Travis Kelce joined an activist group pushing Six Flags to consider a sale. The ‘Final Destination’-style death of a patron poured gas on the fire

Travis Kelce’s investment in Six Flags was already caught up in a fight over the struggling theme-park operator’s future.

Now, a fatal roller-coaster accident has added a safety crisis to the financial troubles behind an activist push to sell the company.

The NFL star teamed up with activist hedge fund Jana Partners and other investors last October to acquire a roughly 9% stake in Six Flags.

Last month, Jana urged the company to explore a sale after disappointing financial results.

Then, on Monday, a passenger was ejected from the Goliath roller coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia and died, according to police.

Six Flags temporarily closed nine similar coasters across six parks.

The death of Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem, a 42-year-old Atlanta educator, sent the company’s shares tumbling roughly 14% Tuesday.

It also introduced another layer of uncertainty for a business struggling with losses, falling attendance and the aftermath of its 2024 merger with Cedar Fair.

The accident has not established that a sale is more likely, or that Six Flags’ financial problems contributed to the death.

But it raises the stakes of the dispute over the company’s future: Management must now respond to a fatality investigation and reassure customers while a major shareholder is already pressing the board to consider new ownership.

A celebrity investment becomes a turnaround fight Kelce initially described his investment in personal terms.

“As a lifelong Six Flags fan, I grew up going to these parks with my family and friends,” he said when he announced the investment.

Six Flags named him a brand ambassador in March, giving the company a celebrity advocate who was also financially invested in its recovery.

Jana’s campaign has since moved toward a more consequential demand.