Sale of 10 Busch Theme Parks ‘Inevitable’, Likely to Foreign Company
Forget the American tradition of Budweiser beer being owned by a European company, I’m more concerned about my favorite park chain. Financial analysts have said that the sale of Busch Entertainment’s theme parks inevitable.
The Busch Parks include these theme parks and water parks: Busch Gardens Europe (Williamsburg, VA), Busch Gardens Africa (Tampa, FL), Sea World Orlando, Sea World San Antonio, Sea World San Diego, Sesame Place (Langhorne, PA), Adventure Island (Tampa, FL), Water Country USA (Orlando, FL), Aquatica (Orlando, FL) and Discovery Cove (Orlando, FL).
Possible Buyers
The Busch parks may go for between $3 and $5 billion. According to analysts, both Six Flags and Cedar Fair are said to have too much debt to be acquiring the Busch parks. Most feel that the parks will be acquired by foreign companies. Parques Reunidos, the Madrid-based company that acquired Kennywood and investors from Dubai have been rumored to have the cash to purchase the parks.
A Houston Chronicle article mentions that the sale of the parks might not even happen until next year. So until then we have plenty of time to speculate. I just hope my Busch Gardens Europe and Busch Gardens Africa get some great new owners. Read the full article.
What do you think of this news? Who do you want to buy the park? Leave a comment below.
July 21, 2008 at 11:39
I'd prefer that Parques Reunidos buy the busch parks, but what worries me is the fate of that new theme park that was supposed to be built on a man made island off of dubai. Is there any news regarding the status of that?
July 26, 2008 at 23:13
dont worry about the busch parks they grossed over one billon dollars last year and cleared 265 millon so the parks are not going anywhere . as far as someone buying the parks dont leave out mr busch. if they sell at all