Joel Manby https://www.cfpublic.org/tags/joel-manby Joel Manby en-US Copyright Fri, 09 Mar 2018 12:55:06 GMT Intersection: What's Next For SeaWorld? https://www.cfpublic.org/2018-03-09/intersection-whats-next-for-seaworld What does the future hold for SeaWorld after the departure of CEO Joel Manby? Seth Kubersky joins Intersection to discuss the outlook for the Orlando theme park. SeaWorld Orlando found success by freshening up the Kraken roller coaster with virtual reality technology. Photo: Wikimedia Commons
SeaWorld Orlando found success by freshening up the Kraken roller coaster with virtual reality technology. Photo: Wikimedia Commons

These are turbulent times for SeaWorld Orlando. SeaWorld Entertainment CEO Joel Manby announced a couple weeks ago that he would step down.

Manby was brought on board three years ago as the theme park company weathered a storm of controversy after the release of the movie Blackfish- a documentary about the death of trainer Dawn Brancheau.

His departure came as SeaWorld posted a $20.4 million 4th quarter loss. 

Seth Kubersky, arts and culture columnist for the Orlando Weekly, joins Intersection to discuss what the future holds for SeaWorld. 

Editor's note: in this conversation it was reported that SeaWorld's license to use the Rudolph character is expiring and the rights are reverting to Universal. That is incorrect. The rights to the character are held by Character Arts and SeaWorld says its agreement with Character Arts is continuing. 

 

]]> Fri, 09 Mar 2018 12:55:06 GMT https://www.cfpublic.org/2018-03-09/intersection-whats-next-for-seaworld Matthew Peddie SeaWorld Earnings Mixed After Announcing Plans To Phase Out Killer Whales https://www.cfpublic.org/2016-05-05/seaworld-earnings-mixed-after-announcing-plans-to-phase-out-killer-whales SeaWorld unveiled a mixed financial picture Thursday. This is the first earnings report since announcing this generation of killer whales would be the company's last.The company revealed minor gains in attendance and revenue and a widening net loss. trainers-from-left-joe-sanchez-brian-faulkner-and-kelly-aldrich-work-with-orcas-trua-front-to-back-kayla-and-nalani-during-the-believe-show-in-shamu-stadium-at-the-aquatica-by-seaworld-theme-pa

SeaWorld unveiled a mixed financial picture Thursday. This is the first earnings report since announcing this generation of killer whales would be the company's last.

The company revealed minor gains in attendance and revenue, and a widening net loss.

SeaWorld's net loss nearly doubled over the first quarter last year to $84 million. The company blamed depreciation after removing lifting floors from its orca tanks.

President and Chief Executive Officer Joel Manby said the company expects slow growth in revenue streams like season passes after announcing it would stop breeding killer whales.

"It's too early to try to draw a link directly to season passes immediately changing," said Manby. "But we're very confident that it's cleared the runway, and people are seeing us in a positive light and that will start to change."

SeaWorld announced the change in March. Its business had been battered since an orca killed an Orlando trainer in 2010, prompting some to suggest the animal's treatment led to her death.

]]> Thu, 05 May 2016 14:18:30 GMT https://www.cfpublic.org/2016-05-05/seaworld-earnings-mixed-after-announcing-plans-to-phase-out-killer-whales Amy Green SeaWorld Appoints New CEO https://www.cfpublic.org/2015-03-19/seaworld-appoints-new-ceo SeaWorld Has A New CEO. Joel Manby will replace Sea World’s interim CEO who will remain as the company’s chairman. Manby comes to Sea World from Herschend Enterprises, a privately owned theme park company that claims Dollywood and Silver Dollar City among its properties. Photo: Michael Lowin, Wikimedia Commons.
Photo: Michael Lowin, Wikimedia Commons.

SeaWorld Has A New CEO. Joel Manby will replace Sea World’s interim CEO who will remain as the company’s chairman.

Manby comes to Sea World from Herschend Enterprises, a privately owned theme park company that claims Dollywood and Silver Dollar City among its properties. Manby also spent time in the auto industry, heading up Saab Automobile USA.

While attendance has been climbing at other Orlando theme parks, Sea World’s has been dropping. Some of that is due to a documentary about the park’s treatment of a whale that killed a trainer five years ago.

Sea World has just launched a new marketing campaign.

 

]]> Thu, 19 Mar 2015 17:29:21 GMT https://www.cfpublic.org/2015-03-19/seaworld-appoints-new-ceo Catherine Welch