SEAWORLD TAKES PROACTIVE MEASURES ON COVID-19 RESPONSE

BY GABRIELLE


SeaWorld Entertainment has announced it is taking a series of proactive measures to ensure the safety of its customers, employees, and animals, in response to the pandemic. The measures include the amending of its existing credit facility, appropriately managing costs and expenditures and ensuring liquidity as SeaWorld parks remain closed.

On April 19, 2020, SeaWorld Entertainment entered an amendment of its existing revolving credit facility. The agreement stipulates that the company will be exempt from complying with the financial maintenance covenants for the second, third and fourth quarters of 2020. SeaWorld will be required to comply with the covenants from the first quarter of 2021 onwards.

Marc Swanson, interim chief executive officer of SeaWorld Entertainment, described what the amendment will bring to the theme park and entertainment company: “The increase in our revolving credit facility that we secured on March 10th, the amendment to our revolving credit facility that we announced today and the expected proceeds from the notes offering that we also announced today, will provide us with significant financial flexibility and liquidity to operate in this unprecedented and highly uncertain environment.”

“I am proud of our team and thankful for their resilience during these uncertain times. We are fully committed to successfully navigating through this current environment, reopening our parks, and welcoming back our guests as soon as it’s safe and permitted. We are confident in our business and strategy and sincerely look forward to coming out of this crisis and continuing to drive improved operating and financial results and long-term value for all stakeholders,” Swanson continued.

CEDAR FAIR ANNOUNCES SERIES OF COST-CUTTING MEASURES

 BY GABRIELLE


Cedar Fair Entertainment Company has announced it is to make a series of cost-cutting measures in response to the coronavirus crisis.

In March 2020, Cedar Fair closed all its parks. In a drive the cut costs, the company eliminated nearly all seasonal and part-time labour costs.

Part of the cost-cutting measures included the suspension of all advertising and marketing expenses. Cedar Fair also reduced its CEO’s salary by 40 per cent. Other company executives have also received 25 per cent cuts to their basic salary. All full-time members of staff at Cedar Point parks have also had their hours reduced by 25 per cent.

Capital spending of the parks has been delayed by at least $75 million on non-essential projects as part of the company’s bid to make savings to costs during these challenging and unprecedented times.

In a press statement, Richard Zimmerman, president and CEO of Cedar Fair, commented: “As we work to ensure the safety and well-being of our employees, guests and business partners from the effects of COVID-19, it’s important we also embrace measures that will ensure our financial flexibility through this difficult period.

“After social distancing recommendations by the authorities are lifted, we look forward to opening our parks as soon as reasonably possible. The actions we are announcing today help put us in a better position to do so as we navigate the unknown environment ahead,” Zimmerman added.

TOVERLAND ANNOUNCES SAFETY PRECAUTIONS WHEN THE PARK REOPENS

BY GABRIELLE

The Toverland theme park in Sevenum, Netherlands, has announced a series of safety measures the park is planning for when it reopens following closure due to the coronavirus pandemic.

According to Toverland’s director, Jean Gelissen, the park is considering limiting its visitor numbers. “We are thinking about working with time slots. We will have to spread. People who don’t know each other will probably no longer be able to coexist,” said Gelissen.

Bellewaerde theme park in Belgium is planning to put similar measures in place when it reopens, including capping the number of visitors to the park initially to 4,000. With fewer guests, people will be able to spread out more and keep a safer distance from each other.

Bellewaerde is also going to place distance markers around the park where people form queues, bring in additional cleaning routines and ensure staff where masks, to help maintain the social distancing implementing in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

ELECTROLAND AND PRIDE AT DISNEYLAND PARIS RESCHEDULED TO 2021

 BY GABRIELLE


Disneyland Paris’ upcoming summer events, Electroland and Pride, are to be rescheduled until 2021, the theme park has announced.

The decision to postpone the events is in the wake of the ongoing coronavirus health crisis and with recent government measures made in France.

Disneyland Paris Pride will now betaking place in June 2021 and Electroland has been rescheduled to July 2 – 4, 2021.

Electroland is an electronic music festival that celebrates this genre of music with well-known and upcoming acts within the scene.

Disneyland Paris Pride is an official LGBT pride celebration that is held annually at the theme park. The event traditionally takes place during the first weekend of June.

LEGOLAND WINDSOR LIVE STREAMS DAILY SHARK FEED SESSIONS

 BY GABRIELLE


Legoland Windsor is live streaming its daily feeding of sharks in an effort to help keep families entertained during lockdown when the theme park remains closed. The live stream sessions take place on the theme park’s official Facebook page and are free for everyone to enjoy.

Viewers can watch as an aquarist feeds the park’s resident sharks, which live in the Deep Sea Adventure area of the Legoland resort. Younger views can also listen to information about marine life at Legoland Windsor.

When the theme park is open, visitors can witness shark feeding experiences, when they are taught be aquarists on how to properly feed the sharks. Visitors can also participate in Q&A sessions with the aquarists.

Legoland Windsor closed on March 20 following the outbreak of the pandemic. Park officials are working closely with authorities to determine when it can safely reopen, stating the health and wellbeing of employees and guests are always their priority.

LEVIN AQUATIC CENTRE HYDROSLIDE TO BE REPAIRED

 BY GABRIELLE


The hydroslide at the Levin Aquatic Centre, New Zealand, is to be repaired at a cost of $370,000.

The council has approved the repair and is wanting the work to be carried out by local businesses once the lockdown has been lifted. The hydroslide is almost 20 years old. Work to repair it will comprise of removing the slide and either repairing or replacing the existing stairwell.

According to engineer reports, the handrails, floor plates and stairs of the hydroslide need to be replaced and the stairwell is partially rusted.

Brent Harvey, community facilities and even manager at the Levin Aquatic Centre, pinned the damage on the atmospheric conditions at the pool. “The are where the hydroslide is has high humidity, higher ambient temperature, poor ventilation and a high concentration of corrosion-inducing anions,” Harvey commented.

Levin’s councillor, Wayne Bishop, noted the challenges the coronavirus outbreak has created at a local level. “Going forward we are going to be challenges to be a key part of rebooting the economy locally,” said Bishop.

BELLEWAERDE PLANS SAFE AND SMOOTH REOPENING

 BY GABRIELLE

The Bellewaerde Amusement Park and Bellewaerde Aquapark in Belgium are planning a seamless and safe reopening of the attraction sites.

Measures to be implemented at the sites are expected to include a cap on the number of visitors. Face masks will be available at the sites and distance markers put in place to ensure visitors keep their distance from one another while queuing for attractions. Additional cleaning routines will also be introduced.

Filip Van Dorpe, a spokesperson at Bellewaerde, said: ““We are taking measures to keep the staff working safely and still provide visitors with an unforgettable day of fun and adventure. Once the government provides more clarity about a possible opening date, we want to be sufficiently prepared to guarantee our visitors a pleasant and safe visit, without losing sight of the safety of our own people.

“We placed a group order for our masks for our employees. In order to bridge an initial opening period, more than 100,000 copies are on order,” Van Dorpe added.

The park’s general manager, Stefaan Lemey, noted how safety has always been a main concern. “Safety has always been a top priority at Bellewaerde and this will be no different this season. We will make every effort to welcome visitors in a safe manner, taking into account the various measures,” Lemey said.

BREAN SPLASH WATERPARK EXPANSION PLANS APPROVED

 BY GABRIELLE

Sedgemoor District Council in Somerset have approved plans to extend Brean Splash waterpark with new rides and changing rooms.

Brean Leisure Park, owners of Brean Splash, sought permission to extend the building of the swimming pool as part of a five-year development plan of the site.

The approved proposals include the installation of new rides at the popular waterpark, including a wave rider, which two people can use at the same time, and a high thrill water ride known as the Space Bowl.

Other new attractions include a family friendly ‘Multislide’ and a ‘Water Play’ area for all ages. There will also be a new outdoor pool which will feature a Wave Ball pool with a beach.

Additional changing room facilities will also be built at the site. The expansion of Brean Splash is expected to create up to 20 new jobs.

MORGAN’S WONDERLAND INSTALLS SCULPTURE TO MARK ITS 10TH BIRTHDAY

BY GABRIELLE

Morgan’s Wonderland theme park in San Antonio, Texas, is marking its tenth birthday with a 25ft. tall sculpture that is illuminated at night throughout the month pf April. The anniversary comes while the theme park remains closed during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The ‘Taking Flight’ bronze sculpture was created by artist and sculptor Doug Roper. The striking sculpture depicts a butterfly nestled on the fingertips of two hands, which is spreading its wings as if it is about to take flight. A high-powered beam will light up the sculpture until the end of April to honour the theme park’s tenth birthday.

Talking about the meaning behind the sculpture, Gordon Hartman, founder of the Gordon Hartman Family Foundation, said: “This beacon stands not only for what our inclusive park has accomplished over the past 10 years but also expresses hope for a bright future once we’ve overcome the current pandemic.”

Morgan’s Wonderland opened on April 10, 2010. The park features more than 25 rides and attractions. During its ten years of opening, the theme park has welcomed around 1.9 million guests through its doors from 76 countries, said Hartman.

KENTUCKY KINGDOM DONATES DISPOSABLE PONCHOS

BY GABRIELLE

Kentucky Kingdom, the 63-acre amusement park in Louisville, Kentucky, is donating 3,000 disposable rain ponchos to the Kentucky Division of Emergency Management (KYEM).

The donations are being made to help KYEM help in the fight against the spread of coronavirus. KYEM, a division of the Kentucky Department of Military Affairs, is providing supplies to support the state’s response to the COVID-19 outbreak.

Mike Dossett, director of KYEM, expressed his gratitude for the theme park’s donations. “It is nice to see businesses like Kentucky Kingdom give back to those who are working to keep the community safe and healthy.

“Things like ponchos are invaluable during these unprecedented times, and them will be put to great use,” Dossett added.