Theme park news today is led by Six Flags Magic Mountain’s decision to permanently retire its X2 roller coaster following lawsuits from riders who allege the ride caused brain injuries, according to blooloop. The closure comes the same week Walt Disney World marks its 55th anniversary with new merchandise and a recap of its ongoing park expansions.
Beyond the parks beat, this roundup covers Universal Kids Resort’s new Gold Annual Pass tier, Futuroscope’s anniversary celebrations and planned sci-fi hotel, Intercard’s latest cashless installation at a Taroko Sports Center, and the reopening of the Turf Club Bar & Grill at Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort. On the stadiums side, Hellas Verona has filed formal plans for a new stadium and a new analysis examines how expanded WNBA playoffs would affect player bonus costs, while the live music world saw the VenuesNow Conference open in Seattle, Rapsody announce an intimate four-city tour, and The Chicks kick off their ‘Taking the Long Way’ anniversary tour.
The TLDR
- Theme Parks & Roller Coasters: Six Flags Magic Mountain Permanently Retires X2 Amid Brain Injury Lawsuits
- Stadiums & Arenas: Hellas Verona Submits Formal Plans for New 30,000-Seat Stadium
- Live Music & Venues: VenuesNow Conference Opens in Seattle With Focus on Venue Collaboration
Theme Parks & Roller Coasters
Six Flags Magic Mountain Permanently Retires X2 Amid Brain Injury Lawsuits
Six Flags Magic Mountain has permanently closed its X2 roller coaster, which opened in 2008 and had carried more than 16 million guests, according to blooloop. Park president Brian Oerding said the coaster was retired “because we believe it’s the right thing to do,” as the park faces three lawsuits from riders alleging brain injuries, with more than 100 additional people indicating they intend to file similar claims. Six Flags maintains that X2 had passed its safety inspections. Fans of classic thrill rides can also revisit our profile of Carolina Goldrusher at Carowinds, one of the few original-era coasters still running today.
Universal Kids Resort Adds $199.99 Gold Annual Pass Tier
Universal Kids Resort, which opened July 1, 2026, has introduced a new Gold tier to its annual pass lineup, according to Screamscape. The $199.99 Gold pass includes no blackout dates, parking, and added guest discounts, compared with the existing $129.99 Silver pass, while single-day tickets start at $49.99. The new tier targets families planning four or more visits a year.
Futuroscope Reveals 40th-Anniversary Plans and a 2028 Sci-Fi Hotel
French theme park Futuroscope has announced plans for its 2027 40th-anniversary season, including a new IMAX film, a film festival, and a 1980s-themed walk-through house, according to Screamscape. The park also confirmed a new sci-fi-themed hotel planned for 2028, featuring 240 rooms, a themed restaurant, bar, spa, and a 200-seat amphitheater connected to the park’s Aquascope waterpark by a pedestrian bridge. Construction on the hotel has already begun.
Disney World Marks 55th Anniversary With New Merchandise
Walt Disney World marked its 55th anniversary on October 1, 2026, with a limited merchandise collection and a brief morning event, according to Attractions Magazine. The new lineup includes a “Vacation Kingdom” mug, apparel, and an ear headband representing all four parks. Disney also used the milestone to highlight ongoing park expansions, including Magic Kingdom’s Piston Peak National Park and Villains Land, Hollywood Studios’ Monstropolis land, and Animal Kingdom’s Tropical Americas.
Intercard Equips Fourth Taroko Sports Center With Cashless Technology
Cashless payment company Intercard has completed installation at the new Taroko Sports Center in San Antonio, Texas, the fourth baseball-themed Taroko location in the U.S. to use its technology, according to Amusement Today. The 31,000-square-foot facility includes batting cages, HitTrax swing suites, mini bowling, and an arcade with more than 100 games, running on 180 Intercard readers and four kiosks. Taroko Sports says it plans to use Intercard technology at future U.S. locations.
Turf Club Bar & Grill Reopens at Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort
The Turf Club Bar & Grill at Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa reopened on September 30, 2026, following a refurbishment, according to WDWNT. The restaurant received new flooring, seating, and outdoor patio furniture, along with a refreshed menu featuring new appetizers, entrées, and desserts. The adjoining lounge area had already reopened on August 31.
Stadiums & Arenas
Hellas Verona Submits Formal Plans for New 30,000-Seat Stadium
Hellas Verona FC has submitted a Feasibility Document for Project Alternatives to the Municipality of Verona, formally starting the approval process under Italy’s stadium law for a new 30,000-seat venue, according to Coliseum. The roughly €300 million plan calls for demolishing the existing Stadio Bentegodi and building the new stadium on the same site, with completion targeted for the 2031-32 season. The club says the venue, if approved, would meet UEFA’s requirements to host Euro 2032 matches.
Extending WNBA Playoffs Would Significantly Raise Player Bonus Costs
A new analysis finds that expanding the WNBA playoff format would substantially increase mandatory player bonus payouts under the league’s collective bargaining agreement, according to Front Office Sports. Under the current format’s maximum of 29 possible games, total playoff bonuses run about $1.44 million; moving to a best-of-seven format in every round would push that to roughly $2.43 million. The CBA requires bonuses to rise proportionally with any increase in maximum playoff games, a wrinkle highlighted after the No. 1-seeded Lynx were eliminated after just two games this postseason.
Live Music & Venues
VenuesNow Conference Opens in Seattle With Focus on Venue Collaboration
The VenuesNow Conference kicked off at the Sheraton Grand in Seattle on September 30, 2026, with day-one sessions centered on collaboration across the live event industry, according to Pollstar. Panels covered culturally aware marketing strategies and venues diversifying their programming beyond concerts. Executives from Spain, Puerto Rico, the UK, and France also announced a new Spanish-Speaking Association of Entertainment Arenas to support Spanish-language touring.
Rapsody Announces Intimate Four-City Tour for New Album
Rapsody is taking her new album, “God Gotta Afro & Gold Hoops,” on a four-city “unplugged style” tour, according to Pollstar. The run stops at Crown Hill Theatre in Brooklyn on October 16, Park West in Chicago on October 18, Vinyl in Atlanta on October 20, and Blue Note in Los Angeles on October 23. Tickets are available through Rapsody’s official website.
The Chicks Open ‘Taking the Long Way’ 20th Anniversary Tour in Detroit
The Chicks kicked off their 20th-anniversary tour for “Taking the Long Way,” playing the 2006 album in full before a set of hits and fan favorites in Detroit, according to Billboard. The hits portion included “Goodbye Earl,” “Wide Open Spaces,” “Landslide,” and “Gaslighter.” The trek marks two decades since the Grammy-winning album’s release. For more live venue coverage, check out our profile of The Ville Amphitheater in Fayetteville.
Explore more: Carolina Goldrusher at Carowinds, Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium in Memphis, The Ville Amphitheater in Fayetteville.
Theme Park News FAQs
Why did Six Flags permanently close the X2 roller coaster?
Six Flags Magic Mountain retired X2 after facing three lawsuits from riders alleging brain injuries, with more than 100 additional people indicating plans to file similar claims. Park president Brian Oerding said the ride was closed as the right thing to do, even though Six Flags maintains X2 had passed its safety inspections.
What does Universal Kids Resort’s new Gold Annual Pass include?
The $199.99 Gold pass offers no blackout dates, included parking, and added guest discounts. It sits above the existing $129.99 Silver pass tier, with single-day tickets starting at $49.99.
When is Walt Disney World’s 55th anniversary?
Disney World marked its 55th anniversary on October 1, 2026, with a limited-edition merchandise collection and a brief morning celebration, alongside a recap of expansions underway across its four theme parks.
Get More from Theme Park News
Log the coasters, stadiums, and venues you’ve experienced, rate Theme Park News, and see what your friends thought. Get the ThrillZing app.
Want the day’s theme park news in your inbox? Subscribe to ThrillZing Daily — free.
Photo: WillMcC / CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.