The BullShooter 40 Finals were held May 22-25 at the Hyatt Regency at O’Hare in Chicago with more than 700 players in attendance and $150,000 in prizes paid out. Team USA won the International Challenge Title while Mike Porterfield and Karolina Ratajska joined the Finals MVP list. The 40th BullShooter Tour had 11 stops across the U.S., including in Florida, Washington, South Carolina, New York, Arizona, Texas, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Nebraska, Wisconsin and the final stop in Illinois. The 5th BullShooter Invitational, which pits the best players from the tour against one another, is on July 30. Learn more at www.bullshooter.com/tournaments/bullshooter-invitational-shootout.…
Author: Matt Harding
The new Andretti Indoor Karting & Games is opening their new location in Durham, North Carolina, with a Hyperdeck VR attraction. It’s the company’s first venue in the state. “Partnering with Andretti Indoor Karting & Games continues to be a fantastic experience for our team,” said Holly Hampton, the vice president of amusement products and services at Bay Tek Entertainment. “Andretti’s has built an incredible reputation for creating premium entertainment destinations that combine attractions, hospitality and social experiences under one roof. Their new Durham location is a tremendous addition to the region, and we’re excited that guests are now experiencing…
Family Entertainment Group recently appointed Jason Clark as their chief financial officer. Clark has financial leadership experience with companies like McDonald’s and Puttshack, where he was most recently their CFO. “We are in an incredibly exciting period at FEG, and we are being very intentional about the leaders we are bringing in to help shape our next chapter,” said CEO Rex Jackson. “Jason is exactly the kind of forward-thinking CFO we need – someone who sees finance as a driver of strategy and growth, not a support function. His experience at the highest levels of the restaurant and entertainment industries,…
Creative Works has launched three reimagined escape room experiences at AR’s Entertainment Hub in Baytown, Texas, the company reported. The center first opened in 2021. The newly-overhauled escape rooms are among Creative Works’ most popular themes – Singularity, Mayday and Inventor’s Workshop. “Customers are amazed at the production quality of the escape rooms,” said Archie Wright, the CFO of AR’s Entertainment Hub. “Creative Works’ immersive design truly takes our customers into another world. The Creative Works team also has great after-install support to help with any issues that may arise.” Learn more at www.wearecreativeworks.com.
Sonic the Hedgehog, the iconic video game character, is celebrating 35 years this month and tickets for a concert series starting this fall were recently made available. Senbla and Sega announced that Sonic Live in Concert will bring the “music and moments of the beloved video games to the stage.” There will be a live ensemble of the recognizable music from the Sonic universe will be played alongside rock musicians, vocalists and electronic elements. You can learn more at www.sonicliveinconcert.com.
First introduced at this year’s Amusement Expo, the all-new patent-pending Claw Station Double Crane with Hologram Display will begin shipping this week, the company’s vice president Jim Dupree reported. “Claw Station quickly became one of the most talked-about products on display at Expo,” Dupree said. “Operators were excited by the game’s innovative use of hologram technology, its striking presentation, and the opportunity to offer players a truly new experience in the crane category.” He further explained: “The centerpiece of the attraction is its revolutionary hologram display, which creates a dynamic visual experience that immediately captures attention and draws players from across the room. By transforming a traditional crane…
The industry’s long-running educational program Foundations Entertainment University will be July 14-15 in Nashville. The two-day event’s highlight is a back-of-house tour of Hooky Entertainment, a new cinema entertainment center at Nashville Yards. The company’s CEO, Charlie Tiantawach, will share his views on what it takes to develop and operate a premium brand within a major metropolitan market. Other sessions promise information and best practices on developing and operating entertainment venues. To register and learn more about why 3,000-plus have attended the event in the past 25 years, visit www.foundationsuniversity.com/registration.
If you think you’ve got what it takes to win a prestigious IAAPA Brass Ring Award, submit your products now! Applications are open through Oct. 16. (Click here to see the categories and apply.) “Whether you’re introducing a bold new initiative or building upon a standout program, this is your opportunity to share your story, inspire peers across the industry, and showcase the work shaping the future of attractions,” the association said. There are award categories in Games & Merchandise; Live Entertainment; Human Resources; Food & Beverage; Marketing; Sustainability; and more.
Oak Ridge Bowling Center, with its 32 natural wood lanes, has closed after more than 35 years of business in eastern Tennessee. The Oak Ridger reported that the property had been sold, and the new owner has other plans for it. “This is a bittersweet day for our whole family and community,” read a statement on the alley’s Facebook page. “Many birthdays, many reunions, many friends and many bonds that can’t be broken.” The family business spanned three generations. “Thank you to everyone that has been a part of this fantastic journey through the years,” they wrote.
Franchise marketing veteran Josh Cole was recently selected as the first chief marketing officer for Slick City Action Park. He previously held marketing leadership roles at Sky Zone, TITLE Boxing Club, Sandbox VR and Universal Studios and has served as a strategic advisor to Slick City since its early stages. The company is rapidly expanding with 40 parks open and 110 more in development. As CMO, Cole will lead brand strategy, digital marketing, franchise marketing support, public relations, partnerships and customer engagement initiatives.