Rather negative article on the future of all Universal theme parks…

[MrPromey]

http://www.theledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20040616/NEWS/406160372/1001/BUSINESS


Particularly disturbing is the news of senior executives leaving the theme park division, the creative design group being cut by more than half to well under 50 and the apparent news that after Mummy, there isn’t anything of significance even in the planning stages at this time.

I wonder what NBC’s plans really are. It seems that advertisement for movies and TV shows isn’t really reason enough to keep this worldwide division going… If they are planning to unload it, hopefully it will be to someone more interested in the theme park business.

 

[dxwwf3]

Well I certainly hope that the parks are in the future of Universal. It would be a shame to see them bought by a different movie studio, but it would be worse if they shut down the whole area. I do not see that happening though. Attendence seems to be up at both parks (Just from what I've seen, nothing official).

 

[NemoRocks78]

Well, I don't know why The Ledger is just posting that article now, because I saw it weeks ago.

Since then, I've seen these articles, all pointing in a good direction.....

This is from an article in the Orlando Sentinel about Disney offering discounts on hotel rooms on June 7th......

At neighboring Universal Studios, no discounts are being offered this summer, spokesman Tom Schroeder said.

"We are not relying on discounts," he said. "We are relying on strong products and entertainment experiences."

Bookings at Universal's three on-site hotels are up by double-digit percentages over 2003, he said.

This is from an Amusement Business article on May 31st......

The Universal Studios theme parks are showing strong signs of a rebound, according to Vivendi Universal, which sold a majority stake in its entertainment unit to General Electric's NBC.

In reporting its earnings for the first quarter, the last full quarter before VU merged Vivendi Universal Entertainment into NBC, the company said that Universal parks and resorts had seen a 36% uptick in operating income because of higher ticket sales at Universal Studios Hollywood, which last year saw its attendance decline 12% to 4.57 million, according to AB Year-End Rankings.

This is from the same article.....

"We're seeing strong world-wide demand for our theme park and resort offerings," said Tom Williams, Universal Parks & Resorts Chairman. "In particular, attendance at our domestic parks is up 15% over last year. We're seeing growth in all our key markets and all indications lead to a strong summer. In fact, we're optimistic about a strong year overall."

Williams also said Universal Studios Japan is seeing a 50% increase in revenues.

Attendance is up at all of the Universal theme parks. This year, I can also see USF moving up the attendance charts, as well as USH (The Hollywood park has been offering some good discounts, and both parks are opening ROTM). If attendance is up at all of the parks I think NBC will be more interested in them. Since NBC has taken over, I also have seen more painting and such being done all over both parks, which must mean that they care about them. They aren't just going to go off selling them to Six Flags or some other cheap theme park company like everyone on many discussion boards have been saying.

Now if IOA can just get a new ride, I think Universal Orlando could see some record attendance levels.

 

[MrPromey]

Yes but 15% up from last year still doesn’t sound that great when they lost more money last year than the year before and have been loosing money every year since 2000 – before 911 and the major slow down in tourism in Central Florida… Someone else pointed out in another thread that the hotels are owned and operated by third party companies and that many of their bookings are related to conventions which would not directly translate to profit for Universal unless they are getting some kind of a cut on all of those rooms (which they very well may be getting – I don’t know). I’m sure a healthy dose of those people at convention are going to Citywalk and spending a day or two in the parks as well, but more guests there for the parks would certainly be a better scenario for them…

I can’t imagine that NBC would close any of the parks it has open now. That would a rather hefty financial loss but from what I can recall, they weren’t really thrilled about getting the parks in the deal to begin with… Perhaps they could be sold to another company that would operate them under license. I don’t think that would necessarily be a bad thing if it means continued development and investment…

As for a new ride at IOA, if that article is to be believed there is nothing even in the planning stages at this time which would mean nothing along the lines of a MIB or Spider Man or anything else E-ticket like for another three or more years if they were to get started today. That is part of what seems bad to me.

Well, I don't know why The Ledger is just posting that article now, because I saw it weeks ago.

Since then, I've seen these articles, all pointing in a good direction.....

This is from an article in the Orlando Sentinel about Disney offering discounts on hotel rooms on June 7th......



This is from an Amusement Business article on May 31st......


This is from the same article.....


Attendance is up at all of the Universal theme parks. This year, I can also see USF moving up the attendance charts, as well as USH (The Hollywood park has been offering some good discounts, and both parks are opening ROTM). If attendance is up at all of the parks I think NBC will be more interested in them. Since NBC has taken over, I also have seen more painting and such being done all over both parks, which must mean that they care about them. They aren't just going to go off selling them to Six Flags or some other cheap theme park company like everyone on many discussion boards have been saying.

Now if IOA can just get a new ride, I think Universal Orlando could see some record attendance levels.