jedimaster1227 Posted November 20, 2012 Share Posted November 20, 2012 (edited) http://www.marketwatch.com/story/seaworld-parks-entertainment-acquires-knotts-soak-city-san-diego-2012-11-20 SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment, the Orlando-based owner of 10 U.S. theme parks, has acquired Knott's Soak City -- San Diego, a standalone Southern California waterpark, from Cedar Fair Entertainment Company. The park, located just south of San Diego in Chula Vista, Calif., will undergo extensive renovation over the fall and winter and re-open next spring as SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment's third Aquatica-branded park. Both SeaWorld Orlando and SeaWorld San Antonio now operate Aquatica parks. SeaWorld will make significant changes over the off-season transforming the park into an Aquatica: "These parks reflect the highest standard of quality in attractions, entertainment and theming, but the presence of animals makes the experience something truly special. Aquatica San Diego, like its sister parks, will feature guest experiences with a variety of exotic animals," said Jim Atchison, President and Chief Executive Officer of SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment. "Having animals in our Aquatica parks adds an educational component to a waterpark visit that is both unexpected and enriching." The first Aquatica opened adjacent to SeaWorld Orlando in 2008. It is now among the nation's most visited waterparks, with annual attendance of roughly 1.5 million guests. In addition to birds and tropical fish, Aquatica Orlando features Dolphin Plunge, the park's centerpiece water slide, which includes an enclosed acrylic slide that allows riders to see animals underwater. Last year SeaWorld San Antonio unveiled its own Aquatica, with some of the region's best ride attractions, along with displays of kookaburra, spoonbills and southern stingrays. "When the gates of Aquatica San Diego open for the first time next June, guests will see what visitors to Orlando and San Antonio already know: No theme park company can deliver a waterpark experience quite like SeaWorld," said John Reilly, President of the company's San Diego attractions. "Aquatica will be a great complement to SeaWorld and help us continue to bring value to our guests and enhance this destination." Aquatica San Diego will be located at 2042 Otay Valley Rd. in Chula Vista, Calif. Terms of the deal, which have been under negotiation for several months, were not disclosed. http://www.orlandosentinel.com/travel/attractions/seaworld/os-seaworld-third-aquatica-20121120,0,5387742.story SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment said Tuesday it has acquired a water park in San Diego that it will convert into the company's third "Aquatica." The Orlando-based company would not say how much it paid for Knott's Soak City, which was owned by amusement-park operator Cedar Fair L.P., nor how much it will spend renovating the water park. SeaWorld said it has been negotiating the deal for "several months." SeaWorld said it will make "significant changes" while the water park is closed for the winter to overhaul it to fit its Aquatica brand. The SeaWorld water parks are best-known for combining water-based attractions with marine-life encounters, such as a water slide through a pool filled with Commerson's dolphins or a raft ride through a stingray-filled lagoon. "These parks reflect the highest standard of quality in attractions, entertainment and theming, but the presence of animals makes the experience something truly special. Aquatica San Diego, like its sister parks, will feature guest experiences with a variety of exotic animals," SeaWorld Parks President and Chief Executive Officer Jim Atchison said in a prepared statement. The company's first Aquatica opened in 2008, a standalone water park adjacent to SeaWorld Orlando and Discovery Cove. The second one opened last year inside SeaWorld San Antonio. The third Aquatica will be located about 23 miles from SeaWorld San Diego and will become the company's 11th standalone park in the U.S. Company parks drew a combined 23.6 million visitors last year. Since being acquired by private-equity giant The Blackstone Group in late 2009, SeaWorld executives have made it a strategic goal to expand the company's footprint, both geographically and across new platforms. The company has launched film and television studios, created a consumer-products licensing unit and evaluated plans for everything from hotels to overseas theme parks. In an interview last year with the Sentinel, Atchison singled out Aquatica as a concept that the company hoped to expand. The executive also singled out Discovery Cove, the limited-admission boutique park in Orlando, and Sesame Place, a children's park in Pennsylvania, as other likely targets for expansion. "Do I think that in the U.S. marketplace there's a place for 10 more SeaWorlds? Probably not," Atchison said at the time. "But there's probably other locations that could support other concepts that we have and, I think, do very well." Edited October 10, 2013 by Jew Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DJeXeL Posted November 20, 2012 Share Posted November 20, 2012 This is great for SWSD to be able to expand their business without necessarily "adding" new attractions into the main park. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jew Posted November 20, 2012 Share Posted November 20, 2012 Smart move for both parties. For Cedar Fair, a stand alone water park away from their other parks was outside of their core. For Sea World, it gives them a stronger foothold in San Diego. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
azza29 Posted November 20, 2012 Share Posted November 20, 2012 Sounds great - any announcement on whether they will honour Cedar Fair season passes for the 2013 season (given any Platinum passes already sold would have included access to the park)? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
empires Posted November 20, 2012 Share Posted November 20, 2012 Wow this came absolutely out of nowhere!! Super pumped, but kinda bummed this isn't going to be right next door to the main park. Its nice to see that the company recognizes that SD is a huge market and has been investing a lot into the area ( manta, explorer's reef, now aquatica!!) It will be interesting to see how they transform/ exapnd the park!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FilmoreISnAZN Posted November 20, 2012 Share Posted November 20, 2012 As both Aquaticas have a slide that go into an exhibit, Florida has Dolphin Plunge and Texas has Stingray Falls, I hope this new Aquatica will have a similar feature sometime in the near future. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rcdude Posted November 21, 2012 Share Posted November 21, 2012 This should be great for the park. I suspected something was up when the link to it's page disappeared from Knott's website a couple months ago. It's already a nice water park (in my opinion the best of the three Knott's Soak City parks), and SeaWorld can only make it better. If I remember right it's only about 15 minutes or so from SeaWorld San Diego itself so I doubt the distance is going to be that big of an issue. Too bad it's at least 90 minutes from my house or I would make an effort to get down there next summer. I've now got to wonder how long the Palm Springs location will remain a part of Cedar Fair. Buying that park always struck me as odd (even more odd than buying the San Diego Location). I wouldn't be surprised to see that place sold to an independent party or a chain that specializes in waterparks within the next couple years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moose Posted November 21, 2012 Share Posted November 21, 2012 (edited) ^^It would be more surprising if they didn't add a slide that does that. Edited November 21, 2012 by Moose Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cfc Posted November 21, 2012 Share Posted November 21, 2012 SeaWorld has been making some smart moves in San Diego lately. Good to see them expanding their presence there even more. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Double0Kevin Posted November 21, 2012 Share Posted November 21, 2012 I always thought that park was the odd man out in the CF portfolio. It will be interesting to see how it works out being separated from SeaWorld. I'm sure it won't cause much issues with the local crowds, but not likely to attract many tourists (though SD is so big population wise, I doubt that matters). All in all I think it's an awesome move on SeaWorld's part. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
XYZ Posted November 21, 2012 Share Posted November 21, 2012 Well, being a San Diego County resident, this is a big deal. I'm not a water park person, though having Sea World own the park is MUCH better than Cedar Fair. I always thought that an Aquatica needed to open up in SD and this is great. I hear improvements coming. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chargersmichael Posted November 21, 2012 Share Posted November 21, 2012 This was a big shocker to me. I did not see this coming. Anyway, this is amazing! Aquatica at every Sea World park now! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wes Posted November 21, 2012 Share Posted November 21, 2012 As both Aquaticas have a slide that go into an exhibit, Florida has Dolphin Plunge and Texas has Stingray Falls, I hope this new Aquatica will have a similar feature sometime in the near future. Slide into a shark pit!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CAZZERNERY Posted November 21, 2012 Share Posted November 21, 2012 That's weird, I thought Cedar Fair does all of the buying Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theonetheonlyJT Posted November 21, 2012 Share Posted November 21, 2012 ^^ Sharktopus, the water slide . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
historyfreak92 Posted November 21, 2012 Share Posted November 21, 2012 Well, hopefully it'll turn out good as the Ones in Florida, & Texas! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darklingscribe Posted November 21, 2012 Share Posted November 21, 2012 This is really good move for the Sea World Sand Diego. The San Diego Soak City is I agree the best one in the chain and I can't wait to see how Sea World will improve it. I especially look forward to the new animal attractions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Top Thrill Dragster Posted November 21, 2012 Share Posted November 21, 2012 Does anyone know who owns the plots of land right next to the water park and across the street from the amphitheater? This acquisition could be just the first step in Seaworld/Busch having a much larger presence in SoCal! Future Discovery Cove or Busch Gardens Park? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Meteornotes Posted November 21, 2012 Share Posted November 21, 2012 This is a genius move on the part of SeaWorld. I can only see good things coming from this purchase. As both Aquaticas have a slide that go into an exhibit, Florida has Dolphin Plunge and Texas has Stingray Falls, I hope this new Aquatica will have a similar feature sometime in the near future. Slide into a shark pit!!! I'll buy a season pass if this becomes reality. dt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
805Andrew Posted November 21, 2012 Share Posted November 21, 2012 I'm glad Sea World is expanding their offerings in San Diego, and they barely had to lift a finger to due so. Now if only they would build a Busch Gardens in SD themed to Asia (I doubt that would ever happen though). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigBomer Posted November 21, 2012 Share Posted November 21, 2012 I was just thinking this morning if San Diego was going to get an Aquatica anytime soon ... funny how that worked out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nhman93 Posted November 21, 2012 Share Posted November 21, 2012 Now they should buy GL Wildwater Kingdom from Cedar Fair and turn that back into a Seaworld/Aquatica. Hey a kid can dream right Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jew Posted November 21, 2012 Share Posted November 21, 2012 I'm glad Sea World is expanding their offerings in San Diego, and they barely had to lift a finger to due so. Now if only they would build a Busch Gardens in SD themed to Asia (I doubt that would ever happen though). San Diego already has the wild animal park, so there's a foundation to build on should they choose to make another surprise purchase. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carolinacaniac Posted November 21, 2012 Share Posted November 21, 2012 Certainly does help the presence of the Sea World Parks in San Diego as others had said, plus I would believe this will lead to greater sales in season passes should they offer a two-park pass like they do in VA for BG/Water Country, SeaWorld Orlando/Aquatica, BG/Adventure Island in Tampa, etc... Certainly adds more bang for the buck for those who own a Platinum Pass and actually go to multiple SeaWorld Park locations each year as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gisco Posted November 21, 2012 Share Posted November 21, 2012 Not much of a water park person but I would be more likely to go to Aquatica because of the sealife. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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