An estimated 2,000 people who all share one thing in common — the name Ryan — took over the Mall of America on Friday. For one day, Nickelodeon Universe's Pepsi Orange Streak got a new name: the Ryan Coaster.
The gathering was organized by Ryan Meetup, a nonprofit started in Brooklyn in February 2023 by photographer Ryan Rose. Two people who answered the call, Ryan Le and Ryan Cousins, became co-founders, and the group has since staged Ryan gatherings in cities including Los Angeles, Chicago, Miami, Toronto and Boston, building a following of more than 108,000 on Instagram along the way.
The centerpiece of the Bloomington stop was "Ryde the Ryan Coaster," an attempt to set a Guinness World Records title for the most people with the same name to ride a roller coaster consecutively. Entry to the ride was strictly first-come, only-Ryans: everyone had to prove they were legally named Ryan before boarding, and near-misses like Brian were relegated to cheering from the sidelines. Ryan Meetup's stated long-term goal is breaking the record for the largest same-name gathering overall, currently 2,325 people.
Ryans came from well beyond the Twin Cities. The Minnesota stop doubled as a weekend trip for some attendees, who also caught a Twins game and made a pilgrimage to Ryan, Iowa, where the town handed out its key to the visiting Ryans.