Mall of America will double in size after $2.5 billion expansion

Triple Five Worldwide, owner of the Mall of America in Bloomington, Minn., has kicked off construction work on a $2.5 billion, 10-year expansion project that will double the facility's size and add attractions like an NHL-sized skating rink and an indoor water park.

The development is part of a plan to draw millions of additional visitors each year, with 300 new retailers, hotels, more events space, and entertainment destinations like the water park, according to a Pioneer Press report.

Work on roadways surrounding the mall began recently, and the first phase of the building expansion is expected to start this fall. This initial, $250 million project will expand the mall to the north, adding three levels of retail space for about 50 tenants.

The mega-mall attracts some 42 million visitors each year. Triple Five Worldwide expects the expansion will draw an additional 20 million patrons. The mall will receive assistance from the state in the form of a $250 million tax break, according to the report.

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Read Pioneer Press' full Mall of America expansion report.

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