Free Beer Is Helping SeaWorld Recapture Some of Its Crowds

As they spoke to analysts Monday, executives at SeaWorld Entertainment had something unusual to discuss: a second consecutive quarter of good news. Attendance continued to increase in the second quarter, revenue was up, and the theme park operator swung to a profit after reporting a loss in the same quarter of 2017. Shares soared 16.85 percent to end the day at $24.69, the highest close in nearly four years. "We're encouraged by the progress and the continued momentum we see in the business as we execute on our key initiatives, and we seek significant opportunity for continued improvement and growth going forward," Interim CEO John Reilly said during the call. SeaWorld had been in a prolonged slump following the 2013 release of the documentary Blackfish, which was critical of its handling of captive orcas. Attendance dropped, public perception plummeted, protests abounded, revenue tanked, and the company announced it would no longer breed its iconic killer whales or use them in theatrical shows. Reilly, who was named to the position in February after former CEO Joel Manby stepped down, said the impr