The Attractions Group Podcast

Is the summer heatwave driving you crazy, or is it just the roller coaster news cycle heating up? In today's episode, David and Clete dive deep into a wild viral coaster marathon, break down a massive new ride announcement from a beloved theme park, and react to the shocking, bittersweet closure of a major regional park. From 1988 heatwaves and the legend of HVAC savior Willis Carrier to the futur...

In this episode of the podcast, Clete and David are back after a brief recording hiatus to catch up on a packed summer of theme park travel, industry tech, and major coaster news! From a multi-park trip through Northern California to checking out the latest hospitality tech in San Antonio, there is plenty to dive into. Plus, a deep dive into the massive industry news regarding Bolliger & Mabil...

Season 5, Episode 038 Sondra Shannon on Frankenstein Tech, the Dynamic Pricing Debate, and Gamifying the Guest Journey Are your attraction's systems working together, or are they quietly costing you millions? In this episode of The Attractions Group Podcast, hosts David Detling and Clete Reinberger sit down face-to-face at the IAAPA Global Headquarters in Orlando with Sondra Shannon, CEO of Gatema...

Season 5, Episode 037 Join the Attractions Group Podcast for an exclusive deep dive with Eugene Naughton, President of The Dollywood Company. In this episode, Eugene shares the "secret sauce" behind Dollywood’s world-class guest experience, their industry-leading 93% host retention rate, and the highly anticipated 2026 opening of Nightflight Expedition. Matt Miller (America’s Theme Park Technologi...

This episode of "The Attractions Group Podcast" features an interview with Matt Eckert, the President and CEO of Holiday World & Splashin' Safari, who stops by to talk about 2026. Hosts, David and Clete, begin by discussing recent roller coaster rankings from USA Today, sharing their own strong (and sometimes humorous) opinions on the list. The conversation then shifts to Holiday World's recen...

If this were baseball, David would be on the 10-day injured list—meanwhile, Clete is carrying the load like a true "big leaguer!" 🎢⚾️   With David sidelined for this episode, Clete takes the mound solo for a high-stakes, fast-paced "A-Z Coaster Challenge." The rules are simple but the pressure is on: name two roller coasters for every letter of the alphabet, entirely from memory. No internet, no...

How do you resurrect a legend? Just three days before its world premiere, we sit down with Drew Edward Hunter, Creative Lead for Sally Dark Rides, to discuss the design, development, and debut of Kings Island’s "Phantom Theater: Opening Nightmare." "To the Faithful...": Relive the magic of the original 1992 classic! We dive deep into the return of the Maestro and how this "new" attraction honors t...

With Clete away in Chicago, David is in the studio and is joined by special Guest Host: Matt Miller of Innovated Studios. Known across the industry as "America's Theme Park Technologist," Matt joins David to peel back the curtain on how technology is reshaping the guest experience. In This Episode: The Origins of a Technologist: We dive into Matt’s unique career path and how he earned the title of...

ACE's Elizabeth Ringas Returns! | Roller Coasters, Coaster Con 2026, & Industry Insights Join Clete Reinberger and David Detling on the Attractions Group Podcast as they welcome back a very special guest: Elizabeth Ringas, President of American Coaster Enthusiasts (ACE)! In this deep-dive episode, we explore the current state of the coaster community, the massive lineup for Coaster Con 2026, a...

Welcome to Opening Day Eve! 🎢 This week on The Attractions Group Podcast, hosts Clete Reinberger and David Detling are pulling back the curtain on the "unofficial" side of the theme park industry. After putting out a call to industry professionals on LinkedIn and social media, the responses flooded in—covering the weird, the odd, the funny, and the flat-out gross things that park guests do. From...

How do you sustain "world-class" hospitality for over three decades at the most famous vacation destination on Earth? In this episode of the Attractions Group Podcast, hosts Clete Reinberger and David Detling are joined by Jeff Korte, a 36-year veteran of The Walt Disney Company. Jeff has navigated the massive evolution of the Hospitality sector within the attractions industry—from the foundationa...

Theme Park News & Industry Analysis with Special Guest Matt Miller This week on the Attractions Group Podcast, hosts David Detling and Clete Reinberger dive into a massive week of theme park news, construction updates, and corporate shifts. Joining the show is America’s Theme Park Technologist, Matt Miller of Innovated Studios in Orlando, to provide a technical breakdown of the most anticipate...

The landscape of the theme park industry just shifted forever. In this emergency breakdown, hosts Clete Reinberger and David Detling dive deep into the massive March 5th announcement: Six Flags Entertainment Corporation is divesting seven of its regional properties in a $331 million deal with EPR Properties and the newly emerging operator, Enchanted Parks, LLC. What does this mean for the future o...

The Attractions Group Podcast | Season5, Episode 27 Clete and David officially at the 1-year mark hosting the tAG Podcast! In this episode, we’re moving beyond the "year in review" and diving straight into the heavy hitters shaping the future of themed entertainment. From Disney’s corporate strategy to the "death" of the American mall, we’re breaking down the business of fun. In this episode, we d...

2026 is already shaping up to be one of the most transformative years the attractions industry has seen in decades—and the news isn’t slowing down. In Season 5, Episode 26 of the Attractions Group Podcast, hosts David Detling and Clete Reinberger break down the biggest theme park, amusement park, and attractions industry news heading into 2026. 🔥 In this episode, we cover: The most anticipated ne...

After decades of shaping the global attractions industry, David Mandt (Former IAAPA Chief Governance Officer & Executive Director of the IAAPA Foundation) has officially retired—and he’s joining us for his first exclusive interview since stepping down at the end of 2025! Hosts David Detling and Clete Reinberger sit down with David to reflect on a career that has left an indelible mark on our i...

Welcome to another exciting year for the Attractions Group Podcast! Buckle up for an awesome ride, we're excited that you are joining us! We break down what Christmas looks like for theme parks heading into 2025, how seasonal events are evolving, and what recent announcements mean for the future of the attractions industry. Then we zoom out to discuss why Qiddiya City matters, how Six Flags’ globa...

Welcome to "Inside the Park," where we explore the hidden mechanics that keep the Attractions Industry running efficiently. Today’s focus is on a technology that is often described as the "Invisible Green Machine": Power Factor Correction (PFC).  This webinar is sponsored by a joint venture between Cincinnati-based Energy Efficiency Group and the Attractions Group.   While many theme parks and zoo...

🎢 Six Flags New CEO John Reilly: IAAPA Fallout & What's Next | Attractions Group Podcast The biggest attractions business news is here! Join hosts Clete Reinberger and David Detling for a deep-dive analysis into the monumental leadership shift at Six Flags Entertainment Corporation. Veteran operator John Reilly has been named the new President and CEO, and this episode breaks down exactly wha...

Join hosts David Detling and Clete Reinberger for a deep-dive breakdown of everything that went down at IAAPA Expo 2025 — the biggest global gathering for rides, tech, attractions, and themed entertainment. Whether you’re in operations, design, guest experience, or leadership, this episode gives you an insider-level look at the products, people, and innovations shaping the future of our industry....

Join Alex & Isabelle from the Attractions Group and the Energy Efficiency Group (both based in Cincinnati!) for this "high-voltage" webinar on a critical, often overlooked, strategy for massive energy savings at theme parks, zoos, waterparks, and large attractions. These venues are powerhouses of energy consumption, running thousands of horsepower of inductive loads, including: Rides and Attra...

⛰️ Attractions Group Podcast: A Smoky Mountain Expedition with Dollywood President Eugene Naughton 🎢   Join hosts Clete Reinberger and David Detling for a fascinating deep dive with a true industry visionary, Mr. Eugene Naughton, President of The Dollywood Company! In this must-listen episode, we go straight to the heart of the Smoky Mountains to discuss what it truly takes to operate a world-cla...

Get ready for a deep dive into the thrilling world of coaster history! 🎢 In this episode, hosts David Detling and Clete Reinberger sit down with two incredible guests from the National Roller Coaster Museum and Archives (NRCMA) in Texas: Kris Rowberry and Mark Rosenzweig. Kris and Mark pull back the curtain on the massive undertaking of preserving amusement park history. They share: 🛠️ What it ta...

🚀 Beyond the Theme Park Gates: Interview with Former Disney Executive Djuan Rivers 🏔️ Join The Attractions Group Podcast hosts Clete Reinberger, David Detling, and America's Theme Park Technologist, Matthew Miller, for an incredible conversation with former Disney Executive and global adventurer, Djuan Rivers! From leading one of the world's most successful theme park divisions (including his tim...

Don't miss our latest episode featuring David Rosenberg, EVP of SSA Group! David dives deep into the future of the Attractions Industry, focusing on the critical intersection of Guest Experience and Sustainability. Learn how attractions are innovating to create seamless, impactful, and environmentally conscious visits. Plus, stick around for a high-thrill segment as your co-host, Clete, unveils hi...