American Dream™ Announces Merlin Entertainments' SEA LIFE Aquarium & LEGOLAND Discovery Center Coming To American Dream New Jersey

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J., Oct. 1, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- World-Class Developer Triple Five and international visitor attractions operator Merlin Entertainments (Merlin) are proud to announce that two of the company's premier attractions – SEA LIFE Aquarium and LEGOLAND® Discovery Center - will be featured at American Dream New Jersey.

American Dream is being developed by the Triple Five Group of Companies, owner of the two largest shopping and entertainment centers in North America, Mall of America and West Edmonton Mall, which draw nearly 70 million tourists/visitors annually.  "Keeping in mind this unique and larger than life NY metropolitan market, we have incorporated and enhanced the most exciting elements of our existing centers and put them into American Dream," Don Ghermezian, President, Triple Five.

Merlin Entertainments' John Jakobsen, Chief New Openings Officer, said:  "American Dream is an exciting and unique project offering a mix of high quality retail, dining and entertainment facilities under one roof – the ideal environment for our attractions.  We are delighted to be a part of it, and to be working with Triple Five who are behind some of the best retail/leisure developments in both the US and Canada.  We are confident that Triple Five will make American Dream one of the most popular destinations for NY Metropolitan residents and tourists alike." 

The SEA LIFE and LEGOLAND Discovery Center complex will comprise over 70,000 square feet combined and are featured as major visitor destinations in American Dream.

SEA LIFE is the world's biggest aquarium brand with more than 50 major attractions across North America, Europe, and Asia Pacific including: London, Paris, Bangkok, Auckland, Orlando and others.  American Dream will be the first and only SEA LIFE aquarium in the New Jersey/New York area. SEA LIFE will highlight spectacular displays of diverse marine life for visitors to enjoy – everything from shrimp and starfish to seahorses, sharks and rays. SEA LIFE will feature, as its stunning centerpiece, a tropical ocean tank with a walk-through underwater tunnel - taking visitors on a seamless journey under the sea which entertains, inspires and teaches both young and old.  The attractions offer everything from spectacular viewing windows, giving a glimpse into the ocean itself, to enlightening talks, to feeding demonstrations and many other ways to interact directly with some of the incredible featured sea life.

Conservation is also a central part of the SEA LIFE experience.  Visitors will experience SEA LIFE's exciting Breed, Rescue and Protect activities around the world, including the work of the SEA LIFE Trust - a registered charity established by Merlin to raise awareness of issues affecting the world's marine life; to promote solutions, and where relevant, provide funding for valuable marine conservation work across the globe.   

LEGOLAND Discovery Center, Merlin's very popular and unique indoor family attraction based on the world's favorite toy the LEGO® brick, will also be coming to American Dream.  Described by the company as stepping into a giant box of LEGO, it has been designed specifically for families with children ages 3 to 10 to play together, offering a fun, highly interactive and educational two to three-hour indoor experience.  LEGOLAND Discovery Centers provide a range of play areas including a 4D cinema; a brick pool, master classes from the LEGO Master Model Builder; exciting LEGO rides; special party rooms for birthdays and other celebrations; as well as the popular MINILAND exhibit – found in every LEGOLAND Park and attraction – which is designed to reflect the iconic buildings and skyline of each individual attraction's location.    

"We are delighted to expand our partnership with Merlin Entertainments.  LEGOLAND and SEA LIFE are iconic national and international brands which perfectly fit with our vision of creating a retail and entertainment destination, which appeals to both tourists and local residents.  They deliver a high quality, interactive visitor experience that is both educational and fun.  It simply cannot be duplicated," Don Ghermezian, President, Triple Five.

Merlin Entertainments CEO Nick Varney concluded, "North America continues to be an important development area for Merlin, and projects like American Dream which offer a combination of high quality leisure, retail and food and drink, are we believe the ideal locations for our global attraction brands.  We see enormous potential for both attractions here, and are delighted to be working with Triple Five again."

About American Dream New Jersey

American Dream is being developed by the Triple Five Group of Companies, owners of the two largest shopping and entertainment centers in North America, Mall of America and West Edmonton Mall.

Opening in late summer 2017, phase one of American Dream will house approximately 3 million square feet of shopping, entertainment and attractions and host 40 million guests annually

About MERLIN ENTERTAINMENTS plc

MERLIN ENTERTAINMENTS plc is the leading name in location-based, family entertainment. Europe's Number 1 and the world's second-largest visitor attraction operator, Merlin now operates 111 attractions, 12 hotels/4 holiday villages in 23 countries and across 4 continents. The company aims to deliver memorable and rewarding experiences to its almost 63 million visitors worldwide, through its iconic global and local brands, and the commitment and passion of its managers and 26,000 employees (peak season).

Merlin has twenty-five attractions and two hotels in North America - including two stunning LEGOLAND Resorts – in Florida and California; The Orlando Eye; six Madame Tussauds celebrity wax attractions; seven LEGOLAND Discovery Centers; a Dungeon in San Francisco; and eight SEA LIFE Aquariums. Visit www.merlinentertainments.biz for more information.

LEGO, the LEGO logo and LEGOLAND are trademarks of the LEGO Group. ©2015 The LEGO Group.

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SOURCE American Dream