Mall of America strikes deal with Nickelodeon for theme park
(AP) - Goodbye, Snoopy and Charlie Brown. Say hello to SpongeBob SquarePants, Dora the Explorer and Jimmy Neutron.
The Mall of America announced Wednesday that it has signed a branding-rights deal with the cable television network Nickelodeon for the megamall's indoor amusement park.
The park used to be called Camp Snoopy, but the mall's 13-year partnership with the "Peanuts" gang ended last year. Since then, the amusement park has been simply named, "The Park at MOA."
The Bloomington mall also plans to add a new ride, a freefall tower aimed at teens and adults. It already has a log flume and a roller coaster.
And a new roller coaster is planned based on the animated series, "Avatar: The Last Airbender." Construction on the upside-down roller coaster will begin this year.
The announcement comes amid the megamall's plans for a $1.9 billion expansion that would about double its size and includes an 8,000-space parking garage. The plan seeks a package of $234 million in state and local subsidies.
(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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