Breaking: Sources inside Busch Entertainment say the company has been sold to Blackstone

Wait until somebody makes a Fonger reference two or three years from now. You will live on in infamy, my boy. ;)

Or until some makes up shirts that say

"Fonger Family reunion"

and wears it to a coaster event

it could even have a bike picture on it

A big question I have is, will they keep the name "busch" in front of gardens?

Given the brand recognition that name gets, they would be foolish to drop it -- unless Blackstone is somehow contractually obligated to do so as part of the purchase.

BDesvignes said:
Blackstone operates it's parks under Merlin Entertainments.

Except they don't always. As a partner in Universal Orlando, they don't. I forget what the operating company is that's owned by them and NBC Universal. I wouldn't be surprised if Busch Entertainment simply continues to be called that.

Private equity companies are a mixed bag. Some are very hands off and just let the businesses they buy do their thing and grow, others want a hand in everything. My suspicion is that they'll let Busch do its thing.

Ensign Smith said:
Wait until somebody makes a Fonger reference two or three years from now. You will live on in infamy, my boy. ;)

Well, at least I can laugh at myself. :)

Yea that's a different situation. I think the company that owns Univeral Orlando, Universal City Development Partners, is a 50/50 split between Blackstone and NBC Universal.

Is it possible that Blackstone would sell all of its U.S. Merlin properties to Busch? In other words making Merlin their European company and Busch their American company?

You mean put the Busch parks, Seworld parks, and Legoland under one division?

That MIGHT work.

Oh, you mean kind of like what Palace Entertainment SHOULD HAVE done with the park chain they bought?

--Dave Althoff, Jr.

Or at least have the leadership of the parks run the FEC's, instead of vice versa.

Oddly enough, the Merlin pass cost less this year than the Busch pass...and I think I like the general direction of their parks better. Alton, Chessington, and Thorpe were great, and I even hear they have (gasp!) water fountains at Legoland Windsor - apparently the only two in the country. Busch parks used to be among my very favorites, but the drop-off has been pretty noticeable (and I'm purposefully not counting Wolf, since it really does seem to have been inevitable in the next year or two under any circumstances). What do I look for in an amusement chain? Theming, landscaping, food, employees friendliness, employees "hustle". HFEC scores high, Paramount scored high, Merlin/Blackstone scores high...I think I'm going to be OK with this.

Thinking Paramount....wish more of their methodology had made it into CF. Have to wonder how much of the Busch culture will come through this "merger" in some of the ways that Paramount failed to keep its identity through the CF deal...

P.S. Thorpe needs about a dozen high-capacity additions. It felt like PNE Vancouver (i.e., "crowded" would be charitable) on the property size of PCW.

Jeff: Exactly what I had in mind.

--Dave Althoff, Jr.

Seeing how there was never a press release or announcement, does that mean this was just a rumor?

No... this is certainly no rumor. Two sources at two different parks at this point, people in a position to know, are confident it's nearly a done deal.

...but apparently some things haven't quite clicked into place as neither InBev, Busch Entertainment, or Merlin has officially said anything yet. Doesn't mean it isn't happening, just that they aren't prepared to talk about it yet.

--Dave Althoff, Jr.

It is probably a timing issue

They want to announce close to the IPO

so they get a bounce from it

You don't announce an IPO and do it the next day. At least, not in the US markets. It's a long process. If they close a deal in the next few weeks, and IPO will be a ways out regardless.

I think there are just "due diligence" issues that need to be worked out.

I think if this happens it's great news. Blackstone/Merlin runs some spectacular parks, and InBev really didn't want to run the park. This could even be good news shorter-term than we expect, if it means the budget for BBW's replacement doesn't get as severely cut as InBev was rumored to want (I stress the rumor part there, I don't know this for sure...)

Would be even better if it meant a huge cut in the budget for BBW's demolition, but I know that's mere wishful thinking.

When I rode it on Labor Day weekend, I had forgotten what a wonderful ride that thing truly is...!

--Dave Althoff, Jr.