30 Million People Could Visit American Dream In Its First Year

BERGEN COUNTY, NJ — Thirty million people, conservatively, could visit the American Dream Meadowlands in its first year of opening, a leading local business advocate says.

The potential effect those 30 million people could have on the North Jersey economy could be in the billions of dollars.

The massive retail and entertainment destination is on track to open 11 months from now, Triple Five, the project's developer recently said.

About 40 million people visit the Mall of America annually. That mall, which is also owned and operated by Triple Five, generates $2 billion annually in economic impact for Minnesota, according to the mall's website.

Jim Kirkos, president of and CEO of the Meadowlands Regional Chamber of Commerce, said the economic ripple effect 30 million visitors could have on the local economy "is a game-changer." The 90-acre entertainment and retail destination is looking to tap into a revenue source that largely stays on one side of the Hudson River now: New York City tourists. About 60 million people visit New York City annually, and that number could increase to 67 million by 2021, according to The New York Times.

"That's still a lot of people," Kirkos said. "All of those people have the chance to go to American Dream. That visitor experience of coming here, if there isn't a lot to do in the area, they'll spend all of their disposable income dollars in New York City. Now, American Dream helps keep those disposable income dollars here."

Getting tourists to American Dream will be easy. NJ Transit will operate a direct bus line from the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Manhattan to American Dream. New York Waterway is in talks to run a shuttle to take passengers to and from marinas along the Hudson River to American Dream.

The effect could also be positive for the malls and shopping centers, including the Willowbrook Mall and Garden State Plaza, that have been North Jersey mainstays for decades.

Kirkos said he would like to see a convention center at American Dream sometime in the future.

"If we have a large convention center, we can expect 250 trade shows a year that will put people in local communities and that will have a tremendous impact locally," Kirkos said.

American Dream will have:

• North America's largest indoor water park designed by DreamWorks, the company behind "Shrek," "Kung Fu Panda" and "How To Train Your Dragon."
• KidZania, a miniature city run by kids 4 to 14 years old with its own currency. Companies like Honda, Sony, Kellogg's, Coca-Cola and others have sponsored businesses and landmarks in the attraction.
• The Launched Euro-Fighter roller coaster will have the world's steepest roller coaster drop. The Spinner Coaster will be the world's tallest and longest free-spinning roller coaster in the world. The latter's cars will rotate vertically as they move along the track.
• The first Sea Life aquarium in New Jersey. It will feature a tropical ocean tank with a walk-through underwater tunnel.
• An arcade and bowling alley for adults. It will feature live bands and a selection of craft beers. A LEGOLAND discovery center. The aquarium will feature seahorses, sharks, rays and a tropical ocean tanks. LEGOLAND will feature a 4-D cinema, a Lego brick pool and rides. Kids can also take Lego building classes.
• A 12-story indoor ski park with an 800-foot-long hill.
• A 4-D, dine-in movie theater that will allow moviegoers to smell scents in the films they watch.
• 15 restaurants and 50 grab-and-go offerings in a 150,000-square-foot food court.
• The world's first Kosher food court.
• A separate retail area for luxury retailers, including Lord & Taylor, Saks Fifth Avenue and Hermes.

"I think people should be excited by it," Kirkos said. "It's going to bring worldwide recognition to the region."

Related: KidZania Will Bring 500K To 1M Visitors To American Dream Meadowlands: CEO

Related: 2 World-Record Roller Coasters Coming To American Dream
Related: Huge Adult Arcade Coming To American Dream Meadowlands
Related: American Dream Pushes Back Open Date, Secures $1.6B In Financing
Related: 'Most Expensive Retail Project On Earth' Coming To Meadowlands In 2017
Related: Aquarium, LEGOLAND Coming To American Dream Center

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An artist's rendering of what American Dream Meadowlands is slated to look like when it opens in March 2019. — Courtesy of Triple Five