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

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

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

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