The Other Orlando Blog

I've never taken all the chatter about who'll buy Busch very seriously. For my money, it's all been guesswork based on nothing more than hunches.

But the recent news that Merlin plans an IPO does tend to make you sit up and take notice.

Merlin, whose holdings include Legoland theme parks, Madame Tussauds wax museums and the London Eye, is close to finalizing a plan for an initial public offering on the London Stock Exchange, according to a report last weekend in The Independent of London.

The offering is expected to raise more than $3 billion, the newspaper reported. Merlin is owned by a private-equity giant, the Blackstone Group, which also holds a 50 percent stake in Universal Orlando.

The oft cited estimate for how much the Busch theme parks are work is between $3 and $4.5 billion.

Labels: anheuser busch seaworld orlando, inbev, merlin entertainments, universal orlando

What can I add to that?

Labels: anheuser busch seaworld orlando, manta, roller coasters

I think this is good news.

Chatter surrounding the potential auction of Orlando-based Busch Entertainment has cooled off in recent weeks. For example, when Jeff Immelt, the chairman and chief executive officer of General Electric Co., the ultimate parent of Universal Orlando, was asked whether his company has considered purchasing Busch Entertainment, part of his response was, "My understanding is that's been slowed down a little bit."

Labels: anheuser busch seaworld orlando, inbev

Some interesting stuff in the 2008 TEAERA (pdf) report.

The new kid on the block, Aquatica, had 950,000 visitors or an average of 95K a month. But it opened in March, so if it had been open in January and February and had "average" attendance those months, that suggests an annual total of 1,140,000, putting it ahead of Wet 'n Wild but behind the two Disney waterparks. It'll be interesting to see what happens next year, as the word get out about what a spectacular park it is.

SeaWorld's attendance was down 2.9% at 5.9 million, but SeaWorld execs are squawking that the actual figure is higher, without providing specifics. Apparently, they're not angry enough to open their books to prove the assertion.

Universal Studios was up only slightly and Islands of Adventure was down 2.4%, leading some to speculate that people are putting off visiting until Harry Potter arrives.

But the 2008 numbers are only part of the story. Universal's 1st quarter 2009 attendance was down a whopping 20% over last year.

Makes you wonder why Universal thinks this is a good time to alienate some of their biggest fans.

Labels: anheuser busch seaworld orlando, aquatica, theme parks, universal orlando

"The Media" has been yammering for months about the sale of SeaWorld based on . . . well, based on nothing much.

Yeah, in mergers of the sort that recently happened between Anheuser-Busch and InBev various components of the new company tend to get sold off to pay for the debt taken on to finance the merger. And the sale of the theme parks seems a logical thing to happen, especially since InBev has hinted at -- repeat, hinted at -- doing just that.

But there's no solid evidence as yet. That why all the "SeaWorld to be sold!!!" stories you read are hedged with conditional words like "might" and "could."

Now comes something that might actually have some fact behind it.

"Are you worried the company might sell the park?" WFTV reporter Eric Rasmussen asked a SeaWorld employee.

"No, it's a good company," the employee said.

Other sources told Eyewitness News that SeaWorld managers met with employees on Wednesday, reassuring them the park would not be sold this year, in part because there were no buyers.

The emphasis is mine.

The same article notes that "profits for Anheuser-Busch InBev are flatter than day-old beer." But the theme parks, from what I've read are consistently profitable. Why unload one of the few profitable parts of your company in a down market?

Of course, for all I know, SeaWorld could be sold tomorrow, but I'm not betting on it.

Labels: anheuser busch seaworld orlando, inbev

Another sign of the times:

Busch Entertainment Corp., owner of SeaWorld and other theme parks, has shelved plans to build four parks in Dubai, making the project the Middle Eastern state's latest casualty amid the international credit freeze.

Worlds of Discovery was announced just a year ago with a media spectacle that included performing killer whales and renderings of the parks on a man-made island shaped like SeaWorld's signature Shamu. Busch Entertainment President Jim Atchison touted it as a "momentous occasion" and a chance to put the Busch brands on a "true global stage."

...

Busch and partner Nakheel PJSC, a state-backed real-estate company and leading developer in Dubai, agreed last month to suspend work because of worsening financial conditions. The two companies will reassess the project sometime this summer.

Too bad. I was sorta hoping Nakheel might be a possible "white knight" for Busch Entertainment.

One positive note:

The announcement comes as a number of projects planned for Dubai appear to be halted, though a Universal Parks & Resorts spokesman said Universal's Dubailand park is still a go and scheduled to open in 2012, two years later than the opening targeted when the park was announced in 2007.

Labels: anheuser busch seaworld orlando, dubai, universal, worlds of discovery

No, not that sale.

We're not talking about selling the parks, but SeaWorld has announced a pretty substantial deal on hotel stays coupled with tickets.

Guests who book three nights at 19 nearby hotels get two additional nights free and free length of stay admission to SeaWorld and either Busch Gardens or Aquatica.

The Orlando Sentinel points out that the least expensive option, $561 for a family of 4, translates to $28.05 per person per day for room and park admission. That should leave Mom and Dad a few extra bucks to pay for beers, now that InBev has done away with the freebies.

Bookings need to be made by March 31 and are good through June 26.

Most of the hotels participating in the deal are reviewed in my new book, SeaWorld, Discovery Cove & Aquatica: Orlando's Salute to the Seas.

Labels: anheuser busch seaworld orlando, Busch Gardens Africa

A while back, I suggested that the demise of free beer at SeaWorld and Busch Gardens might spark a Bud boycott.

Well, it's come to pass. Welcome to the Belgweiser Rebellion.

Their main gripe seems to be that Bud is now Belgium-owned, which seems pretty silly to me. But there is some evidence that what really set them off was the end of free beer at SeaWorld.

"Shamu just isn't the same without a free beer!"

They continue:

We don't believe an important symbol of America like Budweiser should have been pirated out from under America by Belgian Brewers, who as far as we can tell from Google Maps, are almost French. Yaaaaaaah!

Symbol of America, huh? A beer named after a town in Bohemia, which is now part of the Czech Republic, which as far as I can tell from Google maps makes it almost Polish?

Whatever.

Labels: anheuser busch seaworld orlando, boycott, budweiser, inbev

Orlando Weekly's Seth Kubersky had a nice account of a recent visit to SeaWorld. Here's his take on Pet's Ahoy:

I’m sorry that I never stopped to see the Pets Ahoy! show on earlier visits, because it was the most fun I’ve had in a theme-park theater in years. A stylized surfside scene – currently decked out with Christmas décor – is the setting for a series of Rube Goldberg–like scenarios, showing off a dexterous cast of canines and felines with the odd duck thrown in for good measure. These amazing animals are mostly rescued from shelters, making the production even more awww-inspiring. Even the best-trained pet is inherently unpredictable, which greatly ups the adorability. Best of all, visible and verbal contributions by the human hosts are kept to a minimum, letting the critters do their cute thing without needless yakking. My only criticism is that it’s over too soon.

I couldn't have put it better myself. Seth contributes here occasionally (we should only be so lucky).

In the meantime, grab a copy of the new SeaWorld, Discovery Cove & Aquatica at a great price.

Labels: anheuser busch seaworld orlando, pets ahoy

And speaking of changes at SeaWorld, Johnny Upsidedown has some neat pics of the ongoing construction of the new Manta "flying" roller coaster.

Labels: anheuser busch seaworld orlando, manta, roller coasters

A new show, called "A'Lure: The Call of the Ocean," has replaced Odyssea at SeaWorld's Nautilus Theater.

From what I can tell, it looks like it remains close in spirit to the old show, which is to say it's vaguely reminiscent of Cirque du Soleil. Some acts appear to have been rretained with some new ones added.

Labels: anheuser busch seaworld orlando, odyssea

The recent price increase for Passports (annual passes) to the Worlds of Discovery Parks (a.k.a. the "Busch" parks) has made the 2-year Platinum Passport an even better deal than it was.

The incremental difference between the price of a Platinum Passport and the four-park, two-year Passport (SeaWorld, Busch Garden Africa, Aquatica, and Adventure Island) is now just $43, as opposed to $75 before the recent round of price hikes.

So if you're considering that four-park option, consider this: $43 extra gets you unlimited entry to all ten Worlds of Discovery parks! Not too shabby.

Labels: anheuser busch seaworld orlando, aquatica, Busch Gardens Africa, worlds of discovery

From the Telegraph (UK):

Blackstone, the American investment firm, which is a major shareholder in Merlin Entertainments Group, is positioning itself for a tilt at the theme parks unit of Anheuser-Busch, the brewing giant which is in the process of being acquired by the Brazilian company InBev. . .

Blackstone, which co-owns Merlin alongside Dubai International Capital, is also an investor in Universal Orlando, another of the US's largest theme parks operators. People close to Blackstone say that if it succeeds with an offer for the Anheuser-Busch parks, it could merge them with either Merlin or Universal, in which NBC Universal, the US media company, is a partner.

This could be interesting. If it's true, that is. And, from what I hear, the takeover won't be completed until late this year or early next. There's also a (slim) possibility that the sale might not go through, due to some unforeseen glitch.

Labels: anheuser busch seaworld orlando, blackstone, dubai international capital, universal orlando

It's a done deal. InBev is buying Anheuser-Busch.

Lotsa questions now. Whither the theme parks? What about A-B's corporate philanthropy on behalf of conservation and animal rescue? My guess: Since in Europe the government does the lion's share of philanthropy and looking after the social welfare, Busch's commitment to the environment will seem quaint and expendable to the new owners.

And what about A-B's patriotic efforts to salute and support our troops? Will InBev see this as fat just waiting to be cut out of the budget? God, I hope not.

UPDATE: The new company will be called Anheuser Busch InBev, so the Busch name will survive.

Labels: anheuser busch seaworld orlando, inbev, philanthropy

Here's an eye-opening statistic (emphasis added):

Now more than 112,000 hotel rooms and 450 properties are in the region, according to the Orlando/Orange County Convention and Visitor’s Bureau. That’s more hotel rooms than in the entirety of India.

Who'da thunk it?

Labels: anheuser busch seaworld orlando, hotels

European beer company InBev has announced a $47 billion takeover bid (PDF) for Anheuser Busch, the Americn beer company that owns SeaWorld and other Central Florida theme parks.

I find this disturbing.

Anheuser's amusement parks, including popular SeaWorld and Busch Gardens parks, could be sold if InBev's bid is successful. In a conference call Thursday, InBev said it may sell some of Anheuser's non-core assets.

The theme parks aren't seen as a natural fit for Anheuser. But they're profitable and possibly attractive to private-equity players or other large entertainment companies, experts say.

"The parks perform quite well," said Christian Aaen, a principal at Economics Research Associates. He said a key trend in the theme-park business is the increasing role of private-equity groups, including Blackstone Group's (BX) 2005 acquisitions of European amusement park operator Merlin Entertainments and Legoland Parks.

The same article does offer a ray of hope.

Some analysts say Anheuser's theme parks could even survive a merger given they generate healthy profits and good advertising for its products.

"If you go to any of their theme parks, there is always an Anheuser-Busch facility to go and drink their beers and learn about their brewery process," said B. Craig Hutson, an analyst at Gimme Credit. He said there is no evidence this drives incremental sales and lacks obvious synergies with its brewery operations.

"But, it helps create good will. I think they (would) be inclined to keep that business," he said.

I worry about what a sale would mean to the high quality of the parks and A-B's admirable commitment to animal conservation, to say nothing of the way it supports our troops and veterans (I'm one!) at the parks.

InBev has a reputation as a "lean, mean machine" with little taste for "frills." I'm hoping the deal doesn't go through.

Labels: anheuser busch seaworld orlando