Theme park news for September 28, 2026 is topped by Vekoma and Gröna Lund unveiling a scale model of the trackless ride vehicle built for their new SCORE! dark ride, marking the first use of Vekoma’s radar-guided DRX platform ahead of a planned 2027 opening.
Also in today’s theme park news roundup: new Six Flags guest surveys hint that California’s Great America could lose three of its coasters, Spirit Christmas confirmed its first Tennessee stores, Old Navy rolled out a new Disney holiday apparel line, and Disney’s Hollywood Studios dealt with a delayed theater reopening. On the stadiums and music side, MLB logged its fourth straight year of rising attendance heading into a wild playoff field, and the 2026 VMAs saw Taylor Swift and Madonna both set new records.
The TLDR
- Theme Parks & Roller Coasters: Vekoma Unveils Trackless Dark Ride Vehicle for Gröna Lund’s SCORE!
- Stadiums & Arenas: MLB Attendance Rises for a Fourth Straight Year
- Live Music & Venues: Todd Rundgren Calls Taylor Swift the ‘Apotheosis of Mediocrity’
Theme Parks & Roller Coasters
Vekoma Unveils Trackless Dark Ride Vehicle for Gröna Lund’s SCORE!
Swedish park Gröna Lund and Dutch manufacturer Vekoma unveiled a scale model of a new trackless dark ride vehicle for the upcoming SCORE! attraction, marking the debut of Vekoma’s DRX ride platform. The interactive dark ride will use radar-guided trackless vehicles equipped with laser blasters as riders navigate scenes tied to the park’s history, with an opening planned for 2027. Screamscape shared video of the unveiling.
Six Flags Survey Hints at Coaster Moves From California’s Great America
According to Screamscape, new Six Flags guest surveys asking about ride concepts include three coasters that closely resemble California’s Great America’s Patriot, Flight Deck, and RailBlazer. The surveys aren’t an official relocation announcement, but fans have read the questions as another sign the Bay Area park’s future is uncertain; Gold Striker and Psycho Mouse were not part of the survey. Readers curious how Six Flags has reworked coasters elsewhere can check our profile of the Road Runner Express at Six Flags Magic Mountain.
Old Navy Launches Disney Holiday Plaid Collection
Old Navy and Disney released a new holiday apparel line built around Mickey and Minnie in Santa outfits and a dark-green plaid pattern, according to WDWNT. The collection spans graphic tees, matching pajama sets, sherpa slippers, stockings, and pet sweaters, with prices ranging from about $6 for socks up to roughly $55 for pajama sets.
Spirit Christmas Confirms First Tennessee Stores
Spirit Christmas, the holiday offshoot of Spirit Halloween, confirmed its first two Tennessee locations, in Nashville and Knoxville, according to Attractions Magazine. Both sites are currently operating as Spirit Halloween through October 31 before converting to Spirit Christmas on November 6, adding Tennessee to a 2026 lineup that already includes Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia.
Vacation Fun Misses Scheduled Reopening at Disney’s Hollywood Studios
Vacation Fun – An Original Animated Short with Mickey & Minnie did not reopen as scheduled on September 27 at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, following a six-week closure of the Mickey Shorts Theater tied to Annual Passholder magnet distribution, according to WDWNT. Guests arriving for the planned reopening instead found signage apologizing for the delay, and Disney has not announced a new date.
Stadiums & Arenas
MLB Attendance Rises for a Fourth Straight Year
Major League Baseball drew about 71.75 million fans in 2026, a 0.5% increase over last season and the league’s fourth consecutive year of attendance growth, according to Front Office Sports. It’s the sport’s first four-year growth streak since 2004–07. The Dodgers led all teams with roughly 4.03 million fans, while the Rays nearly doubled their attendance after returning to Tropicana Field.
2026 MLB Playoff Field Set After Wild Final Sunday
The 2026 MLB postseason field is set following a rain-disrupted final day of the regular season, according to Front Office Sports. The Houston Astros clinched the AL West at 81-81, becoming MLB’s first full-season playoff team without a winning record, and open the Wild Card round against the White Sox; other matchups include Yankees-Red Sox, Cubs-Padres, and Phillies-Braves, while the Rays, Guardians, Brewers, and Dodgers earned first-round byes. Fans planning their own stadium visits can browse our coverage of venues like Carter-Finley Stadium.
Live Music & Venues
Todd Rundgren Calls Taylor Swift the ‘Apotheosis of Mediocrity’
Producer Todd Rundgren called Taylor Swift “the apotheosis of mediocrity” in a new interview, arguing she “doesn’t do anything particularly great except grow hair,” according to Billboard. Rundgren, the producer behind Meat Loaf’s Bat Out of Hell, made similar criticisms of Swift in a 2022 podcast appearance, and praised Lady Gaga by contrast as a “real musician.”
Taylor Swift and Madonna Set New Records at the 2026 VMAs
The 2026 MTV Video Music Awards, held September 27 in Los Angeles, saw Taylor Swift and Madonna each set new records, according to Billboard. Swift won video of the year for a sixth time and became the most-awarded artist in VMAs history, while Madonna opened the show for a record fifth time and took home seven awards on the night. BTS finished as runners-up with three wins. Fans who enjoy live-venue coverage can also check out our profile of AFAS Live in Amsterdam.
Explore more: Road Runner Express at Six Flags Magic Mountain, Carter-Finley Stadium, AFAS Live in Amsterdam.
Theme Park & Entertainment News FAQs
When does Gröna Lund’s SCORE! dark ride open?
SCORE!, the new trackless dark ride from Vekoma and Jora Vision, is planned to open at Gröna Lund in 2027. A scale model of its ride vehicle was unveiled in late September 2026.
Which California’s Great America coasters might be relocated?
New Six Flags guest surveys reported by Screamscape include concepts resembling Patriot, Flight Deck, and RailBlazer. This is based on survey questions, not an official relocation announcement.
Which teams made the 2026 MLB playoffs?
The field includes the Astros, White Sox, Yankees, Red Sox, Cubs, and Padres in the Wild Card round, with the Rays, Guardians, Brewers, and Dodgers earning first-round byes.
Who won the most awards at the 2026 VMAs?
Madonna won the most awards on the night with seven, while Taylor Swift set records by winning video of the year for a sixth time and becoming the most-awarded artist in VMAs history. BTS finished as runners-up with three wins.
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Photo: Holger.Ellgaard / CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.