Mall of America, Shopping center in Bloomington, United States.
The Mall of America is a shopping and entertainment complex in Bloomington, Minnesota, with a gross floor area of 5,689,000 square feet (528,500 m2) and more than 520 stores along three walkway levels, plus a fourth level on the south and east sides. Four anchor department stores stand at the corners, and the central Nickelodeon Universe amusement park sits under skylights.
The complex opened in 1992 on land that previously held Metropolitan Stadium, home to the Minnesota Vikings and Twins until 1982. This transformation from sports venue to shopping destination marked a shift in how the area was used and developed.
The mall's four original zones—East Broadway, West Market, North Garden and South Avenue—were each given their own architectural theme by designer Jon Jerde to help visitors navigate the rectangle. The indoor park in the centre has been renamed twice: Camp Snoopy until January 2006, then The Park at MOA, and Nickelodeon Universe since March 2008.
The interior maintains a consistent temperature year-round of about 21 degrees Celsius, warmed by lighting fixtures and body heat from the millions of annual visitors. When planning a visit, be aware that the climate-controlled environment may feel very different from outside temperatures, so dress in layers for comfort.
A single red-painted baseball seat in the Nickelodeon Universe amusement park marks the exact spot where home plate once stood at the old Metropolitan Stadium. This small detail is easy to miss but connects the location's sports past to its present life as a shopping destination.
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