I really can’t see HFE being in a place(currently or next 5 years)where they could buy sea world or even become a majority partner. While it’s fun to speculate it just seems highly improbable. It would be like whataburger buying out Burger King. One chain is so much smaller they just don’t have the capital to come close to doing a deal like that.
All that said. The banter between sea world and SDC on Facebook yesterday was fun.
I wouldn't consider it improbable at all. For the record....I'm not saying it will happen.
Hard to compare the two companies because HFE is private so we don't have the same reported numbers that SeaWord Enterprises have to report. We don't have a real info on how much capital they have or or how much money they have made.
I don't think they are as far apart in size as your thinking. HFE has alot more properties than just SDC and Dollywood. But obviously, you have to would give SeaWorld/Busch Gardens the advantage in asset value with there parks attendances and locations. Real Estate alone the company is worth a pretty penny even if the brands have devalued.
But smaller companies take over larger companies all the time. Especially if it involves outside investors and/or arrangements concerning debts. It's all about making the money work.
Plus...even though Whataburger is also a crappy burger....I doubt they want any association with Burger King. If HFE would want to keep expanding....you have to think that those SW/BG parks would be the top of the line existing parks that fit into there business model.
But who knows....HFE owns the globetrotters....so???