After weeks of rumor and speculation around the whale tank water cooler – the change of ownership is now official. SeaWorld San Diego, and other parks formerly held by Anheuser-Busch InBev under the leadership of Busch Entertainment Corporation (10 in all), have been acquired by Blackstone Group.
“They sold Shamu to a bunch of magicians?”
Not hardly. One of the world’s largest private equity firms, and partial owner of numerous other amusement park holdings including Merlin Entertainments (Legoland & SeaLife Aquariums) and Universal Studios parks, Blackstone has indicated that they intend to maintain the BEC in their position of leadership of the SeaWorld and Busch Gardens parks. Over time, it is expected that BEC will continue their work under the new name ‘Worlds of Discovery‘.
Plans underway are expected to continue, and park visitors should notice little change when they return to SeaWorld and other favorite parks, with one notable exception. The beloved Busch Clydesdale horses and their exhibit are slated to be relocated from the Busch Gardens. Currently, there is not expected to be any shared rates or discounts among newly (if distantly) related parks, such as Legoland California or SeaLife Aquarium. A big question however is if the new affiliation with the Merlin parks will change the standards of care for the animals of SeaWorld. Currently, Merlin has a strong commitment to not using animals in entertainment shows and the like, beyond portraying them in their natural habits & environments. How will this affect the thousands who come to see Shamu and the rest of his slippery cohorts delighting audiences with breath taking leaps and watery antics?
Annually, SeaWorld welcomes more than 4 million guests, many of the return visitors. Many marine mammals rely on the care of the staff and facilities that are available there. All marine animals benefit from SeaWorld’s 45 years of work researching and preserving ocean life, as well as their extensive rehabilitation & release programs. The animals of SeaWorld have become accustomed to captivity and constant care. We trust our San Diego ambasadors will enjoy the same level of protection and care under the Blackstone Group, and continue to teach and delight generations to come.
