Description of the Business

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2017

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 twelve 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 controlled 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.  

On May 8, 2017 an affiliate of Zhonghong Zhuoye Group Co., Ltd. (“ZHG Group”), Sun Wise (UK) Co., LTD (“ZHG” or “Buyer”) acquired approximately 21% of the outstanding shares of common stock of the Company (the “Sale”) from certain affiliates of Blackstone (the “Seller”), pursuant to a Stock Purchase Agreement between ZHG and Seller (the “Stock Purchase Agreement”). As of December 31, 2017, Blackstone no longer owns any shares of the Company. See further discussion in Note 17–Related-Party Transactions and Note 20–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 Antonio, Texas (Aquatica); San Diego, California (Aquatica); Tampa, Florida (Adventure Island); and Williamsburg, Virginia (Water Country USA). The Company also operates a reservations-only theme park offering interaction with marine animals in Orlando, Florida (Discovery Cove) and a seasonal park in Langhorne, Pennsylvania (Sesame Place). In March 2016, Aquatica San Antonio was 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 each of the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015 approximately 57% of the Company’s revenues were generated in the State of Florida.