Visitor attraction operator Merlin Entertainments has signed a deal US-based Crown Center Redevelopment, a subsidiary of Hallmark Cards, to open a US$15m (€11m, £9m) Sea Life aquarium attraction in Kansas City during Spring 2012.

The attraction will be located on the first floor of Halls department store at Crown Center. The deal is signed and unconditional, and will not receive any tax incentives.

Glenn Earlam, managing director of Merlin Entertainments' Midway Attractions group, said: "North America is a very important growth market for Merlin.

"We believe that the Kansas City metropolitan area, and particularly Crown Center, is a perfect location for a quality family-based leisure facility.

Merlin worked with Colliers International during its search for a new Sea Life site.

The Kansas site will be Merlin's fifth Sea Life Center attraction to open in the US.

Initial plans include a two-story aquarium housing more than 30 marine displays and a large tropical ocean tank with a walk-through underwater tunnel.

Merlin currently has nine other attractions in the US with a further four scheduled to open in 2011 - a Sea Life and Legoland Discovery Center in Dallas; a Legoland in Florida; and a Legoland Discovery Centre in Atlanta, Georgia.