Story highlights
A new Harry Potter theme park is planned for Universal Hollywood
The existing park in Orlando will be expanded
The Orlando Harry Potter attraction has brought a big attendance boost for Universal
Muggles will have another opportunity to slip into Harry Potter’s magical world at a new Wizarding World of Harry Potter theme park at Universal Studios Hollywood.
Universal Parks CEO Tom Williams promises the planned Southern California attraction will be “every bit as spectacular” as the first Harry Potter park, which opened in 2010 at Universal Orlando in Florida. That successful Harry Potter theme park will be significantly expanded, Williams also announced Tuesday.
Hogwarts Castle, which houses the School of Witchcraft and Wizardry featured in the “Harry Potter” series, will be the Hollywood park’s centerpiece, as it is in Orlando. Details on the timing of the new park and expansion have not been released.
The new California park is likely to bring millions of tourist dollars.
“It’s a huge win for the Los Angeles tourism industry,” said Mark Liberman, CEO of the Los Angeles Convention and Visitors Bureau, in a statement.
The Los Angeles County Economic Development Corp. estimates the Harry Potter park will produce $147 million in spending in the county for every one million additional visitors to Universal Studios Hollywood.
The Orlando Harry Potter attraction’s opening brought an immediate boost to Universal Orlando. Wizarding World’s opening halfway through 2010 boosted overall paid admissions to Universal’s Orlando parks by 20% in 2010 over 2009, according to financial documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.