Milestone expands Universal Destinations & Experiences portfolio with new parks, resorts, and attractions in the U.S. and around the world

Comcast NBCUniversal today announced Universal Destinations & Experiences’ first theme park in Europe – officially named Universal United Kingdom Resort — will soon begin construction, achieving a significant milestone as the company continues to add to parks, resorts, and attractions to its portfolio.

Located in Bedford, UK and just 45 minutes outside of London, Universal United Kingdom Resort will include a world-class theme park featuring several immersive lands with innovative attractions and story-driven experiences, alongside a 500-room hotel and a retail, dining, and entertainment complex.

“This is a proud moment for our company as we bring the first Universal theme park and resort to Europe,” said Brian Roberts and Mike Cavanagh, Co-CEOs of Comcast Corporation. “The United Kingdom is a highly attractive market and builds on the significant investments we’ve made elsewhere around the globe to create extraordinary experiences for millions of guests that are rooted in the stories and worlds only Universal can deliver.”

“We have a bold ambition to bring Universal’s innovative and immersive experiences to new audiences,” said Mark Woodbury, Chairman and CEO of Universal Destinations & Experiences. “Universal United Kingdom Resort reflects that long-term strategy focused on key markets while continuing to enhance our existing parks and strengthen our position as a destination of choice for guests.”

Universal United Kingdom Resort joins several other major developments driving growth for Universal Destinations & Experiences, including the award-winning Universal Epic Universe in Orlando, the company’s most ambitious and technologically advanced theme park, which recently completed its first year of operations with strong results. 

In its first year of operations, Universal Epic Universe helped drive 12 consecutive months of year-over-year growth in Orange County tourism tax revenue.  The park is also expected to have generated $2 billion for the state of Florida and created more than 17,500 jobs nationwide.

Universal Destinations & Experiences has made additional significant investments in its US business for decades. In addition to Universal Epic Universe, other upcoming additions include this summer’s opening of Universal Studios Hollywood’s Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift, the park’s first high-speed outdoor roller coaster featuring groundbreaking 360-degree rotation technology, which generated 2,000 construction jobs and will support 245 operational roles. It is also expected to generate $5.4 million in use tax revenue and $3.7 million in property taxes in its first full year of operation.

On July 1, the company will also debut Universal Kids Resort in Frisco, Texas, the first theme park designed specifically for families with young children, featuring seven themed lands with some of Universal’s most successful kids’ franchises and an integrated 300-room hotel.  Universal Kids Resort is delivering meaningful economic impact for North Texas through job creation, including 4,100 construction jobs and nearly 1,500 long-term operational roles at opening. In addition, an estimated $9.7 million in property taxes through the first full year and $13 million in sales and use tax revenue supports the region’s future.

The company’s direct investment in these projects has stimulated tens of billions of dollars in economic impact nationwide and generated tens of thousands of jobs across the U.S.

Today’s announcement follows more than two years of due diligence and engagement evaluating the UK. Comcast’s 540-acre site in Bedford is ideally located with fast rail links to London and strong connectivity across the country. The site also offers strong access to the rest of the United Kingdom and Europe.