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#1216 – Social Entertainment Dines Out, Part 2

Loading the Elevenlabs Text to Speech AudioNative Player... Continuing our coverage of the “Eatertainment” sector and its growing impact on the market, we look at the involvement in the Social Entertainment aspect of the business and the need by the market to expand into new territories. At the same time, we look towards the Theme Park and Resort sector, and how changes in branding and the movie sector are reflected in changing business conditions. AI Constructed Brief Imbiba-backed Clays secured £6m in new investment to support expansion, with plans to open its first regional venue in Birmingham, UK. The digital clay pigeon shooting concept is poised for significant growth. Another Imbiba-supported chain, F1 Arcade, announced plans to roll out 30 venues in the US over 5 years, partnering with D-BOX for haptic technology. Sixes Growth, a new cricket-themed venture, raised […]

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Virtual Arena #19 – Europe’s XR Attraction Mix

The traveling European leg of the mega IAAPA trade show (IAAPA-Europe-Expo) landed in Amsterdam at the end of September 2024 and offered a massive snapshot of the European industry landscape, and how the latest trends are being deployed in the attraction and amusement scene. The international trade association event attracting massive attendance from the European territory, as well as seeing North American and Asian visitation. With VR, AR and MR having been deployed into the amusement mix for this sector of commercial entertainment; and the novelty factor has now been superseded by the realities of which of these applications grabs audience interest and generates reliable revenue. Virtual Reality The virtual reality scene in the location-based entertainment (LBE) sector has evolved from the passive tethered VR experiences of Generation One and Two, and now represents most of the Room Scale – […]

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#1215 – Social Entertainment Dines Out, Part 1

Loading the Elevenlabs Text to Speech AudioNative Player... The explosion in developments and new openings in the Social Entertainment sector have been immerse in recent months. The interest in what has been defined as “Competitive Socializing” has only been disrupted by the upheavals that are impacting the “Eatertainment” sector. In the first of a two-part report on these developments, we look at the reality of falling revenues and the restructuring of the business currently underway. AI Constructed Brief The "Eatertainment" sector is facing significant challenges due to inflation and declining sales, with various chains like Dave & Buster's and Topgolf reporting drops in same-store sales. Dave & Buster's saw a 5% decrease earlier this year but rebounded with a 2.5% revenue increase in Q2 2024, supported by facility renovations and new openings. In contrast, Topgolf reported an 8% decline in […]

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Virtual Arena #18 – Immersive Performance

In this latest column, we look at the emergence of immersive audience engagement, using both virtual and mixed reality technologies. Far beyond the limitations of consumer VR applications – the ability of interacting in groups offers a new dimension to immersion, and points towards a possible theater and exhibition-based future of XR. The need for physical engagement the special element that defines the new level of immersive experiences sweeping the international attraction, stage and exhibition scene. Shared VR The technology advantage of “Shared Reality” (SR) applications, offers the ability for groups and audiences to enjoy the experience together sharing the immersion and narrative. While the ‘Big Screen’ consumer VR experiences have proven one of the recuring popular consumer VR applications across platforms. The ability to enthral actual large audiences, beyond low quality disembodied heads, has enthralled audience members to the […]

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#1214 – Big Strike for Entertainment Future!

Loading the Elevenlabs Text to Speech AudioNative Player... While the bowling industry and even the Japanese leisure sector all get their chance to shine in the sun, we see the realities of how social entertainment is impacting the sectors from bowling scene, alongside the Japanese market’s need for reinvention and investment towards its new future. Reflecting a momentum in the evolving leisure entertainment sector before the holidays and the rest of the years expected surprises. AI Constructed Brief The International Bowl Expo (IBE) 2024, held at the Gaylord Rockies Resort in Aurora, CO, marked a significant gathering for the bowling and amusement sectors, celebrating its 92nd anniversary. The event highlighted a shift towards social entertainment, with exhibitors showcasing innovative bowling technologies – such as QubicaAMF's 'NeoVerse' and Brunswick's 'SyncOne' media platform. The focus was on creating engaging experiences, such as […]

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#1213 – Digital Dreams for Silver Screen

Loading the Elevenlabs Text to Speech AudioNative Player... A cacophony of amusement and attraction events continued in the run into Summer. The Cinema scene in Europe is in the spotlight, while the continued swirling of mergers, acquisitions, and restructuring impact the market, seeing major developments for well-known corporate brands in the sector and beyond. AI Constructed Brief CineEurope 2024, held in Barcelona June 17-20, marked a pivotal moment for the European cinema industry amidst a challenging box office landscape. The 33rd edition of this annual convention, produced by The Film Expo Group and officially associated with the International Union of Cinemas (UNIC), brought together major, regional, and independent cinema exhibitors to showcase upcoming films, discuss industry trends, and explore technological innovations. Despite recent box office disappointments, the event highlighted the industry's resilience and adaptability, with a focus on diversification strategies […]

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