The City has been on a deliberate path of evaluating how best to position the Virginia Aquarium to meet its mission while remaining realistic about the City’s financial obligations, myriad of capital infrastructure needs and taxpayer affordability.

Overview: The Virginia Aquarium

The Virginia Aquarium is a public-private partnership between the City of Virginia Beach and the Virginia Aquarium and Marine Science Center Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. The City owns and maintains the Aquarium’s buildings and provides administrative support, while the Foundation procures the Aquarium’s collection of animals and exhibits. 

The Foundation is also responsible for fundraising efforts and various scientific research, education, and conservation programs. The aquarium features a variety of attractions for visitors, including over 800,000 gallons of marine life to explore, coastal boat trips, a zip line and aerial adventure park, as well as a rotating collection of other exhibits.

A detailed summary of the Aquarium's offerings, budget, performance measures and organization chart can be found on pages 67-70 of the FY25 Proposed Budget.

The Situation

In January 2023, Aquarium leadership presented a master plan concept for expansion and renovation of the Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center. In April 2023, the Aquarium budget was presented to City Council. In light of the presentation, City Council began discussions on how to ensure a sustainable future for the Aquarium and asked staff to compile information on alternative ownership models and a reduced scope for capital projects. 

In late summer, the findings were presented to council and council requested further exploration of alternative ownership models, gain resident public input on the topic and begin meetings with the Aquarium Foundation. Over the course of late fall to early spring, three meetings took place with foundation leadership and Aquarium staff attending town hall meetings.

Three private companies expressed interest in the Aquarium: two in response to a Request for Information (RFI) issued in September 2023, and one response outside of the RFI process. The names of the three companies were publicly shared in April 2024: Zooceanarium Group, Ripley Entertainment and Herschend.

Potential Path Forward

Several options have been discussed by Council to address how to best support the Aquarium financially moving forward: maintain the status quo, increase financial investment at the original or reduced scope, or consider alternative partnerships. There are considerations for all options that must be weighed.

Considerations