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.
In its third-quarter financial statement, filed this morning with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, the resort's parent company, Universal City Development Partners, reported what it called its best historical quarter to date for both net income and revenue.
During the third quarter, the company's revenue increased 18 percent to $267 million, 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.
Scott Powers can be reached at spowers@orlandosentinel.com or 407-420-5441.
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.
In its third-quarter financial statement, filed this morning with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, the resort's parent company, Universal City Development Partners, reported what it called its best historical quarter to date for both net income and revenue.
During the third quarter, the company's revenue increased 18 percent to $267 million, 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.
Scott Powers can be reached at spowers@orlandosentinel.com or 407-420-5441.
