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A Bigger Splash: Sea World had such a banner summer in San Diego that it plans to add new dolphin and sea otter habitats. The reason for the terrific summer? Officials believe the park lured many of the tourists who were afraid to visit Los Angeles and Orange counties in the wake of the rioting.

“We don’t like to benefit from other people’s problems, but there’s no doubt the civil unrest in Los Angeles helped us,” said Bill Thomas, Sea World’s senior vice president.

Disneyland and Los Angeles tourism officials told him of a “doughnut effect” in which hotels and attractions in downtown Los Angeles struggled and tourists went to places outside the center of the city.

Several earthquakes that struck Southern California over the summer also contributed to a negative public perception of Los Angeles held by many out-of-state tourists. And that worked to Sea World’s advantage, Thomas said.