Theme park news today is dominated by Cedar Point, where officials shut down Millennium Force on Friday after a bracket came loose from a ride vehicle and landed in an area accessible to guests — at least the third detached-part incident at the Sandusky, Ohio park in recent years.
Elsewhere, Cleveland Metroparks Zoo locked in an Oct. 22 opening date for its new Primate Forest, the Kansas City Royals unveiled renderings for their downtown ballpark, and Shakira broke the all-time Latin touring record. Rounding out today’s roundup: Miley Cyrus’s sold-out Hollywood Bowl return, Pollstar Live!’s move to the Palm Springs area, two NFL players back from the commissioner’s exempt list, and a new UK report on the immersive-experience boom. Fans planning more zoo outings this season can also browse our full zoo holiday light shows roundup.
The TLDR
- Theme Parks & Roller Coasters: Cedar Point shut down Millennium Force after a dislodged bracket, and Cleveland’s Primate Forest gets an Oct. 22 opening date.
- Stadiums & Arenas: The Royals unveiled their Populous-designed downtown ballpark, and the NFL reinstated Josh Jacobs and Jonathon Cooper.
- Live Music & Venues: Shakira set the all-time Latin touring record as Miley Cyrus kicked off sold-out Hollywood Bowl shows.
Theme Parks & Roller Coasters
Cedar Point Shuts Down Millennium Force After Part Falls From Ride Vehicle
Cedar Point closed Millennium Force on Friday, Oct. 16, after a small bracket came loose from a ride vehicle and landed in an area accessible to guests, according to Attractions Magazine. No one was hit, and the coaster remains closed while the park and Ohio state inspectors review what happened. It’s at least the third time in recent years a detached part has turned up in a guest area at the Sandusky park, following a June incident on Magnum XL-200 and a more serious 2021 incident on Top Thrill Dragster.
Cleveland Metroparks Zoo Sets Oct. 22 Opening for Primate Forest
Cleveland Metroparks Zoo will open the first phase of its new Primate Forest on Oct. 22, starting with a 10 a.m. ribbon-cutting before the exhibit opens to the public at noon, per FOX 8. The space reimagines the zoo’s former RainForest building with new orangutan habitats and behind-the-scenes looks at animal care. Ohio zoo fans counting down to the opening can also check out nearby Akron Zoo’s Wild Lights for another fall outing in the meantime.
UK Report Puts £7.4bn Price Tag on the Immersive Experience Boom
A new Experience Economy Index report from Grant Thornton and Experience UK, produced with King’s College London researchers, estimates that immersive attractions generate £7.4 billion in UK spending and £3.9 billion in economic value, according to blooloop. The survey behind the report found 31% of Britons, about 17 million adults, attended an immersive experience in the past year. Researchers project experience-focused spending could grow by a further £23 billion over the next five years.
Stadiums & Arenas
Royals Pick Populous to Design New Downtown Ballpark
The Kansas City Royals have selected Populous as architect of record for their new ballpark and released renderings of the approximately 34,000-seat, open-air venue planned for downtown Kansas City, per Sports Venue Business. The design calls for a limestone exterior, two 360-degree concourses, and a fabric canopy shading roughly 65% of seating in the late afternoon. Populous founder Earl Santee said the goal is a ballpark that “feels unmistakably Kansas City,” incorporating touches like the team’s fountains and Little K scoreboard.
NFL Reinstates Josh Jacobs and Jonathon Cooper From Paid Leave
The NFL reinstated Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs and Denver Broncos linebacker Jonathon Cooper from the commissioner’s exempt list this week, according to Front Office Sports. Both players missed six games this season after being placed on paid leave over off-field legal matters. Their legal cases remain ongoing even as they return to their teams.
Live Music & Venues
Shakira’s World Tour Sets All-Time Latin Touring Record
Shakira’s Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran World Tour has become the highest-grossing Latin tour in history, grossing $534,380,976 and selling 4,084,398 tickets across 118 shows through Oct. 4, according to Pollstar. The run is also the most successful tour of the Colombian star’s career. Pollstar reports the trek has now surpassed Bad Bunny’s previous record for the genre.
Pollstar Live! 2027 Opens Registration for Palm Springs-Area Debut
Registration is now open for Pollstar Live! 2027, set for April 13-15 in Indian Wells, California — the conference’s first time in the greater Palm Springs area, per Pollstar. The live-entertainment industry gathering is presented by Marsh and Ticketmaster and opens with its Production Live! programming. Early-bird registration pricing is available through Nov. 30.
Miley Cyrus Returns to the Stage for Sold-Out Hollywood Bowl Shows
Miley Cyrus played the first of two sold-out nights at the Hollywood Bowl on Oct. 16 — her first full U.S. concerts since 2021 — with Model/Actriz opening, according to Billboard. The shows double as a promotional run for her new album and, by her own description, a dress rehearsal ahead of a possible longer residency. She returns to the Bowl stage for a second night on Oct. 18.
Explore more: Akron Zoo’s Wild Lights, zoo holiday light shows.
Theme Park News FAQs
Is Millennium Force at Cedar Point still closed?
Yes. As of Oct. 17, 2026, Millennium Force remains closed while Cedar Point and Ohio state inspectors investigate a dislodged bracket from a ride vehicle. No reopening date has been announced.
When does Primate Forest open at Cleveland Metroparks Zoo?
The first phase of Primate Forest opens Oct. 22, 2026, starting with a 10 a.m. ribbon-cutting and public access beginning at noon.
How many seats will the new Kansas City Royals ballpark have?
Populous’s design for the Royals’ new downtown Kansas City ballpark calls for an open-air venue with approximately 34,000 seats.
How much has Shakira’s tour grossed?
Through Oct. 4, 2026, Shakira’s Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran World Tour had grossed $534,380,976 from 4,084,398 tickets across 118 shows, the most of any Latin tour in history.
Where and when is Pollstar Live! 2027?
Pollstar Live! 2027 runs April 13-15, 2027, in Indian Wells, California, marking the conference’s debut in the greater Palm Springs area.
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Photo: Therguy10 / CC0, via Wikimedia Commons.