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BUSCH PARKS: BLACKSTONE, now what?


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^Well, I hate to do it again but:

SeaWorld CEO stepping aside as company announces layoffs[/size]

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/os-seaworld-ceo-20141211-story.html

I met the CEO twice as an intern and I'm ok with him leaving. He was a dick. I'll be sad if/when the great people at Busch Gardens that I know get let go.

That article I can read. It is not blocked by a paywall. Yet the other one is, and without an apparent reason why. Color me confused.

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^Well, I hate to do it again but:

SeaWorld CEO stepping aside as company announces layoffs[/size]

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/os-seaworld-ceo-20141211-story.html

I met the CEO twice as an intern and I'm ok with him leaving. He was a dick. I'll be sad if/when the great people at Busch Gardens that I know get let go.

That article I can read. It is not blocked by a paywall. Yet the other one is, and without an apparent reason why. Color me confused.

I think it has to do with the date the article was posted, maybe?

I think there is a bigger problem, for Sea World in the fact that they are not "unique" anymore. 10-20-30 years ago, people didnt have the opportunity to view these creatures. SW was the only (or one of the few) spots to see them. Not so much now, as the internet allows us opportunities to study and look at animals in a way that we never had seen before.

A closed sea pen would be interesting... I picture the Jaws underwater Tunnel personally.

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See:

http://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/Hundreds-of-SeaWorld-Employees-Given-Pink-Slips-Report-285673521.html

Some employees only found out when their access badges didn't work. Shameful and sad. Note the new addition about severance packages.

I suspect this is the camel's nose.

The total experience will be affected...

See also a question with a rather pathetic 'answer' at USAToday:

http://americasmarkets.usatoday.com/2014/12/13/ask-matt-can-seaworld-resurface/

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In Busch Gardens Williamsburg, the marketing department is practically gone. Zoological division and entertainment division took huge cuts. Sell-off of non-core animals is all but assured at this park.

http://forum.parkfans.net/thread-3728-post-123344.html#pid123344

Guys, this is BAD. Really, REALLY bad.

Busch Gardens Williamsburg without marketing, minimal zoo staff, minimal entertainment staff, and a modern, "edgy" motocross themed coaster en route for 2015 - still not announced. But then, who would announce it? There's no marketing department left.

And this is just one park.

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California has very strict laws requiring state notification before most widespread layoffs.

108 at SeaWorld San Diego alone:

http://m.utsandiego.com/news/2014/dec/15/seaworld-san-diego-job-layoffs/

No way this isn't going to adversely affect park experiences.

And the timing--right before Christmas.

Sad and pathetic.

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It'll never happen, but Busch Gardens would be best spun off into its own entity.

I don't know if BG would be a good fit in the FUN or SIX portfolio. I think those parks have way too much attention to detail than those suitors. The last I was at BG, Williamsburg- the attention to landscaping was off the chart. CF has done much better with environment/experience at the parks than the Paramount predecessor, but lets face it- those details aren't one of their strong suits.

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It would be an absolute travesty to see either/both Busch Gardens in the hands of Six Flags.

Worse than being in the hands of SeaWorld Parks and Entertainment?

I don't know. Just asking.

That's a fair question. Does Herschend have the financial resources it would take to acquire the Busch parks?

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