Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2019
Total revenues	$ 19,143	$ 477,210	$ 121,646	$ 605,403
Operating expenses (excluding depreciation and amortization shown separately below)	62,681	178,348	168,545	292,870
Selling, general and administrative expenses	36,820	59,723	73,010	99,833
Costs of products sold	2,214	43,513	9,974	53,788
Other net periodic pension benefit	(994)	(1,055)	(1,990)	(2,110)
Depreciation	29,032	28,674	59,095	57,144
Amortization	402	601	1,003	1,204
Loss (gain) on disposal of assets	513	(690)	393	446
Interest expense	51,248	29,649	78,734	58,279
Interest income	(201)	(77)	(530)	(359)
Loss on debt extinguishment	5,087	6,231	6,106	6,231
Other expense (income), net	4,252	(1,278)	5,812	(1,705)
(Loss) income before income taxes	(171,911)	133,571	(278,506)	39,782
Income tax (benefit) expense	(55,661)	33,675	(77,710)	9,018
Net (loss) income	(116,250)	99,896	(200,796)	30,764
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(20,644)	(20,377)	(20,644)	(20,377)
Net (loss) income attributable to Six Flags Entertainment Corporation	$ (136,894)	$ 79,519	$ (221,440)	$ 10,387
Weighted-average common shares outstanding:
Weighted-average common shares outstanding-basic (in shares)	84,704	84,288	84,680	84,207
Weighted-average common shares outstanding - diluted (in shares)	84,704	84,868	84,680	84,882
Net (loss) earnings per average common share outstanding:
Net (loss) earnings per average common share outstanding - basic (in dollars per share)	$ (1.62)	$ 0.94	$ (2.62)	$ 0.12
Net (loss) earnings per average common share outstanding - diluted (in dollars per share)	$ (1.62)	0.94	(2.62)	0.12
Cash dividends declared per common share		$ 0.82	$ 0.25	$ 1.64
Park admissions
Total revenues	$ 10,962	$ 252,508	$ 70,768	$ 318,588
Park food, merchandise and other
Total revenues	4,523	191,655	34,329	230,633
Sponsorship international agreements and accommodations
Total revenues	$ 3,658	$ 33,047	$ 16,549	$ 56,182