San Diego to Sue SeaWorld for $12 Million in Unpaid Rent

Sea lion pups recover at SeaWorld San Diego's Animal Rescue Center in San Diego on Jan. 27, 2015. Mike Aguilera/SeaWorld San Diego via Getty Images

The San Diego City Council recently voted 8–0 to sue SeaWorld for $12 million in back rent it says the marine park accumulated during the COVID pandemic.

Councilwoman Vivian Moreno was absent from the May 15 vote.

The dollar amount includes unpaid rent, late fees, and interest from 2019 to 2021, according to city spokesperson Tara Lewis.

“Although SeaWorld’s public disclosures show it to be in good financial shape despite the pandemic, it refuses to pay back rent on its Mission Bay leasehold,” City Attorney Mara Elliott told The Epoch Times. “SeaWorld seems to believe that San Diego taxpayers should absorb its debts and liabilities, even though it has banked enormous profits for decades from its operations on prime City-owned real estate.”

According to Elliott, SeaWorld is the only city lessee to attempt to justify withholding rent due to state-mandated closures during the pandemic.

“SeaWorld’s greed and arrogance are offensive, and the city will hold it accountable,” she said.

San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria speaks to members of the media as California Gov. Gavin Newsom (back) listens during a press conference at Petco Park in San Diego on Feb. 8, 2021. Sandy Huffaker/AFP via Getty Images

Mayor Todd Gloria voiced frustration with the 60-year-old theme park for refusing to pay the fees during a budget committee meeting earlier this month.

“It’s been bothering me a long time and now we’re two years into this,” he said. “I want that money now. I want it yesterday. I want it with interest. I’m getting more and more mad thinking about it because of all the things it could be used for.”

Gloria was specifically upset because, he said, the funds could be used to help the city in many good ways.

“It is entirely unacceptable, and SeaWorld should be ashamed of themselves for holding onto ... the city’s money while communities are struggling and we’re making very difficult budget decisions,” he said.

In this handout photo provided by SeaWorld San Diego, singer and actor Donny Osmond meets Crunch, a male bottlenose dolphin, while visiting the Dolphin Point attraction at SeaWorld San Diego in San Diego on July 20, 2017. Mike Aguilera/SeaWorld San Diego via Getty Images

SeaWorld spokesperson Tracy Spahr told The Epoch Times that the theme park’s policy doesn’t permit them to comment on potential litigation. She also said SeaWorld has paid more than $416 million in lease payments to the city since 2010.

“We have partnered with the City for nearly 60 years – conducting thousands of animal rescues, numerous recycling drives and many other events,” Spahr wrote in an email. “We appreciate all the City has done and we look forward to addressing this situation.”