Blackstone to purchase Bush Gardens and Seaworld for 2.7 Billion

[OogieBoogie]

The Orlando Sentinel is reporting today that the Blackstone Private Equity group has just bought out the Busch Entertainment Corporation from InBev for $2.7 billion. What does this mean? It means that Blackstone is now the 2nd largest theme park operator in the US, and has just become a commanding presence in Orlando.


The Busch Entertainment Corp consists of 10 amusement parks including SeaWorld Orlando, SeaWorld San Antonio, SeaWorld San Diego, Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, Busch Gardens Williamsburg, Discovery Cove in Orlando, Sesame Place in Philadelphia, Adventure Island Water Park in Tampa, Aquatica in Orlando, Water Country USA in Virginia, Grants Farm in St. Louis. All of these parks employ about 25,000 people and have approximately 25 million visitors a year.


Blackstone already owns Legoland, Madame Tussauds Wax Museums, and is 50% owner in Universal Orlando. There are also rumors that with this acquisition, Legoland might have a second park opening in Orlando soon, and that a proposed Busch Gardens site in Dubai might be happening as well.


Blackstone has already announced that it no jobs will be lost as part of this transaction.

To read the article, please go to SeaWorld sold: SeaWorld owner Busch Entertainment bought by Blackstone Group -- OrlandoSentinel.com

[DLRP_bopazot]

I don't know how this will affects the American Busch Gardens Theme Parks . It is the same group than Alton Towers and Thorpe Park in the UK .