Leisure Business Advisors LLC

Press and Media Coverage

Below are selected comments by John Gerner, LBA's managing director, on a variety of leisure industry subjects. He can be contacted by email at johngerner@leisure-business.com or by telephone at (804) 937-7700.  Click on the title to watch the television interview segment, view the article, or listen to the original radio broadcast.

• "Disney lost $547M to hurricanes. Here's the calculation." (Orlando Business Journal, October 11, 2024).
• "In Stoney’s latest stadium bid, will taxpayers get caught looking" (Richmond Times-Dispatch,  April 14, 2024).
• "Disney plan to grow theme parks up for critical vote that will shape Anaheim for decades" (Orange County Register,  April 14, 2024).
• "Disney's $60B investment may enhance Epcot, add hotels and more" (Orlando Business Journal,  February 16, 2024).
• "Universal Eyes European Theme-Park Challenge to Disney" (Wall Street Journal,  December 19, 2023).
• "Six Flags and Knott’s Berry Farm owners to merge, reshaping theme park landscape in mega-deal" (Los Angeles Times,  November 2, 2023).
• "Green light shines on Diamond District" (Richmond Free Press,  May 11, 2023).
• Television interview about Disney's Second Quarter FY2023 earnings (Bloomberg Markets: The Close on May 10, 2023).
• "Inside the $2.4 Billion Plan to Redesign Richmond, Virginia" (Bloomberg, May 9, 2023).
• "Richmond stadium proposal raises more questions than answers" ( Richmond Times-Dispatch,  April 30, 2023).
• Television interview about Disney's First Quarter FY2023 earnings (Bloomberg Markets: The Close on February 8, 2023).
• "Beyond the Pitch" (Richmond Magazine,  October 7, 2022).
• "Six Flags gets treated like a ‘day-care center for teenagers.’ Its CEO is not happy" (Los Angeles Times,  August 20, 2022).
• " Disneyland has been raising food prices. Blame inflation." (Los Angeles Times,  July 30, 2022).
• "Disney patents tech for 'robot sherpa' that could transport theme park guests' items" (Orlando Business Journal,  June 21, 2022).
• Television interview about Disney's Second Quarter FY2022 earnings (Bloomberg Markets: Triple Take on May 11, 2022).
• "Disney fans wait six hours for a popcorn bucket. Inside the latest rare merch frenzy" (Los Angeles Times,  February 10, 2022).
• "Massive Paramount-Branded Theme Park to Be Built in China’s Kunming" (Variety,  November 11, 2021).
• "Wait times at Disneyland and Universal Studios are way down. Here’s why" (Los Angeles Times,  September 10, 2021).
• "Will Disney Genie+ make Disneyland wait times shorter or longer?" (Orange County Register,  September 9, 2021).
• Television interview about Disney's Third Quarter FY2021 earnings (Bloomberg Markets: What'd You Miss? on August 12, 2021).
• "Theme parks likely to keep mobile tech put to the test by the pandemic" (Marketplace, July 5, 2021).
• "Star Wars hotel theming construction work, auditions underway" (Orlando Business Journal, May 17, 2021).
• Television interview about Disney's Second Quarter FY2021 earnings (Bloomberg Markets: The Close, May 13, 2021).
• "Theme parks are built for density: Disneyland finally reopens, but it’s now make or break for the industry" (MarketWatch , April 30, 2021).
• "At Disney World, spring break crowds are here, along with coronavirus fears" (Orlando Sentinel , March 20, 2021).
• "California theme parks won’t profit at 15% capacity. Here’s why they’ll reopen anyway" (Los Angeles Times, March 5, 2021).
• "Merchandising Opportunities in the Current Pandemic Market" (Funworld, February 18, 2021).
• "Disneyland killed its annual pass program. Why, and what comes next?" ( Los Angeles Times, January 16, 2021).
• "With an arena planned in Henrico, what’s next for the Coliseum?" ( Richmond BizSense, December 8, 2020).
• "Pandemic Trends with a Long Impact in Travel, Lodging, Hiring, and More" ( Funworld, November 1, 2020).
• "How will NYC real estate fare without 65 million tourists?" ( The Real Deal, July 29, 2020).
• "Hiring on The Fly After COVID-19" ( Funworld, April 17, 2020).
• "Disney’s Shanghai resort partially reopened. Will people go?" ( Marketplace, March 9, 2020).
• "Disneyland raises ticket prices, breaking the $200-a-day mark" ( Los Angeles Times, February 11, 2020).
• "Disney Purchases Roughly 235 Acres of Land Near Walt Disney World" (Orlando Business Journal, December 23, 2019).
• "U.S.-China trade war worries some in theme park industry as IAAPA show nears" (Orlando Sentinel, November 13, 2019).
• "Disney’s theme parks are beating the odds" (Marketplace, November 7, 2019).
• "Navy Hill ship sinking?" (Richmond Free Press,  October 31, 2019).
• "Experts: SeaWorld's leadership influence muddies CEO position" (Orlando Business Journal, October 23, 2019).
• "Scrutiny of public financing intensifies after $1.5B downtown redevelopment deal​ clears Planning Commission" (Richmond Times-Dispatch, October 22, 2019).
• "Arena Bonds Raise Questions" (Richmond Magazine, October 21, 2019).
• "Disney Star Wars: Crowds kept at bay in California, but how will it work in Orlando?" (Orlando Sentinel, June 26, 2019).
• "A Not-So-Thrilling Ride For U.S.-Made Roller Coasters" (National Public Radio (NPR) Morning Edition, June 14, 2019).
• "New SeaWorld CEO Gus Antorcha faces challenges but comes with fresh perspective, some say" (Orlando Sentinel, February 6, 2019).
• Television interview about Disney's potential acquisition of 21st Century Fox and the future of its theme parks (Bloomberg Daybreak Americas, May 8, 2018).
• "Remember ‘Avatar’? Disney sure hopes you do" (Associated Press, May 9, 2017).
• "Why SeaWorld, other theme parks are going all-in on virtual reality" (Orlando Business Journal, March 3, 2017).
• "The economic impact of a major new museum" (Marketplace, September 23, 2016).
• "Prince's Paisley Park will open its doors to fans" (Marketplace, August 26, 2016).
• "Buy the Seaside" (Urban Land: The Magazine of the Urban Land Institute, July 14, 2016).
• "What's Next for SeaWorld as it Stops Breeding Killer Whales?" (NBC News, March  2016).
• "Timing the best deals for family entertainment" (CNBC, February 15, 2016).
• "Universal may heat up competition in Orlando hotel market" (Orlando Sentinel, September 13, 2014).
• "People seek 'personal extreme' in entertainment" (Chicago Tribune, October 14, 2013).
• Television interview about worldwide theme park trends ( First Business, June 26, 2013).
• "China’s Theme Park Boom" (Knowledge@Wharton, January 31, 2013).
• "Big splash expected from new park" (San Antonio Express-News, May 14, 2012).
• "Disney breaks the mold with Aulani resort" (NBC News, August 29, 2011).
• "L.A. Investor Holds Reins of Jackson Ranch" (Los Angeles Business Journal, July 6, 2009).
• "Resorting to water in the Toledo region" (Toledo Blade, June 29, 2008).
• "Ohio tourist center rides recent water park wave" (Associated Press, December 30, 2007).
• "Mad money: five ways to have some real fun with your disposable income" (Canadian Business, December 2005).
• "Old Mint Reopens Today -- Experts Say It Needs Better PR" (San Francisco Chronicle, January 6, 1994).
• "Experts tell Lockport how to lure business" (Chicago Tribune, October 17, 1991)
• "Park Wars: Shamu Is the Big Prize Buyer of Sea World Will Get for Its Money" (Wall Street Journal, August 28, 1989).

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