Friendly faces, furry hugs and lots of counting fun … it’s time to take a magical carpet ride to where the air is sweet. There’s only one street where we could be going, and Elmo, Cookie Monster, Big Bird and the rest of the gang are ready and waiting.
SeaWorld Entertainment and Sesame Workshop, the nonprofit organization behind “Sesame Street,” has announced the extension of their 37-year partnership, which will include the development of another Sesame Place theme park in the United States. No location has been disclosed as of yet.
Photo: PRNewsfoto/SeaWorld Entertainment, Inc.
Located in Langhorne, Pennsylvania, the current Sesame Place is the nation’s only theme park based completely on the award-winning educational series “Sesame Street,” which has been entertaining and educationg kids since 1969. Families can cuddle with furry friends like Big Bird and Elmo, ride Grover-themed roller coasters (kid-sized, of course) and enjoy musical productions and parades.
The new license agreement between Sesame Workshop and SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment extends SeaWorld’s status as Sesame Workshop’s exclusive theme park partner in the U.S. The second Sesame Place is scheduled to open in mid-2021 in a to-be-determined location. After it opens, SeaWorld will have the option to build additional Sesame Place theme parks in the U.S.
Photo: Seaworld Parks
This agreement also makes it possible for Sesame Street characters to continue to appear at the existing Sesame Street lands inside Busch Gardens Williamsburg, Busch Gardens Tampa, SeaWorld San Diego and SeaWorld San Antonio. There is also a Sesame Street land planned for SeaWorld Orlando, which should be complete by fall of 2022.
Under the license, the two companies have agreed to extend their collaborative relationship through December 2031.
“We know that the magic of theme parks gives families a unique and powerful way to experience and delight in the Sesame Street characters,” said Jeffrey D. Dunn, Chief Executive Officer of Sesame Workshop. “Building more Sesame Place theme parks will enable us to connect with even more families and provide funding that supports our nonprofit mission.”
In addition, Sesame Place extends Sesame Workshop’s commitment to social impact work with its Sesame Place Cares annual series of events both in and outside of the park. This includes its 30-year partnership with Variety – The Children’s Charity, which is focused on providing events in a safe and fun atmosphere for children with disabilities and their families.
“We share Sesame’s goal of education and entertaining generations of children, and the extension of our partnership furthers SeaWorld’s mission to provide guests with experiences that matter,” said Joel Manby, President and Chief Executive Officer of SeaWorld Entertainment, Inc. “We are thrilled to be able to grow the presence of Sesame Place theme parks in the U.S. and help our company diversify its brand portfolio and expand into new areas.”
Photo: PRNewsfoto/SeaWorld Entertainment, Inc.
“Expanding our Sesame Place theme park footprint will both deepen our relationship with longstanding fans and help us to connect with new families,” said Steve Youngwood, Chief Operating Officer of Sesame Workshop. “This partnership will also enable the Workshop to continue producing high-quality educational programming for the next generation.”
This post was brought to you by the letter P … for “Please build it quickly.”
Have you been to Sesame Place or any of the in-park Sesame Street lands? Feel free to share your thoughts or fun-filled adventures.
