LBX Collective

Sponsored by Intercard ! Broadcasting from a hotel room overlooking Istanbul, this episode kicks off with a taste of Turkish hospitality as Brandon shares his experience visiting DOF Robotics HQ and sampling the Mediterranean's turbot fish. Then we'll continue exploring innovations in attraction technology and cashless systems that are revolutionizing the guest experience and driving sig...

Sponsored by Intercard !  Kevin and BW debate whether competitive socializing venues should embrace console gaming while exploring the legal pitfalls and nostalgic opportunities this strategy presents. • Console gaming in LBE presents a paradox - if an experience is achievable at home, what value does a venue add? • Facilities offering nostalgic experiences with retro consoles can create value thr...

Sponsored by Intercard ! On this week's LBX Show BW and friends explore innovative strategies entertainment venues are using to attract repeat visitors and stay competitive in today's market. • Dusty Planet in Rhode Island launches a space-themed mini-golf concept with custom 3D-printed merchandise and branded balls • Legoland Hotel California implements golden ticket hunt promotion, giv...

The 2025 Dubai Entertainment Amusement and Leisure (DEAL) Expo underscored the Middle East’s rapid emergence as a global hub for amusement, attractions, and immersive social entertainment, drawing 300 exhibitors and 10,000 attendees. Key trends included a surge in active immersive and less VR experiences, with major launches from LAI Games, SEGA, and Chinese manufacturers, alongside a marked rise...

Sponsored by Intercard ! Kevin Williams makes a compelling case for reframing our industry as the "experiential business" rather than simply immersive or entertainment-focused, arguing that what we're truly delivering are positive experiences that guests are willing to pay for. • Global economic pressures from tariffs are creating significant supply chain disruptions with ports seei...

Sponsored by Intercard ! The latest LBX show breaks down significant trends and developments in location-based entertainment, from the importance of professional marketing to shifts in competitive socializing business models. • Amusement 360 event kicks off May 6-8, offering education, networking, and industry connections • BW loses it and rants about Outlaw Pickle, a new Western-themed pickleball...

The Bar & Restaurant Expo 2025 and CinemaCon 2025 highlighted accelerating convergence in hospitality, social entertainment, and cinema, driven by evolving consumer demand for immersive experiences. BRE attendance rose 6% year-on-year, with optimism fueled by new concepts like Round One’s Japanese food courts and ongoing restructuring at major chains such as Topgolf and Dave & Buster’s, th...

Sponsored by Intercard ! Discover how a simple investment meeting blossomed into Uptown Jungle, a thriving family entertainment brand with ten locations across the southwestern United States. President & CEO Brad Collins shares the fascinating journey of creating a city-themed indoor playground that reimagines active play for children ages 1-10. Whether you're an established venue operato...

Sponsored by Intercard ! Wristbands and smart tracking technology are transforming how guests engage with location-based entertainment venues while providing operators with crucial data on visitor behavior and preferences. • Super Nintendo World's wristband technology pairs with mobile phones to track movements and collect scores • Tracking systems help operators identify "hot areas&quot...

The early 2025 entertainment industry calendar has been marked by a surge in trade shows and expos, underscoring rapid innovation and shifting fortunes in the Location-Based Entertainment (LBE) and consumer gaming sectors. Notable launches include Two Bit Circus’s “Dream Park,” leveraging Meta Quest 3’s mixed reality for immersive, “phygital” experiences, and Snap Inc.’s plans to enter LBE with AR...

Sponsored by Intercard !  On this week's show, we explore innovative entertainment concepts and marketing strategies including expert insights on escape rooms, arcade games, and maximizing crane game revenue from our guests Kevin Williams, Adam Pratt, Chuck DeMonte, and Justin Michaels. Lockbuster Video escape room transforms 90s Blockbuster nostalgia into an immersive experience at Chicago&a...

Sponsored by Intercard ! The arcade industry is experiencing major shifts with Genda's acquisition of Player One positioning them as a dominant North American player, while new competitive socializing concepts like Pool House emerge alongside the Minecraft Experience's success and increasing AR innovation. • Rotation vs replacement - updating your game floor to refresh your venue  • Gend...

Sponsored by Intercard ! On this week's LBX Show we explore cutting-edge entertainment venues and emerging trends that are reshaping how we experience leisure activities across America.  • BW recounts his recent visit to Dallas' Grandscape development showcasing numerous entertainment attractions in an impressive retailtainment destination • Including his mind-blowing experience at Cosm...

In Part Three of the #StingerReport coverage: The Amusement Expo International (AEI) 2025 showcased key trends shaping the amusement and entertainment industry, with a strong focus on immersive technologies, competitive socializing, and strategic shifts in event organization. Mixed Reality (MR) and Augmented Reality (AR) innovations were prominent, with companies like Verse Immersive and INOWIZE p...

Sponsored by Intercard !  Kevin and Brandon debate how overusing the word "immersive" devalues genuine experiences and creates false expectations in location-based entertainment. • Different experiences require different descriptors – not everything can or should be called immersive • Consumer expectations become mismanaged when marketing promises immersion but delivers basic entertainme...

In Part Two of the #StingerReport coverage: The Amusement Expo International (AEI) 2025 showcased key trends and innovations in the amusement and immersive entertainment industry, highlighting a resurgence in music games and evolving technologies like mixed reality (MR) and virtual reality (VR). BANDAI NAMCO Amusement America emphasized its global rollout of ‘Taiko no Tatsujin’ and introduced new...

Sponsored by Intercard ! We dive into the seismic shifts happening in the location-based entertainment industry as tariffs create uncertainty and major acquisitions reshape the arcade and amusement landscape. • Examination of a poorly designed mini-golf addition to a bowling alley, highlighting the importance of guest flow and experience design • Kevin Williams details the latest openings in activ...

In Part One of the #StingerReport coverage: The Amusement Expo International (AEI) 2025 in Las Vegas showcased significant shifts in the amusement and immersive entertainment sector, despite challenging financial conditions. Key trends included restructuring within major trade associations like AAMA and AMOA, the growing prominence of VR applications such as Synthesis VR's free-roaming conten...

Sponsored by Intercard ! The entertainment industry faces a critical turning point as venues struggle to update their brands and offerings in a post-COVID marketplace that looks dramatically different from before. • If you haven't started revitalizing your brand, it may already be too late for 2025 • Supply chain issues, tariffs, and warehouse limitations are creating additional challenges fo...

The Entertainment Attractions and Gaming (EAG) Expo 2025 in London showcased key trends in the amusement and gaming industries, highlighting the growing influence of partnerships between Western and Asian manufacturers, such as TAITO and WAHLAP Technology, and the increasing penetration of music games like KONAMI's Dance Dance Revolution A20+. Notable innovations included immersive experience...

Sponsored by Intercard ! On this week's episode, Brandon Willey and friends examine how venues are transforming to meet changing consumer demands and economic realities. We open with a fascinating look at Holey Mackerel, a mini golf destination that has brilliantly evolved into one of Milwaukee's premier cocktail destinations. This case study highlights how operators are fighting seasona...

Sponsored by Intercard ! Golf entertainment is getting a major upgrade with Smash Swing's revolutionary approach to competitive, social play. Forget everything you know about traditional golf simulators where players take turns hitting – Smash Swing has created a multiplayer, multi-ball tracking system that lets everyone play simultaneously on massive immersive screens up to 60 feet wide. Joi...

Sponsored by Intercard ! Kevin Williams and Brandon Willey examine the changing landscape of location-based entertainment with insights from recent industry events and emerging trends. • Five different golf simulation venues opening in Nashville, raising questions about market saturation • Red Engine (operators of Flight Club and Electric Shuffle) planning aggressive expansion to 84 locations by 2...

Sponsored by Intercard !  On this week's LBX Show BW and friends dive into the latest developments in location-based entertainment, exploring cutting-edge venues in Las Vegas and highlighting innovations from Amusement Expo 2025. • Touring adult-oriented entertainment venues in Vegas with Barry Zelickson from Fun Across America: Play Playground and Swingers • Examining The Muni in DC – a golf...

Sponsored by Intercard !  A wave of mergers and acquisitions is reshaping the entertainment landscape. Herschend's acquisition of Palace Entertainment's North American operations brings together companies with aligned cultures and customer experience philosophies, potentially creating a stronger competitor in the amusement park sector. Meanwhile, Lucky Strike's purchase of Visalia A...