Would Warner Bros. Open Their Own Park?

[Parkscope Joe]

With the opening of WB park in the Middle East open, WB Tour expanding their haunt event, and rumors of UOR being in talks to open an all WB park recently let’s move discussion of the possibility of a new WB in the USA to here. This includes parks operated by WB directly or indirectly (such as than one at YAS World).

 

[AlexanderMBush]

I think this is actually a very fair and valid topic.

The WBDhabi project, was a ten year endeavor, all the way back to the origins of Dubaiworld (yeah, remember that kids?); as Thinkwell had a large hand in the endeavor. And while that was being worked on, they seemed to begin strengthening and expanding the variety of options to both the Hollywood WB tour; and the London WB tour (with that having a strong emphasis on Potter).

And as of now, it seems as if the WoM for WBDhabi is something unlike any other project that has been done for that pocket of the world.

The possibility of WB looking to expand their themed entertainment for a mainline theme park in the US, actually is something that I completely get and it makes sense. They have the properties to make it work, and have tested it strongly with the Dhabi project. I would be all for it.

As for locations, two comes to mind quick.

One, is Las Vegas. Say what we will; but this may actually make sense in a larger scale. They can easily market it as a large resort, with a casino/hotel combo alongside the indoor theme park. And you know what? It may actually be a huge draw. It'd get families to book for a themed resort experience that can offer variety and accessibility. Not to mention, the indoor aspect of Dhabi would translate extremely well for Vegas, alongside having a casino for adult's.

The other, is somewhere in the east. I'm not talking Orlando specifically, but that may be a big thing for them depending on where they'd put it.

Just some thoughts I'm having with the potential of a US Warner park.

 

[Scott W.]

If it’s WB going out on their own in Orlando, I think it’s suicide.

With the help of Universal, I can see it being a bit hit. There’s plenty of IPs there to make some great things but I’d rather have the attractions incorporated into the parks instead of a dedicated park.

I think two movie theme parks is plenty in Orlando.

 

[Mad Dog]

It's tough to tell what the movement forward will be since AT&T will have the ultimate say once they complete the acquisition, and who knows what direction they may want to pursue at that point in time. In other words, it may be a whole new ballgame when that happens. Past & recent tendencies might have some importance, but then again, they might be meaningless to the new bosses.

 

[hishedale]

I think if they would open up their own park, they would kind of want it away from certain competition. WB has a lot of great properties, but so does Universal and Disney.

 

[GAcoaster]

I think they wouldn't. They might have at one point, but they seem to just be into collecting licensing fees now. I don't think this will change under AT&T ownership.

 

[JungleSkip]

I doubt it. I don’t see them wanting to own and operate their own parks, and nearly all of their biggest stuff is already liscensed out

 

[GadgetGuru]

With the opening of WB park in the Middle East open, WB Tour expanding their haunt event, and rumors of UOR being in talks to open an all WB park recently let’s move discussion of the possibility of a new WB in the USA to here. This includes parks operated by WB directly or indirectly (such as than one at YAS World).

What are the rumors of UOR having an all WB park? Would that be Gate 3?

 

[Clive]

I doubt it. I don’t see them wanting to own and operate their own parks, and nearly all of their biggest stuff is already liscensed out

This. Warner Bros was ironically in the best position to develop a park based on their flagship brands had they not licensed them all out. Imagine a park themed around --

--The Wizarding World
--Middle Earth
--Lego Universe
--DC Universe
--Looney Tunes

...plus material from Hanna Barbara, Wizard of Oz, Willy Wonka, Godzilla/King Kong, Mad Max...

 

[Horror Lover]

Correct me if I'm wrong but didn't Warner Bros. own Six Flags at one point or has that always been strictly a licensing deal between them?

 

[zg44]

In a previous era, I could see a separate Warner World in Orlando as a possibility (especially back when they owned Six Flags).

But now, I can't see AT&T being interested in owning theme parks given how much debt they have and how focused they are on growing HBO (which was the most important part of the AT&T-TW deal).

I do think the possibility mentioned by @Disneyhead is the most likely scenario for a "Warner Bros World" in Orlando now as a possible smaller (50-60 acre) 4th dry gate in the south resort.

What are the rumors of UOR having an all WB park? Would that be Gate 3?

There were rumors for the 3rd dry gate being an all WB park, but then Universal seemingly shifted Nintendo to the 3rd dry gate and so any resurrection of the WB park idea would be as a 4th dry gate.

As I mentioned in the expansion thread, I think this sounds like a very reasonable possibility down the road around 2027-2030 if Universal leaves 50-60 acres open.

Possibly bring in Warner as a partner and tie the Harry Potter agreement into that to make it more of a long-term/permanent arrangement.

 

[Scott W.]

In a previous era, I could see a separate Warner World in Orlando as a possibility (especially back when they owned Six Flags).

But now, I can't see AT&T being interested in owning theme parks given how much debt they have and how focused they are on growing HBO (which was the most important part of the AT&T-TW deal).

I do think the possibility mentioned by @Disneyhead is the most likely scenario for a "Warner Bros World" in Orlando now as a possible smaller (50-60 acre) 4th dry gate in the south resort.


There were rumors for the 3rd dry gate being an all WB park, but then Universal seemingly shifted Nintendo to the 3rd dry gate and so any resurrection of the WB park idea would be as a 4th dry gate.

As I mentioned in the expansion thread, I think this sounds like a very reasonable possibility down the road around 2027-2030 if Universal leaves 50-60 acres open.

Possibly bring in Warner as a partner and tie the Harry Potter agreement into that to make it more of a long-term/permanent arrangement.

I can’t tell if your two points contradict or compliment each other. Warner Bros don’t want to enter the theme park game because of debt but teaming up with Universal reduces risk financially and operationally.

 

[GadgetGuru]

This. Warner Bros was ironically in the best position to develop a park based on their flagship brands had they not licensed them all out. Imagine a park themed around --

--The Wizarding World
--Middle Earth
--Lego Universe
--DC Universe
--Looney Tunes

...plus material from Hanna Barbara, Wizard of Oz, Willy Wonka, Godzilla/King Kong, Mad Max...

One of WB's biggest problem is that they don't unilaterally own many of those IPs. Wizarding World is owned by Scholastic/Rowling, but WB has a decent amount of control regardless. Middle Earth is all Tolkien (need their permission). Lego Universe is obviously owned by Lego.

I think they wouldn't. They might have at one point, but they seem to just be into collecting licensing fees now. I don't think this will change under AT&T ownership.

I'd be surprised if AT&T/Time Warner wasn't looking at Comcast's theme park growth numbers and weren't feeling a little envious. The problem with the theme park business is that it's very capital intensive. I imagine AT&T is going to spend the next year focusing their balance sheet quite a bit. I can't see them trying to enter a new business as much as optimize their current businesses.

 

[AlexanderMBush]

Who's to say though that it can't also be done by external partners? If I'm not mistaken, that was done for Dhabi.

Perhaps that could be the case if they were to look at the possibility of doing it?

 

[UniversalRBLX]

I do think a Warner Bros Park somewhere near their existing Studio Tour in London can do extremely well if its indoors and attach an adjacent hotel.

 

[zg44]

I can’t tell if your two points contradict or compliment each other. Warner Bros don’t want to enter the theme park game because of debt but teaming up with Universal reduces risk financially and operationally.

Yeah basically I don't see AT&T taking on the risk of wholly owning theme parks given their debt load.

But a partnership where Universal assumes a majority of the financial and all of the operational risk while Warner provides the IPs can work for both sides.

Especially since I do think Universal will leave at least 50-60 acres open for a smaller second dry park on the second resort. If Warner was bringing DC and the rest of their IP to a larger version of their Middle East park I can see it working for both sides.

 

[bob albert]

I really think vegas is absolutely starved of high level theme park attractions and could support a mostly clone of current Yas island in the future. No doubt the two markets have very little overlap of visitors.

 

[AlexanderMBush]

I really think vegas is absolutely starved of high level theme park attractions and could support a mostly clone of current Yas island in the future. No doubt the two markets have very little overlap of visitors.

Especially considering how they worked with outer partners on making this a reality; it would make a surprising amount of sense for Vegas. Especially if done on the angle of a multi-day resort; with it operated by a group like MGM International, ResortsWorld or Caesars.

 

[Sithina]

Especially considering how they worked with outer partners on making this a reality; it would make a surprising amount of sense for Vegas. Especially if done on the angle of a multi-day resort; with it operated by a group like MGM International, ResortsWorld or Caesars.

Didn't they try to bring more family-oriented shows and attractions to Vegas at one point and it just ended up not doing well? I could see a theme park going either way--being a great addition, or just not a good fit for the area. I'm not sure where else they'd put a theme park that wouldn't die off due to bigger competitors, though. Unless they partnered more fully with Universal (I can't imagine them working well with Disney--or if they tried to partner with Disney, it would be a huge mess of egos, opinions and ideas clashing endlessly, thus delaying any project by years), I'm not sure where else they'd put it that would also allow it to be a year-round operation.

 

[AlexanderMBush]

Didn't they try to bring more family-oriented shows and attractions to Vegas at one point and it just ended up not doing well? I could see a theme park going either way--being a great addition, or just not a good fit for the area. I'm not sure where else they'd put a theme park that wouldn't die off due to bigger competitors, though. Unless they partnered more fully with Universal (I can't imagine them working well with Disney--or if they tried to partner with Disney, it would be a huge mess of egos, opinions and ideas clashing endlessly, thus delaying any project by years), I'm not sure where else they'd put it that would also allow it to be a year-round operation.

I would honestly say; it may be more different for Vegas, as there really isn't a large amount of competition.

You have your waterparks and two decaying theme parks though. And that, I would doubt that a proper WB-oriented resort complex with the theme park would easily decay.

You would also be further away from USH and DLR; allowing you to have albeit of an exclusivity in a way for Vegas; and if done in a way similar to the Dhabi park, could be a large draw for locals and tourists. If done properly however.

Not to mention, Yas is already looking at a WB hotel for their own neck of the woods, which would be even next to their park. And that, I think if you make it inclusive; you may get incentive from getting people to stay at one particular location.

That said, I am more than happy to be proven wrong on that. As I don't see it working well for California; and think that Orlando is suicidal (unless if they were to collab with UPR).