SeaWorld Entertainment said it had best-ever attendance figures for the fourth quarter of 2013, brushing off claims it has been damaged by the ‘Blackfish’ documentary film controversy, critical of SeaWorld and its treatment of captive killer whales.
Declining to release exact figures, Orlando-based SeaWorld said its three marine parks in San Diego, San Antonio and Orlando had their best fourth-quarter performance in terms of visitor attendance.
The company also expects to post highest ever full-year revenue figures in its 50-year history of around $1.46 billion.
SeaWorld Entertainment owns and operates 11 theme parks in total including Busch Gardens parks in Tampa and Williamsburg, Va.
By releasing this earnings preview early, the company is hoping to head off questions about the extent of negative publicity generated by the film’s release in October 2013.
The CNN-produced documentary has fueled protests by animal rights activists at Seaworld’s Orlando marine park and in response, the company has been on a PR offensive in the national media.
Since the airing of the film, several music artists have canceled planned shows at Seaworld including Willie Nelson and Heart.
Southwest Airlines last week also became embroiled in Seaworld protests, with activists delivering a 25,000-signature petition to the airline demanding it scraps a co-branding partnership with the theme park operator.
