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Ahead of the launch of SeaWorld Abu Dhabi, SeaWorld CEO Marc Swanson has said the company would look at domestic licensing or joint venture projects should the ‘right opportunity’ present itself
Tom Anstey | Planet Attractions | 10 May 2023
SeaWorld Abu Dhabi will be the operator’s first international attraction Credit: SeaWorld/Miral
SeaWorld’s CEO, Marc Swanson, has said the company would look at licensing or joint venture projects in the US, should “the right opportunity” arise.
The operator is just a couple of weeks away from launching its first international attraction - the highly-anticipated SeaWorld Abu Dhabi, which will open its doors on May 23, 2023.
Located next door to Yas SeaWorld Research and Rescue on Yas Island, SeaWorld Abu Dhabi has been described as the ‘largest marine life theme park in the world’ and is the result of a partnership between leading immersive attractions developer Miral and SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment.
Speaking during an earnings call, SeaWorld’s Swanson revealed that the company would “entertain” ideas, responding to a question of whether or not a similarly licensed version of SeaWorld attractions could end up on domestic soil.
“Without getting into specifics, I think what I can tell you is, we certainly entertain a lot of different things,” said Swanson. “And so we will continue to do that. So yes, I mean, the right opportunity, the right situation, we would certainly look at it, whether it's domestic or international.”
Swanson, who visited the park in April, described the new animal attraction as a “one-of-a-kind, world-class venue”.
Explaining how the licensing agreement works with Miral and SeaWorld, he added: “We share some of the revenue and then a percent of the adjusted EBITDA. The park’s not open right now, but I think you can expect that's going to likely deliver single digit millions this year and ramp accordingly on the go-forward basis. We think it's a great park. I'm very excited for it.”
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