The IAAPA global board of directors elected six new board members during their meeting last week at IAAPA Expo Europe. The new members will begin their terms in 2027. The board oversees IAAPA’s annual business plan and finances, provides guidance on products and services, and serves as ambassadors for IAAPA members and the global attractions industry, the association said. New members include Denise Beckson of Morey’s Piers; Mario Centola of CEC Entertainment; Mike Denninger of Denninger Development LLC; Patrick Finnegan of The Walt Disney Company; Lena Lee of Resorts World Sentosa; and Amanda Thompson of Blackpool Pleasure Beach. Applications for…
Author: Matt Harding
PowerPlay Family Entertainment Center in Kansas City closed last month after 13 years in business. The 50,000-sq.-ft. center offered arcade games, bumper cars, go-karts, laser tag, bowling, an indoor coaster and more. “We honestly don’t know how to put this into words,” the company said on Facebook. “For years, PowerPlay has been more than just an arcade, a place to grab a bite or somewhere to spend a Friday night. It has been a place where memories were made. Celebrations, milestones, rainy-day adventures and so many moments that we will carry with us long after the lights go out.”
A new gas-powered go-kart called the Octane will make its trade show debut in the Amusement Products booth (#4873) at IAAPA Expo from Nov. 17-20. The company recently announced the kart, saying it was developed for operators “who continue to value the familiarity, performance and straightforward operation of traditional gas-powered karts.” “Gas-powered racing continues to have a place in the market, and we wanted to give operators another strong option within the Amusement Products lineup,” said company president Dutch Magrath. “Octane was developed to deliver the durability and practical performance our customers expect while allowing us to serve facilities that…
Last call, folks! Foundations Entertainment University will be in Columbus, Ohio, for their final seminar of the year from Oct. 13-14 at the AAMA’s FEC of the Year Star Lanes Polaris. Attendees will get a tour of the facility and two full days of educational presentations (more than 20 industry speakers!), networking events and vendors. “Today’s entertainment operators must deliver memorable guest experiences while making smart decisions about development, staffing, technology, marketing and day-to-day operations,” said Jerry Merola, executive director of Foundations University and managing partner of Amusement Entertainment Management. “Foundations gives attendees direct access to experienced professionals who understand…
FACE Amusement Group recently received an IAAPA Brass Ring Excellence Award for Best Talent Acquisition Program. “At FACE, we believe exceptional guest experiences begin with exceptional team members,” said CEO Bucky Mabe. “Receiving this IAAPA Brass Ring Excellence Award is a tremendous honor and validates our commitment to building a culture where people can grow, lead and build meaningful careers. As we continue to expand, investing in our people remains one of our highest priorities and greatest competitive advantages.” Added Deb Christensen, chief people officer for FACE Amusement Group: “Our people are the heart of our success. This award recognizes…
Family Entertainment Group is bringing their arcades to nearly 100 Topgolf sites by the end of the year and Intercard is going along with them as the cashless technology provider. “At Intercard we set standards, and our products have become the industry standard for route and FEC operators who want to capture new revenue streams and plan for growth,” said Rob Geiger, the company’s customer relations director. “We are proud to be part of this project with FEG and Topgolf, who continue to set standards for customer service and satisfaction in the amusement industry.” Intercard says their iTeller kiosks, iReaders…
Enchanted Parks’ locations around the country are readying for Halloween with fun for the whole family. “Visiting a Halloween event at our parks is fall tradition for many of our guests and their families,” said CEO James Harhi “Our teams have put together incredible events, complete with live ‘scareactors’ and monsters around every corner along with thrilling ride experiences under the night sky. “While we are heavy on the frights and jumps scares, we did not forget our younger guests. Daytime events include costume contests, trick or treating and more.” Parks hosting Halloween-themed events include Diggerland USA (West Berlin, New…
Following a record-setting turnout at their July gathering in Chicago, AMOA’s Regional Tech School will be in association president Tommy Hendley’s Charlotte, North Carolina, from Nov. 3-4. The two-day program – and the 11th event since the school’s inception – will feature six specialized technical training tracks “designed to help operators and technicians build practical, hands-on skills across a wide range of equipment.” For registration information, visit www.amoa.com/education/amoa-regional-tech-school.
ROLLER CEO and founder Luke Finn recently detailed a new long-time partnership with QubicaAMF that “brings together QubicaAMF’s Conqueror X bowling and lane management technology with ROLLER’s all-in-one venue management platform.” “Through a deep, two-way integration, operators can connect their bowling operations with the rest of the venue, including online bookings, payments, food and beverage, memberships and guest data to create a unified guest experience,” Finn said. In short, that means one check-in, lanes and bookings in sync and live game visibility for operators. Click here to see more details, or visit www.roller.software.
From Sept. 28-Oct. 4, Pop-A-Shot is launching the Beat the Boss Challenge, giving players a chance to chase the score posted by 2026 National Champion Mitch “MAP21” Phillis. He closed out the championship event with 164 points. For Pop-A-Shot Elite operators, the challenge gives players a reason to come back, log in and compete against the benchmark number. The first 30 verified players to hit more than that will win a limited-edition red, white and blue National Championship basketball. Learn more here at www.popashot.net.