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Stingray
Joined: 20 Apr 2009
Posts: 193
Location: North Carolina
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 Posted: Wed Oct 07, 2009 12:06 pm Post subject: Blackstone buys Busch parks for 2.7 billion. |
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@www.Blooloop.com image
It’s official Blackstone group buys Sea Worlds and Busch parks for 2.3 to 2.7 billion dollars. Blackstone group who also owns major interest in Merlin Entrainment, and Universal Orlando theme park, as well as, Legoland has another theme park under it’s belt. One thing interesting here is that the name Busch will be kept for the Busch Gardens parks as part of a sponsorship. InBev company that brought Busch company will still have controlling interesting in the parks with about 400 million in cash in they want to. While no changes will happened to any of the parks the iconic Clydesdales horses will be leaving the Busch and Sea world parks as part of the deal. That’s sad because I never see those types of horses anywhere other then the Busch parks. The news release about the deal states that no combination deals made between the Sea world, Busch parks and Universal Orlando for now.
So what could this mean for the future. Will we seen movie products and rides come into the Busch Gardens and Sea World parks? Will there be deals for a Sea world and Universals parks tickets? Will Harry Potter be park of Busch Gardens Williamsburg theme and could we see some rides from that there.
I don’t know but I love what real rumors could come out just like that Marvel/Disney deal of a 5 park or 3 gate.
Here's the links to the story.
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/bu...lando-sold-100709,0,1554695.story
http://www.attractionsmagazine.co...theme-parks-for-up-to-27-billion/
http://www.blooloop.com/PressRele...nt-Corporation-to-Blackstone/1801
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MarkE
Joined: 30 Jan 2009
Posts: 55
Location: Suffolk, VA
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| Posted: Fri Oct 09, 2009 6:29 am Post subject: |
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I'm pretty excited about the news. It seems that Blackstone will take care of the parks by keeping the quality. I'm guessing that they are letting the Busch Entertainment Corporation remain as it's own entity as well.
Theme Park Insider has also posted that Worlds of Discovery (Busch park chain) is opening up it's own blog site with info.
link:
http://www.worldsofdiscoveryblog.com/ |
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e_tapley0687
Joined: 01 May 2008
Posts: 398
Location: Nashville, TN
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| Posted: Tue Oct 13, 2009 4:28 pm Post subject: |
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I'm excited that Merlin bought the parks! Hopefully if there are any changes it will be for the better of the parks.
"Will we seen movie products and rides come into the Busch Gardens and Sea World parks? Will Harry Potter be park of Busch Gardens Williamsburg theme and could we see some rides from that there?"
I really hope it doesn't. I like the way the parks are now without all the commercialism. HP will do just fine in Universal.
"Will there be deals for a Sea world and Universals parks tickets?"
Now this is something I would like to see happen and I'm sure a lot of people will take advantage of this.
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MarkE
Joined: 30 Jan 2009
Posts: 55
Location: Suffolk, VA
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| Posted: Wed Oct 14, 2009 4:50 pm Post subject: |
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| e_tapley0687 wrote: | I'm excited that Merlin bought the parks! Hopefully if there are any changes it will be for the better of the parks.
"Will we seen movie products and rides come into the Busch Gardens and Sea World parks? Will Harry Potter be park of Busch Gardens Williamsburg theme and could we see some rides from that there?"
I really hope it doesn't. I like the way the parks are now without all the commercialism. HP will do just fine in Universal.
"Will there be deals for a Sea world and Universals parks tickets?"
Now this is something I would like to see happen and I'm sure a lot of people will take advantage of this. |
I'm excited too! This should be interesting to see what they will do with the parks. From what I'm understanding, Blackstone is purchasing the parks to run independently of Merlin Entertainment (80% owned by Blackstone). Which is good because Merlin has it's own policy restricting animals for performing (or something to that extent) in their parks. That arrangement would have greatly affected SeaWorld.
The deal was also made so that the parks run separately from their investments with Universal. So we more than likely won't have to worry about Harry Potter coming to Busch Gardens.
Instead, Blackstone is retaining the management team of the Busch Entertainment Corporation. They will also retain the "Busch" name for the parks. Although they are beginning (it seems) to use the title "Worlds of Discovery" to describe the group of parks.
Hopefully, in the future We'll probably hear of a new land at Busch Williamsburg (fingers crossed. lol!) As for now though, I'm hearing that the most immediate change will be that the Clydesdales will be leaving the parks to go on tour.
If anything, Blackstone seems like they are willing to continue supporting the quality of the existing parks (and they have Moolah! lol) so hopefully the Busch Parks can continue to be a strong force in the industry. |
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MarkE
Joined: 30 Jan 2009
Posts: 55
Location: Suffolk, VA
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