Family Entertainment Centers

Pinnacle management has operated family entertainment centers (FECs) from 2,000 to 150,000 square feet with components as varied as

• arcades
• ice skating
• bowling
• major rides
• children's entertainment centers
• themed restaurants

New Facilities

We support family entertainment center owners in all aspects of new facility development. Using proper business planning and design, we set up FECs to deliver superior guest experiences from the moment they open their doors. This results in:

• longer guest stays
• guests share their outstanding experiences with others
• more frequent visits
• a long and successful life of the facility

Design

The floor plan, attraction selection, and theming development can have an enormous impact on the bottom line of a family entertainment center. We have assisted many FEC operators in enhancing their layouts to maximize profitability and guest satisfaction. We can recommend architect(s) and work directly with your architect/designer to create a current, vibrant floor plan that keeps guests interacting within the facility, increasing revenue and higher probability for repeat visits.

Game Selection and Purchasing

The right mix of games and attractions keeps visitors engaged and buying. We have over 30 years of experience in game and attraction selection, and enjoy excellent purchasing relationships with industry suppliers. Instead of accepting commissions on sales to our consulting clients, we leverage our purchasing power to ensure pricing advantages for our clients. Our strategies can include quality used and refurbished games whenever possible or desirable, and we are flexible enough to execute the purchase for you or play a support role.

[click here for a complete client list]Family Entertainment Center Clients

Shakey's, Mexico City, Mexico

We are assisting the investor group with the opening of the first of what are expected to be numerous Shakey's in Mexico. We played a lead role in the design, layout, game selection, import logistics, supplier selection, and operational system implementation for the project. We also advised on the unique challenges of implementing redemption in Mexico, given prohibitive tariffs on toys manufactured in China.

Webcor, Inc, Cincinnati, OH

Is a newly constructed family entertainment center featuring Laser Tag, GoKarts, mini bowling, miniature golf and a state of the art redemption game room. We advised ownership and assisted with game selection and purchasing, layout, redemption center design, operations training, system implementation, and general project consulting.

McDermont Field House

McDermont Field House is the 270,000 square foot indoor sports and entertainment complex owned and operated by the City of Lindsay, CA. Pinnacle assisted city management in the planning and developing of the complex with emphasis on the game and family entertainment center components. We assisted in all aspects of the game room development including supplier selection, creation of the game list, layout, redemption center design, debit card provider, redemption merchandise plan and management systems, production of customized operating manual for the game room, and educating the management team on industry trends and topics as well as system training for operations.

Sports Plus Family Entertainment Centers

This two year engagement was structured as an employment agreement. Mr. McAuliffe served as an executive officer of this company and managed the operation of four recreation and family entertainment centers producing over $30 million in gross revenues from family entertainment centers, indoor sports facilities, ice rinks, bowling, restaurant, group sales, and special events. He served on the design team for the development of Sports Plus, New Roc City and contributed numerous design changes and cost savings to the newest of the four locations. Pinnacle also managed the merchandise, coin operated game and attraction operations, and purchasing for the Sports Plus facilities, a division of Family Golf Centers, Inc. The Ice and Family Entertainment Centers represented a fraction the company's total sales of $175 million. After a major acquisition of golf centers by the parent company failed, the company filed for reorganization under Chapter 11. Mr. McAuliffe assisted the company in the sale of the Ice and Family entertainment facilities, which sold for in excess of $110 million. Many of the facilities continue in operation today.

Shakey's USA

Pinnacle assists the Shakey's management team with the operation and development of their entertainment offerings. Shakey's USA is the recently formed franchisor of Shakey's Pizza, a national restaurant and entertainment chain. The new management team, which Pinnacle supports, is charged with leveraging the good time heritage of the Shakey's name, developing a new and refreshed brand identity, and updating an entertainment experience to appeal to a wide age range. Pinnacle played a key role in establishing chain management techniques to the Game Room and in developing the new, go-forward prototype.

Disney Regional Entertainment

Served in a senior advisory role to the Disney management team for the development of the DisneyQuest and ESPN Zone restaurant/entertainment concepts. This was a two year engagement culminating in the successful launch of the concepts. Our contributions centered on business modeling, facility design, layout, game and attraction development, purchasing programs, merchandise programs, and management systems design and implementation.

Fun Enterprises, Inc

Pinnacle provided management services for this arcade and FEC chain's operations in Puerto Rico "from the cradle to reward." We began this ten year relationship by securing a lease for the company in Plaza del Sol, Puerto Rico's newest shopping mall. We also assisted with design, economic planning, attraction selection, construction, and grand opening. We retained an interest in the project and continued to serve the client through a multi year management and consulting agreement. We then structured the company for sale, developed the prospectus and marketed the business, negotiating the successful sale of the business to an international operator.