SeaWorld parent company United Parks & Resorts has reported declines in attendance and revenue for the third quarter of this year.
United Parks & Resorts’ portfolio of theme parks, which includes SeaWorld and Busch Gardens, attracted seven million guests in Q3, a 1.4 percent decrease from the same period last year.
The company reported total revenue of $545.9 million, a decrease of $2.3m from the third quarter of 2023. Net income was $119.7m, a decrease of $3.9m, while adjusted EBITDA was $258.4m, a decrease of $8m.
United Parks & Resorts has attributed these declines to worse weather, including two hurricanes, as well as a negative calendar shift.
Marc Swanson, CEO of United Parks & Resorts, said: “Third-quarter results were impacted by both a negative calendar shift and meaningfully worse weather, including Hurricane Debby in August and Hurricane Helene in September. Â
Swanson said the “combined impact of the calendar shift and the meaningfully worse weather was approximately 320,000 guests, adjusting for these impacts, attendance would have increased approximately 3 percent compared to the prior-year quarter”.
To drive up business, United Parks & Resorts is investing in new rides and attractions for next year. These include an Arctic-themed flying theatre at SeaWorld Orlando, a new family-friendly area at SeaWorld San Antonio, and a jellyfish experience at SeaWorld San Diego.
New attractions at SeaWorld, Busch Gardens
Busch Gardens Tampa Bay is getting the new Wild Oasis area, while Busch Gardens Williamsburg is adding North America‘s longest inverted family coaster.
“Our results year to date continue to demonstrate the strength and resiliency of our business model and the increased demand for our parks and our unique and differentiated offerings,” Swanson added.
“While we are encouraged by the pay offs we are seeing from our investments and initiatives across our enterprise, we know we have a lot more work to do.”
