Universal Orlando posts record profits for summer '07

[crazy4wdw]

Universal Orlando brings in the summer crowds, boasts record Q3 sales, profit

By Scott Powers | Sentinel Staff Writer
11:49 AM EST, November 13, 2007

Universal Orlando enjoyed its biggest summer crowds in three years this summer, leading the theme park company to announce today that it had record sales and profit during its third fiscal quarter.

Universal's paid theme-park attendance, at Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure, topped a combined 3.1 million for the three months that ended Sept. 30, a 12 percent improvement over the summer of 2006 and the first summer increase since 2004.

The attendance boost was enough to overcome attendance declines at Universal Orlando's theme parks during the first two quarters of 2007. For the fiscal year now, the parks' combined gate is now up 2 percent over last year's nine-month pace.

During the third quarter, the company's revenue increased 18 percent to $267million, while profit rose 104 percent, to $57 million.

The company also owns the CityWalk nightlife district and three resort hotels at Universal Orlando.

Universal officials credited the strong summer to consumer interest stoked by the new Blue Man Group show and by the announced coming of The Simpsons and Harry Potter attractions, along with "a more aggressive overall marketing strategy."

"We've benefited from the perfect combination of a robust marketplace, great new guest experiences, outstanding marketing, enthusiasm for the kind of entertainment we offer and the promise of more to come," said Bill Davis, president and chief operating officer of Universal Orlando.

 

[crazy4wdw]

Universal brings back Grinchmas
November 13, 2007

The 2007 "Grinchmas" holiday show at Universal Orlando's Islands of Adventure returns this year after a one-year absence and will feature a new musical, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, in honor of the 50th anniversary of the Dr. Seuss book, resort officials announced Monday. Grinchmas began as a festival in 2000 and grew into a featured show, but the resort canceled it before the 2006 holiday season. Though the resort has this year featured the green Dr. Seuss character in holiday season advertising for weeks, Universal withheld details until Monday, when it declared the show was returning "by popular demand." The new Grinch musical will feature seven new songs on a new stage in Seuss Landing.

 

[G8RFAN]

Universal officials credited the strong summer to ..........."a more aggressive overall marketing strategy."

I read it as discounted passes. It inspired us to buy annual passes for us. Two years for the price of one. Can't beat it. If anything, it took business opportunity away from SeaWorld.