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In the world of Family Entertainment Centers (FECs), there is no "corporate playbook" for success—especially when you’re handed the keys to a bankrupt go-kart track and told to figure it out. In Episode 10 of the FEC Masterminds Podcast, Clint and Erik sit down with Dave from Grand Island Fun Center to pull back the curtain on his 13-year journey from college student to solo owner-operator. Dave shares how he took an underperforming park, overcame a "dump" stigma, and achieve

As I travel the country on the Novak Roadshow and talk to family entertainment center owners, there is one question that comes up more than any other: "How do I find a great game technician?" You can put an ad out for a general manager, attractions supervisor, or an event coordinator and get dozens of resumes from people with transferable skills. But where do you go to find a great game tech? There is no "Arcade Tech 101" degree at the local university. There is no national c

How do you stand out in a brutally crowded market of nineteen competing adventure parks? If you ask Ed, a 36-year veteran of the amusement industry, the answer is simple: You throw out the corporate playbook, buy a drop-fog machine, lean heavily into aggressive guerrilla marketing, and treat underperforming venues as "reclamation projects." In Episode 9 of the FEC Masterminds Podcast, hosts Clint Novak (Novak Amusement Solutions) and Erik Stottlemyer (CEO of Adventure Park US

Note: This article was originally published in the June 2026 issue of RePlay Magazine. I’m expanding on it here with some extra "Consultant's Corner" strategies and a hands-on walk-through audit you can use with your management team this week. We spend a lot of time as operators looking at the "back of the house." We’re deep into P&L statements, labor percentages, and the day-to-day coaching of a young, energetic staff. But when was the last time you actually experienced your

Note: This article was originally published in the May 2026 issue of RePlay Magazine. I’m expanding on it here with some extra "Clint’s Corner" strategies and structural advice for operators who need to transition from "survival hiring" to "excellence hiring." As I travel the country on the Novak Roadshow, I hear the same refrain from nearly every operator I meet: "Clint, I just can’t find good help." It’s the universal struggle of the 2026 FEC landscape. We are all fighting

The IAAPA Expo map is live, and for those of us who have spent years navigating the North-South Concourse, this year requires a new game plan. The show has officially expanded across the street into the West Concourse. For the FEC operator, this isn't just a map change—it’s a shift in how you need to prioritize your walk-through. Here are my key observations as I’ve been mapping out my own route for the show. 1. The West Hall "Power Shift" The most significant change is the m

Every month, I get asked by other operators, "Clint, what is actually moving in your cranes right now?" To be honest, it’s a constant game of testing and adjusting. If you put a generic mix in every machine, you’re going to see your collections plateau. You have to constantly rotate in what’s hot and keep a close eye on what’s actually hitting the glass. The "Weekly Refresh" Strategy What makes this list different? At Planet Novak, we don't just set it and forget it. We have

Running a Family Entertainment Center (FEC) usually brings certain images to mind: arcades, laser tag, or go-karts. But what happens when your primary attraction is 21,000 square feet of ice in the heart of Florida? We recently sat down with Keith Smith from The Ice Factory in Kissimmee, Florida, to discuss the unique challenges and opportunities of operating an ice rink as a high-engagement, modern FEC. More Than Just Skating in Circles While many ice rinks focus strictly on

When most operators think about adding a new attraction, they look at the standard mix: redemption games, laser tag, or maybe some mini bowling. But what happens when you decide to bring literal tons of sand indoors so kids can play with heavy-duty remote-control excavators? In Episode 4 of The FEC Masterminds Podcast, Erik and I had the chance to sit down with Eddy Richardson from Arena 5/9 Family Fun Zone. Arena 5/9 is known for pushing the envelope with hands-on, tactical,

Replacing a major attraction is one of the toughest, most expensive decisions an operator has to make. Once you finally pull the trigger and tear it out, what exactly goes into that empty footprint to guarantee a solid return on investment? In Episode 3 of The FEC Masterminds Podcast, Erik and I sat down with Chris Camp from Fun Fore All in Cranberry Township, PA, to talk through the operational realities of massive capital investments. Chris walked us through his facility’s

Every operator in the family entertainment industry knows the struggle of the post-summer slump. The kids go back to school, the weather starts to cool down, and historically, those fall months can become some of the quietest—and least profitable—times of the year. But what if you could take one of your worst months and turn it into one of your absolute best? In Episode 2 of The FEC Masterminds Podcast, Erik and I sat down with Brent from Funopolis Family Fun Center in Commer

As part of the Novak Roadshow, my monthly consulting tour aimed at helping Family Entertainment Center (FEC) operators optimize their businesses, I recently visited a brand-new facility that completely blew me away: The Hub in Stillwater, Oklahoma. Meeting with Philip Glass, who was instrumental in getting the facility open, I got an exclusive, behind-the-scenes look at a massive entertainment complex. Only two weeks into their opening, they are already showcasing some incred

The games are flashing, the card readers are glowing, and the floor is always moving. But behind the scenes, we all know what it really takes to keep the doors open and the margins up. Welcome to The FEC Masterminds Podcast—a new weekly show built strictly by operators, for operators. For years, Erik Stottlemyer (Owner of Adventure Park USA) and I have been part of an operator mastermind group, meeting monthly to trade notes, fix operational headaches, and figure out what act

We are right in the thick of the spring hiring push. Across the industry, operators are staffing up, bringing in an influx of high school and college hires—many of whom are stepping into their very first job. Once you get these new hires into your system, the next massive hurdle is making sure they are actually ready for the crushing crowds of a busy weekend. When I first started at Fun Land, we fell into the trap that so many Family Entertainment Centers fall into. We used t

In the world of Family Entertainment Centers (FECs), there’s a common playbook: hire a general contractor, buy your attractions from a catalog, and call a tech support line when the lights go out. Then, there’s The Castle Fun Center in Chester, NY. I recently had the chance to tour this sprawling facility with their General Manager, Mike , and I walked away with a massive amount of respect for their operation. The Castle is a masterclass in the "Hands-on Ethos." While many f

In the amusement business, your crane machines are only as profitable as the "win-appeal" sitting inside them. You can have the best machine placement and the perfect payout percentage, but if the plush doesn't catch a guest's eye, the card swiper stays dark. To get a real-world look at what is actually driving revenue on the floor right now, I pulled data from dedicated claw arcade operators. Between Planet Novak, James P. from Claw City, and Gabriel from ClawOasis, this mon

Bongos Dirty Soda By Clint Novak | Originally featured in RePlay Magazine Note: This article was originally published in the April 2026 issue of RePlay Magazine. I’m expanding on it here with some extra "Consultant's Corner" tips for operators looking to implement this immediately. Clint Novak sampling Bongos Dirty Soda! In February, while attending the IAAPA FEC Summit, our group visited Pecan Lake Entertainment in Queen Creek, Arizona. As we toured their impressive food and

Planet Novak in Fredericksburg, VA If you walk the midway of almost any Family Entertainment Center and ask the General Manager how their cranes are priced, you’ll often get the same answer: "It's a dollar a play." But if you ask them why it's a dollar a play, things usually get quiet. When it comes to merchandisers, claw machines, and pushers, the "set it and forget it" mentality is the fastest way to bleed out your profit margins or entirely kill a guest's desire to play.

Clint and Brett outside Bongos The Novak Roadshow is back on the move! Our mission is to find the hidden gems and operational brilliance that move the needle in the FEC industry. This month, the road took me to Fort Walton Beach, Florida, where Brett and Kourtney welcomed me in for a full tour of their incredible facility: Bongo’s Fun Center. What makes this stop so special is the history. Originally founded in 1976 as the iconic Fort SK8, Bongo’s is officially celebrating 5

Clint Novak Selfie with Christa & Russ The latest stop on the Novak Roadshow took me to the beautiful Miramar Beach, Florida, to visit Russ and his team at Rainforest Blacklight Golf & Arcade . Russ operates two locations, but the Miramar Beach site is a fantastic case study in how to grow within a strip mall footprint while maintaining a high-end, immersive feel. The Layout: Beyond the Blacklight The core of the facility is a massive, 18-hole indoor blacklight mini-golf cou