SeaWorld China
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Speaking to Attractions Management, a representative for SeaWorld said that the operator was not planning to open a park in China any time in the near future.

"We have no plans to open a SeaWorld park in China and, accordingly, have not made any announcements to that effect," said the statement.

Source: http://www.attractionsmanagement.com/index.cfm?pagetype=news&codeID=338509

It looks like SeaWorld isn’t coming to Haikou. Zhonghong announced today that in order to “revitalize existing assets, reduce liabilities, reduce financial expenses and increase liquidity” they are selling 100% of their Ruyi Island development for 1.4 billion yuan.

Source: http://www.hndaily.cn/#/detail/100/138060

BREAKING: SeaWorld's first park in China has been officially announced! On May 1st, Zhonghong Co., Ltd. announced that on April 27 the company had signed the "SeaWorld Theme Park License Agreement" with its subsidiary Hainan Ruyi Island Tourism Resort Investment Co., Ltd. The agreement authorizes it to develop and operate the SeaWorld theme park on Ruyi Island.

Ruyi Island Co., Ltd. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Zhonghong. Zhonghong Holding Co Ltd. won the competitive bidding for the Ruyi Island tourism project almost six years ago. Ruyi Island is an artificial island currently under construction off the coast of Haikou, a city on Hainan Island in China. A bridge has been built to connect Ruyi Island to Haikou. The shape of the entire artificial island is of the “Ruyi,” which according to Wikipedia is "a curved decorative object that serves as a ceremonial scepter in Chinese Buddhism or a talisman symbolizing power and good fortune in Chinese folklore." Ruyi Island is divided into three phases. Each phase is first reclaimed into islands and then the corresponding tourist resorts are developed on the formed artificial islands. Similarly to the nearby Ocean Flower Island, earlier this year the government suspended the development of Ruyi Island due to environmental concerns but construction has since resumed.

According to Zhonghong, "Ruyi Island brings together the valuable coastal and riverside resources in Haikou, the original natural features and the ecological advantages of zero industrial pollution, and is very suitable for the development, construction, and operation of a SeaWorld theme park. At present, the construction of the first-phase of reclamation project of Ruyi Island has been accepted and qualified, and it is currently in the stage of applying for a real estate certificate reversion to the land management department; the second-phase completed sea area is applying for acceptance inspection."

Below is concept art for Ruyi Island that had been released prior to this announcement. Though some of the concept shows a theme park and waterpark, it does not necessarily represent an accurate design of this new SeaWorld park:













Photo of Ruyi Island from June 2017:



SeaWorld will be located on the left side of the island in the orange area:


Sources: https://www.edsaplan.com/project/ruyi-island/ and http://en.haikoutour.gov.cn/view.asp?ArticleID=1430 and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruyi_(scepter) and http://europe.chinadaily.com.cn/business/2012-05/24/content_15380396.htm and http://europe.chinadaily.com.cn/business/2012-05/24/content_15380396.htm and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruyi_Island and http://www.lvjie.com.cn/destination/2018/0501/7078.html and http://www.ikuku.cn/concept/ruyidao-kuahaidaqiao-xudongxin and http://www.chida.org/en/kycg/684.html and http://finance.sina.com.cn/chanjing/gsnews/2018-04-04/doc-ifysuuya6242137.shtml and http://www.hinews.cn/news/system/2015/08/10/017750621.shtml and https://www.xqshijie.com/qcqBuilding/list.html and http://data.eastmoney.com/notices/detail/000979/AN201805011134353511,JUU0JUI4JUFEJUU1JUJDJTk4JUU4JTgyJUExJUU0JUJCJUJE.html and http://www.sohu.com/a/230443675_314195

Zhonghong has plans to build a new complex in Beijing and depending on the translation it's either called "Zhonghong Square" or "Zhonghong Plaza."

According to a Chinese website that lists commercial real estate projects in China, this Zhonghong complex will feature a "Seaworld indoor marine theme park." The website says the size of the indoor theme park will be 40,000 square meters and use "interactive" and "breakthrough" technologies.

To put the size into perspective, the second largest indoor aquarium in the United States is Shedd Aquarium in Chicago and it is about 44,600 square meters in size. According to the website, the complex will be completed in 2019.

This is contrary to what SeaWorld stated during an earning's call in May 2017 in which they said: "it's at least five to seven years before you'll see a [SeaWorld] theme park of any kind [in China]." Immediately after that they separately said, "but we are looking at a large FEC type strategy." Could SeaWorld consider this project an FEC while Zhonghong is referring to it as an indoor theme park?













Note: These concept images are not necessarily of SeaWorld, they are of the complex in general

Sources: http://biz.winshang.com/html/xm/582/27.htm (via https://www.facebook.com/finaldaysofwisdom/posts/1209117775901254) and http://www.zhongxiwsl.com/Select/detail?id=907&aid=175

Seaworld announced that they will not be having killer whales for any of the new international parks.

SeaWorld CEO Joel Manby has confirmed the operator’s commitment to becoming an orca-free enterprise, telling shareholders that the company would not even consider having killer whales in any of its international endeavours.

SeaWorld has recently started negotiations to bring its presence to Asia, specifically in China, Hong Kong and Macau. According to the operator, the consulting and review process will take three years, with a park coming up in the next five to seven years.

Source: http://www.attractionsmanagement.com/detail.cfm?pagetype=detail&subject=news&codeID=331936

SeaWorld Parks and Entertainment CEO Joel Manby on China theme park development from today's earning call:

I would say it's at least five to seven years before you'll see a theme park of any kind, but we are also looking at a FEC type strategy large in that country, very, very, very early stage.

Source: http://www.seekingalpha.com/article/4071261

A SeaWorld theme park in China isn’t imminent, but the company can evaluate possibilities before making long-term commitments, Jeansonne Becka said.

Zhonghong will pay SeaWorld $3 million for the exclusive rights to develop SeaWorld theme parks in China through 2018 with another $1.5 million option for 2019 and the ability to extend the deal later, regulatory documents filed Friday show. The consulting and design agreement will pay SeaWorld another $3 million through June 2019.

Source: http://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/os-bz-blackstone-seaworld-20170324-story.html

SeaWorld, a leading theme park and entertainment company, today announced that ... Zhonghong Group, a diversified holding company focused on strategic growth opportunities in the leisure, tourism, and culture industries, will acquire an approximately 21% equity interest in SeaWorld from certain funds affiliated with Blackstone at a price of $23.00 per share

SeaWorld and Zhonghong Holding Co., Ltd. ("Zhonghong Holding"), an affiliate of Zhonghong Group, have also agreed to advisory services and support agreements under which SeaWorld will advise Zhonghong Holding exclusively on the concept development and design of theme parks, water parks, and family entertainment centers to be developed and operated by Zhonghong Holding, including exclusive rights in China, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau.

Source: http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/seaworld-entertainment-inc-announces-long-term-investment-by-zhonghong-group-300428975.html

Status: announced.