MILWAUKEE — Anheuser-Busch InBev said Wednesday it will sell its 10 theme parks across the U.S., including the three SeaWorlds and two Busch Gardens, to private equity firm Blackstone Group for at least $2.3 billion.

 

The world's largest brewer, based in Belgium, has been shedding assets to help pay for the $52 billion takeover of St. Louis-based Anheuser-Busch that formed the company last year.

 

The two sides confirmed the deal Wednesday, saying Blackstone will pay $2.3 billion in cash for Busch Entertainment Corp. and give Anheuser-Busch InBev the right to up to $400 million of Blackstone's initial returns.

 

New York-based Blackstone's other investments include Universal Studios Orlando and Madame Tussauds wax museums so the theme parks fit into its portfolio.

 

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Someone on here a few months ago pointed out that it would make sense for Universal to try to acquire the Busch theme parks to try to compete with the multiple Disney parks. Looks like that was a good call.

Why in the world did Anheuser Busch ever own theme parks?

Why in the world did Anheuser Busch ever own theme parks?

 

It started with Busch Gardens in the late 1950s. Originally it was exactly what it sounds like — gardens adjacent to their Tampa brewery (beautiful brick facility that ceased brewery operations years ago). In time they added animals, and eventually they started adding rides and shows and such to draw more visitors. So that one sort of grew out of a logical beginning into the unlikely mega attraction it is now.

 

Sea World was a portfolio acquisition, and AB had nothing to do with the creation of the park. Private entrapenuers (sp??) founded the Sea World parks in teh mid 1960s. Publishing giants Harcourt Brace Jovanovich bought the parks in the mid 1970s and it wasn't until the late 1980s that AB bought them from HJB, along with a few other parks that they either closed or sold off.

I dunno, but both Busch Gardens are great parks.

It started with Busch Gardens in the late 1950s. Originally it was exactly what it sounds like — gardens adjacent to their Tampa brewery (beautiful brick facility that ceased brewery operations years ago). In time they added animals, and eventually they started adding rides and shows and such to draw more visitors. So that one sort of grew out of a logical beginning into the unlikely mega attraction it is now.

 

Sea World was a portfolio acquisition, and AB had nothing to do with the creation of the park. Private entrapenuers (sp??) founded the Sea World parks in teh mid 1960s. Publishing giants Harcourt Brace Jovanovich bought the parks in the mid 1970s and it wasn't until the late 1980s that AB bought them from HJB, along with a few other parks that they either closed or sold off.

Ok, Busch gardens kinda makes sense then. The other ones though sound like a company that is profitable deciding what to waste its money on.

One thing that will be interesting is what they do with the Busch Gardens name. On the one hand, it is a recognizable and known attraction, and renaming will lose that. On the other hand, without InBev providing some financial consideration, there is little incentive to continue giving the Busch name free marquis publicity.

 

Seeing what they will do with the free beer Hospitality Houses at both parks will also be interesting. I can realistically see InBev giving them a serious deal on AB product in return for brand exclusivity and keeping the Busch name for X number of years. If that were to happen, I'd assume the Hospitality Houses would continue to operate.

Ok, Busch gardens kinda makes sense then. The other ones though sound like a company that is profitable deciding what to waste its money on.

 

Not intentionally to waste money on, but to invest and diversify, yes. And now InBev wants to gat back to the core business of brewing $hitty beer.

 

Not intentionally to waste money on, but to invest and diversify, yes. And now InBev wants to gat back to the core business of brewing $hitty beer in mega quantities.

 

fixed

Funny thing is, when they're giving it away free at the Hospitality House I always manage to choke one or two of the less offensive offerings down. I actually think their Bare Knuckle Stout is tolerable.

Edited October 9, 200916 yr by FlaSoxxJim

I work for Blackstone so I wonder if I'll get some sort of discount.

One thing that will be interesting is what they do with the Busch Gardens name. On the one hand, it is a recognizable and known attraction, and renaming will lose that. On the other hand, without InBev providing some financial consideration, there is little incentive to continue giving the Busch name free marquis publicity.

 

Seeing what they will do with the free beer Hospitality Houses at both parks will also be interesting. I can realistically see InBev giving them a serious deal on AB product in return for brand exclusivity and keeping the Busch name for X number of years. If that were to happen, I'd assume the Hospitality Houses would continue to operate.

 

I imagine it would end up like Wrigley Field. How could you change the name at this point in its history?

Not intentionally to waste money on, but to invest and diversify, yes. And now InBev wants to gat back to the core business of brewing $hitty beer.

 

For what it's worth, the theme park (entertainment) division was the fastest growing part of the company.