Wed Aug 31, 2005 5:15 pm Subject: Stupid idea

First, the whole idea of Apple buying a theme park is stupid. The motley fool presents no good ideas on what they would do.

Second, in response to Bosco, Steve Jobs did not cancel OpenDoc. Open Doc was canceled when Gil Amelio was CEO. It was obviously doomed long before then. When Apple's technology evangelists called me at home to ask me to develop OpenDoc parts, I knew it was doomed. Also, using XCode does not lock you into the Mac platform. I write platform independent C++ that gets deployed on Mac, Windows, and Linux all the time using XCode. If you want to use a toy like Real Basic, be my guest.


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Close Name:boodle Posts: 42 Joined: 13 Jun 2004
Wed Aug 31, 2005 6:10 pm Subject: bizarre!

is this a joke, or what!?!?


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Close Name:Guest
Wed Aug 31, 2005 7:00 pm Subject: truly absurd

Really, now, what in the world makes the Fool think for a split second that this is a good idea? These guys hurt their credibility with this type of dribble. They used to have something to say, but these their advice is often more comical than insightful. And this may be the most comical idea I've yet to hear from them.


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Close Name:Guest
Wed Aug 31, 2005 10:06 pm Subject: truly absurd reply

I agree with your post. In addition, I think the second most absurd advice they gave was "Don't buy Apple stock" when it was around $40 a share. This was before the split.


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Close Name:Jonkun227 Posts: 238 Joined: 02 Mar 2004
Thu Sep 01, 2005 12:32 am Subject:

Quote
Bosco wrote:
XCode: The Ride -- On this ride for developers only, you enter a car and are locked in, for good. Don't even think about going on other rides, like the REALbasic ride where you can deploy to Windows and Linux from the same source base. No, no, no... You are locked in.

Real Basic? Are you kidding? You must be kidding. Surely he's kidding. Can someone please confirm that he's kidding?


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Close Name:Ahnyer Keester Posts: 663 Joined: 25 Jun 2001
Thu Sep 01, 2005 6:16 am Subject:

Provided they can Mr. Six, that old guy who flops around to that annoying song in their ads, I don't care WHO buys Six Flags!! I think a combination of Apple and Pixar would be incredible (no pun intended) The Finding Nemo water park and the Andy's Room children's area would be great. Reimage Superman as Mr. Incredible. This is cool.


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Close Name:Biff Posts: 1479 Joined: 08 Apr 2004
Thu Sep 01, 2005 9:15 am Subject:

Quote
Guest wrote:

Second, in response to Bosco... Also, using XCode does not lock you into the Mac platform. I write platform independent C++ that gets deployed on Mac, Windows, and Linux all the time using XCode. If you want to use a toy like Real Basic, be my guest.
I don't think he was saying it locks you into the Mac. He was saying it locks you into XCode. Apparently he has never heard of Visual Studio on Windows. Same deal. Quit whining. It's not like XCode sucks or something. Same goes for Visual Studio.


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Close Name:Guest
Thu Sep 01, 2005 10:03 am Subject: read the second coming of Steve Jobs....

and you will find out that His Steveness had that in mind a long time ago! He actually wants to own a theme park and really 'go after' the hugely profitable and loveable Disney....

I think a combination Apple/Pixar theme park would be really cool... lot's of co-branding possibilities....


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