LBX Collective

Brandon Willey

5.0 (1)
Business
Updated Daily

The LBX Collective aims to inform and educate, create opportunities to connect with industry peers, and to spur collaboration, discourse, and cross-pollination of ideas in the location-based entertainment and experience industry.Join our online community at LBXGalaxy.com! Proudly sponsored by Intercard!

2d ago

The LBX Show #92 - Rerun: Annual Predictions Episode 2026!

Sponsored by Intercard! Sponsored by PartyPing! On this week's show we revisit the Annual Predictions episode while BW is away in Bled, Slovenia racing at World Masters regatta. On this re-run, we grade last year’s location-based entertainment predictions with brutal honesty, then map the signals that matter for operators across competitive socializing, arcades, VR, and IP-driven experiences. We close by laying out a practical 2026 playbook and a new round of predictions you can hold us to. • IAAPA FEC Summit details and why it matters for FEC operators • A clear framework for high, medium, and low predictions • Japan amusement expansion in the US through cranes, gashapon, and acquisitions • Competitive socializing venues overtaking traditional multi-attraction FEC new builds • Dave and Buster’s brand strategy miss and the reality check on social bays • VR supplier consolidation versus ongoing mini golf oversaturation • Openings trend toward phygital signage, drop-in mission rooms, and hybrid mixes • Round One component utilization and why positioning beats copy-paste rollouts • XR fitness inside gyms plus the operational reality of cleaning headsets • Closings and restructurings including Sixes and Dreamscape pivots • Arcade industry 2025 releases, trade show momentum, and uneven operator performance • Four 2026 growth levers: basics, efficiency, grassroots, value-first • 2026 predictions on transmedia, pickleball, Merlin, IP venues, and laser tag evolution Subscribe and visit LBX Collective for more!
Sep 8

The Stinger Report #1281 - New Phase in XR Investment – Part 2

Leading investors should note the evolving XR amusement landscape, marked by major restructurings, closures, and emerging trends. The Dutch VR operator The Park shifts focus to cultural experiences amid management changes, while high-profile VR adventures like Felix & Paul’s Interstellar ARC and Space Explorers face abrupt closures due to poor audience turnout and high costs, raising concerns about market viability. Conversely, social VR platforms like MirraArena expand rapidly across China, demonstrating strong consumer engagement. Additionally, mixed reality installations like Ripley’s Aquarium’s ‘Venture Realm’ utilizing Apple Vision Pro signify early adoption of MR in Western entertainment venues, highlighting new growth opportunities. Subscribe and visit LBX Collective for more!
Sep 8

Sound Off #136 - Little Lions Arcade Arena, FEG snags Top Golf, & more!

Sponsored by Intercard! Sponsored by PartyPing! On this week's show we get blunt about what is squeezing location-based entertainment right now: subscription licensing, staffing needs, and the widening gap between what tech promises and what venues can reliably earn. We also break down the week’s biggest headlines, from an IP theme park announcement that unravels fast to hands-on notes from a new immersive venue in London. • subscription pricing pressure in free-roam VR and LBE operations • why operators still need staff even with “attendantless” claims • when IP helps sell the attraction and when it is a crutch • the Dragon Ball Z park announcement and the licensing reality check • leadership moves and what they signal about growth and acquisitions • Liv Golf’s potential collapse and what replaces the void • Topgolf’s arcade rollout and why deployment matters more than packaging • Area 15 rebrands tenants and the risk of taking everything in-house • Cineworld’s racing sim push and the problem of too many simulators • Pixel World’s multi-attraction model and the marketing execution gap • 501’s virtual archery concept and why usability decides the outcome • Genda’s quiet IP merch strategy including a Disney corner • Apple Vision Pro pop-ups and Meta smart glasses privacy damage control • Arcade Arena London review with Pac-Man Live, Chaos Karts, Alien Invasion Subscribe and visit LBX Collective for more!
Sep 6

The LBX Show #91 - Pixel World debut, legacy bowling reinvestment, & more!

Sponsored by Intercard! Sponsored by PartyPing! On this week's show we keep it light and practical with quick updates from the LBX world, including a teaser for a new rewards platform built for experience-based venues and what’s coming in Season Five. Then Kevin Williams joins us for Open And Shut to break down the latest location-based entertainment openings, closures, and the signals behind them. • Season Five suggestion box with new recurring contributors and segment ideas • Consolidation and brand expansion driving many new openings • Altitude’s latest trampoline park with more FEC elements in the mix • Cinema chains testing cinetainment and racing simulator concepts • Roxy Ballroom growth and why venue video marketing needs accuracy • Pixel World style multi-room interactive formats and throughput advantages • Competitive socializing with a strong food and beverage focus and less gamification • K1 Speed expansion and the case for a brand and website refresh • Immersive entertainment arenas growing in scale and competitive pressure • Legacy bowling facilities facing reinvestment pressure plus ownership changes and closures Subscribe and visit LBX Collective for more!
Sep 1

The Stinger Report #1280 - New Phase in XR Investment – Part 1

Leading investors should note that the LBE VR sector remains highly profitable amid shifting hardware dynamics, with new Asian partnerships and innovative platforms like DPVR gaining traction. Market consolidation at key players like PICO and strategic collaborations, such as LAI Games with WAHLAP, highlight evolving technology offerings. A recent comprehensive survey by Zero Latency reveals increasing consumer interest in social, longer-duration, premium VR experiences driven by AI search trends and family appeal. Regulatory updates in Europe may influence product launches, while the emerging LBEC aims to boost Asia’s VR market valuation to $97m by 2037. Subscribe and visit LBX Collective for more!
Sep 1

Sound Off #135 - Kiddleton hits Walmarts, Netflix merch, F1 Box closure, & more!

Sponsored by Intercard! Sponsored by PartyPing! On this week's show we break down why big location-based entertainment ideas can vanish fast, and why the industry needs more honest post-mortems to turn failures into better venues. We also track major business and tech shifts, from IP-driven merch and projection-mapped attractions to XR pricing pressure and AI booking tools. • F1 Box shutting down and why transparency matters for learning • What operational details often get missed in simulator and arcade concepts • Dolly Parton’s Dollywood legacy and what it teaches about guest experience • Leadership moves at Elevate, Seven, AirHop, Main Event, Netflix House and Flyover • Mattel Adventure Park delays and the realities of complex IP developments • Kiddleton expanding in Walmart and why route operators should pay attention • The Dragon Ball Z theme park bet near Paris and questions about IP longevity • Underinvestment signals at Peter Piper Pizza and the entertainment mix problem • Projection-mapped “phygital” enclosures, interactive floors and turnkey arenas • Netflix House exclusive merch and how FOMO changes venue economics • Pico postponing spatial computing XR and what it means for LBE VR • NexPlayground licensing Pac-Man and the return of active entertainment • Universal Orlando’s AI assistant and the future of booking workflows Subscribe and visit LBX Collective for more!
Aug 30

The LBX Show #90 - The Hot Mess Express, GameVolt's Battle Arcade, & more!

Sponsored by Intercard! Sponsored by PartyPing! On this week's show we track the week’s biggest LBE moves, from cashless tech and trade show stops to a new rewards platform teaser and a community-driven wellness event idea operators can copy. We also debate a Titanic-themed kids slide on the new Hot Mess Express segment, then zoom out on openings, closures, arcade releases, and a no-fluff group sales process that turns outreach into bookings. • Intercard’s 2026 event lineup and why trade shows still matter for operators • A coming rewards platform preview tied to IAPA Expo and operator trials • Wellness community partnerships as a repeatable foot-traffic strategy • Hot Mess Express launch featuring the Titanic slide controversy • Mission rooms scaling quickly and why modular updates matter • Franchise growth, competitive socializing, and sportstainment venue mix trends • Closures that highlight audience targeting and F&B gaps • New arcade product updates across immersive rooms, racing, and annual refresh titles • Outbound group sales basics: lead lists, outreach systems, and follow-up discipline Subscribe and visit LBX Collective for more!
Aug 25

The Stinger Report #1279 - Amusement Transmedia Play

Interest in the rising influence of transmedia in entertainment, exemplified by the integration of arcade IP, movie tie-ins, and merchandise, notably in gaming, toys, and theme parks. The resurgence of retro gaming and arcade crossovers, supported by major licenses like Street Fighter and Sonic, underline a strategic shift towards nostalgic IP-driven growth. Meanwhile, innovations like “Everyday Prizes” in crane gaming and privacy concerns surrounding AI smart glasses highlight evolving consumer preferences and regulatory challenges. Notably, the sector faces headwinds from AR/VR restructuring, delays, and cost increases, signaling a cautious outlook for immersive technology investments. Subscribe and visit LBX Collective for more!

The LBX Collective aims to inform and educate, create opportunities to connect with industry peers, and to spur collaboration, discourse, and cross-pollination of ideas in the location-based entertainment and experience industry.Join our online community at LBXGalaxy.com! Proudly sponsored by Intercard!

Creator

Brandon Willey
Years Active

2023 - 2026
Episodes

601
Rating

Clean
Copyright

© 2026 LBX Collective
Show Website

LBX Collective

Management

Management

Updated Weekly
Society & Culture

Society & Culture

Updated Biweekly
Technology

Technology

Updated Weekly