Here are today’s 11 verified theme park & live event stories, covering Theme Parks & Roller Coasters, Stadiums & Arenas and Live Music & Venues.
Every item below links to its original source.
The TLDR
- Theme Parks & Roller Coasters: WhiteWater Debuts Optical-Illusion ‘Helix Twist’ Water Slide
- Stadiums & Arenas: Tampa Bay Rays’ $2.36 Billion Ballpark Faces Two Make-or-Break Votes This Week
- Live Music & Venues: Jessie Reyez Announces ‘A Little Vengeance’ Fall Tour
Theme Parks & Roller Coasters
WhiteWater Debuts Optical-Illusion ‘Helix Twist’ Water Slide
Water attraction manufacturer WhiteWater has introduced a new slide feature called Helix Twist, which debuted on the Dragonfly Jet water slide at The Land of Legends in Antalya, Turkey. The stationary flume uses a twisting geometric profile to create the sensation that the slide is rotating around riders, combining uphill blasts and banked turns within a single ride sequence, according to Blooloop.
Six Flags Over Texas’s Shockwave Coaster Future Uncertain, Reports Suggest
According to unconfirmed reports from Screamscape, the future of Shockwave, a 1978 Schwarzkopf looping coaster at Six Flags Over Texas, is in question as the summer season winds down. Rumors suggest the ride needs a costly restoration to survive, though nothing has reportedly been budgeted and Six Flags has made no official announcement, as the park weighs the same restore-or-retire question facing other vintage coasters like Timber Wolf at Worlds of Fun.
Disneyland Resort Breaks Ground on New Parking and Transportation Hub
Disneyland Resort has officially broken ground on a new parking structure and transportation hub as part of the DisneylandForward expansion project. The facility is planned to include roughly 6,000 parking spaces and a pedestrian bridge over Harbor Boulevard leading to a new arrival esplanade, according to WDW News Today. Disney says the project is the first step in infrastructure upgrades meant to support future additions to the resort.
AromaPrime to Unveil ‘Pirate Water Ride’ Scent at IAAPA Expo Europe
Scent company AromaPrime plans to unveil a new themed fragrance called Pirate Water Ride at its booth during IAAPA Expo Europe in London this September, according to Amusement Today. The company describes the scent as inspired by one of the most recognizable smells associated with classic pirate-themed water attractions.
Glow-in-the-Dark Fortnitemares T-Shirts Arrive at Universal Orlando
Universal Orlando Resort is now selling new FORTNITEMARES-themed apparel tied to the Fortnite game, including a $30 adult glow-in-the-dark T-shirt featuring Fortnite characters in Halloween-styled art, according to WDW News Today. A matching youth T-shirt is also available.
Six Flags Wild Safari Welcomes More Than 30 Baby Rheas
Six Flags Great Adventure’s Wild Safari drive-through park in Jackson, New Jersey, has welcomed more than 30 rhea chicks born within about a week, according to Amusement Today. Rheas are large flightless birds native to South America related to ostriches and emus; for more New Jersey wildlife attractions, see our profile of Turtle Back Zoo.
Coaster101 Podcast Talks Six Flags Over Texas’s New Tormenta Coaster
The latest episode of the Coaster101 Podcast features Tony Clark, a PR professional previously associated with Cedar Point who now handles public relations for Six Flags Over Texas, discussing his work on the park’s Tormenta: Rampaging Run coaster ahead of the Halloween season, according to Coaster101.
Stadiums & Arenas
Tampa Bay Rays’ $2.36 Billion Ballpark Faces Two Make-or-Break Votes This Week
The Tampa Bay Rays’ proposed $2.36 billion ballpark faces two pivotal votes this week, with the Tampa City Council expected to vote Thursday and the Hillsborough County Commission expected to vote Friday on a combined public contribution of up to $876 million, according to Front Office Sports. If approved, the stadium is planned near Tampa International Airport with an opening targeted for early 2029.
Live Music & Venues
Jessie Reyez Announces ‘A Little Vengeance’ Fall Tour
Jessie Reyez has announced her ‘A Little Vengeance Tour,’ featuring her biggest venues to date, kicking off November 3 in Seattle and running through late November across North America, according to Pollstar. The trek includes stops at the Kia Forum and Barclays Center and supports her fourth album, A Little Vengeance.
Bad Bunny Wraps Record-Breaking World Tour With Sold-Out Puerto Rico Shows
Bad Bunny closed out his ‘DeBÍ TiRAR MÁS FOToS World Tour’ with two sold-out shows at Estadio Hiram Bithorn in San Juan on August 22 and 23, drawing roughly 70,000 fans across both nights, according to Pollstar. The tour spanned 55 shows without a single U.S. stop.
Australia’s ARIA Charts Bar Wholly AI-Generated Tracks
The Australian Recording Industry Association has introduced new eligibility rules barring wholly AI-generated recordings from its charts, requiring that eligible tracks be “substantially human-made,” according to Billboard. Recordings that use AI in a supporting role remain eligible, and the new rules take effect with the chart dated August 31.
Explore more: Timber Wolf at Worlds of Fun, Turtle Back Zoo.
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