October 25, 2019; 4 years ago (2019-10-25) (Nickelodeon Universe and Ice Rink)[1] December 5, 2019; 4 years ago (2019-12-05) (Big Snow)[2] October 1, 2020; 3 years ago (2020-10-01) (DreamWorks Water Park, retail stores and dining)[3]
The project was first proposed in 2003 by the Mills Corporation as the Meadowlands Xanadu, with construction beginning in 2004.[11] After the Mills Corporation's bankruptcy in 2007, the project was taken over by Colony Capital. In May 2009, construction stalled due to the bankruptcy of Lehman Brothers. Triple Five Group announced intent to take over the mall in May 2011, and on July 31, 2013, officially gained control of the mall and the surrounding site.[12] Following a series of ownership changes, financing issues, construction delays, and legal challenges, construction stopped again in December 2016.[13][14]
In late June 2017, construction had resumed, after new financing had been secured,[15][16] though the project would suffer a series of "chronically delayed" opening dates. Among the attractions that opened in 2019 were the Nickelodeon Universe theme park in October and the Big Snow American Dream ski slope in December. The DreamWorks Water Park, which was scheduled to open March 19, 2020,[17] as well as the mall's retail shops and restaurants, were delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic,[18] which forced the mall's temporary closure on March 8, 2020.[19] Following Governor Phil Murphy's August 26 announcement that amusements could open with restrictions on September 1, Big Snow American Dream announced it would reopen on that date,[20] while other amusements and the mall's first major retail outlets reopened on October 1, 2020.[21][22] As of August 2024[update], the mall hosted approximately 450 retail tenants.
^Cite error: The named reference NYTimes10.24.19 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^Cite error: The named reference NorthJersey12.5.19 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^Cite error: The named reference Forbes was invoked but never defined (see the help page).