Theme Park Sues Taylor Swift Over 'evermore' Album Name
Utah theme park Evermore has filed a lawsuit against pop superstar Taylor Swift> over titling her most recent album "evermore," released in December, reports Pitchfork.
The lawsuit against one of the world's biggest pop star seeks millions in damages, claiming customers are chomping at the bit to get back to the park but have been unable to access online information because Swift's album is hogging the Google spotlight.
How Evermore's lawsuit pans out remains to be seen, but it certainly raises questions about how theme parks have weathered the COVID-19 pandemic and how they're navigating reopening plans. Here are just a few teasers of what the amusement park world has in store for coaster-crazed consumers:
The world's fastest rollercoaster — Six Flags Qiddiya, Saudi Arabia, a new park that is currently under construction, is developing "Falcon's Flight," which would be the world's longest, fastest, and tallest rollercoaster, traveling 2.5 miles, over 155 miles per hour, and with a breathtaking drop of 650 feet. The 79-acre park is expected to open in 2023 and include 28 other rides. Currently, the world's fastest roller coaster is Formula Rossa at Ferrari World in Abu Dhabi, reaching 149.1 miles per hour. The tallest is the 418-feet-tall Kingda Ka at Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson, New Jersey.
Theme park with six immersive lands — A new, ambitious resort is slated to open in 2024 about 20 miles outside of London — 17 miles by train from the city center —with two theme parks, a water park, expansive hotel and ferry terminals on the Thames River. A second park is planned to open within five years of the first. Seventy percent of the park's attractions will be undercover, which, as Travel + Leisure states, is "perfect for the often-drizzly British weather."
The six immersive lands follow The High Street entrance, with shops, hotels, restaurants, a water park and more, including: "The Studios," a "gritty, modern-day warehouse district"; "The Woods," based on bedtime stories, fables, and fairytales; "The Kingdom," described as "an immersive realm of swords, sorcery, dragons, and legend;" "The Isles," boasting impressive architecture and new and innovative rides; "The Jungle," consisting of ancient ruins; and the sci-fi-themed "Starport." Most impressively, the park aims to be the world's first carbon-neutral theme park.
Closer to home — Theme parks in California are not particularly happy with the pandemic restrictions put in place by Governor Gavin Newsom, which limits parks and indoor dining to 25% capacity. Iconic California theme parks Disneyland, Magic Mountain, and Knott's Berry Farm have been closed since March 2020. The parks argue that there have been no documented cases at the parks. Karen Irwin, president and COO of Universal Studios Hollywood, claimed that they should be permitted to reopen and other industries that have been allowed to do so.
A new bill, AB 420, co-sponsored by Assembly members Sharon Quirk-Silva (D-Buena Park, West Anaheim) and Suzette Valladares (R-Santa Clarita), states that authorities should "treat large and small theme parks equally." Amended state guidance in December 2020 allowed the reopening of smaller theme parks, while larger parks remain closed until their cities deem it safe to reopen.