“Get your games for the summer!” UNIS said to customers recently. They’re excited about a number of new games ready to ship from their Dallas, Texas, facility in June. Among them are Grand Prize crane machines (available in 31” and 45” sizes), Extreme Shot basketball, To Tha Net Jr. basketball and the realistic fishing game Treasure Cove, which features a 75” LED monitor. The company will be attending the Licensing Expo next week in Las Vegas (May 24-26) and will also be showing off the games at Bowl Expo from June 29-30. They’ll also have Wicked Tuna and Bigfoot Crush,…
Author: Matt Harding
High Caliber Karting & Entertainment in Okemos, Michigan, recently unveiled new inclusive go-karts for “thrill-seeking wheelchair users.” The company said that after a year of testing and fine tuning the equipment, the “Handicapable” attraction is ready to use, according to MLive. The go-karts use a unique hand-operated steering wheel system, which removes the need to use regular brakes and gas pedals. After guests are seated into the specialized go-kart by a lifting sling, legs are strapped in for safety and then racers can take off at speeds of up to 55 MPH. High Caliber’s owner Jordan Munsters was in a…
The Ponderosa Social Club recently opened in Midtown Bozeman, Montana. The new club has a bowling alley, casino, shuffleboard, pool tables and a restaurant-bar, according to KULR. The venue was set to open last year, but the pandemic forced delays, according to the owners, son and father Taylor and Kurt Shull, as well as Mike Hope, who owns the nearby Rocking R Bar. Staffing has also been a challenge, Hope said, as the business opened still about 30 short of their 125 goal. The club has been in the works for about five years. “We looked in Austin and looked…
Trifecta Management Group recently announced the promotion of Matthew Lienhard to vice president of operations for the entertainment-restaurant development/management firm. During his eight-year tenure with TMG, the company said Lienhard has worked in a variety of roles, including general manager at venues throughout the nation and a consultant to TMG clients. “We are excited to recognize Matt for his achievements,” said TMG partner and COO Pat Hart. “He has proven himself to be a skilled senior manager with great vision and communication skills. He has a strong understanding of elevating the customer experience, in addition to delivering financial results for…
The new AEI Charity Fund recently presented a $20,000 donation to the organization CARE for Ukrainian relief. AAMCF executive director Tina Schwartz and AMOA Coin-Op Cares executive vice president Lori Schneider were on hand to give the check to Nashmeen Moslehuddin, CARE’s senior director of development and individual giving. According to their website (www.care.org), the organization’s Ukraine Crisis Fund supports 4 million people with immediate aid and recovery, food, water, hygiene kits and more. “CARE reports that more than 5 million people have fled Ukraine for neighboring countries with another 7.7 million internally displaced,” said David Cohen, AAMCF’s president. “Given…
Louise Howe, Justin Burke and Nigel Allison have all been promoted to executive positions at SEGA following a “strong first year of trading under new ownership,” reports CEO Paul Williams. In March 2021, Williams executed an MBO (management buyout) acquiring the rights of the global amusement company from its parent company SEGA Sammy Corporation in Japan. Howe, who was “instrumental in supporting Williams and advising SEGA Amusements International throughout the MBO process,” has been appointed general counsel and company secretary. Burke and Allison, both longtime employees who head up the sales and production divisions, respectively, have been promoted to sales…
Accelerate Indoor Speedway in Waukesha, Wisconsin, recently debuted the VR esports attraction Omni Arena from Virtuix. Accelerate is a brand of Autobahn, the nation’s second-largest go-kart operator, which owns and operates 11 venues in nine states. Virtuix said this Omni Arena installation marked the company’s 55th the U.S. “We are thrilled to offer the Omni Arena experience to our guests,” said David Larson, managing partner of Autobahn. “Omni Arena is a groundbreaking attraction that takes virtual reality to the next level, allowing players to walk and run around inside video games. Some of our guests play again and again thanks…
Betson Enterprises recently announced that Athena Symonds has joined the company as an amusement sales representative for the Midwest. “We are all very excited to have Athena as a new addition to Betson’s amusement sales team,” said Britannie Betti, the company’s Northeast regional sales director. “She has a strong background in family entertainment center development and consultative selling.” Betson said Athena brings a wealth of knowledge and experience from within the industry with a track record of building strong client relationships, driving business and developing FECs. Learn more at www.betson.com.
Elk Grove Bowl in Elk Grove Village, Illinois, closed at the end of April after nearly 60 years. Owner Debbie Handler sold the family-run business to the village for $2.7 million. According to Journal & Topics, the building will be razed to make way for a redeveloped mixed-use shopping center with residences. The 40-lane bowling alley was built in 1962 and opened in November of that year. Handler, whose father Lewis Handler and grandfather Marc Auerbach opened the business, said she was ready to retire and had no relatives who wanted to take over the alley, which she ran since…
Monster Mini Golf plans to open a second location in the Charlotte, North Carolina, area, according to the Charlotte Observer. The first opened in March 2021 and the newest will open later this year. In addition to miniature golf, there will be arcade games, mini bowling and a laser maze. Monster Mini Golf also has food, drinks, private event space and birthday packages. The business operates nearly 30 locations across the U.S. and Canada. Learn more at www.monsterminigolf.com.