Big news alert, big news alert!
SeaWorld wants to buy Cedar Fair.
That’s right, the SeaWorld chain, home to the various SeaWorld and Busch Gardens parks
across North America, want to buy Cedar Fair, one of the largest regional theme park operators
in the world.
That could mean places like Cedar Point and Kings Island falling under the SeaWorld name.
We don’t know the outcome of this deal yet though.
SeaWorld submitted their proposal to buy Cedar Fair for roughly $3.4 Billion - a steal according
to some.
The weakened position of Cedar Fair, due to the pandemic, has reduced their net worth.
Though, SeaWorld might be willing to pay more to acquire Cedar Fair’s theme parks and
make a large splash in the regional amusement park industry.
SeaWorld see this as a way to expand their offering, enhancing their season pass offering,
and giving them a portfolio of theme parks to further develop with onsite accommodation.
Will the deal go through?
We’ll keep you posted.
In other news, the Efteling has been ordered to reduce nitrogen emissions or limit its
annual attendance to just 5 million visitors.
The Dutch park, which has exceeded that figure in 2017, 2018 and 2019, is one of Europe’s
most popular theme parks.
A local court has ordered the province in which the Efteling lies, to intervene if the
park exceeds their 5 million limit.
If they don’t, they have to prove that the resort has made steps to reduce their emissions.
The province now has 10 weeks to make their case before the Efteling could see that limit
be enforced permanently.
Some good news now, Genting SkyWorlds, that theme park in Malaysia that is being built
but never seems to open, is actually open!
The park opened yesterday on the 8th February 2022, after a multitude of delays.
The park, built at the cost of over $800 million, features nine themed lands and a mix of immersive
rides and roller coasters.
More good news, Europa Park’s ugly satellite is gone!
Well, good unless you liked the silly thing.
For context, a large second-hand satellite dish has been the backdrop of the Russian
themed area of Europa Park for almost 25 years.
Now, the dish is being removed to make way for future additions, most likely the park’s
brand new roller coaster.
If I owned Europa Park, I’d continue the job and dismantle the other horrendous thing
in the Russian area, Euro Mir - absolute garbage.
Sadly, it’s only the satellite that’s going for now.
Even more good news, again for some, one of the world’s most hated roller coasters,
Green Lantern at Six Flags Magic Mountain, is officially no more - forever it seems.
A few years ago it was stated that the ride would be transported to La Ronde, to open
under the name Vipère.
The Intamin Zacspin roller coaster was intended to open at La Ronde in 2020, but that didn’t
happen.
Six Flags announced in July of 2020 that the ride would open in summer of 2021.
However, due to the pandemic, the park has been reassessing their long term projects.
They’ve confirmed that Viper will not be built at the park in the future - success!
Alright here’s some real good news.
Gardaland’s new Jumanji themed dark ride, will officially open on Saturday 2nd April
2022!
Guests will board Jeep-like ride vehicles in groups of six, to take on the perilous
journey.
The ride is set to consist of twelve scenes in which guests face dangerous animals and
obstacles within the world of Jumanji.
This will include animatronics, such a large stone monster, a hippo and spiders!
And finally, the news you’ve all been waiting for.
The London Resort, that theme park attempting to be built in London, might not be built
at all!
Recently the park have been finalising their planning application which needs to be submit
to the planning inspectorate before construction can go ahead.
The £2.5 billion development asked for their deadline of March 2022 to be delayed until
July - but this isn’t the first delay they’ve asked for.
The planning inspectorate said “nope”, sticking to the deadline of late March.
They stated that the London Resort could simply withdraw their application if they wanted
to.
Though, CEO of the development, Py Gerbeau, is adamant that the project will continue
on as planned.
This statement isn’t all that convincing saying that, earlier this month, the resort
revised their opening date from 2024 to 2025.
Is it going to happen at all?
*shrugs*
And that's it from this week's theme park news.
Now I have a question for you, how many times more likely is it that SeaWorld will buy Cedar
Fair, compared to the London Resort actually opening?
Trick question, the London Resort has a seemingly 0% chance of opening, so the answer is infinite?
Maybe?
Not sure