Attractions Magazine noted that SeaWorld mentioned in a recent investor call that they are looking at IPs to integrate in their parks. Obviously, they have Sesame Street now, they have done Rudolph and Polar Express for Christmas, and they did have a DC Super Heroes water stunt show in the past. This got me thinking, though....what kind of IP would even be relevant or a good fit for SeaWorld? Any ideas/predictions?
I was in Orlando last month and I saw an ad for a Baby Shark event they were holding at SeaWorld.
Make of that what you will…
If there was an overarching theme for the investor call this week, it would be "let's try to boost United Parks' stock price." That's why the board is buying back half a billion dollars' worth of shares and why the CEO was trying to start every rumor he could.
I mentioned in my front-page post that Swanson said that the company expected to have two memorandums of understanding in place for licensed parks outside the U.S. He also mentioned getting deals for new IP to use in the parks.
But SeaWorld has been talking for years about building hotels at its parks, and it still hasn't happened - despite even filing to pull permits in Orlando. So my skepticism toward any nebulous United Parks announcements is strong.
For context, Miral was sending out invites for its Disney announcement press event within 24 hours of signing its deal. If United had deals in place, they would say that. So United clearly does not yet have those agreements.
And what IP is out there that would move the needle for United? I can't think of anything that the company could afford that's any bigger than the Baby Sharks of the world.
When United gets an actual deal, I will report it. When dirt moves and steel goes up, I will report that. But for now, I am just a little bit over parroting obvious attempts to boost a stock price that do not have any grounding in actual deals.
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Oh god no. If they were to bring IP into the parks it would have to be
1. Based on educational/reality TV
2. Relegated to an animal or stunt show
3. Only for seasonal events
4. Only for kids
5. Any combination of what's above
SeaWorld has enough unfinished lands. If you ask me, they should replace the Nautilus Theater (by infinity falls) with a tilt coaster that weaves around the area, themed to freshwater aquatic life. But that's just me.