Merlin Entertainments to Open LEGOLAND Discovery Centre at Meadowlands Xanadu

44,000-Square-Foot Interactive Child-Centered Virtual City Will Be
Company's First in Northeast

Meadowlands Xanadu also Announces that Merlin, Owner and Operator
of Famed London Eye, will Lease and Operate the Pepsi Globe
Observation Wheel at the Spectacular New Jersey Entertainment and
Retail Complex
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J.--(Business Wire)--
LEGOLAND Discovery Centre, an indoor LEGO(R) world designed for
families and children aged 2 to 12, will open its second and largest
location in the USA at the spectacular Meadowlands Xanadu
entertainment and retail complex, it was announced by Meadowlands
Development, the developer of Meadowlands Xanadu and Merlin
Entertainments today.

The UK-based visitor attraction operator will also lease and
operate the spectacular Pepsi Globe observation wheel.

"We are delighted to welcome world renowned Merlin Entertainments
to Meadowlands Xanadu," said Larry Siegel, President of Meadowlands
Development. "They have a special gift for magnificent attractions
that combine fun and learning for children and families. They marked
the centennial for the world with the opening of The London Eye, and
will make their mark here operating the Pepsi Globe and launching
their newest concept - LEGOLAND Discovery Centre. Their presence
affirms the attractiveness and magnetism of Meadowlands Xanadu at the
dynamic core of a population center of 18 million, expected to draw 50
million visitors annually."

The 44,000-square-foot, interactive virtual city will feature a
huge central iconic structure fabricated entirely of the iconic
interlocking colored bricks; and activities ranging from hands-on LEGO
play to life-sized LEGO adventures designed to provide hours of family
entertainment centered around children.

The attraction will also combine LEGO model building and unusual
construction challenges with theme park-like attractions such as a
dragon ride, adventure trail, and 4D cinema incorporating fantastical
LEGO creatures and LEGO-based special effects. Other highlights will
include a DUPLO play area for younger children, birthday party rooms,
a LEGO cafe, a LEGO store, and a special room with rotating
exhibitions of work by master LEGO builders.

The world famous London Eye is that city's most popular tourist
attraction and under Merlin's aegis the 287-foot high Pepsi Globe
promises to be among the most outstanding tourist attractions in the
metropolitan region.

"Merlin Entertainments is currently opening five or six new
attractions every year around the world, and the attractions at
Meadowlands Xanadu will be important additions to our portfolio," said
Nick Varney, Chief Executive, Merlin Entertainments. "As the leading
operator in Europe, we see enormous potential for our high quality
attraction brands in the US - all of which are based on a strategy of
'fun-learning' and we look forward to enormous success at Meadowlands
Xanadu."

ABOUT MEADOWLANDS XANADU

Meadowlands Xanadu, under construction in the heart of the NY/NJ
metropolitan region, will feature approximately 2.3 million square
feet of unique entertainment, interactive attractions, sports and
retail unlike any other in the world. The $2 billion complex features
five themed districts, Sports, Entertainment, Youth Culture, Food &
Home and Fashion, providing a wide variety of experiences catering to
different lifestyles and interests. The spectacular complex in the New
Jersey Meadowlands will be home to North America's largest climate
controlled Ferris wheel, The Pepsi Globe, offering breathtaking views
of the Manhattan skyline and northern New Jersey. The top-of-the line
retail stores, gourmet restaurants, America's first indoor snow dome,
a skydiving tower, multiple movie theaters, a concert and live theater
venue and much more will be set in a high-energy, media-rich
environment. Meadowlands Xanadu is a unique destination that will
redefine leisure time. It will be a stage where brands, entertainment
and technology join to create larger than life experiences.
Meadowlands Xanadu is being developed by Meadowlands Development whose
investors include Colony Capital, The Dune Real Estate Funds and
KanAm.

ABOUT MERLIN ENTERTAINMENTS GROUP

The Merlin Entertainments Group is the leading name in location
based, family entertainment, which has seen the most successful and
dynamic growth of any company in the sector over the last five years.
The world's No 2 visitor attraction operator, Merlin aims to deliver
memorable and rewarding experiences to its 30 million visitors
worldwide, through its iconic global and local brands, and the
commitment and passion of its managers and 13000 employees. Merlin
Entertainments operates the following attractions - Madame Tussauds,
SEA LIFE, LEGOLAND, The London Eye, Dungeons, Gardaland, LEGOLAND
Discovery Centres, Alton Towers, Warwick Castle, Thorpe Park,
Chessington World of Adventures and Earth Explorer

For Meadowlands Development
Linden, Alschuler & Kaplan Inc. Public Relations
Lloyd Kaplan and Richard Edmonds
212-575-4545
redmonds@lakpr.com
or
Goodman Media International
Liane Ramirez Swierk and Bennett Kleinberg
212-576-2700
lramirez@goodmanmedia.com
bkleinberg@goodmanmedia.com
or
For Merlin Entertainments Group
Sally Ann Wilkenson/Penny Roberts
011 44 20 8899 6110/0774 415372

Copyright Business Wire 2008