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

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 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