Nickelodeon to Open a Theme Park in Mall of America

NEW YORK/BLOOMINGTON,
January 30: Nickelodeon and Mall of America, the largest shopping center in the
U.S., have unveiled plans for the grand opening of Nickelodeon Universe, the
first Nickelodeon theme park in the world, on March 15.

Additionally, Nickelodeon
will establish its largest retail presence in the world at Mall of America,
with a brand-new Nick store occupying more than 4,000 square feet, offering
consumers items such as branded tee-shirts, souvenirs, novelties and more.

Several new
Nickelodeon-themed rides are being added to the seven-acre indoor theme park.
Among them are two new roller coasters, SpongeBob SquarePants Rock Bottom
Plunge and Avatar Airbender, which are the first of their kind to be built
inside a mall and completely indoors. SpongeBob SquarePants Rock Bottom Plunge
will offer vertical lifts, spirals and 90-degree turns ending at the Bikini
Bottom Bus Stop. The Avatar
Airbender ride will reach heights of up to 70 feet.

Also being added to the
theme park’s lineup is the Splat-O-Sphere, which launches riders 60 feet into
the air and sends them down again at high speeds.

Among the other
Nickelodeon titles that will have new rides, live shows, attractions, retail
and games at the theme park are Dora the Explorer; Go, Diego, Go!; Danny Phantom; Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius; and The Backyardigans. There will also be daily meet-and-greets with
Nick characters.

—By Ned Berke