NBCUniversal’s Epic Universe Powers Economic Growth and US Job Creation

Comcast NBCUniversal is home to world-class theme parks including Universal Orlando Resort, Universal Studios Hollywood and several international locations that offer guests the most innovative, thrilling and popular entertainment experiences. 

As one of the six growth drivers for Comcast NBCUniversal, the company is continuing to invest in the growth of our Universal Destinations and Experiences (UDX) business and in the communities where we are bringing our parks to life. Over the next two years, we will open several new park experiences across the country, including Epic Universe, the most ambitious and technologically advanced theme park ever, and the most transformational development in the theme park industry in the last quarter century.

Universal Destinations and Experiences—Driving Job Growth Across the U.S.   

Across the country, UDX currently employs more than 45,000 team members and supports thousands of suppliers, stimulates local businesses, and generates hundreds of millions in tax revenue for state and local governments.  Comcast NBCU invested more than $10 billion in new and existing Universal destinations across the U.S. in California, Florida, Texas and Nevada from 2018-2024. 

In May, UDX will greatly expand its parks business in Florida at Universal Orlando Resort with the opening of Epic Universe. Epic Universe is the most ambitious, most technologically advanced park UDX has ever built and the first major theme park to open in the United States in the last quarter century. With the addition of Epic Universe, Universal Orlando Resort will become a weeklong, four-theme-park vacation destination featuring three theme parks, one water theme park, CityWalk dining, retail, and entertainment district, and 11 hotels, including three new hotels at Epic Universe.  

The launch of Epic Universe will double the size of the park's footprint in Orlando and is generating a wave of economic growth for the region, the state of Florida and beyond. Epic will draw millions of new visitors, boost tax revenues, drive traffic to new and established businesses, enhance local infrastructure, and facilitate community investment. 

Epic Universe has already catalyzed state and nationwide economic growth, including through investments in new job creation and job training. 

The creation of Epic Universe has stimulated economic growth and generated thousands of jobs nationwide. Universal Destinations & Experiences engaged Dr. Sean Snaith, a nationally recognized economist and Director of the University of Central Florida’s Institute for Economic Forecasting, to perform an economic impact analysis. The report details the positive impact of Universal Orlando Resort (UOR) on the local and national economy, and the additional benefit Epic Universe will have in its first year of operations and beyond.

Job Creation

Epic Universe is creating a ripple effect in the surrounding communities: in Orlando, for every 1,000 jobs created within Epic, an additional 700 jobs are generated off-site. Additionally, after its first year of operations, Epic Universe is expected to generate $386 million in state and local taxes, $120 million in property taxes, and $500 million in sales taxes. Increased tourism will also bring in $13 million from tourist development taxes, and $230 million will be invested to improve public facilities.  

Developing strong ties to the communities in which NBCUniversal’s parks operate is central to UDX’s mission. The investments are long-term ventures designed to foster economic growth and deliver lasting benefits across local communities. Universal Orlando Resort and the Foundation focus on expanding opportunity and access through collaborative programming, partnerships, skills enhancement, and grants support, and have provided nearly $70 million in grants, cash donations and in-kind contributions from 2019–2023.

Universal Destinations and Experiences Expanding Across the Country  

In addition to Epic, Universal Destinations and Experiences is growing the parks business in new ways – bringing the Universal brand and our rich portfolio of IP to guests across the United States.  

Universal Horror Unleashed in Las Vegas

This year, Universal Destinations and Experiences will open Universal Horror Unleashed in Las Vegas, our first permanent, year-round, horror entertainment experience. For decades, Universal’s masters of horror have created some of the world’s most frightening films and events. Now guests can experience it all in a year-round, fully immersive horror experience. 

Universal Kids Resort in Frisco, Texas

In Frisco, TX, Universal Destinations and Experiences are currently building the first-ever Universal Kids Resort, a whole new family theme park concept that includes an integrated 300-room hotel, set to open in 2026.  Universal Kids Resort will feature lands themed around beloved characters including DreamWorks Animation’s Shrek, Puss in Boots, Trolls and Gabby's Dollhouse; Nickelodeon’s SpongeBob SquarePants; Illumination’s Minions, as well as Jurassic World. 

Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift in Hollywood

And in Hollywood, Universal Destinations and Experiences is working on the first high-speed outdoor roller coaster, “Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift,” that will elevate the guest experience with innovative and technological achievements never previously employed in a roller coaster.  

DreamWorks Land in Orlando

Additionally, Universal Destinations and Experiences opened Dreamworks Land at Universal Studios Flordia and features experiences with characters from "Shrek," "Trolls" and "Kung Fu Panda." 

Universal Destinations and Experiences is creating one-of-a-kind experiences for its guests, driving economic growth across the United States and within local communities.