Mall of America - Bloomington

[HiawathaGuy]

This (paywalled) Business Journal article says the MOA water park is on hold.

Minneapolis / St. Paul Business Journal: COVID-19 has paused Mall of America water park project in Bloomington.
https://www.bizjournals.com/twincities/ ... talls.html

Snippets from that article:

“The main focus of the water park work is to analyze what impacts the pandemic could have on the project. The uncertainty of both the timeline and severity of pandemic remains the biggest unknown,” the city released in a statement.

Mall of America Senior Vice President of Development Kurt Hagen said the mall’s biggest priority right now is planning a safe re-opening of the mall, but it still views the water park as a major part of its growth plans.

“We are still 100 percent committed to working closely with city officials to move this important project forward,” he wrote in an email. “Given the tremendous economic impact COVID-19 has had on the tourism, hospitality and retail industries [among so many others] we feel it is even more important that Mall of America continues to pursue this creative entertainment project."

[dajazz]

MOA hasn't made full payments on its $1.2 billion mortgage the last 2 months.

https://www.startribune.com/mall-of-ame ... 570666942/

[Didier]

Not looking great for our friends in New Jersey

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/26/busi ... -mall.html

[BikesOnFilm]

Glad they mortgaged MOA to pay for that boondoggle...

Though maybe they'll stop wasting their time on trying to develop American Dream Miami.

[Minneboy]

Just curious if anyone has heard anything on the progress of this? I know COVID and all. It will be a big draw.

[TroyGBiv]

With all the financial drama they have had over the New Jersey mall and misfires in Miami… the threats for the lenders to take control of the MOA… I think they are likely to lay low and focus on getting mall sales back up and the economy moving again before they take on new debt.

[Bakken2016]

https://www.bizjournals.com/twincities/ ... 2022-03-09

The article is paywalled, but the City of Bloomington has approved tax credits for the water park at MOA, and construction could start this summer.

[Silophant]

“There is no doubt, in my mind, this is going to be a roaring success,” said Bloomington Mayor Tim Busse.

Seems like Triple Five would be able to finance the whole thing themselves if that was true.

[uptownbro]

I doubt they could really pull anything off without the cities help right now. It seems like they are consolidating there plans to MOA after the failures in other markets
https://tcbmag.com/too-big-to-fail-mall ... challenge/

[Mdcastle]

Maybe we can stop having to drive to Wisconsin Dells to go to waterparks in the winter now. I know I'll be there.

[Bakken2016]

Maybe we can stop having to drive to Wisconsin Dells to go to waterparks in the winter now. I know I'll be there.

Same, and its super transit accessible for all!

[Korh]

How many water parks are in the state if you don't count the odd slide or two in a community/recreation center. The only one that comes to mind is in valley fair but I know a few people who might of sworn the park of because they ended valley scare.

[MNdible]

The Great Wolf right next to the MOA is pretty big. I think the Edgewater in Duluth also has a fairly large waterpark.

[DanPatchToget]

I believe you need to be staying at Great Wolf Lodge to use their waterpark.

[Mdcastle]

Bunker Beach is a pretty signficant outdoor one.
Cascade Bay in Eagan is a municipal pool with a lot more than just a slide or two.
Arrowhead Lodge in Alexandria, indoor for hotel guests.

Before Valleyfair started heavily investing in their waterpark in 2008, they should have moved it to the other side of the parking lot. There it would also be easy to attach a hotel and indoor section. As it is now it still has the irritating issue where after you've cooled off in the water, you have to change out of your swimming suits and walk all the way back to the car fully clothed, probably parked some distance from the front gate too. You're now all hot and sweaty again by the time you get there.

[HKM]

I'm low-key excited about this project. About 50% bigger than anything in Wisconsin Dells and would assume the waterpark they opened at their New Jersey mall in fall 2020 is pretty close to what the end product looks like: https://www.americandream.com/venue/dre ... water-park#

Also, the Star Tribune article mentions the 2027 World's Fair/"Davos of Healthcare" land is part of the TIF deal, great catalysts for visitor growth going on in Bloomington.
https://www.startribune.com/officials-o ... fresh=true

[SurlyLHT]

I hope Triple Five makes the right moves. Sounds like the New Jersey Mall has been a disaster and poorly executed. I guess their ski slopes started on fire?

[Mdcastle]

There's some variation in the relative sizes of the various features, but the overall size is very similar between this proposal, American Dream, and Edmonton.

[amiller92]

I believe you need to be staying at Great Wolf Lodge to use their waterpark.

No, you can buy a day pass. Did so with kid the other day. Pricey on days when there's no school, though.

[Korh]

Legit thought this was an onion article for a second.
https://www.kare11.com/article/news/loc ... d9d5948f18