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Coast Entertainment
Coast Entertainment Holdings Limited (formerly Ardent Leisure Group and Macquarie Leisure Trust) is an Australian leisure company. It operates Dreamworld, the largest theme park in Australia, WhiteWater World, a water park adjacent to Dreamworld, and the SkyPoint Observation Deck on the Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia.
Coast Entertainment began in 1998 as Macquarie Leisure Trust, a listed trust managed by Macquarie Leisure Operations, a subsidiary of Macquarie Group. The trust acquired the existing Dreamworld theme park in July 1998 for A$100.3 million. In November 1999, it purchased d'Albora Marinas, a provider of berth and marina facilities, for A$36.3 million.
Macquarie Leisure acquired the Cabarita Point Marina for its D'Albora Marinas business in January 2004. In October 2004, Macquarie Leisure acquired AMF Bowling's Australian business for A$67.4 million. In August 2006, it announced that it would acquire the Texas-based family entertainment centre operator Main Event Entertainment. Later that year, it opened WhiteWater World, a new water park constructed on the Gold Coast.
In July 2007, Macquarie Leisure announced it would acquire Goodlife Health Clubs for $60 million. At the time, Goodlife had 18 health clubs across Queensland, Victoria and New South Wales.
In August 2009, management of Macquarie Leisure Trust was internalised and it was renamed Ardent Leisure Group, ending its connection with Macquarie Group. In November 2009, Ardent Leisure acquired the QDeck observation deck for A$13.3 million.
In April 2015, Deborah Thomas, former editor of Cleo and other magazines, was appointed as chief executive officer (CEO) of Ardent Leisure. Thomas was replaced on 9 June 2017 when Simon Kelly was appointed as CEO and Managing Director.
In August 2016, Ardent sold the Goodlife Health Clubs business to Quadrant Private Equity for $260 million. In December that year, Ardent Leisure sold its d'Albora Marinas division for A$126 million to a special purpose vehicle owned by Goldman Sachs and Balmain Corporation. In December 2017, Ardent sold its Australian bowling and arcade businesses (AMF, Kingpin and Playtime) to The Entertainment and Education Group for A$160 million.
In June 2020, RedBird Capital Partners acquired a 24.2% stake in Main Event. On 6 April 2022, competitor Dave & Buster's announced its intent to wholly acquire Main Event from Ardent and RedBird for US$835 million (A$1.1 billion); former Main Event CEO Chris Morris was retained, and was made the CEO of Dave and Buster's.
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Coast Entertainment
Coast Entertainment Holdings Limited (formerly Ardent Leisure Group and Macquarie Leisure Trust) is an Australian leisure company. It operates Dreamworld, the largest theme park in Australia, WhiteWater World, a water park adjacent to Dreamworld, and the SkyPoint Observation Deck on the Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia.
Coast Entertainment began in 1998 as Macquarie Leisure Trust, a listed trust managed by Macquarie Leisure Operations, a subsidiary of Macquarie Group. The trust acquired the existing Dreamworld theme park in July 1998 for A$100.3 million. In November 1999, it purchased d'Albora Marinas, a provider of berth and marina facilities, for A$36.3 million.
Macquarie Leisure acquired the Cabarita Point Marina for its D'Albora Marinas business in January 2004. In October 2004, Macquarie Leisure acquired AMF Bowling's Australian business for A$67.4 million. In August 2006, it announced that it would acquire the Texas-based family entertainment centre operator Main Event Entertainment. Later that year, it opened WhiteWater World, a new water park constructed on the Gold Coast.
In July 2007, Macquarie Leisure announced it would acquire Goodlife Health Clubs for $60 million. At the time, Goodlife had 18 health clubs across Queensland, Victoria and New South Wales.
In August 2009, management of Macquarie Leisure Trust was internalised and it was renamed Ardent Leisure Group, ending its connection with Macquarie Group. In November 2009, Ardent Leisure acquired the QDeck observation deck for A$13.3 million.
In April 2015, Deborah Thomas, former editor of Cleo and other magazines, was appointed as chief executive officer (CEO) of Ardent Leisure. Thomas was replaced on 9 June 2017 when Simon Kelly was appointed as CEO and Managing Director.
In August 2016, Ardent sold the Goodlife Health Clubs business to Quadrant Private Equity for $260 million. In December that year, Ardent Leisure sold its d'Albora Marinas division for A$126 million to a special purpose vehicle owned by Goldman Sachs and Balmain Corporation. In December 2017, Ardent sold its Australian bowling and arcade businesses (AMF, Kingpin and Playtime) to The Entertainment and Education Group for A$160 million.
In June 2020, RedBird Capital Partners acquired a 24.2% stake in Main Event. On 6 April 2022, competitor Dave & Buster's announced its intent to wholly acquire Main Event from Ardent and RedBird for US$835 million (A$1.1 billion); former Main Event CEO Chris Morris was retained, and was made the CEO of Dave and Buster's.