Now that In-Bev is buying Anheuser Busch...

[Stinasmom]

News articles are already being published that they may sell off the entertainment division for $4-$5 billion (which includes their 10 theme parks)...

I found this info here:
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5jK1tY9DhEO2iWNtESnUfSflad7GwD91UHJK01

How do you think this will effect the parks for us guests?
We are going to Discovery Cove and Sea World in December. I told my DH that the best case senario for this sale was that we could get Stella Artois at the parks as well as "bud," but worst case... who knows...

Anyone else have some educated guesses as to what the future holds for these beloved parks??

 

[DOOM1001]

I don't really know what's going to happen,there's been rumors ranging from Disney buying all the parks,which would give Disney parks in Williamsburg,Va where there was a rumor years ago of a Disney's America theme park,a park in Texas who also has had Disney rumors as well as down the road from Disneyland in So CAL and more Fla parks including Discovery Cove which is unlike anything Disney has,I don't think Disney would get involved but you never know, these are some good locations and years ago Disney even put a bid on Sea World in Orlando when it was being sold from Harcourt to Busch.Blackstone who owns 50% of Universal could also be involved in buying the parks,Nakheel who is the one building the Busch parks in Dubai who has A LOT of money and is definitely a possibility.There are other companies that are being mentioned but the one that brings dread when it gets mentioned is Six Flags which is unlikely since they are in serious debt but still scares me when I think of these great parks being run by Six Flags.I just want someone who will maintain the parks in their current condition and has the money to run them well.

 

[iHEARTflorida]

i dont think anything will happen to the parks, their just keep them running!

 

[DixieDolphin]

As I said in the other thread we have going on this (located here: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1885129), I think its highly likely that InBev will sell the parks. Even before the sale was agreed upon, they had already made it clear they intended to sell off "non-core assets."

The actual profit from the parks is just a tiny drop in the bucket compared to the overall profit of the company (I heard something in the range of less than 10%, but I can't recall off the top of my head.) Really an insignificant amount to a HUGE beverage company like the combined A-B & InBev will be.

I find it /extremely/ unlikely that Disney will buy the parks for any reason. It's not how Disney generally does business (have you EVER heard of them buying and operating an established park?). If they had wanted to, they easily could have picked up the parks years ago when Harcourt was desperate to sell them. Additionally, I don't see Disney having ANY interest in the parks in Texas, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. Nor in the BG in Tampa. It would cost them too much to build up a /Disney/ infrastructure in those areas. And the simple fact that Disney likes to have their own little interconnected chunk of inescapable property would make their acquisition of the Sea World parks, miles from their compound, rather unlikely in Orlando (and California, for that matter). And personally, that's fine with me. I don't want to see Mickey Mouse decorating all the walls at Sea World.

People bring up Blackstone, but I'm not so sure about that. They run small-time parks.. maybe they're a big deal in Europe, but I've never even HEARD of most of the parks they run. Sea World is a much more global name, with an extremely high standard. I'd hate to see the parks fall backwards to that roadside attraction / sideshow sort of thing.

I'm putting my bets on Nakheel. They already have an established relationship with Busch Entertainment and they have plenty of money to spend.. plus, they are all about the high quality (to the point of insane amounts of luxury in some of their hotels and projects!) And while they're primarily focused on development in Dubai, they also have extended their reach to places like New York, London, and Thailand via hotels and resorts. AND, they have marine conservation / sustainability projects already established as well.

So, my guess is Nakheel. But time will tell.

There's a lot of discussion on the other thread (linked above).

 

[dolphingirl47]

My money is also on Nakheel and I think this might actually the best case scenario. They have proven with there investment in Dubai that they stand behind this kind of park. They are also big enough to say that also they will own the infrastructure of the Dubai parks and pick up the tab for the operating costs, they do not have the expertise to actually manage this kind of park. This would probably mean for the US parks that if Nakheel would buy them out, they would put up the cash, but would keep the existing staff and their expertise.

dolphingirl47

 

[donaldduck352]

My money is also on Nakheel and I think this might actually the best case scenario. They have proven with there investment in Dubai that they stand behind this kind of park. They are also big enough to say that also they will own the infrastructure of the Dubai parks and pick up the tab for the operating costs, they do not have the expertise to actually manage this kind of park. This would probably mean for the US parks that if Nakheel would buy them out, they would put up the cash, but would keep the existing staff and their expertise.

dolphingirl47

Thats the best insight I've heard yet.Only time will tell

 

[Loudbmw]

My vote is for NBC/Universal (GE) to buy the parks. GE has owned Universal Studios for a few years and done well in expanding the parks.

A combined Seaworld, Busch Gardens, Aquatica, IOA & US would be a good competitor to Disney.

Lou

In the interest of full disclosure, I am a minor (very minor at that) owner of GE stock.

 

[raven69david]

Since I've been going there for so long, my family and I have become very close with all the workers & management of our local Hospitality House. They had a meeting yesterday and all they have been told by corporate is that they have a job guaranteed until the 12/31/08. They will know more information in December or earlier when things play out. I'm gonna miss those two complimentary beers (or 1 sports drink).

 

[Eaglefan9727]

Ill say this again in this thread as I have stated in other threads on various forums and even this forum as well.

As of right now, Nobody even knows if the merger will even take place as this merger has to go through a couple hurdles before it even becomes a done deal. Lets just go to the parks and enjoy them as they are and then deal with it when and if the time comes.

 

[Mrs. Toaster]

My husband's best hope: Free Stella! He loves that beer!

My husband's biggest fear: No more free beer!

 

[Stinasmom]

Since I've been going there for so long, my family and I have become very close with all the workers & management of our local Hospitality House. They had a meeting yesterday and all they have been told by corporate is that they have a job guaranteed until the 12/31/08. They will know more information in December or earlier when things play out. I'm gonna miss those two complimentary beers (or 1 sports drink).

Whew! That should(?) guarantee that our trip the second week of December will not see any adverse changes... fingers crossed!

My husband's best hope: Free Stella! He loves that beer!

My husband's biggest fear: No more free beer!

Ha! I guess I should admit that the first worry we had was the changes to the "beer" benefits! We are hitting Discovery Cove where it is all complimentary... adding Stella is a dream, but having none would be sad.

Thanks for all the information on this thread, so far! Sorry that it was a duplicate thread topic, but I didn't find the other one...

OP

 

[scoolover]

I can't wait to visit In-Bev Gardens on my next trip. I'll need a car to get to Tampa.

 

[DOOM1001]

Did anybody catch that one of the possible new buyers of the Busch parks is rumored to be the Busch family themselves.The website says that several sources claim that there's a silent agreement between InBev and the Busch family for them to acquire the parks.

 

[Jason71]

Did anybody catch that one of the possible new buyers of the Busch parks is rumored to be the Busch family themselves.The website says that several sources claim that there's a silent agreement between InBev and the Busch family for them to acquire the parks.

A lot of Sea World people have been saying this since the deal was announced (which means it may be wishful thinking as much as anything, these are the same people who insisted there would be no sale right up until it was announced). Interesting theory, but two drawbacks:
(1) In the world of huge corporate mergers, there are no "silent" deals--under-the-table agreements get people tossed in jail by the SEC.
(2) The sale should net August Busch a cool $990+ million. A nice chunk of change for selling out your great-grandfather's legacy and an iconic American brand, but still leaves him around $3-4 billion short. A lot to invest out of your own pocket.

The only way I see this coming to pass is if the Bushes work in conjunction with a group of investors--the Dubai crowd seems the most obvious choice, but really could be anybody.

If I was a betting man, tho, I would still say Blackstone/Merlin. For much the same reason as InBev bought AB--they are the biggest player in the rest of the world, this will let them go after the U.S. market.

 

[DOOM1001]

The website where I heard the Busch family would buy the parks is saying that they should net 2 billion dollars from the stock they own.I do agree that if they did buy them it probably would include other investors.