SeaWorld Sold!
One of the worst kept secrets in Orlando has finally been revealed today as Anheuser Busch InBev said that it will sell its theme parks SeaWorld, Discovery Cove, Aquatica and Busch Gardens to private equity firm Blackstone Group.
The sale is believed to be valued in the $2.3 billion area and will give Anheuser Busch InBev the right to up to $400 million of Blackstone’s initial returns.
New York-based Blackstone’s other investments include Universal Studios Orlando and Madame Tussauds wax museums so the theme parks fit into its portfolio.
Anheuser-Busch InBev’s Busch Entertainment Corp. consists of 10 amusement parks, including SeaWorld parks in Florida, Texas and California; Busch Gardens in Florida and Virginia and other parks including Sesame Place and Adventure Island.
It is considered the second-largest entertainment park operator in the U.S. after Walt Disney Co. and has about 25 million visitors a year and 25,000 employees.
Busch Entertainment CEO Jim Atchison said the company looks forward to growing the business under its new owners, who he said have strong experience in the entertainment industry.
Park guests and employees should expect to see only improvements, he said.
Well, we’ll see!
