I'll be speaking with BEC chief Jim Atchison in just a few minutes and will update soon.
*Update: Just got off the phone with Atchison, and he said that Blackstone bought 100% of the parks (me - FAIL on that prediction), but that the parks would be operating "business as usual." Atchison and the entire management team has been retained to run the new company, which will continue to go by the name Busch Entertainment Corp. (though he said that they might start using the alternate name "Worlds of Discovery" more going forward).
The Busch Gardens parks will retain that name, and A-B will continue to have the pouring rights in the parks, thanks to a long-term sponsorship deal. The only change? Say good-bye to the Clydesdales. (Although, Atchison phrased it much more diplomatically than my blunt paraphrase.)
Quotes coming; give me a few minutes to transcribe.
Oh, and he declined to spill anything about a new ride in Williamsburg.
*Update 2: 
"This change is really a change in our corporate ownership, but it is very much a business as usual approach for BEC. The existing leadership team within BEC is all being retained and will be in their same roles moving forward," Atchison said.
"At the end of the day, the brands, the quality, the brands, the commitment to the parks and guest service and new attractions will remain as high as ever."
The Sesame Workshop and Anheuser-Busch brands are among those that will remain in the parks, he said. Busch beer brands will continue to be poured at the parks, and the Busch Gardens name will remain on the parks in Tampa, Fla. and Williamsburg, Va., as they were sold to Blackstone as part of the deal.
"The sponsorship agreement [with Anheuser-Busch/InBev] allows us to maintain that formal sponsor feel in the parks, but there will be changes moving forward," Atchison said.
Probably one of the more notable changes, he said, will be that the iconic Clydesdale horses will be moved from the parks, and instead go on tour to promote their A-B brands. Atchison said that A-B's "Here's to the Heroes" promotion offering free admission to military personnel will continue in the BEC parks for 2010.
I did get one prediction correct, though: The was a stand-alone deal, not related to Blackstone's investments in Merlin or Universal Orlando. So don't look for any new ticket or vacation deals between those parks, or for Busch to change its policies regarding animal care. Blackstone owns 80% of Merlin Entertainments, which has a somewhat different policy toward animals in its parks than does Busch.
"Policies, practices, customs at any other Blackstone entity really are different and apart from BEC," Atchison said. "I think we have set the industry standard and hold the bar higher than anyone in the world with respect to the care and quality of our husbandry, our veterinary team, our animal training. We're very, very proud of the work we do."
Atchison denied that having the parks up for sale for so long prompted Busch theme park management to delay or defer any new projects.
"We have been very focused to executing at the highest level in our parks. We haven't been distracted," Atchison said. But he declined to offer any specifics on new projects that might be coming, including a replacement for the recently closed Big Bad Wolf coaster at Busch Gardens Williamsburg.
"We are always looking at new attraction concepts within our parks and certainly Williamsburg is no different. We have some great concepts and ideas that are in various stages of development, either from the drawing board or even further along. We're not prepared to talk about the Wolf site - yet - but I understand full and well that people miss that ride," Atchison said.
"Blackstone is committed to support the business, maintaining all the things that have made the business unique and helped create our DNA. That involves, among many other things, ongoing capital investment in the parks. They have made to me very clear commitments to that. They are focused on continuing to keep the parks at the high level of quality that they are, and that involved having new attractions. They are committed to growing the business, something that I'm obviously equally committed to," Atchison said.
"Anheuser-Busch certainly made their fair share of investments and Blackstone is looking to continue that level of support."
Tweet
"$2.3 billion?!"
PENNIES!
Exactly how BAD is the balance in the WOD check book?
If 2.3 - 3 Billion is "pennies"...why? What do you estimate they are actually worth?
Is there a stipulation in the agreement that all the current management and staff will keep their jobs?
And what about the structure - will they morph into a sister "child" company like Merlin, except based in the US?
They just bought ten theme parks. Media reports put the construction cost of IOA (one park, one hotel, two parking garages, some roads and one entertainment district) at $1 billion ... ten years ago.
Disney just bought Marvel for $4 billion.
I reiterate PENNIES!
Blackstone is making a BOLD MOVE ... and getting a bargain price.
THC
Why no Clydesdales? What sets them apart?
Odd.
Four of the Blackstone parks were in the top 20 in attendance in 2008 - welcoming almost 18 million guests. Cedar Fair Entertainment had just two parks in the top 20 -- welcoming about a third of what the Blackstone backs did (a little over 6 million people).
Blackstone got these parks cheap.
THC
VERY IMPRESSIVE!
Seems like a real waste of a great opportunity. I guess now we'll just have to sit and wait to see what happens with NBCUni
2008 Attendance for Orlando water parks:
Blizzard Beach & Typhoon Lagoon (Disney) - 3.95 million
Wet & Wild, Adventure Island (Tampa) and Aquatica (Blackstone) - 2.85 million
based on 2008 numbers. If Blackstone had bought the Busch Parks and Universal and added that attendance to their current Merlin Entertainment parks (approx 84 million), they would still be 33 million short of the total Disney parks attendance (117 million).
It does seem like a pretty good price for those parks. I would be curious to see their balance sheets and just how profitable they are. The quality is obviously good across the board, and the costs are likely high. Attendance is good, but with a year round schedule. Blackstone is no slouch in the money department, but I'll be curious to see the parks in action without the giant corporation (and their bank account) behind them. Just playing devil's advocate I guess. The new owner has a great reputation and I'm sure they will keep things going well for Busch Gardens and Sea World.
And now we can rest easy knowing the parks are (hopefully) in good hands.
Based on what I've read about Blackstone and many TPI reader's comments on the org, I'm very excited about the purchase. I'm looking forward to good things. I only hope that park guests are as enthusiastic. (I recall several guests who seemed to just be clearly having a bad day or bad luck, would blame it on the buyout from InBev-- I hope this doesn't happen in the future)
And yes, I'm also curious to what's the future of animal shows at the parks. SeaWorld just isn't SeaWorld without those awesome shows.
Hmmm... and I wonder if I can use my employee ID and get free into the other parks under Blackstone... Hmmm... Roadtrip???
On another note, I'm honestly excited about this. I have been following this since InBev purchased Anheuser-Busch and out of all the possible suitors for BEC, Blackstone was my personal favorite and I'm excited to see how BEC moves forward from this deal.
That must rate among the more naive statements ever posted to this site. I'll grant that InBev doesn't sound like the friendliest company on Earth to work for, but, like any other company, it operates within the context of the economy. Plenty of previously great companies have been cutting hours and letting workers go in this recession.
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