Comcast to buy SeaWorld?

[neoshinok]

http://popwrapped.com/news/56685/comcast-expected-to-buy-seaworld/

"SeaWorld will be making a “groundbreaking investment” announcement, this morning, August 15, 2014, with a special preview on The Today Show. Sources close to the deal are telling PopWrapped, exclusively, that cable and telecom giant, Comcast, will be purchasing the fledgling company, and that the announcement is “imminent.” While specific details of the potential Comcast buyout are still unclear, if the rumors are true, it can only mean big things for the struggling SeaWorld brand."

...or maybe they're just building bigger tanks...:bang: :rofl: :lock1:

 

[rhino4evr]

Im not gonna get into a "black fish" debate, but I don't think buying Sea World is a very wise investment. I realize they will own the other half of Orlando now, but I really think the Sea World brand has taken some nasty PR hits as of late, and I don't see things getting any better for them.

 

[Teebin]

Yeah, this seems an exploratory exercise on Sea Worlds part, at best. There is no legitimate news outlet reporting any of this being in the pipeline. Wouldn't make sense to me at all.

 

[IzzyB]

Honestly I think any US company that has multiple investments (like Comcast with cable, NBC, etc) is not going to touch SW until the PR is better. Because for a company like this it will hurt them in more than one area. So they buy SW and now people will switch cable companies, not watch NBC, etc. Once the press dies down and SW learns to deal with this PR nightmare (which the tanks will be a huge help) then maybe a US company would look more seriously upon buying them. I still say Comcast doesn't want to get into the Animal Business though.

 

[Shucker]

I dont know anything at all about the potential for this, but I would assume they would also get Aquatica and Busch Gardens as well. And since there has been some bad press, I am sure the asking price is lower than it would have been a year or so ago. They could also swoop in and say we are going to fix the issues and turn it into a positive. So I could see it being a good thing and based on how aggressive Comcast has been lately, a rumor like this isn't that surprising.

 

[Brian G.]

I get why people would like the idea of Comcast adding to Universal's arsenal, but I don't think it's really that smart. Universal is in a period of a Renaissance and is trying hard to keep people in that area (obvious with the hotel plans, water park plans, and countless other ideas & rumors) after spending much of the decade in the doldrums. The last thing it needs is to add a weak product, especially one that would present additional transportation needs.

 

[neoshinok]

Yeah, this can be locked. Not only did this seem like a weak plan but I also hated the idea of it. I was shocked to see this strangely confident article this morning, then ten minutes later they reveal their announcement to be larger tank plans. Apparently the internet has lies. :down:

 

[DufflesMcGee]

Although it seems unlikely, If they do end up buying seaworld maybe Universal could actually turn around the bad publicity. maybe there first action is to appease the people with corrective action steps. They could, in fact state that they are willing to release the Orkas if it is considered a good idea by specialist. It could be considered bad since the wild is more dangerous, however they could vow to never bring in another Okra and then make seaworld spectacular.

 

[Brian G.]

Although it seems unlikely, If they do end up buying seaworld maybe Universal could actually turn around the bad publicity. maybe there first action is to appease the people with corrective action steps. They could, in fact state that they are willing to release the Orkas if it is considered a good idea by specialist. It could be considered bad since the wild is more dangerous, however they could vow to never bring in another Okra and then make seaworld spectacular.

They would never release the Orcas. No Orcas, No SeaWorld.

 

[Mad Dog]

They would never release the Orcas. No Orcas, No SeaWorld.

Exactly. Once Busch sold the Sea World Park in Ohio, they took the Orca with them. The new owners of the park continued the Sea World time theme but failed in a few years after the sale. As Bri Man said, "No Orcas. No Seaworld".

 

[IzzyB]

Exactly. Once Busch sold the Sea World Park in Ohio, they took the Orca with them. The new owners of the park continued the Sea World time theme but failed in a few years after the sale. As Bri Man said, "No Orcas. No Seaworld".

Agreed. Orcas are the main attraction. They don't capture them anymore and haven't for decades, so they are never adding more. They just continue to breed them which people have an issue with. Uni would have to get rid of the animal theme all together if they got rid of the orcas and honestly why would they do that? The buildings and facilities couldn't be reused, so now they would have to pay to remove the animals, pay to tear everything down, and pay to re-build. They could probably get cheaper land if they wanted a third gate than to go down that path.

 

[Shucker]

I get why people would like the idea of Comcast adding to Universal's arsenal, but I don't think it's really that smart. Universal is in a period of a Renaissance and is trying hard to keep people in that area (obvious with the hotel plans, water park plans, and countless other ideas & rumors) after spending much of the decade in the doldrums. The last thing it needs is to add a weak product, especially one that would present additional transportation needs.

Disney has to bus guests all around their property, so I dont think its too big of a deal. It would keep guests on property (Hotel) by providing buses to and from the SeaWorld/Aqutica area. I personally think they need this with the hotels on property and new ones on the way (got to fill those rooms). Plus this would give Uni the ability to offer a 4-5 Universal Pass just like Disney. A few years back I would have agreed this is not a good idea, but I think it would be a great move, assuming the price was right. I personally am not a huge fan of Sea World, but I love Aquatica. And while this is just anecdotal, most of the friends I know love Sea World and always make it there when they go to Orlando. And just think of how different Antartica would be if it had been in the hands of Comcast

Imagine, if guests starting staying in the Uni part of town and only going to Disney for a couple of days. While that seems far fetched, if they put some money into Sea World and made it a must visit park, then which is more appealing for a five day trip:

Universal Studios
IOA
Sea World (fixed up Uni style)
Aquatica
Universal/IOA

or

Magic Kingdom
EPCOT
HS
AK
Blizz or TL


Disney has an advantage because MK draws everyone in. But I could see a group of people starting to spend most of their time up north in Uni world, then only going to Disney 1-2 days. MK is a must do, but after that Unis line up would be very competitive and get a percentage of guests to at least consider staying up north vs down south. And that is what Comcast really wants.

 

[Brian G.]

Disney has to bus guests all around their property, so I dont think its too big of a deal. It would keep guests on property (Hotel) by providing buses to and from the SeaWorld/Aqutica area. I personally think they need this with the hotels on property and new ones on the way (got to fill those rooms). Plus this would give Uni the ability to offer a 4-5 Universal Pass just like Disney. A few years back I would have agreed this is not a good idea, but I think it would be a great move, assuming the price was right. I personally am not a huge fan of Sea World, but I love Aquatica. And while this is just anecdotal, most of the friends I know love Sea World and always make it there when they go to Orlando. And just think of how different Antartica would be if it had been in the hands of Comcast

Imagine, if guests starting staying in the Uni part of town and only going to Disney for a couple of days. While that seems far fetched, if they put some money into Sea World and made it a must visit park, then which is more appealing for a five day trip:

Disney has an advantage because MK draws everyone in. But I could see a group of people starting to spend most of their time up north in Uni world, then only going to Disney 1-2 days. MK is a must do, but after that Unis line up would be very competitive and get a percentage of guests to at least consider staying up north vs down south. And that is what Comcast really wants.

Big difference between the 2. Disney buses never leave Disney property while Universal would not have the same luxury. It would require bus service from the current UOR through I4 or I-Drive. They both can get a little backed up.

 

[Shucker]

I agree that it would be a longer ride, but it would still mean Uni picks them up and more importantly brings them back. The hook would be, stay with us and you never have to get in your car the whole trip. That could mean not renting a car for those guests that fly in. Disney thought this was such a great idea, they wanted to build a monorail from the airport to their property (unless that was just a rumor).

 

[MrRoamer]

I really hope Comcast doesn't do this just yet to avoid the bad PR and huge money drain it will take to get SeaWorld to a good place. Discovery Cove would be a big win I think, but it just isn't feasible to operate DC without SeaWorld itself.

 

[Brian G.]

I agree that it would be a longer ride, but it would still mean Uni picks them up and more importantly brings them back. The hook would be, stay with us and you never have to get in your car the whole trip. That could mean not renting a car for those guests that fly in. Disney thought this was such a great idea, they wanted to build a monorail from the airport to their property (unless that was just a rumor).

They already have that hook.

It was not a monorail, but a high speed train that would have been paid for by the city (or state); but a high speed train ride is still different then a bus drive through areas you don't control.

Point is, it's a fantastical and highly unlikely idea. Too much to fix when Universal is busy playing catch up already and expanding on their current resort.

 

[IzzyB]

I agree with everything Bri is saying. That is the reason if Uni does build a 3rd gate off property they have to find a way to do a monorail system.

Universal and Sea World already work together and from Uni's hotel website they talk about transportation to Sea World from the Uni hotel. So they already have transportation from the two and packages where you can buy tickets for the two parks. So the little they gain by adding Sea World would not be worth the headache of the PR nightmare that would occur if a company like Comcast bought Sea World. Again, keep in mind, if they have/keep Orcas it will be a PR nightmare right now. I am thinking in a couple years this will die down and won't be as much of an issue as it is right now.

 

[quinnmac000]

I think Universal as in Comcast should do a partial buyout like buy Busch Gardens from them but leave Seaworld to someone else.

 

[JungleSkip]

I think Universal as in Comcast should do a partial buyout like buy Busch Gardens from them but leave Seaworld to someone else.

That makes little sense. Universal was a more compact resort. Buying parks in Tampa and Virginia doesn't accomplish that goal

 

[Shucker]

They already have that hook.

It was not a monorail, but a high speed train that would have been paid for by the city (or state); but a high speed train ride is still different then a bus drive through areas you don't control.

Point is, it's a fantastical and highly unlikely idea. Too much to fix when Universal is busy playing catch up already and expanding on their current resort.

True, I love the boats, but its still only a two day experience in minds of most. This would immediately double their parks (without building anything new), which could lead to filling up those hotel rooms. I have to admit, I think they are putting in too many rooms for what they offer in terms of onsite day trips.

As mentioned, Im not a huge Sea World fan, but I could see with a some backing it could become a must do park. It would be a very bold move though. And now would be the time to buy as it has a small PR hit which should make the price tag a little cheaper.

But all this is really unlikely to happen anyway.