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

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

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

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