Comcast invests in Universal theme park chain by the billions

Orlando, Florida

THE Universal theme park chain was the last thing Comcast was interested in when it bought NBCUniversal four years ago. Endless upkeep? Endless spending on new rides? Endless anxiety about public safety? Thanks, but no thanks. Some analysts predicted a speedy sale.

Instead, Comcast did a public about face, identifying Universal Orlando in particular as a growth engine and spending US$100 million to build a Transformers ride here in 2013. Still, there was scepticism. Was Comcast becoming a new theme park force? Competitors insisted the jury was still out.

Well, the verdict just came in: Comcast is pouring billions into Universal Orlando and a sister property in California, opening major attractions and resort hotels at breakneck speed, and visitors are flooding the gates as a result. Attendance increased 10.4 per cent last year, with Universal parks generating 40.2 million turnstile clicks. For the first half of this year, NBCU…