SeaWorld Entertainment has reported its financial results for the first quarter of 2022, revealing its theme parks hosted 3.4 million guests in Q1 – the highest first-quarter attendance for the company since 2013.
“We are pleased to report another quarter of record financial results,” said Marc Swanson, CEO of SeaWorld Entertainment. “While our first-quarter performance was strong and continued our momentum from 2021, we have scope for further recovery as it still does not yet reflect a normalized operating environment.”
SeaWorld welcomed 3.4 million guests in Q1 2022, an increase of 1.2 million guests (53.7 percent) compared to the first quarter of 2021. Compared to Q1 2019, attendance increased by 1.9 percent.
From the first quarter of 2021, revenue increased by $98.8m to $270.7m. Compared to Q1 2019, revenue rose by $50.1m.
“We are also thrilled by our guests’ reception to the new rides and attractions we’ve opened to date and we are particularly encouraged by the early reviews and results from our new Sesame Place San Diego park, which is our first new park since 2013,” Swanson added.
SeaWorld welcomes 3.4 million guests in Q1
SeaWorld is launching new rides and attractions across its parks this year, including the Ice Breaker coaster, which opened at SeaWorld Orlando in February.
In March, the Tidal Surge ‘screaming swing’ ride opened at SeaWorld San Antonio. SeaWorld San Diego’s Emperor coaster, Busch Gardens Williamsburg’s Pantheon coaster, and Busch Gardens Tampa Bay’s Iron Gwazi coaster also launched in March.
As for SeaWorld’s water parks, the Reef Plunge and Riptide Race waterslides opened at Aquatica Orlando and Aquatica San Antonio, respectively. Adventure Island Tampa is set to open the new Rapids Racer and Wahoo Remix waterslides.
Sesame Place San Diego launched in March, and the Big Bird’s Tour Bus ride opened at Sesame Place Philadelphia in April.
Swanson said SeaWorld has “systematically improved our business model starting before and during the pandemic period and we expect these improvements to continue to be reflected in our operating and financial results”.
Cedar Fair has also reported record revenue of $193m for the four-month period ended 1 May 2022, and Universal said theme park recovery “shows no signs of slowing down”.
Images: SeaWorld Entertainment
