NBCUniversal CEO Jeff Shell says Universal’s theme parks have “come roaring back” after the pandemic-related closures, revealing the company is enjoying “historic” hotel bookings and park attendance.
During the 24th Annual Credit Suisse Communications Conference (via Click Orlando), Shell said the company is “above where we were in 2019 despite not a lot of international travellers”.
He noted “historic bookings in Florida hotels and our theme park attendance”. He said Universal Studios Japan “is all the way back now” and Universal Studios Hollywood is “more than all the way back”.
Shell said Universal is “sailing into the summer on the theme park business really, really strongly”, adding that the company is “selling out our parks”.
Amid the pandemic, NBCUniversal “didn’t stop investing” in its theme parks. “So as we come out of the pandemic, we have new attractions opening,” he said.
Jurassic World VelociCoaster, Florida’s fastest, tallest and most intense launch coaster, has been “driving huge, huge attendance”, according to Shell.
“But in virtually every park, we have new rides, we have Nintendo, which is really driving the resurgence of our Japan park,” he said.
Universal Studios Japan is already expanding its immersive land to include the world’s first Donkey Kong-themed area, opening in 2024.
Shell spoke about the upcoming launch of Super Nintendo World at Universal Studios Hollywood, although he didn’t “spill the beans” on its opening date.
Universal “didn’t stop investing” in parks
Universal Studios Hollywood will be home to the first Super Nintendo World in the US, which will feature an interactive ride called Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge.
“And then more importantly, we’re building new parks,” he added. “So we’re building this giant new park in Orlando called Epic Universe.”
“It’s going to be anchored by Nintendo, so Nintendo will have a full land there like it does in Japan, which I think based on the success of Japan, I’m very excited about,” Shell said.
Epic Universe, the fourth theme park at Universal Orlando Resort in Florida, is expected to open by summer 2025.
Images: NBCUniversal
