It’s trade show season and unlike 2020, we’re back live and in person! The trade show floor at Bowl Expo will be open today, June 23, from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Just before that will be a general session featuring comedian Jeff Foxworthy from 9-11 a.m. and a breakfast and networking hour from 8-9 a.m. Tomorrow, June 24, the trade show floor will be open from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Before that, there will be a breakfast featuring thought leader Joseph Michelli at 8 a.m. The end of the day will feature Club Xpo at historic Churchill Downs from 5-8:30 p.m. Benchmark…
Author: Matt Harding
Due to Covid-19 restrictions, the VNEA’s 41st annual World Pool Championships was itself restricted in size this year… but not in enthusiasm. “Missing our amazing friends from Canada and other foreign countries due to travel regulations, the event lacked its normal worldwide flare and excitement. But those in attendance created some historical moments for years to come,” said a league statement. Nevertheless, an impressive 2,000-plus pool league players representing 91 operators from 26 states and the Bahamas competed over two ballrooms full of brand-new Valley brand pool tables. A total of 56 unique divisions provided a chance for prize money…
The bowling alley known as SuperBowl in Erlanger, Ky., has new owners and is now called Strike & Spare Family Fun Center. The Hendersonville, Tenn.-based company also operates Western Bowl in Cincinnati as well as other locations in Kentucky, Tennessee and Indiana. According to River City News, the Erlanger venue is being renovated. When open, it will operate 360 days a year – more than doubling the previous business’s schedule. While bowling is the core of Strike & Spare, they also have an arcade, bumper cars, laser tag and a roller skating rink. Learn more at www.strikeandspare.com.
Stern Pinball recently announced that Tom Kopera is now the company’s director of mechanical engineering. In the new role, Kopera will lead mechanical engineering, the whitewood lab, the model shop and the bill of materials group, the pinball manufacturer said. Kopera previously launched Kopera Design & Engineering and has served as COO for iLight Technologies and held various other relevant roles, including director of mechanical engineering at Midway Games and project engineer on numerous Williams Electronics pinball titles. Kopera was also the game designer on several titles including Williams’ Cactus Canyon and Stern’s The Rolling Stones. “Tom’s leadership will help…
Dave & Buster’s recently opened a new location at the Solano Town Center mall in Fairfield, Calif. “We’re excited to finally open in Fairfield with all-new, exciting summer offerings,” said Alex Briones, general manager of the location. The 18,500-sq.-ft. venue will have even more games this summer with a revamped menu that includes new specialty drinks. Its Million Dollar Midway has hundreds of new and classic arcade games; the prize store has a huge selection, too – including Apple products, Xbox consoles, Beats by Dre and more. D&B is also offering a discount on food and game play for frontline…
Tomorrow, June 22, marks the public portion of the International Bowl Expo. Their day of educational sessions begins at 8:30 a.m. and runs through 5:45 p.m. Click here for the full schedule of events. RePlay will be on hand June 23-24 for the trade show portion of the event, saying hello and covering what’s new on the show floor. LAI Games will definitely be there (at Booth #323) with two brand-new games on display – the coin pusher Angry Birds Coin Crash and the basketball game Slam ‘n’ Jam Ultra. They’ll also have a 2-player version of their Pearl Fishery.…
The laser tag industry is meeting during Amusement Expo next week on June 29 for a roundtable session followed by a reception at the Westgate Hotel in Las Vegas. Come learn about how laser tag attractions and centers survived and how to grow in the future at the Laser Tag Industry Roundtable, held from 4-5 p.m. in Ballroom G. Immediately after will be the Laser Tag Reception in Ballroom F (from 5:15-6:15 p.m.). Enjoy free drinks and getting back together with your laser tag friends. Learn more at www.amusementexpo.org or call Erik Guthrie at 317-965-9482.
Music fans have until this Wednesday, June 23, to head to an AMI jukebox or the AMI Music app to enter the company’s latest giveaway, which honors guitarist Peter Green of Fleetwood Mack, who died in July last year. As part of the giveaway, one lucky fan will win the Mick Fleetwood and Friends Celebrate the Music of Peter Green and the Early Years of Fleetwood Mac super deluxe edition box set. It comes with remastered audio recording from the February 2020 concert on four LPs and two CDs. The set also includes a Blu-ray disc and 44-page bookpack of…
When California lifted its mask mandate for vaccinated individuals on June 15, Boomers Irvine became one of many FECs in the state to do the same. Still, that means guests under age 12 should continue to wear masks indoors, except when eating, the company says. While temperature checks are also no longer required to enter, team members will still be required to follow some precautions until the state lifts them. Masks, face shields and gloves are available at the park upon request. “Boomers has complied with the governor’s safety protocols during this unprecedented year,” said Tim Murphy, CEO of Boomers…
TEEG’s Zone Bowling Southgate, a staple bowling center in Sylvania, NSW, Australia for 38 years, recently underwent a renovation that included an interior refurbishment. The venue, which reopened June 11, now has 24 bowling lanes and new arcade games. The center also added a prize shop. “If we’ve learned one thing during the past 18 months, it’s that everyone gains from coming together and connecting with friends, family and local community,” said Kane Fong, general manager of Zone Bowling Australia and Timezone. “Zone Bowling has always offered the opportunity for making memories and strengthening bonds, be they between strangers, friends,…