Here are today’s 12 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: Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift Gets a September 16 Opening Date
- Stadiums & Arenas: Seahawks’ Runner-Up Bidders Reportedly Offered Ownership Stake
- Live Music & Venues: Tampa Bay Rays’ New Stadium Clears Final Funding Hurdle
Theme Parks & Roller Coasters
Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift Gets a September 16 Opening Date
Universal Studios Hollywood has confirmed that Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift, the park’s first outdoor, high-speed roller coaster, will open Wednesday, September 16, 2026, according to Disney Tourist Blog. The ride runs along roughly 4,100 feet of elevated track and reaches speeds up to 72 mph aboard vehicles styled after the Dodge Charger, Mazda RX-7, Nissan Skyline GT-R, and Toyota Supra from the film franchise. Coaster fans can compare it to other standout layouts we’ve covered, like the Jersey Devil Coaster.
Halloween Horror Nights 2026 Food Guide Highlights Standout Bites
With Halloween Horror Nights 35 underway in Orlando, Attractions Magazine rounded up notable food offerings at the event, from carnival-style tacos to an Ozzy Osbourne-inspired dessert. The guide points guests toward specific items worth seeking out between haunted houses and scare zones.
Tokyo Disneyland Reveals New Costumes for D-Groovationz4 Live Show
Tokyo Disneyland has unveiled new costumes for Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, and Goofy ahead of “The D-Groovationz4 Live: Happy! Funky! Groovy! Tour,” a new song-and-dance stage show, according to WDW News Today. The outfits feature a multi-layered, chrome-toned look, with each character getting its own accent color.
Live-Action Gargoyles Reportedly Not Moving Forward at Disney+
Disney+’s live-action adaptation of Gargoyles is reportedly no longer in development, according to a source who spoke with Variety and was relayed by WDW News Today. Series creator Greg Weisman has separately said in an interview that the project has no current plans to move ahead; Disney has not issued its own confirmation, so the show’s status remains unofficial for now.
Disneyland Demolishes Four Ticket Booths as DisneylandForward Work Begins
Disneyland Resort has demolished four ticket booths in the Esplanade between Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure, clearing space for a pedestrian bridge connecting to a new parking structure, according to Inside the Magic. The work is part of the broader DisneylandForward expansion project; guests can still buy tickets in person at the two remaining booths or the Lost & Found office.
Valo Motion Debuts New Attraction Groundfall at IAAPA Expo Europe
Finnish attraction maker Valo Motion, marking its 10th anniversary, will officially launch its newest product, Groundfall, at IAAPA Expo Europe 2026, a major stop on the theme park and attractions trade circuit, according to Park World. Attendees can try it alongside the company’s existing ValoJump air attraction at booth S2502 when the expo runs September 22-24 at ExCeL London.
Fairytale Farm’s Illuminated Evenings Return This Autumn
UK attraction Fairytale Farm in Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire, will bring back its after-dark Illuminated Evenings event with a new Wonderland theme, running Fridays through Sundays from October 23 to November 15, 2026, according to Amusement Today. The light, color, and music experience will also run nightly during the UK’s October half-term break.
SpongeBob x One Piece Happy Meal Launches at McDonald’s September 15
McDonald’s will launch a SpongeBob SquarePants x One Piece crossover Happy Meal in the U.S. on September 15, according to Attractions Magazine. The tie-in brings together two long-running animated franchises in one kids’ meal promotion.
Stadiums & Arenas
Seahawks’ Runner-Up Bidders Reportedly Offered Ownership Stake
The investor groups that lost out on buying the Seattle Seahawks have reportedly been offered a chance to join the winning ownership group as minority partners, according to Front Office Sports. The Khosla family’s winning bid for the team is still closing, and it isn’t yet confirmed whether the runner-up investors have accepted or been formally named.
Rising Tennis Star Maja Chwalińska Lands Sponsorship After Hotel Struggles
Polish tennis player Maja Chwalińska, who makes her US Open main draw debut this week, has signed on as an ambassador for a nutrition and beverage brand after previously struggling to afford hotel costs on tour, according to Front Office Sports. The deal follows her run to the French Open final earlier this year.
Live Music & Venues
Tampa Bay Rays’ New Stadium Clears Final Funding Hurdle
The Tampa Bay Rays’ new ballpark moved a major step closer to reality after the Hillsborough County Commission voted 5-2 on August 28 to approve its $796 million share of the $2.36 billion project, a day after Tampa city officials approved their own contribution, according to Pollstar. The new stadium will replace Tropicana Field. For more on sports venues old and new, see our coverage of Harvard Stadium.
Woman Killed in Shooting at Swiss Rave
A 22-year-old Italian woman was killed and five other festivalgoers, ages 24 to 31, were injured in a shooting at a rave in Aarau, Switzerland, in the early hours of Sunday, August 30, according to Pollstar. Swiss police have detained a suspect in connection with the shooting.
Explore more: Jersey Devil Coaster, Harvard Stadium, Central Park SummerStage.
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