SeaWorld proprietor United Parks stated uncommon excessive climate in 2024 led to a drop in guests in comparison with 2023.
In an announcement about its annual monetary outcomes introduced final week, the corporate’s CEO Marc Swanson stated that with out “considerably worse climate and hurricanes,” significantly in Florida, attendance would have been 2% larger than in 2023.
“We have had a reasonably dangerous run of unusually poor climate over the past couple of years,” he stated.
“Hurricanes Debby in August, Helene in September and Milton in October. We estimate that the mixed influence of the meaningfully worse climate was roughly 167,000 friends within the fourth quarter and 432,000 friends for the fiscal 12 months.”
Swanson informed traders that the corporate expects report figures in 2025, assuming the climate will not be worse than anticipated.
“We’re happy with our general 2025 reserving traits and are significantly comfortable to see our 2025 worldwide gross sales progress up mid-single digits and our 2025 group bookings progress up double digits. Assuming no worse climate than we skilled in 2024, we anticipate significant progress and new data in income,” he stated.
The New Common Epic Universe Park Might additionally Have an effect on Customer Numbers
Skift reported final week that Walt Disney World was experiencing extra frequent shutdowns attributable to excessive climate. The Florida theme park has both closed partly or utterly at the very least 12 occasions since 2016 attributable to hurricanes.
“Climate goes to proceed to be extra essential sooner or later in how theme parks plan for it, calculate it, issue it in and function,” stated theme park analyst Dennis Spiegel.
Spiegel added nonetheless that competitors inside the theme park market performs an even bigger position in customer numbers. “On a share foundation, Disney is the very best, they draw the most individuals. Common second and United Parks third. Folks go to Sea World when the opposite parks are full or as a result of Sea World presents extra worth for cash. It’s cheaper to go to than the opposite parks.”
The final new theme park within the area was opened by Disney over 20 years in the past. So the brand new Common Epic Universe Park may have an effect on Sea World customer numbers as soon as it opens, Spiegel stated.
United Parks stated that in 2023, weather-related points lowered park attendance by over 370,000 visits for the total 12 months.
Local weather scientists are unsure whether or not the variety of hurricanes in Florida will rise. Nonetheless, consultants, together with from the Intergovernmental Panel on Local weather Change (IPCC), agree that hurricanes within the area will proceed to develop stronger and extra intense on account of the worldwide improve in greenhouse gasses.
United Parks didn’t reply to a request for remark from Skift.
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