Theme park news today is led by Six Flags’ response to a fatal accident on Goliath at Six Flags Over Georgia, with the company committing to add seat belts to that coaster and others with similar restraints while independent safety reviews continue across eight temporarily closed rides.
This roundup of today’s theme park news also covers Mall of America’s new SpongeBob-themed play structure and a quietly closing Disney pool bar, plus stadium news on Mark Walter trimming his sports portfolio and the EFL’s new matchday safety software, and live-music updates from Oak View Group, Lake Street Dive, and Live Nation.
The TLDR
- Theme Parks & Roller Coasters: Six Flags will add seat belts to Goliath and similar coasters after a fatal accident; Mall of America’s Dutchman’s Deck opens March 2027.
- Stadiums & Arenas: Mark Walter lists the WNBA’s Sparks for sale while the EFL rolls out new matchday safety software across its clubs.
- Live Music & Venues: Oak View Group names a new global HR chief, Lake Street Dive books a 15-city 2027 tour, and Live Nation unveils a new Melbourne venue.
Theme Parks & Roller Coasters
Six Flags to Add Seat Belts to Goliath After Fatal Accident
Six Flags has announced it will add seat belts to Goliath at Six Flags Over Georgia and to other coasters with similar restraint systems, following a fatal accident on the ride earlier this month. The company says it is also bringing in independent engineers to review safety across its ride portfolio and reinforcing staff training, while eight roller coasters—including Nitro at Six Flags Great Adventure and Fury 325 at Carowinds—remain temporarily closed. Six of those eight already had supplemental seat belts installed, and Attractions Magazine notes the seat belt addition does not confirm the ride’s restraints malfunctioned, as an official cause hasn’t been determined.
Mall of America Reveals Dutchman’s Deck Play Structure
Mall of America has unveiled Dutchman’s Deck, a new play structure opening inside Nickelodeon Universe in March 2027. The nearly 55-foot-tall attraction is themed to the Flying Dutchman ghost ship from the recent SpongeBob movie, with five towers, seven bridges, two slides, climbing tunnels, and four birthday party rooms, according to Amusement Today. It joins a wider industry push toward family attractions, similar to Dollywood’s suspended family coaster Dragonflier.
Balloon Museum Opens at London’s Immerse LDN
Immerse LDN in London opens Balloon Museum’s “EUPHOЯIA — Art is in the Air” exhibition on October 24. The Italy-founded contemporary art project features large-scale interactive installations, including work by Turner Prize winner Martin Creed, after touring more than 20 cities worldwide, per blooloop. It’s the latest addition to Immerse LDN’s lineup on London’s Royal Docks waterfront, a venue that has sold more than 1.7 million tickets since launching.
Disney’s All-Star Music Pool Bar Temporarily Closing
Disney’s All-Star Music Resort will temporarily close its Singing Spirits Pool Bar starting Wednesday, November 11, 2026. WDW News Today reports Disney hasn’t given a reason or reopening date, and there’s no refurbishment notice posted for the resort.
blooloop Opens Registration for 2026 Orlando Industry Party
Attractions trade publication blooloop has opened registration for its 2026 Orlando industry party, running 7–10 p.m. on Tuesday, November 17, at the Sports & Social Bar at Pointe Orlando. Attendees can meet Hugo the Yeti, an untethered animatronic creature built by Dynamic Creatures, according to blooloop.
Dollywood Contest Deadline Extended to December 4
Dollywood, Smokies Life, and Discover Life in America have extended the deadline for their bioluminescence-themed school contest to December 4, 2026. Fifth-grade classrooms in East Tennessee and Western North Carolina can submit essays, art, videos, or other projects about the Smokies’ glowing wildlife, with five winning classes earning a spring 2027 trip to ride Dollywood’s NightFlight Expedition alongside classics like Blazing Fury, per Amusement Today.
Stadiums & Arenas
Mark Walter Lists WNBA’s Sparks for Sale
Dodgers owner Mark Walter is seeking roughly $700 million to sell the WNBA’s Los Angeles Sparks along with its practice facility, continuing a string of divestments that included his Lakers stake, sold in August 2026 to Bob Iger and Joshua Kushner, and his Chelsea FC stake. Front Office Sports notes he still controls the Dodgers and the Cadillac Formula One team.
EFL Rolls Out Aposto’s CrowdVista Safety Software
The English Football League is partnering with event operations provider Aposto to deploy CrowdVista, a league-wide matchday safety intelligence platform, across all 72 EFL clubs starting in early 2027. Sports Venue Business reports the system gives safety staff a single, consistent format for sharing incident data between clubs.
Live Music & Venues
Oak View Group Names Diane Neville Chief HR Officer
Oak View Group has named Diane Neville, formerly Chief People Officer at Alterra Mountain Company, as its new Chief Human Resources Officer. Based in Denver, Neville will oversee global HR functions, including talent acquisition and compensation, reporting directly to CEO Chris Granger, according to Pollstar.
Lake Street Dive Announces 2027 Tour
Lake Street Dive has announced the first leg of a 2027 North American tour behind their upcoming album What About Flamingos?. The 15-city run kicks off February 26 in Waukee, Iowa, with stops at Brooklyn Paramount and The Anthem in Washington, D.C., and opener Snacktime joining most dates, per Pollstar.
Drake Sings With Backstreet Boys at 40th Birthday Bash
Drake marked his 40th birthday with a lavish New York celebration featuring designer gifts and a $1 million game show, capping a week of festivities. During the celebration he joined the Backstreet Boys for a performance of “I Want It That Way,” according to Billboard.
Live Nation Reveals New 5,000-Cap Melbourne Venue
Live Nation has unveiled plans for Arden Central, a new 5,000-capacity music venue in North Melbourne expected to host more than 100 events a year. IQ Magazine reports the venue is part of a larger A$7 billion cultural and parkland precinct being developed by Hamton and Hostplus, and is expected to create new performance opportunities for Australian artists.
Explore more: Blazing Fury, Dragonflier.
Theme Park News FAQs
Will Six Flags add seat belts to all its roller coasters?
No. Six Flags said it will add seat belts to Goliath at Six Flags Over Georgia and to other coasters that use similar restraint systems, not its entire fleet. Eight coasters remain temporarily closed pending independent safety reviews.
When does Dutchman’s Deck open at Mall of America?
The SpongeBob-themed play structure inside Nickelodeon Universe is set to open in March 2027. It will operate on the park’s wristband point system.
When does Lake Street Dive’s 2027 tour start?
The 15-city North American tour begins February 26, 2027, in Waukee, Iowa, in support of their album What About Flamingos?, with stops including Brooklyn Paramount and The Anthem in Washington, D.C.
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Photo: hagerman / CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.