Sound Off #122 - AAA Expo Review, Exec Shakeups, Hasbro Transmedia & more!

Sound Off #122 - AAA Expo Review, Exec Shakeups, Hasbro Transmedia & more!

Sponsored by Intercard [https://www.intercardinc.com/]! On this week's show we argue that private parties are not a side hustle for location-based entertainment, but a core profit engine that many operators still underprice and underpackage. We also track the management shakeups and tech trends shaping competitive socializing, XR attractions, and the global supply chain from the US to China.  • Private hire as the hidden revenue driver in entertainment venues  • Raising per-head spend with VIP rooms, branded drinks, themed food, and merch  • What new executive hires at Paramount signal for experiences and licensing  • Why the F1 Arcade CEO switch hints at restaurant-first strategy risk  • Area15 operations, branding churn, and the need to keep moving  • Boom Battle Bar performance snapshot and escape room resilience  • Topgolf leadership rebuild, new roles, and gaps in entertainment focus  • United Parks attendance and revenue declines plus the per-cap questions  • Dave & Buster’s Australia launch missing competitive socializing  • VR arena and mixed reality expansion challenges, especially energy off-peak  • IP in XR and live touring entertainment plus the repeatability problem  • Productization shift toward self-service XR enclosures and modular installs  • Museums using VR as temporary revenue-positive exhibitions  • Hasbro transmedia experiments like Monopoly Steakhouse and what it might preview  • China AAA Expo takeaways: LED theaters, wet 4D, robots, projection-mapped karting, buying direct pressure Subscribe and visit LBX Collective [https://www.lbxcollective.com] for more!

The LBX Show #78 - Captain Cacao, Immersive Fever, Summer Passes, & more!

Sponsored by Intercard [https://www.intercardinc.com/]! On this week's show we run through the LBE headlines that matter, from where to meet the Intercard team at upcoming events to what Universal’s Epic Universe teaches about building original characters that drive merch and loyalty. Then Kevin Williams joins us for Open & Shut to unpack a wave of new venue openings and why the lack of reported closures might be a warning sign. • Intercard’s 2026 event lineup for operators  • Universal Orlando Epic Universe using Captain Cacao to turn story into merchandise and guest connection  • How creating simple lore can deepen your venue experience and unlock new revenue  • Popstroke’s $50 unlimited Summer Pass as a pricing, cash flow, and repeat visitation strategy  • Why food and beverage becomes the profit lever when play is prepaid  • Open And Shut’s openings scan and what “no shuts” could signal about the market  • Dave and Buster’s Australia launch and what to watch in its format and mix  • Rush Funplex and Thrillz as examples of broad attraction mixes and wristband-enabled access  • Sandbox VR, Smithsonian immersive VR, and the growing role of ticketing platforms like Fever  • Laser Limbo’s mixed reality laser tag moving from product pitch to operating a venue  • Toca Social’s rapid rollout and the risk of weak secondary spend Subscribe and visit LBX Collective [https://www.lbxcollective.com] for more!

The LBX Show #77 - BW visits The Factory, Adam Pratt reviews AAA Expo, & more!

Sponsored by Intercard [https://www.intercardinc.com/]! On this week's show we bring you a special edition episode with a boots-on-the-ground tour of Canada’s largest indoor adventure park plus a practical framework for selling more group events. Then we go deep on Asia Amusement & Attractions (AAA) Expo 2026 in Guangzhou, breaking down the arcade machines, cabinet trends, and market realities that are shaping what operators buy next.  • quick hits on upcoming industry events and where to meet the Intercard team  • what we notice at The Factory: volume-ready check-in, zoning, ropes and zip lines, and themed clubhouse attractions  • arcade and redemption choices that stand out plus simple upgrades that boost the food and drink experience  • why pop-up experiments like a slime lab can become a permanent attraction  • group booking growth basics: CRM systems, lead data sources, a clear offer, and a dedicated salesperson  • AAA Expo 2026 highlights across shooters, racers, portrait displays, and new cabinet formats  • what Chinese market scale means for unit sales, pricing, and which games may reach North America Subscribe and visit LBX Collective [https://www.lbxcollective.com] for more!

Sound Off #121 - IP tradeoffs, EVA gets $, Big Buck Hunter lifestyle, and more!

Sponsored by Intercard [https://www.intercardinc.com/]! On this week's show we challenge the idea that a famous IP automatically upgrades an attraction and dig into the real costs, approvals, and operational tradeoffs that come with licensing. We also scan the latest location-based entertainment signals across funding, VR, sportstainment, and the growing tension between hype and execution.  • IP as an amplifier rather than a fix for weak gameplay  • Licensing fees, brand approvals, and hidden operational burdens  • Saudi investment pullbacks and ripple effects across entertainment capital  • Resort and theme park project risk when funding tightens  • Accesso leadership change and the rise of tech-led CEOs  • EVA funding, free-roam VR expansion math, and execution risk  • Zero Latency partnerships and the shift away from standalone VR venues  • Japanese arcade operators testing new markets and heritage branding  • Toca Social’s Mexico launch and family-focused positioning  • Layered Reality administration and lessons from immersive closures  • Sixes social cricket survival rumors and what a buyer would inherit  • Servios layoffs and the post-hype reality in consumer VR  • Vegas mega sports district proposal and fundraising theater  • True Golf Links Center growth and what it signals for sportstainment  • Topgolf layoffs, cost cutting, and rethinking the entertainment offer  • Projection-mapped rooms and repeatable interaction design  • Big Buck Hunter as a lifestyle brand and arcade IP going outbound  • Stranger Things arcade distribution and the ROI question  • Minecraft partnership saturation and how brands choose placements  • AI game center experiments in Japan and the value of indie creation  • Sega backlash over AI-written copy and the limits of automation Subscribe and visit LBX Collective [https://www.lbxcollective.com] for more!

The LBX Show #76 - Herschend’s Heartspitality, Layered Reality collapse, & more!

Sponsored by Intercard [https://www.intercardinc.com/]! On this week's show we share attraction industry headlines from a historic Ferris wheel comeback to the real-world way culture shows up in capital spending at Kennywood. Then we team up with Kevin Williams for Open & Shut to break down the latest location-based entertainment openings, concept risks, and the closures that hint at what’s changing. • Intercard’s 2026 event lineup and where operators can connect  • The Phoenix Wheel’s 1893 build, Asbury Park legacy, and full restoration back in Phoenixville, PA • Herschend’s Heartspitality and what it looks like after the Palace Entertainment acquisition  • Kennywood upgrades from ride anniversaries to guest-facing refreshes  • Host-focused investments like maintenance shop improvements and a renovated employee clubhouse  • Open & Shut trend scan across cinema plus amusement, go-karts, bowling, and competitive socializing  • Indoor mini golf scaling lessons, square footage trade-offs, and F&B-driven monetization  • International expansion notes from Japan, Vietnam, and Mexico concepts  • Closures of Elvis Evolution and War of the Worlds and what operational stability really means Subscribe and visit LBX Collective [https://www.lbxcollective.com] for more!