This is a developing story. The Journal will continue to update this story with more information as it becomes available. Once information is available, we will update this story as soon as possible.
UPDATE (12/03/2019): Nickelodeon Universe at American Dream now has a website. Visit nickelodeonuniverse.com and click on the "American Dream™ New Jersey" banner on the right. While you're there, check out the full list of rides in the Western Hemisphere's LARGEST indoor theme park, including "Legends of the Hidden Temple Challenge" and "Skyline Streak".
UPDATE (11/05/2019): Nickelodeon Universe in East Rutherford, N.J., has already opened, along with The Rink at American Dream, as part of the complex's first phase. American Dream (as a whole) is projected to be fully operational in March 2020, when all four phases are completed. To learn more visit americandream.com.
(EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. / The Journal) — Chances are you remember the Great Recession of 2008 that devastated the economy completely. Well, you may also have heard of a shopping & entertainment complex being built in New Jersey for many years now. After many years of delays and hopeful announcements, that "American Dream" is going to be seen once and for all.
During our April 4th journey to Medieval Times in Lyndhurst, N.J., we passed by a few stadiums. On our way to the George Washington Bridge, we glanced at Yankee Stadium before making a turn for the highway. Same went for MetLife Stadium, except with a twist. As our bus drove by, everyone was so excited about a large orange poster of Spongebob Squarepants saying his classic phrase "I'm Ready!" advertising the new "Nickelodeon Universe" theme park that will be part of the American Dream mall complex, right next to MetLife Stadium.
Despite its crazy history, a Canadian company is making the "Dream" a reality, with hopes to finish it this year. Triple Five Worldwide, a conglomerate headed by the Ghermezian family, has had success with large scale entertainment and shopping mall complexes. Fun fact: They built the largest and second-largest malls in North America (the West Edmonton Mall in Alberta, Canada & the Mall of America in Minneapolis, Minnesota). The American Dream mega-mall complex is going to be the 3rd largest mall in North America. One of the interesting parts, besides the Dreamworks-themed water park, 4D dine-in luxury movie theater by Cinemex, and the indoor snow park, is the way you'll have to navigate the whole place. If you want to want to go visit the Nickelodeon Universe indoor theme park, you'll have to try not to be amazed at all the stores you'll pass by. Simply put by Don Ghermezian to CBC News' The National: "You have to walk through the project in order to access the theme park, the water park."
"You have to walk through the project in order to access the theme park, the water park."
— Don Ghermezian, Triple Five Worldwide, American Dream developers
The complex has three main aspects: the main mall itself (with flagships or main tenants such as H&M and Zara) known as American Dream, the luxury boutiques connected to the mall (featuring known brands such as Hermés and Cartier), known as Collections at American Dream, and the entertainment aspects (the CMX by Cinemex 4D Cinema, Legoland Discovery Center, and Kidzania educational role-play job experience for kids). Some of these you can actually experience for yourself before the complex opens sometime this year. For example, the Legoland Discovery Center at Ridge Hill in Yonkers has (some) rides, a 4D movie, and a gift shop like the real Legoland theme parks — except it's only in a 30,000 square feet building.
Which brings us to the aspect everyone wanted to see: the Nickelodeon Universe at American Dream. In February, American Coaster Enthusiasts held their "EastCoaster 2019" gathering at Hersheypark, and the team from Nickelodeon Universe at American Dream showed off their 4 roller coasters — some with views of New York City, and others unique to the park. The video of the presentation comes from Theme Park Crazy on YouTube.
So, to recap, the 4 coasters are: "Nickelodeon Slime Streak", slightly similar to "Pepsi Orange Streak" at Nickelodeon Universe Mall of America being more family-friendly; "Sandy's Blasting Bronco", themed to Sandy Cheeks from "Spongebob Squarepants" with a turntable function allowing riders to experience the coaster in one direction and backwards in the other; "The Shredder", themed to the antagonist who hates the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, with similarities to the "Fairly Odd Coaster" at Nickelodeon Universe Mall of America in which every car will spin as it moves along the track; and finally, the "TMNT Shellraiser", themed, of course, to the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, with the extreme launch to 90 degrees going on a maximum speed of 62 miles per hour.
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