Anheuser-Busch Sold

[3rdshiftCM]

So Anheuser-Busch is being sold to InBev for 50 billion link, I would imagine that means the Busch parks (Sea World and Busch Gardens) will be up for sale in the next year or so.

Sad, Busch has always taken very good care of their parks, I would hate to see them fall into the wrong hands (Cedar Fair).

Just think what this could mean in Orlando, a new company could be moving into the market or an old one could try and take a strangle hold of the area.

[vfire]

With Europeans taking over AB, maybe the beer will actually taste better in a while when they change it because American beer tastes awful...

Oh, the parks... if they're money makers then someone will come along and take them over. Hopefully that someone will be along the lines of an Oriental Land Company and not a Cedar Fair...

[Kidgenie]

Originally Posted by 3rdshiftCM

So Anheuser-Busch is being sold to InBev for 50 billion link, I would imagine that means the Busch parks (Sea World and Busch Gardens) will be up for sale in the next year or so.

Sad, Busch has always taken very good care of their parks, I would hate to see them fall into the wrong hands (Cedar Fair).

Just think what this could mean in Orlando, a new company could be moving into the market or an old one could try and take a strangle hold of the area.

Sigh. a little sad, and not to make a politial judgement or statement, but I will anyway, I was hoping an American Icon like Anheuser-Busch would stay American Owned. And yes, I know it didn't start as an American product..... as for Busch Entertainment. Inbev has hinted all along that it really was not interested in keeping the parks. But after seeing what Cedar Fair did to Knotts...... I may be saying good buy to my annual passport to Sea World Busch Gardens in the not too distance future. Time will tell, until then I will keep my fingers crossed.

[adamthecarolla]

hey what about disney sea world? anyone...anyone. disney service at seaworld would be awesome in my opinion. and imagine all the cool dolphin/firework shows. the possibilities would be endless. or not

[kcnole]

I don't see Disney taking over Sea World, I could see Universal considering it but I doubt it. I just hope that whoever buys it, that they'll treat it with the respect that the Busch family has so far. I do not want Cedar Fair anywhere near it.

[Dutchman]

I would say that Cedar Fair is not in a position to acquire any more properties untill they pay down the debt of the Paramount Parks .

[sir clinksalot]

Originally Posted by vfire

With Europeans taking over AB, maybe the beer will actually taste better in a while when they change it because American beer tastes awful...

Amen!!! Although I would limit that to the big 3 (Budweiser, Miller (except Amber Bock) and Coors)

As for the parks ... I can't see Cedar Fair buying them, although for any other company to get a foot-hold into the Orlando market would probably be a good thing.

But there are other companies out there besides Cedar Fair and Six Flags.

[Darkbeer]

FYI, Amber Bock is Michelob Amber Bock, brewed by Anheuser-Busch, and has NOTHING to do with Miller/South African Breweries.

I happen to know the brewmaster who makes Amber Bock here in Van Nuys. He happens to be a native from India... and makes a GREAT beer

As for who might buy "Worlds of Adventure" parks, not too many are mentioning Merlin Entertainments Group, which owns LEGOLAND, Madame Tussauds and others, and is the Second largest "Amusement/Theme Park" company (Disney is first).

http://www.merlinentertainments.biz/...roduction.aspx

[sir clinksalot]

^ Merlin was my thought to (and I don't know why I put Amber Bock under Miller. It's early, I haven't had my coffee yet. )

And it's Tussauds if were in a correcting mood.

And they already do own some "Sea Life Sanctuaries" and "Sea Life" park so having marine life parks would be nothing new to them. And I'm sure they'd like to get more of a US presence since currently their only US park is Legoland.

Personally I feel, for those of us in CA, being able to get a Sea World/Legoland AP would be a good thing.

And I also find it VERY funny that when I took the beer class at Sea World a few years back, they kept telling everybody how awesome it was that A/B was the only "American Owned" beer company ( I think it was just after Miller was sold if I'm not mistaken). They must have repeated it at least 10 times during the class.

[stitchon]

Stitch's predictions: Universal buys the four Florida parks (Seaworld, Busch Gardens, Aquatica, and Discovery Cove), Merlins would buy the San Diego park and San Antonio park, Herschend (Dollywood and Silver Dollar City) would hopefully buy Busch Gardens Williamsburg, and the waterparks would go to assorted companies. Herschend is really good with theming and friendliness, and from trip reports i've seen, BGW is really nice in both departments. I'm betting PARC Management will be in the running for a park or two as well.

[kcnole]

I don't see them splitting up the sea worlds like that although crazier things have happened. I could see all the Sea Worlds going to someone and all the Busch Gardens going to someone else, but I don't see them selling off the sea worlds seperately.

[drb]

But what happens to the free beer? Don't take away my free beer!

Will the Busch Gardens parks have to change their name?

[OFTEric]

I will give my .02 here on this topic. First I will say that I am optimistic for a shareholder revolt, and that this sale will NEVER go through.

With the SeaWorld, Aquatica, Discovery Cove and Busch Gardens being built in Dubai, along with the consistent profitability, and the great marketing arm that the facilities have proven to be to help create brand awareness for all the current AB products and brands I think that InBev will think twice about selling them and will operate them for the near future.

If we all remember back to when GE purchased Universal, there was talk about dumping the Universal parks, but once they got ahold of the company, and saw the balance sheets, and also the potential for growth, and the ability to help strengthen their brands, they decided to hold on to the parks. I feel that history will repeat itself in this regard.

That all being said, I would like to see AB remain an independent company. Remember how we all felt when Comcast made the bid for Disney a few years ago... I know I almost had a heart attack! lol

Sadly this is going to be A LOT of wait and see.

[KevinYee]

I too wonder if InBev will simply keep the parks, and use them to market their own brands into world brands. The parks make money, so selling them off may not make sense for them.

That said, everything has a price. I wonder which studio will nibble? (I'll hold most of my speculation for this week's miceage update)

[Monkey joe]

Originally Posted by KevinYee

I too wonder if InBev will simply keep the parks, and use them to market their own brands into world brands. The parks make money, so selling them off may not make sense for them.

That said, everything has a price. I wonder which studio will nibble? (I'll hold most of my speculation for this week's miceage update)

Warner Brothers. lol