Universal Orlando Confirms that New Epic Universe Theme Park Will Open By Summer 2025
On January 27, 2022, Comcast (the parent company of Universal Parks & Resorts) held the Q4 Earnings Call to keep shareholders informed about the performance of the company. During the event, representatives shared interesting details about the company's theme park division, including the confirmation that Universal's Epic Universe is currently expected to open in 2025. Here you are some excerpts from the official transcript:
Brian L. Roberts - Comcast Corporation - Chairman, CEO & President: I am incredibly proud of how we've navigated through the past 2 years amid the unique and ongoing challenges posed by the global pandemic.
We've been able to quickly pivot, when necessary, in order to continue offering world-class connectivity, entertainment and experiences while simultaneously prioritizing the health and well-being of our customers, guests and employees. [...]
The recovery to our Theme Parks is truly remarkable. We just reported the most profitable fourth quarter on record with demand especially high in Orlando, which had the best quarter in the company's history for any quarter. I'm even more excited for our newest theme park, Epic Universe, which is in construction as we speak. Hollywood and Osaka are also on a great trajectory. And we just opened Universal Beijing, which will provide a more meaningful contribution in the years to come. [...]
Jeffrey S. Shell - Comcast Corporation - CEO of NBCUniversal: It's impossible not just to be excited about our Theme Park business. We had a great year. We had a great fourth quarter, as Brian mentioned, in really across all the metrics of that business. We haven't seen any impact of Omicron in Florida, for example, and very limited impacts, which would seem to be past in Hollywood and Japan.
So everything is kind of going in the right direction. And even as we start the first quarter, continuing in that direction.
I think part of that, by the way, is because we continued to invest in our attractions during the pandemic, as Brian also mentioned, with VelociCoaster in Orlando and Pets in Hollywood and Nintendo, which is doing really well in Japan, has led that park to rebound really, really quickly. So all signs are pointed up in our Theme Park business. And I agree with you, we have a lot of growth ahead.
Our international visitation has not returned to what it was historically would be. In Florida, we generally are in the low 30s. Right now, we're just above 20, with most of that visitation now coming from the U.K. and Europe. Latin America hasn't returned yet. So we have upside there as people
continue to increase travel. And we're also, I should mention, very happy with Beijing, which is open. People love the park. And when travel opens up in China after the Olympics, we are really optimistic of that park long term. So everything is going well, and they're trending in the right direction.
Epic is full steam ahead. We're -- I was down there a couple of weeks ago and the construction is going really well. And I think we've said this in the past, but we expect that park to open in '25, and certainly in time for the summer of '25. And we'll be back to you and everybody when we get more granular on the date."
RENDERING: © Universal Orlando Resort. All Rights Reserved.
Post a Comment