If “Blackfish” backlash eventually forces SeaWorld to ditch Shamu, the park could survive — at least, that’s what theme park experts have said.
But it would take good planning and support from the city. Some potential challenges include meeting the city’s requirement that 75 percent of SeaWorld’s attractions be related to animals or serve an educational purpose. Also, with about 4.6 million visitors last year, SeaWorld no doubt fears losing visitors interested solely in seeing Shamu.
READ MORE: What a Shamu-Less SeaWorld Might Look Like
In this San Diego Explained, NBC 7’s Catherine Garcia and Voice of San Diego‘s Lisa Halverstadt explore the careful steps SeaWorld would have to take if it had to rethink its business model.
This is part of our Quest: SeaWorld series digging into the park’s impact on our region. Check out the previous story – What We Learned About SeaWorld– our series summary.