Originally Posted By joe80x86 So what will/would the effects of a sale to InBev be for the Anheuser-Busch Theme parks. I am thinking they might try to sell off the parks. None of the news articles seem to be saying anything about them. Unless of course the parks are a completely separate company and would somehow not be affected by an acquisition, but I don't believe that is the case. So what are your thoughts? Also check out <a href="http://www.saveab.com" target="_blank">http://www.saveab.com</a>
Originally Posted By Malin With the high gas prices and many speculating that people are going to end up staying home instead of vacationing, is buying up a group of theme parks the best idea for any company right now? I seem to remember people having concerns and doubts when General Electric's NBC and Universal got merged into a new company that people were expecting the parks to be sold off. But here we are now and not only are the parks still part of NBC Universal but are actually starting to see some decent investment being made like The Simpson's attractions and that new Harry Potter land. The only hope is if it did sell the parks on to another group, there would want to maintain the quality that Sea World and the others have become and not want to turn them into another Six Flags or Cedar Point.
Originally Posted By figment1986 Ironically, The Busch parks have a big local base as well that they can attract and keep coming. The other parks also get a good enough European and Asian visitation.
Originally Posted By brotherdave I would really hate to see the A-B parks sold. They offer some of the best theme park experiences outside of Disney and Universal. I sincerely doubt that Disney would be interested in purchasing them, but, in today's theme park world, I suppose anything is possible. Universal/Blackstone wouldn't be a bad candidate either. They obviously know how to run a decent themed operation as well. If I had to choose a perfect successor for the A-B parks, my vote would go to Herschend Entertainment. They're the ones who operate Silver Dollar City and Dollywood, both excellent theme park experiences in their own right. Parques Reunidos might be a decent company, too. I just hope that Cedar Fair or Six Flags doesn't 'find' enough money to purchase them!!!
Originally Posted By dshyates My ideal situation is Universal/Blackstone. If they did that they could possibly partner with the chamber to hook Universal to Sea World with a monorail with a stop at Wet N' Wild, Pointe Orlando, Mercaodo, the Convention Center and Sea World (with their 3 parks and 2 Marriot hotels). That would make a complex with 3 full blown theme parks (US, IOA, SW), 1 boutique park (DC), 2 water parks (Aquatica, WnW) and 4 shopping and dining districts (CityWalk, Pointe Orlando, Mercado, and whatever they build between the two Marriots at SW), and 6 hotels (Portifino Bay, Royal Pacific, Hard Rock, the new Hollywood Hotel, and the 2 marriot properties at SW). They could include The Peabody, and the new Blue Rose Project (which is a a massive Hotel/Condo complex with a rumored indoor ski resort, and 2 Vegas quality shows), the Palazzo del lago, and the Orlando Giant Wheel. They would pay for the Monorail stops at their places to get public transport to the convention center and hotels. And if you stay in any of the monoral hotels which would be many you wouldn't have to drive after you get there, just like WDW. But universal just opened The Simpson's Ride. And they have Hollywood Rip, Ride Rockit, the new 16-story Hollywood Hotel, and Harry Potter under construction so universal is pretty stretched as it is for a collapsing economy. But I can always dream Dubia big.
Originally Posted By Malin If somebody wanted to purchase the parks, its not only about the Orlando properties but the remaining parks too. Hopely if a merger takes place an agreement will be put into place where the parks will remain untouched. But some of the parks locations like Tampa, Orlando and San Diego are in good locations and would certainly look attractive on paper for a group like Six Flags or Cedar Point.
Originally Posted By brotherdave I sincerely doubt that Six Flags could purchase anything right now due to their financial situation. And Cedar Fair is also in no position to buy them right now either after just acquiring the Paramount chain. Personally, I'm glad that neither of these chains would be serious contenders for the entire chain of A-B parks. Herschend, Merlin/Tussauds, or Universal/Blackstone would be better keepers of this well run chain of parks.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 I sincerely hope this sale doesn't go through ... it would be bad ... very bad on so many levels.
Originally Posted By dshyates The Busch Family still owns a controling 51 percent of the stock, and they don't want to sell. They are looking at buying 50% stake in mexico's largest brewer Grupo Modelo (Corona). This would create a company to large for InBev to buy. InBev has issued strong warnings against such a move. <a href="http://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2008/06/16/daily2.html" target="_blank">http://www.bizjournals.com/mil...ly2.html</a>
Originally Posted By joe80x86 @dshyates It would be great if they actually did own 51% of the stock, but according to all the articles I have read they do not. Here is an excerpt from a bloomberg.com article: "Anheuser executives and directors, both family members and outsiders, control 4.5 percent of the brewer's stock, according to a March regulatory filing." 4.5% means they can't stop anything, sadly.
Originally Posted By dshyates Oh, I had heard they still had controlling stock. (My brother told me that. I should have known he was about as wrong as he could be. He's a complete idiot) But I have heard from credible sources that they are trying to merge with Grupo Modelo.
Originally Posted By joe80x86 Yes, they apparently already own 50% of the company, so they would only need 1% more to control it. Their thought is that then Inbev would have to raise it's offer and probably cannot do so, which would prevent them from buying AB out completely.
Originally Posted By Sunshine84 "The Busch parks have a big local base as well that they can attract and keep coming." That is true and part of what I love about Busch Gardens Williamsburg - it is a great vacation spot/destination for local and semi-local residents. With plane tickets being so expensive, it is nice to be able to drive, take a train or bus there! It is easy and a fun park with a lot of attractions. I live in the D.C. area and work with Busch Gardens Williamsburg - so I will make a trip or two this summer to enjoy the rides. Is anyone planning a trip there?
