Kansas City Chiefs star (and Taylor Swift’s fiancé) Travis Kelce is getting into the activist investing business.
The NFL athlete, podcast host and aspiring actor has joined activist investment firm Jana Partners in an effort to overhaul Six Flags, the theme park company that owns Knott’s Berry Farm, Cedar Point and Six Flags amusement parks across the country.
Jana revealed that she now owns about 9% of Six Flags’ shares, alongside Kelce, former Gap CEO Glenn Murphy, and CTO and former JD Power CEO Dave Habiger. The company says it plans to “collaborate with the company’s board of directors and management regarding opportunities to increase shareholder value and improve the customer experience.”
“I have been a lifelong Six Flags fan and grew up going to these parks with family and friends,” Travis Kelce said in a statement. “I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to help make Six Flags special for the next generation.”
Kelce grew up in Ohio, not far from Cedar Point.
“We look forward to working with the Six Flags board and management to unlock shareholder value for the benefit of all stakeholders,” added Scott Ostfeld, managing partner of Jana.
The current iteration of Six Flags was created last year as part of an $8 billion merger between Six Flags and Cedar Fair, creating a giant theme park that stretches across the country.
Kelce may seem an unusual choice for an activist campaign, but attracting attention in today’s investment environment is half the battle, and the star might be able to win over shareholders and perhaps Six Flags executives or board members. Kelce could also become a public face of this effort.
