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United Parks Confirms Multiple Bids and Sale-Leaseback Proposals for Excess Park Land

Board guidance will shape how the company unlocks what it views as underrecognized real estate value.

Overview

  • CEO Marc Swanson said the company is evaluating several sale-leaseback proposals and fielding offers to purchase excess land, alongside talks on hotel, timeshare, residential, and commercial co-development.
  • United Parks reports roughly 2,000 acres across seven U.S. properties, including about 400 undeveloped acres near SeaWorld, Busch Gardens, and Sesame Place parks.
  • No prospective buyers or partners were named, and decisions will be made with a board that is majority owned by a private equity firm.
  • The review follows softer results, with attendance down 1.8% to about 21.2 million, revenue down 3.6% to $1.7 billion, and net income down 26% to $168.4 million.
  • Management estimates park replacement cost at over $10 billion—about 2.5 times current enterprise value—and notes a lack of onsite hotels as it explores lodging partnerships.