American Dream Meadowlands facts for kids
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Entrance to the American Dream parking garage
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| Location | Meadowlands Sports Complex, East Rutherford, New Jersey, United States |
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| Coordinates | 40°48′36″N 74°04′03″W / 40.81000°N 74.06750°W |
| Opening date | October 25, 2019 (Nickelodeon Universe and Ice Rink) December 5, 2019 (Big Snow) October 1, 2020 (DreamWorks Water Park, retail stores and dining) |
| Owner | Triple Five Group |
| No. of stores and services | 450+ |
| No. of anchor tenants | 6 |
| Total retail floor area | 3,000,000 sq ft (280,000 m2) |
| Parking | 33,000 spaces |
| Public transit access |   Meadowlands station 85, 355, 356, 703, 772 |
American Dream is a huge shopping and entertainment center located in the Meadowlands Sports Complex in East Rutherford, New Jersey, United States. It opened in several stages, starting on October 25, 2019, and continuing into 2020.
The idea for this project first came up in 2003. It was originally called Meadowlands Xanadu. Construction began in 2004. The project faced many challenges, including changes in ownership and money problems. Construction even stopped a few times. In 2011, the Triple Five Group took over. This company also owns other very large malls like West Edmonton Mall and the Mall of America. They renamed the project "American Dream Meadowlands" and planned to make it even bigger.
After more delays, some attractions opened in 2019. These included the Nickelodeon Universe theme park and the Big Snow American Dream indoor ski slope. The DreamWorks Water Park and many shops and restaurants were supposed to open in March 2020. However, the COVID-19 pandemic caused delays and a temporary closure. The mall and its attractions began to reopen in stages starting in September and October 2020.
History of American Dream
Early Plans: Meadowlands Mills (1994–2002)
The idea for a large mall in the New Jersey Meadowlands started in 1994. It was first called Meadowlands Mills. This mall was planned for a large area of wetlands. Wetlands are important natural areas. Many environmental groups and local leaders were worried about how the mall would affect the environment.
Different government agencies studied the plans. Some said it would harm the environment, while others disagreed. Eventually, the state government decided not to give the permits needed for the mall. This stopped the Meadowlands Mills project. The land was later protected as a natural area.
Meadowlands Xanadu (2002–2010)
In 2002, a new plan came up for a mall in the same area. This time, it would be built on land that was already developed, like a parking lot. This meant less harm to the environment. The new project was called Meadowlands Xanadu. It was designed to be a huge center with shopping and many other activities.
Construction began in 2004. It was expected to open in 2006. However, the project faced more problems. In 2006, a new owner took over, and the opening was pushed back to 2008.
Many people started to notice the building's colorful outside. It was very bright and stood out. Some people, including the governor, thought it looked "ugly" or like an "eyesore." The new owners later said they would repaint it.
In 2009, construction stopped again because of money problems. The project was almost 80% finished. Many stores that had planned to open there changed their minds.
Becoming American Dream (2011–2016)
In 2011, the Triple Five Group took over the project. They own other very successful large malls. They renamed it "American Dream Meadowlands." They planned to make it even bigger, adding an indoor amusement park, water parks, and an ice skating rink. They hoped to open it by early 2014.
The New York Giants and New York Jets football teams, whose stadium is nearby, were worried about traffic. They filed a lawsuit, saying the amusement parks would cause huge traffic jams on game days. After some time, they reached an agreement, and the project could move forward.
Construction started again in late 2013. The outside of the mall was redesigned. The opening date was set for late 2016, but it kept getting delayed.
In 2016, Triple Five Group announced that the indoor amusement park would be Nickelodeon Universe. It would have two roller coasters that broke world records. The water park would be DreamWorks Water Park, with attractions based on movies like Shrek and Madagascar. It would also have the world's largest indoor wave pool.
The completed American Dream was planned to be 3 million square feet. About 55% of it would be for entertainment, and 45% for shops. It would have 450 shops and over 100 places to eat. There would also be a huge parking lot and a train station.
Construction Continues (2016–2019)
Work on the project stopped again in late 2016 due to money issues. But in mid-2017, new funding was found, and construction started up once more.
By 2018, most of the complex was planned to open in early 2019. However, opening dates kept changing. Big stores like H&M, Uniqlo, and Zara announced they would open their largest mall stores there. The New Jersey Hall of Fame also announced it would move to American Dream.
In 2019, the name was shortened to just "American Dream." The opening date was set for October 25, 2019.
Opening and Pandemic Closure (2019–present)
On October 25, 2019, American Dream opened its first parts. These included an ice-skating rink and the Nickelodeon amusement park. The theme park has over 35 rides, including three world-record-breaking roller coasters. The Big Snow American Dream ski slope opened on December 5, 2019.
The DreamWorks Water Park was supposed to open in November 2019, but it was delayed until March 2020. The main retail shops and restaurants were also planned for a March 2020 opening.
However, on March 8, 2020, the mall closed temporarily because of the COVID-19 pandemic in New Jersey. This delayed the opening of the shops and the water park again. Some stores that had planned to open, like Forever 21 and Lord & Taylor, decided not to.
In April 2020, American Dream announced that it would have even more entertainment and less retail. They planned to add a trampoline park and more rides.
On September 1, 2020, the Big Snow ski slope reopened. On October 1, 2020, American Dream officially reopened its amusement park, water park, ice rink, and mini-golf. They limited how many people could enter. Some of the first major retail stores also opened, including H&M, Primark, and Zara. The Sea Life aquarium and Legoland Discovery Center were set to open in Spring 2021.
Main Attractions
American Dream is designed to be mostly about entertainment (70%) and less about shopping (30%).
General Features
- Six large, bright areas called atriums. One has a garden with birds and rabbits. Another is a center for live shows.
- The Albero dei Sogni/Secret Garden: A tree-like sculpture with over 75,000 LED lights that plays music.
- A 60-foot fashion fountain that can turn into a runway for fashion shows.
- Special areas designed for taking cool photos for social media.
- Art displays by artists from around the world.
Shopping
- Over 450 retail shops.
- Six very large main stores (called anchor stores).
- Many smaller shops.
- A large H Mart Asian-American supermarket.
Dining
- More than 100 places to eat.
- 21 full-service restaurants.
- Many specialty food shops.
- A large food hall with 18 different food vendors, including a special kosher food court.
Entertainment
- An indoor NHL-sized ice rink.
- Nickelodeon Universe: A big indoor theme park with many rides.
- DreamWorks Water Park: A huge indoor water park open all year.
- A large venue for concerts and shows that can seat up to 3,000 people.
- Big Snow American Dream: An indoor ski slope where you can ski or snowboard.
- Two 18-hole miniature golf courses.
- A movie theater with fancy dining options.
- KidZania: A place where kids can try out different jobs and careers.
- Lucky Strike bowling alley.
- Legoland Discovery Center: A LEGO-themed play and learning center.
- Sea Life Aquarium: An aquarium to see sea creatures.
- Climbzone: An indoor rock climbing place.
- Mirror Maze: A fun maze made of mirrors.
Observation Wheel
There were plans for a giant Ferris wheel, originally called the Pepsi Globe. It would have been 287 feet tall. However, many people thought it would be an eyesore and block views of the Manhattan skyline. The plans changed, and it was later called the "Observation Wheel" and made a bit smaller.
Transportation and Parking
Public Transport
NJ Transit provides public transportation to American Dream.
- Bus Service: Several bus lines go directly to American Dream, including routes 85, 355, 356, 703, and 772.
- Train Service: The Meadowlands station is at the complex. However, the train only runs for events at MetLife Stadium, not every day for the mall.
You can also take a ferry from Manhattan to Weehawken, then a bus to the mall.
Private Transport
American Dream has a huge parking lot with 33,000 spaces. Parking is usually free, but there might be a charge when there are big events at MetLife Stadium. The parking garage uses smart technology to help you find empty spots easily.
There are also plans for helicopter service from the mall's roof for visitors who want a luxury travel option.
Criticism
Building a large shopping center in the Meadowlands Sports Complex faced some concerns.
- Traffic: Many people worried that the mall would cause huge traffic problems, especially on game days at MetLife Stadium.
- Environment: Environmental groups were concerned about the project's impact on wetlands, which are important natural habitats. They argued that the project would destroy more wetlands.
- Appearance: The colorful exterior of the building was criticized by some as an "eyesore" that stood out too much.
- Financial Issues: The project faced many financial challenges and delays over the years, leading some to call it a "real estate nightmare."
The football teams, the New York Giants and New York Jets, even filed a lawsuit. They wanted to stop construction because they feared the amusement parks would create too much traffic on game days. They later reached an agreement, allowing the project to continue.
The state of New Jersey also helped fund the project with special bonds.
See Also
- American Dream Miami
- List of largest shopping malls in the United States
- List of largest shopping malls in the world
