Description of the Business

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2015

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Description of the Business

1. DESCRIPTION OF THE BUSINESS

SeaWorld Entertainment, Inc., through its wholly-owned subsidiary, SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment, Inc. (“SEA”) (collectively, the “Company”), owns and operates eleven theme parks within the United States.  Prior to December 1, 2009, the Company did not have any operations.  On December 1, 2009, the Company acquired all of the outstanding equity interest of Busch Entertainment LLC and affiliates from Anheuser Busch Companies, Inc. and Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV (“ABI”).  At that time, the Company was owned by ten limited partnerships (the “Partnerships” or the “selling stockholders”), ultimately owned by affiliates of The Blackstone Group L.P. (“Blackstone”) and certain co-investors.  The Company completed an initial public offering in April 2013, and the selling stockholders sold shares of common stock in April 2013, December 2013 and April 2014.  As of December 31, 2015, the Partnerships own approximately 22.2% of the Company’s total outstanding common stock.  See further discussion in Note 19-Stockholders’ Equity.

The Company operates SeaWorld theme parks in Orlando, Florida; San Antonio, Texas; and San Diego, California, and Busch Gardens theme parks in Tampa, Florida, and Williamsburg, Virginia. The Company operates water park attractions in Orlando, Florida (Aquatica); San Diego, California (Aquatica); Tampa, Florida (Adventure Island); and Williamsburg, Virginia (Water Country USA). The Company also operates a reservations-only attraction offering interaction with marine animals (Discovery Cove) and a seasonal park in Langhorne, Pennsylvania (Sesame Place). The Company also has an Aquatica water park located within its SeaWorld theme park in San Antonio, which is only accessible to SeaWorld San Antonio guests for an additional fee.  In 2016, Aquatica San Antonio will be converted into a stand-alone, separate admission park that guests can access through an independent gate without the need to purchase admission to SeaWorld San Antonio.  

During the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013 approximately 57%, 56% and 55% of the Company’s revenues were generated in the State of Florida, respectively.