COWABUNGA! Nickelodeon Universe at American Dream has announced that the upcoming Nickelodeon-branded theme park will feature rollercoasters inspired by Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, SpongeBob SquarePants and SLIME!
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Update (4/5): American Dream has begun testing its amusement park rides inside the mega-mall’s Nickelodeon Universe theme park — a telltale sign that the retail and entertainment extravaganza will finally open this year, after nearly 15 years of delays! Additionally, drone footage from the ongoing construction at American Dream at the Meadowlands filmed by NJ Advance Media for NJ.com has revealed that banners (pictured above) for the upcoming Nickelodeon Universe amusement park, including one featuring SpongeBob SquarePants saying his "I'm ready" catchphrase, have appeared on the side of the mega-mall! Click here for more details!
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Two rollercoasters we’ve already heard about -- and two we haven’t -- were revealed at a recent gathering of roller coaster enthusiasts and industry insiders. The thrill rides are in the works inside the massive theme park in the under-construction American Dream mega-mall in Bergen County, New Jersey.
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The American Coaster Enthusiasts held an annual “EastCoaster” gathering at Hershey Park this past weekend where representatives from Nickelodeon Universe unveiled four roller coasters that will be part of the indoor theme park at the American Dream, Elizabeth Ringas, communications coordinator for ACE said.
Triple Five, the developer of the American Dream, announced more than a year ago that two record-setting roller coasters would be coming to the site. But their themes and character-associations were not known until this ACE announcement.
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Roller coaster enthusiasts rejoiced. Here’s what ACE has shared of the news:
The roller coaster with the record-setting steepness will be called the TMNT Shellraiser (TMNT = Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle). It’s from German-based Gerstlauer, and the model is referred to as the “Eurofighter.” It will hold the record as the steepest plunge on a rollercoaster in the world.
The ride will pause at the top of a 122-foot drop, giving riders a glimpse of New York City - the home of the Turtles - across the Hudson River!
The other record-setter we’ve been hearing about has now been identified as “The Shredder” -- likely named after the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle antagonist, Shredder. It is also a Gerstlauer model and it will hold the record for being the tallest and longest free-spinning roller coaster.
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Two previously unmentioned roller coasters were also unveiled: Sandy’s Blasting Bronco, inspired SpongeBob SquarePants’ dive suit-wearing friend, Sandy Cheeks, and Slime Streak, inspired by Nickelodeon's famous slime!
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The final new ride unveiled is called Slime Streak. It’s manufactured by Kansas-based Chance Rides and is less heart-pounding and more family-oriented than the record-setting roller coasters planned for American Dream.
Representatives for American Dream and Nickelodeon Universe did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The 3 million-square-foot American Dream mega-mall is expected to open this spring. About 55 percent of it will be devoted to entertainment, including the 8-acre indoor Nickelodeon Universe amusement park. The rest will be retail.
From the North Jersey Record:
American Dream has begun testing its amusement rides, Phil Murphy says
American Dream has begun testing its amusement park rides — a telltale sign that the retail and entertainment extravaganza will finally open this year, after nearly 15 years of delays, according to Gov. Phil Murphy.
In an interview earlier this week with 1010 WINS radio, Murphy said there are visible signs the structure is inching closer to completion: workers have begun testing amusement park rides and encasing the mall's indoor water park, and retailers' signs have gone up.
"It’s going to happen," Murphy said. "I don’t see any scenario where it doesn’t happen, because that’s an important point. For many years, we couldn’t answer that question."
Murphy made the assertions in a Facebook Live interview with 1010 WINS reporter Glenn Shuck on Wednesday.
An American Dream spokesperson declined comment on Friday afternoon.
Murphy is often asked about American Dream. Last year, officials promised a 2019 opening by March or April — and Murphy later hinted the opening would be "closer to June." Meanwhile, officials with the development have largely stayed mum, and routinely decline to comment on Murphy's remarks.
Last month, however, American Dream officials broke their silence and announced a late summer opening — which many saw as yet another delay.
Triple Five Group, the project's developer, last month also announced it hired Ken Downing, Neiman Marcus' longtime fashion director, as the company's chief creative officer, whose immediate focus will be on American Dream's final touches.
Downing's appointment, like the testing of its rides, signaled that the project may be in its final preparation before its long-awaited opening.
Once open, American Dream will feature 3 million square feet of retail, dining and entertainment — including more than 450 stores and restaurants, an amusement park, an indoor ski slope, an indoor ice-skating rink and an indoor water park. Officials estimate that the project will be 45 percent retail and 55 percent entertainment.
The project was first proposed in 2002 as Xanadu, a mega-mall envisioned by its original developer, Mills Corp. The project had languished alongside the New Jersey Turnpike since then. Over the past year, however, construction has intensified.
"I don’t have insight" into American Dream's opening date, Murphy told Shuck. "But I do know this – for instance, they are testing the amusement rides and that’s probably a good sign. They’re encasing, as we speak, the water park. They’re starting to see some of the retailers put their name up – Saks Fifth Avenue’s name is now up on the side of the building."
Murphy projected there are an estimated 2,000 workers at the site daily. Once the project is up and running, there will thousands of people employed by American Dream, he said.
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Also, from NJ.com:
American Dream mega-mall is testing its amusement park rides, Murphy says
Gov. Phil Murphy says American Dream at the Meadowlands is actually going to open -- despite more than 16 years of delays. And the proof of that is amusement park rides are being tested inside the mega-mall’s Nickelodeon Universe theme park.
The update was shared during a 20-minute interview on Facebook Live by 1010 WINS reporter Glenn Schuck. He asked Murphy about [...] the $5 billion development along the New Jersey Turnpike and Route 3.
A spokesperson for American Dream did not respond to a request for comment.
Murphy last spoke publicly about American Dream on, March 8, when a NJ Advance Media reporter asked the governor, at an unrelated press conference, about the opening date. Murphy said American Dream’s promised Spring 2019 opening had “slipped closer to June."
Almost two weeks later, the developer admitted the opening is actually delayed until late summer.
In the Wednesday interview, Schuck said that people at the Bergen County Executive’s Office wanted him to ask the governor about American Dream.
“I know this has been in the pipeline,” said Schuck, a Bergen County resident. “There have been a lot of jokes about American Dream.”
The two then talked about how the project had been around since James McGreevy’s administration.
“I don’t see any scenario where it doesn’t happen. So that’s an important point,” Murphy said. “Because there were many years where we couldn’t answer that question.”
And, while he said he doesn’t have information on the late summer opening date, "they are testing the amusement rides. And that’s probably a good sign.”
“They’re encasing, as we speak, the waterpark,” Murphy continued. “You’re starting to see some of the retailers put their names up. Saks Fifth Avenue’s name is now up on the side of the building.”
Murphy said he thinks there are about 2,000 workers at the site daily.
Citing “something like $1.2 billion of payroll eventually for New Jersey” and “probably $140-something million in taxes,” the governor praised the project, though he admitted it’s “slower than probably any of us would’ve wanted.”
###
More Nick:Nickelodeon Embarks on New Direction with its Biggest, Most Wide-Ranging Content Slate Ever!
Originally published: Thursday, February 7, 2019 at 12:49am GMT.
Original source: NJ.com.
Follow NickALive! on Twitter, Tumblr, Reddit, via RSS, on Instagram, and/or Facebook for the latest Nickelodeon Universe at American Dream News and Highlights!
Update (4/5): American Dream has begun testing its amusement park rides inside the mega-mall’s Nickelodeon Universe theme park — a telltale sign that the retail and entertainment extravaganza will finally open this year, after nearly 15 years of delays! Additionally, drone footage from the ongoing construction at American Dream at the Meadowlands filmed by NJ Advance Media for NJ.com has revealed that banners (pictured above) for the upcoming Nickelodeon Universe amusement park, including one featuring SpongeBob SquarePants saying his "I'm ready" catchphrase, have appeared on the side of the mega-mall! Click here for more details!
Two rollercoasters we’ve already heard about -- and two we haven’t -- were revealed at a recent gathering of roller coaster enthusiasts and industry insiders. The thrill rides are in the works inside the massive theme park in the under-construction American Dream mega-mall in Bergen County, New Jersey.
The American Coaster Enthusiasts held an annual “EastCoaster” gathering at Hershey Park this past weekend where representatives from Nickelodeon Universe unveiled four roller coasters that will be part of the indoor theme park at the American Dream, Elizabeth Ringas, communications coordinator for ACE said.
Triple Five, the developer of the American Dream, announced more than a year ago that two record-setting roller coasters would be coming to the site. But their themes and character-associations were not known until this ACE announcement.
Roller coaster enthusiasts rejoiced. Here’s what ACE has shared of the news:
The roller coaster with the record-setting steepness will be called the TMNT Shellraiser (TMNT = Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle). It’s from German-based Gerstlauer, and the model is referred to as the “Eurofighter.” It will hold the record as the steepest plunge on a rollercoaster in the world.
The ride will pause at the top of a 122-foot drop, giving riders a glimpse of New York City - the home of the Turtles - across the Hudson River!
The other record-setter we’ve been hearing about has now been identified as “The Shredder” -- likely named after the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle antagonist, Shredder. It is also a Gerstlauer model and it will hold the record for being the tallest and longest free-spinning roller coaster.
Two previously unmentioned roller coasters were also unveiled: Sandy’s Blasting Bronco, inspired SpongeBob SquarePants’ dive suit-wearing friend, Sandy Cheeks, and Slime Streak, inspired by Nickelodeon's famous slime!
The final new ride unveiled is called Slime Streak. It’s manufactured by Kansas-based Chance Rides and is less heart-pounding and more family-oriented than the record-setting roller coasters planned for American Dream.
Representatives for American Dream and Nickelodeon Universe did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The 3 million-square-foot American Dream mega-mall is expected to open this spring. About 55 percent of it will be devoted to entertainment, including the 8-acre indoor Nickelodeon Universe amusement park. The rest will be retail.
From the North Jersey Record:
American Dream has begun testing its amusement rides, Phil Murphy says
American Dream has begun testing its amusement park rides — a telltale sign that the retail and entertainment extravaganza will finally open this year, after nearly 15 years of delays, according to Gov. Phil Murphy.
In an interview earlier this week with 1010 WINS radio, Murphy said there are visible signs the structure is inching closer to completion: workers have begun testing amusement park rides and encasing the mall's indoor water park, and retailers' signs have gone up.
"It’s going to happen," Murphy said. "I don’t see any scenario where it doesn’t happen, because that’s an important point. For many years, we couldn’t answer that question."
Murphy made the assertions in a Facebook Live interview with 1010 WINS reporter Glenn Shuck on Wednesday.
An American Dream spokesperson declined comment on Friday afternoon.
Murphy is often asked about American Dream. Last year, officials promised a 2019 opening by March or April — and Murphy later hinted the opening would be "closer to June." Meanwhile, officials with the development have largely stayed mum, and routinely decline to comment on Murphy's remarks.
Last month, however, American Dream officials broke their silence and announced a late summer opening — which many saw as yet another delay.
Triple Five Group, the project's developer, last month also announced it hired Ken Downing, Neiman Marcus' longtime fashion director, as the company's chief creative officer, whose immediate focus will be on American Dream's final touches.
Downing's appointment, like the testing of its rides, signaled that the project may be in its final preparation before its long-awaited opening.
Once open, American Dream will feature 3 million square feet of retail, dining and entertainment — including more than 450 stores and restaurants, an amusement park, an indoor ski slope, an indoor ice-skating rink and an indoor water park. Officials estimate that the project will be 45 percent retail and 55 percent entertainment.
The project was first proposed in 2002 as Xanadu, a mega-mall envisioned by its original developer, Mills Corp. The project had languished alongside the New Jersey Turnpike since then. Over the past year, however, construction has intensified.
"I don’t have insight" into American Dream's opening date, Murphy told Shuck. "But I do know this – for instance, they are testing the amusement rides and that’s probably a good sign. They’re encasing, as we speak, the water park. They’re starting to see some of the retailers put their name up – Saks Fifth Avenue’s name is now up on the side of the building."
Murphy projected there are an estimated 2,000 workers at the site daily. Once the project is up and running, there will thousands of people employed by American Dream, he said.
###
Also, from NJ.com:
American Dream mega-mall is testing its amusement park rides, Murphy says
Gov. Phil Murphy says American Dream at the Meadowlands is actually going to open -- despite more than 16 years of delays. And the proof of that is amusement park rides are being tested inside the mega-mall’s Nickelodeon Universe theme park.
The update was shared during a 20-minute interview on Facebook Live by 1010 WINS reporter Glenn Schuck. He asked Murphy about [...] the $5 billion development along the New Jersey Turnpike and Route 3.
A spokesperson for American Dream did not respond to a request for comment.
Murphy last spoke publicly about American Dream on, March 8, when a NJ Advance Media reporter asked the governor, at an unrelated press conference, about the opening date. Murphy said American Dream’s promised Spring 2019 opening had “slipped closer to June."
Almost two weeks later, the developer admitted the opening is actually delayed until late summer.
In the Wednesday interview, Schuck said that people at the Bergen County Executive’s Office wanted him to ask the governor about American Dream.
“I know this has been in the pipeline,” said Schuck, a Bergen County resident. “There have been a lot of jokes about American Dream.”
The two then talked about how the project had been around since James McGreevy’s administration.
“I don’t see any scenario where it doesn’t happen. So that’s an important point,” Murphy said. “Because there were many years where we couldn’t answer that question.”
And, while he said he doesn’t have information on the late summer opening date, "they are testing the amusement rides. And that’s probably a good sign.”
“They’re encasing, as we speak, the waterpark,” Murphy continued. “You’re starting to see some of the retailers put their names up. Saks Fifth Avenue’s name is now up on the side of the building.”
Murphy said he thinks there are about 2,000 workers at the site daily.
Citing “something like $1.2 billion of payroll eventually for New Jersey” and “probably $140-something million in taxes,” the governor praised the project, though he admitted it’s “slower than probably any of us would’ve wanted.”
###
More Nick:Nickelodeon Embarks on New Direction with its Biggest, Most Wide-Ranging Content Slate Ever!
Originally published: Thursday, February 7, 2019 at 12:49am GMT.
Original source: NJ.com.
Follow NickALive! on Twitter, Tumblr, Reddit, via RSS, on Instagram, and/or Facebook for the latest Nickelodeon Universe at American Dream News and Highlights!