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After more than two decades of roller coasters in the sports industry, Scott O’Neil is heading into the world of real rides.former this week Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment The CEO will be the CEO of Merlin Entertainments, the world’s second-largest theme park operator, after Disney.
Merlin operates numerous Legoland, Madame Tussauds and Sea Life museums in over 140 attractions worldwide, including the London Eye.
“I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about what I want to be and what I want to do, and I’ve been circling people and scale and goals,” O’Neal said in an interview. “It’s literally just like I imagined it to be. Close to a dream come true.”
Before joining what would become HBSE, O’Neal spent eight years in the NBA and four years as president of MSG Sports. When he joined in 2013, the Sixers were worth about $415 million; by the time he exits in June 2021, the conglomerate was valued at about $2.5 billion.
Now, O’Neal will be looking to achieve similar growth in a different but somewhat related category. He succeeds Nick Varney, who recently retired after 23 years at Merlin.
“Scott has extensive experience in the entertainment industry, a proven track record in delivering business transformation, and the vision and ambition to lead Merlin through the next exciting phase of its global development,” said Roland Eyre, chairman of Merlin Entertainments. Hernandez said in a statement.
Merlin was taken private in a deal in 2019, and the company is 50% owned by Kirkbi, the private investment firm of the founding family of Lego, with private equity firm Blackstone also holding a large stake.
Merlin recently opened attractions built around children’s characters like Peppa Pig and Peter Rabbit. It will open three more Legoland parks in China over the next two years. In addition to Lego, Merlin has worked with DreamWorks, Sony Pictures Entertainment and Hasbro.
“We’re one of the few places where we can bring a brand to life,” O’Neill said. “Having such a large job platform creates opportunities.”
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