RE: Rumor - SEAS Parks Broken Up and Sold Off
Here's my opinion on the fate of BGW if it were to fall into Comcast's hands:
First, let's look at the fact that BGW is nothing like Universal. Universal has no real overall theme, Busch Gardens has the very rigid overall theme of Europe. At Universal, the first step for their creative process is the ride. After that they come up with ideas for the surrounding hamlet. Everything centers around the ride. They replace entire hamlets when they replace rides. Busch Gardens is the total opposite. Everything centers around the hamlets. They start with the hamlet, then they think of how new rides could fit in. This is a major difference in management that would have to be overcome.
Next, the universal parks are all (more or less) in theme park centered destination. They don't have to get guests to plan a trip to them, they have to get guests to choose them over their competitor. BGW is the complete opposite. There's no real competition, they have to convince customers to travel to them. While universal's goal is being the best park it can be in order to win over customers, Busch gardens has to make itself it's own destination, a complete vacation. It's a daunting task and not one it has ever been able to accomplish. For Busch to succeed it can't simply be another good theme park, it has to be something unique or else become the best theme park in the world. Universal has never really faced that problem before, it's simply trying to out-Disney Disney.
Because of this, I can see the park going one of three ways under Comcast's control.
1. Universals version of Epcot. The park will draw on middle aged customers rather than the teens and young adults catered to by universal. They will combine the park with colonial Williamsburg to make it a complete vacation destination. Rides will be the least of their concerns, they might close some existing and hey certainly won't add anymore, there would be too small an audience for them. They will add Spain and a few other hamlets and get rid of festa and trappers village. The draw will be total immersion, an Epcot without the distraction of a theme park. While Epcot throws in ride to grab at the tourists already in Orlando coaster country, the new Busch gardens (under a new name) will have excellent actors in every hamlet, and incredible, authentic shows. They will have multiple special events and festivals throughout the year to keep things fresh and the park will be open year round.
Or option two:
The best park in the US for thrill seekers. The park will start adding new coasters every year. Hamlets will remain, but become centered around the rides. Germany will become solely focused on the autobahn. Italy: all about Pompeii. New hamlets and rides will be added and older ones replaced: good bye LNM. The new rides will all involve gimmicks to lure coaster freaks out to Virginia. It will become Comcast's ceder point.
Or option three:
The park will simply stay exactly the same. Comcast will not put any money into it. The park currently has no national draw, and only a small one as a regional park. Management may be changed slightly, but overall the park will continue to carry on as it has. It will have enough money to function and keep things looking nice, but it won't receive any funding for expansions or expensive new rides.
Obviously I'm not an expert, this is simply what I imagine would happen if the park were purchased by Comcast. Personally, I hope one of the first two options happens though many of you will probably hate me for it. I love the park, but I also love change and the fact is that the park has failed to be new and exciting. While these may not be the best outcomes for the park, but at least we will never run out of things to talk about on the forums and we will always be entertained.
I'm sure this post is filled with typos, misspellings, and grammatical errors, but I'm too tired to proof read it and I'll edit it in the morning.
