The 7th annual International Assn. of Trampoline Parks Conference & Trade Show is also on the horizon, held at the New Orleans Marriott from Sept. 23-25. IATP says it expects about 600 attendees. The event has continued to grow each year, and those who’d like to attend can get a jumpstart on registering starting April 16 at 11 a.m. at www.indoortrampolineparks.org. Additional information can also be found on that website, or by calling IATP at 717-910-4534 or emailing [email protected]. An exhibitor and sponsor prospectus can be found here.
Author: Matt Harding
With its 2017 findings released earlier this year, IAAPA’s Annual Benchmark Survey for 2018 information is now available for attractions operators. Take the survey here. The survey collects data on guest demographics, attractions and much more. As a perk, the first 50 respondents will receive a $100 Visa global gift card. Deadline for completion is April 19. Visit www.iaapa.org to find the current report (with full 2017 statistics and information), and be sure to read about the findings in the May issue of RePlay.
Designer, developer and operator Family Entertainment Group has welcomed Wayne Stancil aboard as its vice president of brand development. Stancil is a hospitality veteran with nearly 40 years of experience, including with the FEC chain Main Event Entertainment, where he served as the vice president of operations. The company can be reached at www.FEGllc.com.
The fifth pinball machine from Jersey Jack will debut at the Midwest Gaming Classic in Milwaukee tonight (April 12) at 7 p.m. Central time, according to owner Jack Guarnieri. Until then, mum’s the word. (Readers, any guesses as to the title of the new pin?) A live stream of the announcement will be available on Twitch. Guarnieri said he’s also showing the mystery pinball machine tomorrow (April 13) at the Flip Expo in France, adding that the pin is a “game-changer.” More information about Jersey Jack is at www.jerseyjackpinball.com.
To celebrate its Houston branch’s new home at 8801 Jameel Rd., Suite 100, AVS Companies had its grand opening party yesterday (April 11) with customers getting to see the amusement and vending equipment showroom and eat some barbecue with execs and supplier reps. The company moved into the new 18,000-sq.-ft. facility late last year. Learn more about the company by visiting www.avscompanies.com. (Thanks to former AAMA exec VP John Schultz for being our roving reporter and sending in wonderful pictures from the party.)
Following up on last week’s news, the Alaska House of Representatives passed HB044 by a unanimous 36-0 vote, which is one of the final steps in allowing cardholder surcharges on international transactions conducted at independent ATMs in the state. Currently, there’s a loophole that precludes ATM companies from doing that, which places what Bruce Renard of the National ATM Council called a “hidden tax” on Alaskans and penalizes small businesses that have been subsidizing surcharge-free ATM transactions on foreign cards. Stay up to date with the legislative happenings of NAC at www.natmc.org.
The jukebox company AMI Entertainment just announced a contest to win the 30th anniversary deluxe box set for Keith Richards’ debut solo album, Talk is Cheap. It’s a six-disc box set that includes six unreleased bonus tracks, an 80-page hardcover book and other memorabilia. The original album first released in 1988 and AMI calls the new set “a must-have for any classic rock collection.” Fans can enter using the AMI Music app, available on iOS and Android. Contest entry ends April 24. For more information, visit www.amientertainment.com.
The world’s first VR Arena from developer Virtuix was installed March 7 at Pinballz in Austin, Texas, and the company reports a whopping $30,000 in revenue during its first month in operation. “VR Arena has exceeded our expectations,” said Darren Spohn, owner of Pinballz, in a press release. “Guests are loving the experience, and we see strong repeat play. Thanks to the eSports prize competitions, we’re able to attract a new audience of games and entice guests to play again and again. Virtuix, with its partner Funovation, says that the new VR attraction garnered 2,200 plays with a repeat play rate of…
So, Virtuix’s VR Arena made $30,000 in its first month installed at Pinballz, but how? It’s not because of high throughput, Funovation says, instead it’s all because of utilization, efficiency and pricing. A recent press release by the company, which works with Virtuix on their installs, lists those three as the pillars for operational success. VR Arena can be operated by one attendant at a throughput of 20 players per hour, they say. “Would a throughput of 30 or even 40 players per hour have increased revenues?” Funovation asks. “The surprising answer is no.” It’s more so about keeping it occupied, avoiding…
The global association for the attractions industry hosted its annual IAAPA U.S. Advocacy Days April 8-9 in Washington, D.C., with 38 industry leaders meeting representatives from 66 key congressional offices to discuss the industry’s legislative priorities and regulatory issues. Some of the key items discussed with the representatives were amusement ride safety and IAAPA’s support of the J-1 Exchange Visitor Program. The groups met with representatives from California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Missouri, North Carolina, New Jersey, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and Utah. To learn more about IAAPA’s priorities, head to their U.S. Government Relations page or…