Mall of America in Ten Facts

The ten facts

1. 5.6 million square feet of gross leasable area, about 520,000 m²; about 2.87 million square feet of it is retail.
2. 500+ stores, restaurants and attractions, by the mall’s own count.
3. Four retail levels in the east and south wings, three in the north and west.
4. About 1.2 miles round each level; all three shopping levels make roughly a 5K.
5. More than 40 million visits a year and over a billion since opening, as stated by Triple Five Group.
6. A seven-acre theme park at the centre, Nickelodeon Universe, with 27+ attractions including five roller coasters and one water ride.
7. An aquarium tunnel 300 feet (91 m) long, in an aquarium of 1.3 million US gallons (4.9 million litres) holding more than 10,000 animals.
8. About 8 acres of skylights, and no central heating: the building stays at roughly 65 to 75°F (18 to 24°C).
9. Opened on 11 August 1992; Triple Five Group, the Ghermezian family’s company, has been sole owner since 2006.
10. Built on the site of Metropolitan Stadium, demolished in 1985. A home-plate plaque is set into the park floor.

Largest in the United States, not the world

By gross leasable area, Mall of America is the largest mall in the United States. American Dream in New Jersey describes itself as second. Iran Mall in Tehran is larger, so the world title goes elsewhere. The biggest-mall page sets the two lists side by side.

The stadium under the floor

Metropolitan Stadium was home to the Minnesota Twins and the Vikings. Two markers remain: the home-plate plaque in the floor of Nickelodeon Universe, and a single red stadium seat high on a wall. The seat marks where Harmon Killebrew’s 520-foot home run of 3 June 1967 landed. The history page follows the site from stadium to mall.

What the figures mean on foot

Each level is about 1.2 miles round. Two levels of corridor before lunch is already more than two miles of walking, before any attraction. The timing page adds the attractions to the laps.

Frequently asked questions