The San Diego City Council’s approval of a new roller coaster at SeaWorld doesn’t mean it’s going to happen for sure, but we should hope it does.
The council’s vote to grant a waiver to exceed the height limit of projects near the coast is the first step. The California Coastal Commission still has to okay it.Chances are it will but nothing’s for sure when it comes to state agencies.
SeaWorld’s planned Mako roller coaster, taller than its already existing Electric Eel coaster, along with the Tidal Twister coaster due to open this summer, are all part of SeaWorld’s new plan to attract more visitors.
While the negative impact of the infamous Blackfish documentary has faded, and the number of visitors is back up, the changes being made at the theme park in recent years are all about making sure SeaWorld remains financially successful.
While they ended their captive breeding of the orcas, SeaWorld still is and will probably remain best known for its living creatures from the sea, for visitors to see and learn to appreciate the importance of them to our world.
That will always be a draw at SeaWorld but the rising roller coasters into the sky over Mission Bay also helps ensure that the theme park remains a thriving tourist destination.
And that’s important to San Diego’s critical tourism economy, which helps the city thrive.
(Photo credit 10News)