This morning in a big announcement for Universal Studios Parks & Resorts fans in which the owner of the parks of NBCUniversal/Comcast, announced today in there full press release (which can be read here) for taking over of rest of the 49% percentage at Universal Studios Japan in Osaka.
The company announced in which they will be investing $2.3 billion USD (254.8 billion yen) for the remaining shares of the park and a smart business move since the “Super Nintendo World” expansion will be coming down the line right around the Tokyo Summer Olympic Games in 2020. The “Nintendo” expansion will be more expensive then the 2014 addition of Diagon Alley from The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at the Universal Orlando Resort of around $433 million USD ( 50 billion yen).
Fans of the billion dollar, Japanese gaming company will be featuring globally popular characters and gaming worlds like if was brought out from the screen towards real life at Universal Studios Japan. Nintendo’s next console of the Nintendo Switch is set to launch this March 3rd, 2017 including the anticipating launch title of next installment of Zelda series of “Zelda: Breath of The Wild”.
Universal Studios Japan is also planning a “Minions Park” themed expansion in early 2017 including a 3-D ride from the animation company of “Illumination Entertainment” and creator of Despicable Me that is also under the ownership of NBCUniversal/Comcast as well with the recent buy out of “Dreamworks Animation”.
Artist Concept Only for the “Minons Park” expansion set to debut early 2017 in Osaka, Japan. Source: (©Universal Studios Japan)
The ownership of the park from it’s current owners of Goldman Sachs and the park’s former Chief Executive Officer, Glenn Gumpel of a Asian private-equity firm MBK Partners and U.S. hedge fund Owl Creek Asset Management will be selling it off for the company to regain the ownership. The transaction is expected to close before the end of April 2017.
“The acquisition further demonstrates Comcast NBCUniversal’s confidence in the future growth of Universal Studios Japan and the company’s strong interest in the Asian market – the company is also building a theme park destination in Beijing and licenses a theme park in Singapore.“
“Universal Studios Japan is an amazing and incredibly successful theme park,” said Tom Williams, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer for Universal Parks & Resorts. “This acquisition will bring an even stronger future for the theme park, its guests and its team members. We are thrilled USJ will fully be part of the Universal family and look forward to continuing to create a remarkable experience for our guests.”
Universal Studios Japan opened in 2001 and in 2014 The Wizarding World of Harry Potter was brought over towards the country and licensed under NBCUniversal in which Harry Potter was the same year for Universal Orlando for Diagon Alley and last year in 2016 for Universal Studios Hollywood.
“Comcast NBCUniversal wholly owns Universal Studios Hollywood, which includes Universal CityWalk Hollywood. It also owns Universal Orlando Resort, a destination resort with three theme parks (Universal Studios Florida, Universal’s Islands of Adventure and Universal’s Volcano Bay – grand opening May 25, 2017), five resort hotels, and Universal CityWalk Orlando. In addition, Comcast NBCUniversal owns 51% of Universal Studios Japan, in Osaka and has a license agreement with Universal Studios Singapore at Resorts World Sentosa, Singapore. The company has also announced plans for a theme park in Beijing.“
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