Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jul. 03, 2022	Jul. 04, 2021	Jul. 03, 2022	Jul. 04, 2021
Total revenues	$ 435,422	$ 459,787	$ 573,529	$ 541,811
Operating expenses (excluding depreciation and amortization shown separately below)	173,582	183,768	283,526	276,411
Selling, general and administrative expenses	53,573	50,205	92,905	86,331
Costs of products sold	35,710	39,194	45,825	46,409
Other net periodic pension benefit	(1,920)	(1,690)	(3,371)	(3,333)
Depreciation	27,532	28,047	56,575	56,874
Amortization	5	5	11	11
(Gain) loss on disposal of assets	98	719	(2,002)	1,239
Interest expense	36,250	38,113	74,107	76,573
Interest income	(272)	(65)	(599)	(105)
Loss on debt extinguishment	17,533		17,533
Other expense, net	898	831	1,361	8,450
Income (loss) before income taxes	92,433	120,660	7,658	(7,049)
Income tax expense (benefit)	24,716	29,257	5,603	(2,613)
Net income (loss)	67,717	91,403	2,055	(4,436)
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(22,325)	(20,883)	(22,325)	(20,883)
Net income (loss) attributable to Six Flags Entertainment Corporation	$ 45,392	$ 70,520	$ (20,270)	$ (25,319)
Weighted-average common shares outstanding - basic (in shares)	84,992	85,673	85,594	85,437
Weighted-average common shares outstanding - diluted (in shares)	85,242	86,751	85,594	85,437
Earnings (Loss) per average common share outstanding: - basic (in dollars per share)	$ 0.53	$ 0.82	$ (0.24)	$ (0.30)
Earnings (Loss) per average common share outstanding: - diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0.53	$ 0.81	$ (0.24)	$ (0.30)
Park admissions
Total revenues	$ 241,777	$ 245,165	$ 314,764	$ 289,499
Park food, merchandise and other
Total revenues	183,081	198,897	237,350	230,121
Sponsorship, international agreements and accommodations
Total revenues	$ 10,564	$ 15,725	$ 21,415	$ 22,191