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 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