SeaWorld, the Orlando-based theme park operator, experienced a decline in its second-quarter profit due to a drop in attendance and increased operational and interest costs. The company reported a quarterly profit of $87.1 million, or $1.35 per share, down from $116.6 million, or $1.62 per share, compared to the previous year. Analysts had expected earnings of $1.71 per share, according to FactSet.
The revenue also slipped by 1.7% to $496.0 million. SeaWorld’s parks, including its namesake brand, the Busch Gardens parks, and others, faced lower demand due to extreme heat, rain, and plumes of smoke from the Canadian wildfires. Additionally, delays in construction projects hampered in-park spending.
However, despite these challenges, SeaWorld saw growth in attendance at some of its parks. CEO Marc Swanson mentioned that bookings by large groups like schools and businesses are recovering and surpassing 2019 levels.
Looking ahead, Swanson mentioned that the company is gearing up for its Halloween and Christmas events, which have been growing significantly over the years.
