Slideshow: Xanadu's Five Districts

As Laurence Siegel walks past the unfinished skeleton of the fashion district, he can mentally picture what it will be like on a day when models are walking the runway and shoppers gawk at the latest designer wear they wish they could buy.

Outside, in the midst of the New York skyline, he revels at the idea that skiers can stop dreaming at their office that they were hitting the slopes in Vermont or Colorado. Instead, he said they could shoot over to the Meadowlands after work and do a couple runs at the giant ski dome.

Siegel’s had images in his mind like that for years, ever since his company, the Mills Corp., signed on and was approved to build the massive retail and entertainment destination now known as Meadowlands Xanadu. He lost Mills, however, amidst a securities and exchange investigation into improper financing and in the end, it frankly didn’t have the equity to take on a project the size of the dream he had here. He has a new backer, however, in a massive California-based real estate trust and now, just months from opening, he’s proud to show off his baby, his giant two billion square foot baby.

It’s been shrouded in controversy, from its less than appealing exterior façade to the fact that its tenants will reap the benefits of over 20 near-free, non-competitive liquor licenses, but Siegel couldn’t have been prouder to lead a tour through the destination’s skeleton last week.

"What we were asked to do here was build a dynamic entertainment center, and I think that’s what we’ve done," said Siegel.

Economic stimulus

Inside the massive structure, workers from electrical technicians, masons, carpenters and steamfitters vigorously roam the halls that will one day roam with spectators and shoppers admiring their craftsmanship. With only six months until the grand opening it’s hard to fathom that it will be ready in time.

"One of the things that has gotten lost in all this architectural discussion is the dynamic economic engine that this is going to become in the state of New Jersey," said Siegel. "There are a lot of things this project will bring to the state on an ongoing basis that will be economically terrific."

The project, through its construction, has provided approximately 25,000 full-time construction jobs while also supplying 5,000 part-time jobs. At build-out, officials expect 9,000 permanent full-time operational jobs and another 4,000 part-time. In total, Siegel expects the project to produce over $100 million annually in business and sales tax from operations.

"You have to remember, this is a $2.3 billion project we invested in the state, that’s really significant," he said.

On the inside

A walk down the hollowed walls makes it hard to tell what is what in the cold and echoing Xanadu structure, but Siegel was able to easily point out from the plans etched in his mind what will be where as he progressed along his tour. As he stood at the balcony of the Muvico movie theater, he looked up and down the five floors of nearly 200,000 square feet of open space, depicting how the grand lobby will be decked out in an Egyptian motif. Eighteen screens and the largest IMAX screen in the country will make it by far the largest theater in the U.S.

"This will be one of the most dynamic uses of space in the U.S.," said Siegel. "It will be like walking into Cairo."

From there, the half-mile walk through district to district, end to end, it’s overwhelming to imagine such a massive undertaking is nearly complete. From the ceiling hang signs, many of which depict the wide array of restaurants that will be housed there. According to Dan Haggerty, Xanadu vice-president, the complex is hoping to receive a total of 25 liquor licenses from the state. The notion has caused an uproar in East Rutherford where licenses go for half a million dollars and up. At Xanadu, each will cost $2,000 per year.

First stop is the sports district where a massive "Cobra Wall", or 50 by 50-foot wide screen monitor will broadcast games from around the world. It will be partially lit by a wall of windows, looking out to the new Giants/Jets Stadium. For youth culture, children can immerse themselves in 15-hour quests of a Harry Potter meets Dungeons and Dragons experience at MagiQuest or learn a trade at Wannado City.

"It's an immersive environment for children," said Derek Coss, Xanadu’s executive vice president of strategic planning. "It's a village built on the scale of children, you walk to a counter, and as you go through, you learn how to be a pilot, a doctor, a lawyer, a baker, an archeologist. It's just an incredible role playing experience for kids."

As the walk down the halls wind further, it’s easy to see what’s taking shape in the entertainment, food and home and fashion districts; the three that are the furthest along. Stadium seating as part of the 3,400 AEG Live music theater is being stacked as fast as workers can mix cement. In food and home, a sign hanging from the ceiling depicts where Xanadu officials hope to bring in celebrity chefs to teach classes at the Culinary Arts Center. In fashion, officials revel at the architectural features of the curved ceiling that will soon light up over the main fashion runway.

One of a kind

As November approaches, so does a geared up leasing drive that has already proven quite successful for Meadowlands Xanadu. Last month, the company announced that its giant 287-foot Ferris Wheel would be corporately sponsored by Pepsi. Although plans have yet to be submitted, many suspect that the Pepsi emblem will encompass the center of the globe. Soon after, another lease was announced for a one of a kind Legoland Discovery Centre, the second largest in the U.S., adhering to the theme of Xanadu: bigger is better.

In all, the project will feature 300 separate uses; retail, entertainment and restaurants alike. Aside from Muvico standing out as the largest theater in the nation, the snow dome is attracting a buzz. The first in the U.S., the indoor snow dome will offer 300 skiers at a time a chance to hit the slopes for an 800-foot run. At 28 degrees, a glass wall two stories high overlooking the slopes at the ice bar will offer warmth from the cold.

According to Haggerty, it’s hard to say what attractions at the complex will cost, as different vendors like MagiQuest in the children’s area or skydiving in sports will run accordingly to the attraction, but does expect the larger entertainment attractions to cost on average $15-$20 fee an hour