LBX Collective

Hosted by Brandon Willey

Business

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Episodes

559

Latest episode

Jun 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

June 16, 2026Episode 1251 hr 14 min

Sound Off #125 - Prioritizing the Guest Journey, Playcations, Crane Oasis & more!

Sponsored by Intercard!On this week's show we push back on hospitality-first thinking and argue that the entertainment layer, narrative, and agency are what make location-based venues feel distinct and repeatable. We also track the latest theme park, competitive socializing, XR, VR, and AI moves that are reshaping how operators build and upgrade attractions. • prioritizing the guest journey over food and drink trend-chasing • making entertainment accessible across ages and skill levels • reading “playcations” and short-haul outdoor leisure signals for LBE • what Universal United Kingdom Resort suggests about multi-gate strategy • leadership and ownership shifts at BRC and other operators • rebranding pressure on arcade bars and competitive socializing venues • why Verse Immersive struggled with headset and model pivots • cinema repurposing with Mira and the missing F&B question • China’s dragon label as a quality marker for VR film attractions • Japan’s XR Center content move and the rise of reliable arena deployments • Gigo’s crane oasis concept and data-driven beginner zones • new music and rhythm game IP and the case for more arcade releases • why multi-attraction models beat single-attraction noveltySubscribe and visit LBX Collective for more!

June 16, 2026Episode 126715 min

The Stinger Report #1267 - Defining Immersive Punch!

The evolving XR landscape in Out-of-Home entertainment faces challenges amid industry churn, with notable closures like RED Tokyo Tower highlighting monetization hurdles. Strategic acquisitions, such as Vertigo Games’ closure and shifting support for VR headsets, reflect industry consolidation and operational difficulties. Meanwhile, the cinema sector is increasingly integrating amusement, gaming, and transmedia IP – exemplified by blockbuster-driven Cinetainment and immersive experiences – aiming to enhance audience engagement amid streaming competition. Major IP properties like Mario and John Wick underpin this trend, while new developments like Universal’s UK resort signal a shift toward comprehensive, IP-driven entertainment destinations, emphasizing resilience and innovation in a changing market landscape. Subscribe and visit LBX Collective for more!

June 14, 2026Episode 811 hr 12 min

The LBX Show #81 - Hasbro's SixthWall, ROLLER Capital, Phase 2 Social & more!

Sponsored by Intercard!On this week's show we share major LBE news, plus fresh examples of how IP, pricing, and AI are reshaping guest experiences. Then we dig into ROLLER Capital with Chris Rich and scan the latest openings, acquisitions, and closures with Kevin Williams to see where competitive socializing is headed next. • Pilot tests for a new rewards platform for the location-based entertainment industry • Intercard’s 2026 event schedule and where to connect in person • Candyland Cafe as an immersive pop-up model and what its ticket credits do to per-cap spending • Hasbro’s SixthWall AI studio and why authorized character voices change licensing for AI experiences • ROLLER and Adyen partnership background and the move into embedded financial services • ROLLER Capital eligibility based on processing history plus pre-qualified offers inside the platform, it's fixed-fee structure, daily repayment percentage, and why repayment tracks venue cash flow• Open and Shut trends including boutique bowling expansion and copycat attraction mixes • Sportstainment realism versus social play in batting simulator concepts • Questions around Titanic VR positioning for parties and team building • Market lessons from mini golf closures and what “phase two” social entertainment could look likeSubscribe and visit LBX Collective for more!

June 11, 2026Episode 126619 min

The Stinger Report #1266 - XR Future Entertainment Frontier

Marking a significant shift in immersive entertainment, marked by a turbulent consumer VR market and evolving sector dynamics. Meta's failed push into consumer VR, massive layoffs, and price hikes signal a retreat from mainstream consumer focus, while Valve’s Steam Frame and new hardware hint at a possible VR revival. Meanwhile, Apple’s Vision Pro struggles with sales and support, pivoting toward AI smartglasses. The sector is increasingly driven by commercial applications, transmedia IP crossover, and standalone XR ventures like Fever’s VR zones and VR arenas, supported by rising investments and strategic partnerships. These trends highlight a transition from hype to sustainable, IP-driven, location-based immersive experiences, reshaping growth trajectories. Subscribe and visit LBX Collective for more!

June 9, 2026Episode 1241 hr 23 min

Sound Off #124 - Karting Goes Phygital, Park Avenue Open Day, & more!

Sponsored by Intercard!On this week's show we track the new wave of phygital e-karting and why projection-mapped gameplay could change the indoor karting business model. Then we zoom out to the market signals, tech shifts, and operator risks that are quietly reshaping location-based entertainment. • phygital e-karting as disruptive indoor karting with gamification layers • open-box low-speed formats versus high-speed karting with add-on gameplay • Las Vegas gaming revenue growth despite depressed tourism and what it signals • casino and resort acquisition chatter and the question of selling versus waiting • C-suite and marketing leadership churn across amusement and FEC businesses • councils pitching experiential venues and the need for an operating partner • active entertainment moving toward denser, digital active play per square foot • Little Lions’ London plans with Chaos Karts, Pac-Man Live, and Alien Invasion • VR shifting to museums and flexible exhibition spaces, plus the real cost caveats • operator warning on consumer VR headset support and replacement budgeting • projection floors, LED floors, and IP tie-ins as a repeat-visit engine • AI in the real world from Mona’s cafe mistakes to practical guest agents and kiosks • Park Avenue Open Day takeaways on machines, buying season, and industry camaraderieSubscribe and visit LBX Collective for more!

June 7, 2026Episode 801 hr 2 min

The LBX Show #80 - China’s Phygital Active Play, Park Avenue Open Day, & more!

Sponsored by Intercard!On this week's show we track the latest shifts in location-based entertainment, from embedded finance inside POS systems to the on-the-ground realities of what’s opening, what’s closing, and what operators keep getting wrong. Along the way, we connect cashless tech, immersive experiences, arcade supply chain delays, and the simple revenue levers that still matter most. • Intercard’s upcoming event lineup and why cashless systems still drive efficiency • ROLLER Capital powered by Adyen and what embedded finance changes for venue operators • Upla’s outdoor trampoline model and pricing benchmarks for hybrid attractions • Disney’s Muppet motion capture approach and why performance realism matters • Opening trends, clustering, and why chains keep expanding • Food and beverage as a per-cap and dwell-time lever, plus party room implications • Peter Piper Pizza growth, franchise dynamics, and positioning versus Chuck E. Cheese • VR free-roam and XR pop-ups moving into museums, galleries, and cultural venues • Japan arcade revitalization and how multi-floor layouts shape operations • China’s phygital active entertainment wave, wristbands, and integrated F&B • Touring IP attractions like Minecraft and what makes pop-ups work • Gigo’s Shanghai strategy and Sandbox VR’s expansion with ongoing F&B critiques • Flight 509 closing lessons on branding, attraction mix, and market fit • Andon Labs’ AI-managed coffee experiment and why automation can backfire • Park Avenue Open Day highlights, new game visibility, and shipping delay realitiesSubscribe and visit LBX Collective for more!

June 2, 2026Episode 1231 hr 9 min

Sound Off #123 - The Closure Logjam, Staytainment, Licensing Expo, & More!

Sponsored by Intercard!On this week's show we zoom out on why location-based entertainment keeps announcing openings while closures suddenly go quiet, and why that silence can signal bigger risk than bad news. We also track how "staytainment," IP licensing, and next-gen active play are reshaping what guests expect and what operators must execute. • lack of announced closures creating an unhealthy logjam • consumer trade-offs squeezing travel and discretionary spend • staytainment positioning as a local-growth strategy • active entertainment shifting toward digital sports amusement • Lucky Strike facing legal pressure and association conflicts • nostalgia-driven hospitality and arcade hybrids gaining momentum • single-attraction competitive socializing depending on strong food and beverage • private equity entering cashless payments and venue tech • interactive dark rides and VR adventures pushing repeatable formats • Licensing Expo signals bigger IP and transmedia competition Subscribe and visit LBX Collective for more!

May 31, 2026Episode 7947 min

The LBX Show #79 - World Cup Playbook, Black Mirror, Influencer Marketing, & More!

Sponsored by Intercard!On this week's show we break down what World Cup season means for location-based entertainment operators, with real examples you can adapt into watch parties, limited-time menus, and ticketed bundles that boost revenue. We also track major openings and closures across the industry, then close with a practical influencer marketing playbook you can use right away.• Intercard’s 2026 event schedule and where to meet the team• World Cup promotion ideas for FECs and LBEs built around community events and seasonal food and beverage• Dave & Buster’s kickoff-week activations including the human crane concept, themed menu items, merch, and ticketed watch parties• Topgolf’s tournament programming including match broadcasts, soccer-inspired game overlays, and limited-time drinks• Topgolf Las Vegas Hideaway Pool details and what it signals about adult-focused amenities• Open and Shut highlights including Joypolis Sport X and what “live park” might mean• Crossbar soft opening concerns and why a missing web presence is a red flag• Sandbox VR clustering strategy and what franchise operators gain from proximity• Zero Latency expansion notes plus hardware updates and licensed IP content plans• Infinity Experiences in Montreal launching a Black Mirror walkthrough and the rotating exhibition model• Dave & Buster’s and Main Event updates including design choices and new attraction mix• Qatar’s cluster of new LBEs plus a warning sign on closures and “holding on” through summer• Influencer marketing steps: finding creators, vetting engagement, bartering, collaboration posts, and converting content into adsSubscribe and visit LBX Collective for more!

May 26, 2026Episode 1221 hr 31 min

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

Sponsored by Intercard!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 pressureSubscribe and visit LBX Collective for more!

May 24, 2026Episode 7839 min

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

Sponsored by Intercard!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 spendSubscribe and visit LBX Collective for more!