SeaWorld Entertainment, Inc. has "postponed to 2021 the opening of rides that were still under construction and originally scheduled to open in 2020".
This is likely to include:
- Iron Gwazi at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay
- Ice Breaker at SeaWorld Orlando
- Pantheon at Busch Gardens Williamsburg
- Emperor at SeaWorld San Diego
All four attractions were included in our Top 10 Most Anticipated US Roller Coasters in 2020.
Texas Stingray at SeaWorld San Antonio had already opened before the park was forced to close due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The operator confirmed the news in a press release about their Q2 results.
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and in compliance with government restrictions, the company temporarily closed all of its theme parks on March 16.
Beginning in June 2020, the company began the phased reopening of some of its parks with reduced operating days and capacity limitations. On June 11, SeaWorld Orlando and Busch Gardens Tampa Bay in Florida both reopened, on June 19, SeaWorld San Antonio in Texas reopened, and on July 24, Sesame Place in Pennsylvania reopened.
The company said that it expects Busch Gardens Williamsburg in Virginia will commence a phased reopening in early August 2020 and that it continues to monitor guidance from federal, state and local authorities to determine when it can reopen SeaWorld San Diego in California.