Ep 4: Bringing the Construction Site Indoors: Operating an RC Sand Arena with Arena 5/9
- Clint Novak
- 5 days ago
- 2 min read
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, and highly interactive attractions. Their newest venture, 5/9 Excaventures, is a completely unique indoor sand arena where guests operate RC construction equipment like diggers, loaders, and dump trucks.
It is an incredibly cool concept that immediately sets their facility apart, but from a general operations standpoint, it sounds like a logistical puzzle. We asked Eddy the hard questions about how they actually make this work day-to-day. Here are a few key takeaways from our conversation.
Managing the Indoor Elements
Bringing the outdoors inside is always a challenge. Sand gets everywhere. We dove into the physical realities of managing a massive sandbox in a commercial environment. Eddy shared their strategies for keeping the sand contained, maintaining a clean facility for the guests, and ensuring the HVAC system survives the dust.
Fleet Maintenance and Durability
Standard arcade equipment takes a beating, but handing a heavy-duty RC vehicle to an excited kid on a busy Saturday afternoon is a whole different level of wear and tear. We talked through the types of equipment they use and how they prevent constant breakage. Eddy broke down their daily maintenance protocols and what operators need to know about keeping a fleet of active RC toys functional under heavy use.
The Battery Cycle Nightmare
Perhaps the biggest operational hurdle of an attraction like this is power management. You cannot just plug an active RC digger into the wall. Managing the constant cycle of battery charging on a busy weekend requires a flawless system. Eddy shared their exact process for swapping, charging, and tracking batteries to ensure the attraction never goes down because of a dead truck.
Listen to the Full Episode
If you are looking for ways to step outside the standard attraction mix and bring truly unique, hands-on experiences to your guests, Eddy’s insights are invaluable.
🎧 Watch or listen to Episode 4 of The FEC Masterminds Podcast right here:
Need help streamlining your general operations or figuring out the logistics of a unique new attraction? Reach out to us at Novak Amusement Solutions to see how we can help optimize your facility.
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