BLOOMINGTON, Minn., Feb. 16 (UPI) -- A developer is proposing doubling the size of Minnesota's Mall of America by adding a casino, a concert hall and a National Hockey League-size ice rink.
The proposed $1 billion Phase II of the Mall of America would allow the 4.2-million-square-foot mall to again hold the title of the world's largest shopping mall by adding a 4-billion-square-foot expansion.
A casino would occupy 200,000 square feet on the top floor of a four-story addition that would also house a 6,000-seat music venue, a 24-screen movie theatre and an ice rink. There would be four hotel towers with 14 floors or 12 floors and a seven-story parking ramp.
"This will make Bloomington and the Twin Cities the biggest tourist destination, bar none, (and) make the Twin Cities an international convention center," developer Nader Ghermezian told the Minneapolis Star Tribune.
Minnesota's Indian casinos share revenue with the state, but a Bloomington state representative wants local voters to approve any casino in a ballot referendum.
