Six Flags Shuts Down X2 Coaster After Two Riders Suffer Brain Injuries, as Travis Kelce's Stake Faces New Scrutiny

Six Flags has pulled one of its marquee rollercoasters, the X2, after two women suffered acute subdural hematomas requiring emergency brain surgery following rides in July 2026, according to the Times of India. The women, identified as Pamela Guillen, 40, and Naomi Greer-Wilkinson, are recovering while the ride stays closed. Doctors cited by the outlet attributed the injuries to rapid acceleration-deceleration forces generated by the coaster.

No lawsuit, investigation, or regulatory action has been publicly confirmed in the reporting reviewed here. The ride's closure appears to be a company decision made while the two women recover, not the result of a court order or a government safety finding. A park pulling a ride out of caution is different from a ride being shut down by a regulator, and nothing in the available reporting establishes which safety body, if any, is reviewing the incident.

Travis Kelce has skin in this game. In October 2025, the Kansas City Chiefs tight end announced he'd teamed up with activist hedge fund JANA Partners to acquire roughly a 9% stake in Six Flags Entertainment, while also signing on as a brand ambassador for the company. "Couldn't pass up the opportunity to continue the tradition and make Cedar Point and Six Flags even more special for the next generation of families," Kelce wrote at the time, calling it something out of "life comes full circle."

Does a safety incident like this one threaten Kelce's investment? Based on what's been reported, it's unclear. Nobody has published stock movement tied to the injuries, no financial loss has been quantified, and Six Flags has not issued a public statement in this reporting addressing the incident's business impact. Framing this as Kelce's "multimillion dollar investment in trouble," as the Times of India headline does, gets ahead of the actual evidence. What's confirmed is a safety incident, a ride closure, and two women recovering from serious injuries. What's not confirmed is any measurable hit to the stake Kelce and JANA Partners hold.

Riders and safety advocates have a legitimate concern worth stating plainly: two people needing emergency brain surgery after the same ride is not a minor complaint, and a park pulling a coaster after such injuries signals the company takes the risk seriously. Whether X2 reopens, and under what modifications, remains an open question the available reporting doesn't answer.

Kelce's business empire keeps growing regardless

The Six Flags situation is just one piece of a sprawling portfolio Kelce has built while still active on the field. He's entering his 14th NFL season with Kansas City after the Chiefs missed the playoffs last year, according to Marca, and he's publicly said he wants to be a stronger leader after being unsatisfied with how last season ended.

Off the field, Kelce has kept adding ventures. In January 2026, he announced a 5% ownership stake in Sleep Number Corporation, a company he says he's used for years, according to thepratidhwani. Sleep Number's new CEO, Linda Findley, who took over in April 2026, said Kelce's sleep knowledge and business instincts would help the company reach younger consumers as it faced weaker sales and stronger competition heading into the year. Kelce is expected to appear in the company's TV and digital ad campaigns, per Variety's reporting cited by thepratidhwani.

Kelce has also moved into college sports, launching a venture aimed at helping athletes navigate the Name, Image and Likeness market, according to Marca. That's on top of his stake in the Cleveland Guardians ownership group, joined earlier in 2026, his investment in Garage Beer with brother Jason Kelce, and the New Heights podcast the two brothers co-host, which has become one of the most-followed sports shows in the country.

Marca frames all of this as fuel for speculation about how much longer Kelce plans to play, but the outlet also notes Kelce has publicly committed to the 2026 season and says he believes he can still contribute at a high level. Plenty of athletes build post-career business empires while still active; Kelce's is just unusually large and unusually public.

What remains to be seen is whether the Six Flags safety incident develops into something with actual financial consequences for the company or its investors. As of now, that hasn't been reported.