Merlin Entertainments has announced an agreement to develop SEA LIFE Michigan with the City of Auburn Hills, Oakland County, Michigan and Taubman Centers, Inc..
The 35, 000 sq ft SEA LIFE branded aquarium will be located at Great Lakes Crossing Outlets, Auburn Hills, Michigan. Construction is scheduled to start by June 2014 ready for 
opening in Spring 2015.
Glenn Earlam, Managing Director of Merlin Entertainments’ Midway Attractions group, said, “North America is a very important growth market for Merlin, and we believe that Michigan, and particularly Great Lakes Crossing Outlets is the ideal location for SEA LIFE. We are particularly delighted to be working with Taubman, and hope this will be just the beginning of a developing relationship with them.
“We also really appreciate the cooperation and excellent working relationships we have established with the City of Auburn Hills, Oakland County, and the State of Michigan. These were key factors in our decision to come here. This support, together with our proven success in other similar projects nationwide, underlines our belief that Auburn Hills, and particularly Great Lakes Crossing Outlets, is a perfect location for a quality family-based leisure attraction. We are therefore delighted to be able to move our plans forward."
The aquarium will feature exhibits reflecting the Great Lakes location as well as a tropical ocean tank with a walk-through underwater tunnel.
William Taubman, Taubman chief operating officer, said, "The SEA LIFE aquarium will be the perfect complement to all of the existing family oriented attractions both at Great Lakes Crossing Outlets and in the area, greatly enhancing the existing shopping and entertainment experience. We also look forward to bringing such a high quality attraction to the greater Michigan markets; and to extending our partnership with Merlin Entertainments plc in the future."
