LBX Collective

This first part of the report highlights the resurgence of retro arcade venues driven by nostalgia and social engagement, targeting audiences from Gen Z to older enthusiasts. Key trends include the rise of established chains like Barcade and UK’s NQ64, alongside emerging brands such as Cobra Arcade and Continue Arcades, expanding through franchising. Major operators are blending classic gaming wit...

Sponsored by Intercard !  On this week's Sound Off with Kevin Williams we discuss how the location-based entertainment landscape is transforming as Gen Z abandons video games for social experiences, driving significant industry shifts and strategic acquisitions. Economic pressures, including tariffs and shipping challenges, force companies to adapt while major players like Genda expand global...

Sponsored by Intercard ! On this week's show Brandon and Kevin join Rob Morgan, author of "Storytelling for Spatial Computing and Mixed Reality: The Art of Augmenting Imagination" and lead narrative designer at Wake the Tiger in London for a Guest Gab segment exploring the art of storytelling and spatial computing. • Shifting from VR to AR storytelling and focusing on how AR makes p...

This second report looks at the rapid growth of “Sportainment,” blending active, immersive, and gamified experiences across venues worldwide. Innovations include AR-enhanced virtual sports, interactive projection walls, and hybrid venues combining traditional sports with digital technology, such as golf simulators, trampoline parks, and social darts. The sector is expanding with chains like Five I...

Asian influence continues to reshape the Out-of-Home entertainment landscape, offering lucrative opportunities through Japanese brands, IP collaborations, and innovative retailtainment concepts. Notable developments include Sony's strategic alliance with BANDAI NAMCO to leverage anime and manga IP, expansion of Japanese-themed venues like Round 1 in the US, and the rollout of self-service cap...

Sponsored by Intercard !  On this week's Sound Off with Kevin Williams, BW and Kevin explore the growing influence of "kidults" in the location-based entertainment industry and how their spending habits are reshaping business models. This demographic shift is forcing operators to rethink their attraction mix, F&B offerings, and overall venue design to capitalize on adults seekin...

Sponsored by Intercard !  On this week's LBX Show, BW dives into the latest location-based entertainment news including Ripley's new glow-in-the-dark mini golf at Icon Park and Merlin's rapid development of two new immersive experiences. Kevin Williams joins us for Open and Shut and Chuck DeMonte discusses the concept of value in attractions marketing with practical implementation s...

The evolving sports social entertainment sector, driven by "Sportainment" and SSE, is experiencing rapid growth through immersive active experiences like cricket, baseball, and soccer simulations. Key trends include venue expansions, innovative gamified sports tech, and strategic investments, notably in chains like SIXES, Batbox, and TOCA Social, which blend physical activity with social...

Sponsored by Intercard ! On this week's episode of Sound Off with Kevin Williams we explore how location-based entertainment venues are fundamentally mispricing their offerings, with inconsistent strategies for their attractions compared to their standardized food pricing approaches. • Significant pricing inconsistencies exist across entertainment offerings at major venues • Food pricing show...

The VR and XR industry is undergoing a significant shift marked by widespread hardware and content abandonment, driven by escalating costs and shifting corporate strategies. Major players like Meta, Microsoft, and Magic Leap are retreating from consumer-focused VR, with support for key headsets and IPs withdrawn or scaled back. Meanwhile, enterprise hardware firms like Varjo are refocusing on B2B...

Sponsored by Intercard !  On this week's episode of The LBX Show we share new industry association partnerships and market developments during the traditional summer slowdown of the dog days of August. Kevin Williams, Adam Pratt, and Chuck DeMonte join host Brandon Wiley to explore the latest FEC innovations and marketing strategies. • Fun Across America releases episodes on Albatross, the wo...

Sponsored by Intercard ! On this episode of Sound Off with Kevin Williams we examine the industry's dependence on redemption games, questioning whether the FEC business model is vulnerable to potential regulatory or cultural backlash against what critics might call "kiddie casinos." • Most FECs lack viable alternatives should redemption games face restrictions • Six Flags reports al...

Sponsored by Intercard ! On this week's LBX Show, Kalyn New, VP of Product and Customer Marketing at ROLLER, joins us to discuss their inaugural 2025 Pulse Report that surveyed 2,000 attraction guests across the US, UK, and Australia to uncover what guests truly want from venues. • 90% of guests want self-service options at venues, aligning with operators' needs to automate and reduce la...

Sponsored by Intercard !  On this week's Change My Mind segment, Kevin and Brandon debate how the entertainment industry fails to properly communicate experiences to guests, creating disappointment when reality doesn't match marketing promises, while economic headwinds further challenge the sector. • Poor guest experience communication threatens venue success, especially without clear vi...

Sponsored by Intercard ! On this week's episode Brandon joins Kevin Williams and Adam Pratt for a special edition Guest Gab to discuss the upheaval by major brands in the entertainment industry as they struggle with financial challenges and shifting market dynamics. • Pinstripes faces bankruptcy protection with potential closure of all 18 locations due to overbuilt restaurants and limited ent...

Sponsored by Intercard !  On The Reveal, we pull back the curtain on DOF Robotics, exploring their journey from manual simulators to award-winning immersive experiences across 60 countries with CEO Bakut Baydaliev. • Tour through DOF Robotics' Istanbul headquarters featuring their creative lounge, academy, manufacturing facility, and design departments • Journey from hydraulic systems to elec...

Our comprehensive review of IBE’25 highlights a pivotal shift in the XR landscape within the out-of-home entertainment sector, especially in bowling-centric venues. While VR’s prominence has waned, reflected by fewer showcases and diminished enthusiasm, mixed reality (MR) and gamified active attractions are gaining traction. Exhibitors like RaceParx and Gel Blaster Nexus demonstrate a focus on com...

Sponsored by Intercard !  On this week's episode, Kevin Williams and Brandon Willey discuss the evolution of batting cage experiences, questioning whether "Batting Cage 2.0" concepts will succeed in the competitive social entertainment landscape. They explore how accessibility is the critical factor for success, with Home Run Dugout leading the pack by creating more inclusive experi...

Sponsored by Intercard ! On this week's episode BW visits Harkins Theatres' new FEC concept, Backlot, with a discussion on how theater chains are evolving to compete in the entertainment landscape. • Harkins Backlot in North Phoenix combines bowling, crazy darts, and arcade elements with subtle movie-themed design touches • The venue features an impressive sports viewing area that potent...

Highlighting the surge in "Cinetainment," where social entertainment venues blend cinema, streaming IP, and experiential attractions. Major theater chains are investing over $2.2 billion to modernize with attractions like amusement arcades, bowling, and immersive social experiences. Companies like Es Vedra Cinemas are rebranding venues (e.g., Hooky) to incorporate entertainment, IP-based...

Leading investors should note a dynamic shift in the amusement and bowling sectors as 2024 concludes, highlighted by a surge in innovation, venue openings, and evolving revenue models. The International Bowl Expo 2025 showcased a pivot toward boutique, social, and experiential entertainment, with amusement manufacturers emphasizing tech-driven attractions like smart redemption games, innovative cr...

Sponsored by Intercard ! Kevin Williams and Brandon Willey explore whether traditional gaming facilities can thrive in our new social entertainment landscape, arguing that the solitary nature of gambling contradicts the social experiences modern venues aim to create. • Cinema chains like B&B Theatres, Evo, and Synergy are aggressively expanding into entertainment offerings with bowling, arcade...

Sponsored by Intercard ! On this week's episode BW extends News You Should Know to discuss the new leadership at Dave & Buster's, the overuse of hyperbolic language to hype entertainment concepts, and the struggles of free-play arcades without strong monetization models among other topics. • IAAPA Foundation FEC Scholarship offers $2,500 to cover expo costs, education, and accommodat...

The sector's turbulence amid rising costs and shifting consumer preferences. The hospitality industry faces revenue pressures, with companies like Dave & Buster’s reported a 10.8% revenue drop and reevaluating remodel strategies, signaling a shift back to core “Eatertainment” offerings. Competitors such as Elev8 Fun and Pinstripes are expanding or struggling, with Pinstripes facing potent...

Sponsored by Intercard ! On this week's episode we kick things off with a conversation on how managing guest expectations has become critical for location-based entertainment venues as the industry faces growing competition and evolving consumer demands. Properly marketing the actual experience while avoiding overhyped claims affects not just individual venues but trust in the entire industry...