• by Fern Siegel , March 11, 2008

The Nickelodeon brand has extended to TV, magazines, movies, games and video. Now, it's embracing the next logical brand extension: opening a seven-acre theme park at the Mall of America this Saturday, featuring 18 new Nick-themed rides.

Located in the center of the Bloomington, Minn. mall, the exclusively Nickelodeon theme park will kick off its debut with a celebration of in-house talent: Miranda Cosgrove (iCarly); Nat Wolff and Alex Wolff (The Naked Brothers Band); and Lil' J.J. (Just Jordan).

Howard Smith, executive vice president, Nickelodeon Recreation, says the park represents "the perfect marriage of two entertainment entities, Nickelodeon and Mall of America."

Nickelodeon Universe will feature thriller rides, crazy bumper cars and roller coasters themed with hit show figures, such as SpongeBob SquarePants, Dora the Explorer, Avatar Airbender, The Fairly OddParents, Rugrats, and Jimmy Neutron.

In addition to the amusement park attractions, Nickelodeon Universe also features four new Nickelodeon-branded retail stores. Nickelodeon Store, occupying more than 5,000-square feet, is the flagship, with the largest selection of Nickelodeon merchandise in the world.

Ecofriendly families may also like supporting a park in which nearly 85% of the construction demolition is being recycled, totaling 2,179 tons of material.