Evergrey
Feb 2, 2007, 5:32 AM
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/07033/757761-37.stm
Legoland developers switch park plans from Kansas to Missouri
Friday, February 02, 2007
The Associated Press
KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Developers wanting to bring a theme park based on the Lego building blocks to the Kansas City area are now looking on the Missouri side of the state line.
RED Development, which is working with Legoland, has abandoned an earlier plan to build the park in Olathe, Kan., after discussions with local officials fell through, according to The Kansas City Star.
The firm is now talking with Lee's Summit and Missouri officials to build the park as the centerpiece of a 100-acre, $539 million development that would also include a Sea Life aquarium and a retail and office project, the Star said.
If built, the park would be the second Legoland in the U.S. The first opened in San Diego in 1999. There are three Legolands in Europe. The parks are based on the Danish building toy.
The California park draws an estimated 1.5 million visitors a year, and experts say a Kansas City Legoland would draw tourists from throughout the Midwest.
Under the plan, city and state tax incentives would pay for $187 million, or about a third, of the park's cost. RED, Townsend Capital and London-based Merlin Entertainments Group, which owns the Legoland brand, would pay for the rest.
The project will include a 250-room resort hotel, a 25,000-square-foot aquarium, a "festival" retail village with up to 10,000 square feet of stores and restaurants and another attraction operated by Merlin.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
( Copyright 2007 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
Legoland developers switch park plans from Kansas to Missouri
Friday, February 02, 2007
The Associated Press
KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Developers wanting to bring a theme park based on the Lego building blocks to the Kansas City area are now looking on the Missouri side of the state line.
RED Development, which is working with Legoland, has abandoned an earlier plan to build the park in Olathe, Kan., after discussions with local officials fell through, according to The Kansas City Star.
The firm is now talking with Lee's Summit and Missouri officials to build the park as the centerpiece of a 100-acre, $539 million development that would also include a Sea Life aquarium and a retail and office project, the Star said.
If built, the park would be the second Legoland in the U.S. The first opened in San Diego in 1999. There are three Legolands in Europe. The parks are based on the Danish building toy.
The California park draws an estimated 1.5 million visitors a year, and experts say a Kansas City Legoland would draw tourists from throughout the Midwest.
Under the plan, city and state tax incentives would pay for $187 million, or about a third, of the park's cost. RED, Townsend Capital and London-based Merlin Entertainments Group, which owns the Legoland brand, would pay for the rest.
The project will include a 250-room resort hotel, a 25,000-square-foot aquarium, a "festival" retail village with up to 10,000 square feet of stores and restaurants and another attraction operated by Merlin.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
( Copyright 2007 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)