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

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

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