LBX Collective

Hosted by Brandon Willey

Business

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Episodes

594

Latest episode

Aug 2026

Language

EN-US

About the show

The LBX Collective aims to inform and educate, create opportunities to connect with industry peers, and to spur collaboration, discourse, and cross-pollination of ideas in the location-based entertainment and experience industry. Join our online community at LBXGalaxy.com! Proudly sponsored by Intercard!

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60 recent

August 30, 2026Episode 901 hr 2 min

The LBX Show #90 - The Hot Mess Express, GameVolt's Battle Arcade, & more!

Sponsored by Intercard ! Sponsored by PartyPing ! On this week's show we track the week’s biggest LBE moves, from cashless tech and trade show stops to a new rewards platform teaser and a community-driven wellness event idea operators can copy. We also debate a Titanic-themed kids slide on the new Hot Mess Express segment, then zoom out on openings, closures, arcade releases, and a no-fluff group sales process that turns outreach into bookings. • Intercard’s 2026 event lineup and why trade shows still matter for operators • A coming rewards platform preview tied to IAPA Expo and operator trials • Wellness community partnerships as a repeatable foot-traffic strategy • Hot Mess Express launch featuring the Titanic slide controversy • Mission rooms scaling quickly and why modular updates matter • Franchise growth, competitive socializing, and sportstainment venue mix trends • Closures that highlight audience targeting and F&B gaps • New arcade product updates across immersive rooms, racing, and annual refresh titles • Outbound group sales basics: lead lists, outreach systems, and follow-up discipline Subscribe and visit LBX Collective for more!

August 25, 2026Episode 1341 hr 21 min

Sound Off #134 - Felix & Paul shutters, the LBE Boom & Bust, & more!

Sponsored by Intercard ! Sponsored by PartyPing ! On this week's show we look at the flood of new openings and ask whether the location-based entertainment boom can last. We connect price pressure, overbuilt concepts, and recent closures to one core idea: the market is not sustainable at this pace, but it can be survivable if we stick to fundamentals. • Why rapid rollouts create saturation risk and waste • Japan theme park ticket price hikes as an inflation bellwether • Saudi entertainment hubs and the danger of scaling before proof • Single-IP mega projects and what happens when popularity fades • Chuck E. Cheese leadership structure and why President/CEO separation matters • Dave and Buster’s COO hire and the gap in entertainment expertise • TheParkVR divestment and founder-led restructuring • Felix & Paul shutdown and what it signals for VR studios • Interstellar Arc at Area 15 closing and the real causes behind it • Adventure Landing and legacy FECs struggling without reinvestment • New mega karting builds and where differentiation actually comes from • Crane machine chain expansion in Japan and the coming squeeze • XR spatial computing hype and the missing LBE killer app • AI glasses on attraction property and why policies can’t wait • Water park AI safety systems colliding with privacy and data laws Subscribe and visit LBX Collective for more!

August 25, 2026Episode 127920 min

The Stinger Report #1279 - Amusement Transmedia Play

Interest in the rising influence of transmedia in entertainment, exemplified by the integration of arcade IP, movie tie-ins, and merchandise, notably in gaming, toys, and theme parks. The resurgence of retro gaming and arcade crossovers, supported by major licenses like Street Fighter and Sonic, underline a strategic shift towards nostalgic IP-driven growth. Meanwhile, innovations like “Everyday Prizes” in crane gaming and privacy concerns surrounding AI smart glasses highlight evolving consumer preferences and regulatory challenges. Notably, the sector faces headwinds from AR/VR restructuring, delays, and cost increases, signaling a cautious outlook for immersive technology investments. Subscribe and visit LBX Collective for more!

August 23, 2026Episode 891 hr 30 min

The LBX Show #89 - Chris King Guest Gab, Mission Room Trends, & more!

Sponsored by Intercard ! Sponsored by PartyPing ! On this week's show we catch up on what’s changing across family entertainment and location-based entertainment, from cashless tech and loyalty experiments to a grounded look at what actually drives repeat visits. Chris King from Monster Mini Golf shares how culture-first franchising and local connection can scale without losing the human touch. • Intercard’s upcoming show schedule and why cashless payments keep accelerating • A new rewards platform pilot for FEC operators and what user testing should uncover • Season 5 plans with new regular contributors and how to get involved • Monster Mini Golf’s recent franchise growth and the infrastructure behind it • Why being both franchisor and franchisee keeps leadership “boots on the ground” • Designing locally inspired glow murals to build community connection • Training teams for age-appropriate guest engagement as the core product • Openings and closures that highlight trends in claws, sportstainment, mission rooms, and VR pop ups • New arcade releases and operator considerations on pricing, linking, and audience fit • Marketing actions to start now for a stronger busy season: digital, grassroots, and outbound events Subscribe and visit LBX Collective for more!

August 18, 2026Episode 1331 hr 48 min

Sound Off #133 - AI Slop Invasion in LBE, Zero Latency's XR Report, & More!

Sponsored by Intercard ! Sponsored by PartyPing ! On this week's show we challenge the idea that buying new machines automatically upgrades a venue, then get specific about how placement, spectator flow, and screen control shape revenue and repeat visits. We also trace the latest moves across sportstainment, competitive socializing, VR and XR, and end with a blunt warning about AI hype, sloppy branding, and hallucinated research. • floor layout choices that prioritize guest flow over power outlets • using oversized game displays for spectatorship and on-site signage • new executive moves across parks, merchandising, and VR brands • Golfzon’s Golf City concept and what hybrid golf signals for sportstainment • Topgolf’s push for committed repeat golfers and the operational reset it implies • investment and expansion signals from Flight Club, Market Hall, and other hospitality hybrids • cautionary lessons from thinly themed, low-staff arcade rollouts • new attraction bets from Five Nights at Freddy’s to electric bikes and escape rooms in kart venues • XR momentum including Apple Vision Pro trials and the need for measurable performance data • consumer research takeaways on AI search, families, and title fatigue • where AI helps operations and where it damages trust through slop and hallucinations Subscribe and visit LBX Collective for more!

August 18, 2026Episode 127820 min

Stinger Report #1278 - Amusement Projecting Change!

Coverage points to a sector in transition: sportstainment and competitive socializing venues are adding arcade and retro amusement to diversify revenues and refresh propositions. Topgolf, Swingers and others are testing hardware mixes, while multicades and revived Atari titles signal interest in IP. Projection mapping and spatial augmented reality are emerging as layers across pool, ping-pong, mini-golf, darts, bowling, floors and karting, with tracking and gamification driving repeat play. However, the Suzo-Happ shutdown exposes fragility in supplier infrastructure, raising concerns about parts, service and cascading disruption. Investors should watch adoption, IP compliance, and economics as operators balance innovation against execution risk. Subscribe and visit LBX Collective for more!

August 13, 2026Episode 2217 min

Entertainment Social Arena #22 - The Growing Social Explosion

This report highlights key trends in the evolving multi-activity entertainment landscape, emphasizing significant investments in “Mixed Use Leisure Entertainment” (MULE) venues designed to boost dwell time and repeat visits through diverse attractions like electric go-karts, immersive gaming, and social experiences. Major players such as Gravity Active Entertainment, Hollywood Bowl, and Little Lion Entertainment are expanding their offerings with celebrity partnerships, immersive IP, and innovative food concepts like Japanese food halls. The social entertainment sector is also integrating celebrity-branded food and beverage experiences, exemplified by Shaquille O’Neal’s Big Chicken and Danny Trejo’s Trejo’s Tacos, aiming to enhance customer engagement. Meanwhile, new entrants like Five Iron Golf and Round1 USA are focusing on premium golf simulators and food halls, signaling a strategic shift toward multi-layered leisure ecosystems for leading investors. Subscribe and visit LBX Collective for more!

August 11, 2026Episode 2116 min

Entertainment Social Arena #21 - Social Reality Revolution

Competitive socializing faces a pivotal reset as high-profile failures, fresh investment, and evolving concepts reshape the sector. The collapse of cricket-themed chain SIXES, marked by closures, debt exposure, and a flawed business model, highlights structural risks despite prior backing and celebrity involvement. Meanwhile, capital continues to flow into scalable concepts, with Level99 securing major funding and aggressive expansion plans. In contrast, arcade-led operators like NQ64 and independent venues such as The Lucky Goat signal demand for flexible, lower-risk entertainment formats. Across both social and active entertainment, investors are prioritizing adaptability, franchise viability, and diversified offerings in an increasingly crowded and competitive market. Subscribe and visit LBX Collective for more!

August 11, 2026Episode 1321 hr 7 min

Sound Off #132 - D&B's CEO Out, Funlab’s Playback96 Vibe, & More!

Sponsored by Intercard ! Sponsored by PartyPing ! On this week's show we track the pressure building in location-based entertainment as big concepts face real revenue tests and executive shakeups start piling up. We weigh what’s hype versus what’s profitable across competitive socializing, brand activations, immersive art, and the next wave of mixed-use venues. • boardroom “panic” signals as major chains try to pivot concepts that are not hitting targets • staycations, glamping, and climate risk reshaping demand for regional entertainment • Saudi PIF acquisition of Electronic Arts and what gaming IP means for LBE • Disney earnings takeaways and why attendance softening matters • C-suite departures across the sector and how to read press release language • Dave & Buster’s CEO resignation, internal succession, and the missing CFO backfill • Immersive Game Box shifting to a standalone platform model • Hollywood Bowl and Splitsville growth plus boutique reinvestment • Minecraft touring visitation claims and the profitability question • Malaysia’s GameOn as a blueprint for theming and attraction clustering • Round1’s Japanese food hall as a food-led traffic strategy • Candy Hall of Fame as retailtainment and association-led brand promotion • Wake the Tiger’s immersive art rollout and the “one-and-done” concern • Launch Entertainment’s smaller format gamble for franchisees • Evo Entertainment’s record weekend and the “come for films, stay for play” model • Brogent buying Flyover assets and the shift to owning operations • Funlab’s Playback96 and why vibe is now a core product Subscribe and visit LBX Collective for more!

August 9, 2026Episode 881 hr 7 min

The LBX Show #88 - AI Surfing Gamification, Mark Flood on SMS, & More!

Sponsored by Intercard ! Sponsored by PartyPing ! On this week's show we look at how small, well-timed moves create outsized results in location-based entertainment, from Halloween turning into a full season to AI-driven gamification that pushes repeat visits. We also get tactical on birthday party marketing, including why SMS works only when it feels personal, relevant, and restrained. • Intercard events and how to use vendor experts as resources • IAAPA FEC Scholarship details and who should apply • Season five changes, upcoming schedule and suggestion box link • Halloween as a long promotion cycle with earlier pre-sales • AI gamification in surf parks using scoring, achievements and leaderboards • Birthday party economics and why empty rooms are expensive • SMS versus email differences, with frequency and relevance rules • PartyPing approach with personalized birthday outreach and low operator effort • Openings and closures across LBE, including VR growth and retro concepts • Closures tied to leases, gentrification and market repositioning Subscribe and visit LBX Collective for more!