Epic Universe, the newest theme park at Universal Studios Orlando Resort, will open to visitors by Summer 2025, the resort’s parent company, Comcast announced today, according to The Orlando Sentinel.
The announcement came as Universal execs reported record-breaking earnings for the fourth quarter of 2021.
NBC Universal Chief Executive Officer Jeff Shell said that construction on the new Epic Universe theme park in Orlando is “full steam ahead” during the company’s fourth-quarter earnings call today. The company looks to invest almost $1 billion in the new theme park this year alone, according to NBC Universal’s Chief Financial Officer, Michael Cavanaugh.
“Construction is going really well,” Shell said. “We expect that park (Epic Universe) to open in ‘25, and certainly in time for the summer of ‘25.”
In addition to news about the progress of construction on Universal’s new theme park, announcements were also made about the company’s fourth-quarter earnings in 2021.
Universal Studios Orlando reported what Brian Roberts, Comcast’s Chairman and Chief Financial Officer called the “best quarter in the company’s history for any quarter.” Universal’s fourth quarter began on October 1, 2021, and ended on December 31, 2021.
The success of the Universal Studios Orlando Resort was an integral part of helping NBC Universal to see its most profitable fourth quarter on record, according to Roberts.
According to NBC Universal execs during today’s earnings call, the company’s theme park revenue increased by $1.2 billion in the fourth quarter, as compared with earnings from the fourth quarter of 2020. During the 2020 fourth quarter, all of the company’s theme parks were at limited capacity or were closed in response to the coronavirus pandemic.
The opening of Universal Studios Beijing on September 20, 2021, only added to the company’s profitability.
Even if you’re a Disney fan, do you plan to visit Universal’s new theme park, Epic Universe, when it finally opens to guests? Let us know in the comments!