AUSTIN — Virtuix, creator of the “Omni Arena” virtual reality esports attraction, has reported the latest usage data from Omni Arena sites nationwide. Over the spring break vacation, many sites earned record-breaking revenues, indicating that the FEC industry is rebounding.

Omni Arena revenues at FECs averaged $15,315 in March, up 9% from the pre-pandemic monthly average of $14,050. Eight Omni Arena sites, or nearly 25% of sites, were on track to earn over $20,000 in a single month.

Breaking down the results by venue type, go-karting venues and multi-themed FECs have recovered the fastest. Trampoline parks and movie theaters are also enjoying an upswing, though recovering more slowly.

“Our operators’ revenues have not only recovered, but at many sites, they are exceeding pre-pandemic numbers,” said Jan Goetgeluk, founder and CEO of Virtuix. “The data indicates that our industry is surging back. Guests are returning to entertainment venues and spending money.”

Omni Arena is a full-body virtual reality attraction for up to four players. Motion platforms inside the attraction enable players to walk and run around inside video games. Guests can compete for top spots on leaderboards and win a share of a $100,000 esports prize pool sponsored by Virtuix and HP.

STEVENSVILLE, Md. — Ride Entertainment, the Gold Standard in the attractions industry for safety, sales and support, is proud to announce two new, key additions to their award-winning team: Communications Manager, Kris Rowberry and Marketing Manager, Ed Hodgdon.

“Passion for what we do is a major part of our success,” said Ed Hiller, CEO of Ride Entertainment. “We cannot wait for our partners around the world to experience the incredible talents these two bring to our business each and every day.”

“It is an honor and privilege to work for a company as innovative and influential as Ride Entertainment,” said Rowberry. “Working in this role is an absolute dream come true.”

“I am thrilled to be working with the entire Ride Entertainment team,” said Hodgdon. “I cannot wait to be able to bring Ride’s ‘Gold Standard’ to all our clients around the world.”

Rowberry comes to the Ride Entertainment team with over 10 years of attractions industry experience and is an IAAPA Brass Ring Award winner for social media. He volunteers his time for both American Coaster Enthusiasts and the National Roller Coaster Museum & Archives.

Hodgdon brings over 20 years of marketing experience to Ride Entertainment. He is the current Secretary of NEAAPA and sits on the Board of Directors for the Maine Beaches Association.

SANDUSKY, Ohio — Cedar Point today announced that Carrie Boldman has been named vice president and general manager of the park. She succeeds Jason McClure, who has been promoted to senior vice president, park operations, at Cedar Point’s parent company, Cedar Fair Entertainment Company.

Boldman previously served as Cedar Point’s vice president of merchandise and games, and brings 25 years of experience in strategic development, brand management and merchandising expertise to her new role. She spent 16 years as director of product development and design for Disney Parks and Resorts. She then spent two years as director of marketing and sales for The Chef’s Garden, a family-owned sustainable farm in Huron, Ohio, before joining the Cedar Fair team in 2013. Boldman will also make history as the first female general manager of the park in its 150 years of operation.

“Carrie is a talented leader with an impressive track record in product development and design,” said Tim Fisher, chief operating officer of Cedar Fair. “We are confident that her skills and experience will help build on Cedar Point’s rich legacy of creating memorable experiences for the millions of guests who visit the park each year.”    

“As a Huron native who grew up coming to Cedar Point and spent six years working here as a seasonal associate, I am tremendously proud to have the opportunity lead this talented team,” said Boldman, whose two daughters also work at the park. “The park has been a vital part of the Sandusky community for 150 years, and I look forward to forging even stronger connections with our guests through fun, immersive experiences.”     

In McClure’s new role, he will oversee operations at the following Cedar Fair parks: Canada’s Wonderland in Toronto; Cedar Point; Michigan’s Adventure in Muskegon, Michigan; Dorney Park in Allentown, Pennsylvania; Kings Island near Cincinnati; and Worlds of Fun in Kansas City. He had served as vice president and general manager at Cedar Point since 2014, with responsibility for the day-to-day operations and financial performance of the 150-year-old amusement park. He began his Cedar Fair career in 2001 in the finance division of Carowinds in Charlotte, North Carolina. McClure earned his way up to vice president of finance and, in 2005, transitioned to the same role at Kings Island. In 2008, he became vice president and general manager of Dorney Park before taking the top role at Cedar Point.  

“Jason brings significant operations and finance experience to this senior leadership role, as well as a deep passion for delivering on our commitment to provide guests with fun, dynamic and memorable experiences they can share with their family and friends,” Fisher said. 

“I am thrilled to take on this new role, leading several Cedar Fair parks in their mission to deliver great experiences and memories for our guests and associates,” said McClure. “Cedar Point is in great hands. Carrie is passionate about the park, its associates and their desire to continue the legacy of providing legendary fun, and I look forward to continue working with her and the Cedar Point team.”

 CHARLOTTE, North Carolina — Carowinds, the premier entertainment destination of the Southeast, announced today that Manny Gonzalez has been named vice president and general manager of the park. He succeeds Pat Jones, who has been promoted to senior vice president, park operations, at Cedar Fair Entertainment Company, Carowinds’ parent company. 

Gonzalez brings a wealth of experience to Carowinds, having held leadership roles with a number of recognized companies in the entertainment and leisure industry. These roles include vice president and general manager at Six Flags in Oklahoma City for 17 years, chief operating officer at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium in Ohio for nearly three years, and a board member of Hawaiian Falls Waterparks in Dallas/Ft. Worth, Texas, from 2015-2017. For the past three years, Gonzalez has served as vice president and general manager at California’s Great America, which is Cedar Fair’s park in Santa Clara. 

“Manny is a passionate leader with global experience in the leisure and hospitality industry, including strategic development for theme parks, zoos, cruise lines and live events,” said Tim Fisher, Cedar Fair chief operating officer. “His keen insights and strategic perspective will help enhance Carowinds’ already-strong reputation for providing guests with amazing experiences and memories that last a lifetime.” 

“I look forward to joining the Carowinds team,” Gonzalez said. “I’m honored to lead the well-loved park through its next phase of evolution and am committed to continuing to deliver the high-quality experiences its guests expect and enjoy.” 

In Jones’ new role as senior vice president, she will have operational oversight for the following parks: California’s Great America, Carowinds, Kings Dominion in Virginia, Knott’s Berry Farm in California, Schlitterbahn parks in New Braunfels and Galveston, Texas, and Valleyfair in Minnesota. 

Jones brings more than 40 years of industry experience to her new position. She began her career as a game attendant at Kings Dominion. She later held increasingly responsible roles on her way to managing retail at the park. In the 1990s she moved to Carowinds as vice president of resale, overseeing food, merchandise and games. Jones then returned to Kings Dominion to serve as vice president of resale until 2004 when she was tapped to serve as corporate vice president of resale at Paramount Parks. After Cedar Fair purchased Paramount, she was brought back to lead park operations for both Kings Dominion and Carowinds. In 2016 she relocated to Charlotte to focus solely on Carowinds’ growth. 

“Pat brings significant operations and finance experience to this senior leadership role, as well as a deep passion for delivering on our commitment to provide guests with fun, dynamic and memorable experiences they can share with their family and friends,” Fisher said. 

“I’m excited for the opportunity help lead Cedar Fair’s continued pursuit of excellence at its parks across the country,” Jones said. “It’s a privilege to take on this role at such a pivotal time in the industry.” 

Semnox Solutions LLC has been chosen as the newest sponsor for Foundations Entertainment University as their preferred Cashless Payment & IT provider. The Dallas-based group will be joining Foundations for their first time at the upcoming Virtual Seminar on April 28 & 29, 2021.

Jerry Merola, Executive Director of Foundations Entertainment University expressed his delight in having Semnox onboard by saying, “We are thrilled to welcome Semnox to our elite class of sponsors at Foundations.  As a leader in technology solutions for the industry, Semnox’s expertise will prove invaluable in educating and preparing our development-focused attendees in their quest to deliver a premium experience within their upcoming entertainment venues”.

“Semnox is so pleased to join such a prestigious instructional program like Foundations University, who have been educating the Amusement Industry for the last 19 years,” added Brian Duke, Senior Sales Partner at Semnox. “I’ve known Frank Seninsky & Jerry Morola even longer, so to finally be able to partner with them bringing the best Venue Management and Debit Card System to their attendees is an honor and privilege”.

For more information or to sign up for the upcoming Foundations Virtual Roadshow, please visit their website at www.foundationsuniversity.com or email Jackie Zilligen at jazilligen@comcast.net. 

The World Waterpark Association is officially opening registration for the 12th Annual World’s Largest Swimming Lesson on Thursday, April 1st. Host Locations can celebrate April Pools Day by signing-up for this year’s worldwide lesson at https://www.wlsl.org/WLSL/host_an_event.aspx.

Tens of millions of children missed the opportunity to participate in aquatics last summer, creating an urgent need for swim lessons in 2021. Organizers are urging aquatic facilities of all types to register for this global, one-day event and to host at least 21 participants (#21in21) to build awareness about the need and importance of swim lessons in their local communities.

Per the World Health Organization, drowning is the third leading cause of unintentional injury-related death, accounting for 7 percent of all injury-related deaths worldwide. In the U.S., drowning remains the leading cause of preventable injury-related death for children ages 1-4, and the second leading cause for children under 14. Yet, according to a 2020 research study completed by the American Red Cross, more than half (54%) of U.S. kids ages 4-17 are not able to perform the basic water safety skills that can save their life. 

The World’s Largest Swimming Lesson™ provides kids, parents and caregivers exposure to life-saving water safety skills while building buzz and awareness about the importance of teaching children to swim and providing undistracted adult supervision to help prevent drowning.

Aquatics facilities and providers can join TEAM WLSL in their mission to prevent childhood drowning through education by registering to conduct the 30-minute lesson any time of day during the 24-hour event on Thursday, June 17th. Learn more at https://www.wlsl.org.  

About The World’s Largest Swimming Lesson
The WLSL event serves as a platform for the aquatics industry to use one voice to send the clear and united message, Swimming Lessons Save Lives. Since the program was launched in 2010, the Swimming Lessons Save Lives message has been shared more than two billion times in the U.S. alone. WLSL events have provided more than 160,000 working hours of water safety training with more than 320,000 children and adults in 48 countries having participated in local lessons.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ApSY4iFZCDc

SAN ANTONIO, Texas — SeaWorld is kicking off 2021 with a food festival that’s bigger, better and packed with more flavor than ever before! This year at San Antonio’s largest theme park food festival, foodies and families alike can discover the widest variety of chef- and mixologist-curated tastes inspired by cultures from across the Seven Seas. Guests can plan a safe, limited-capacity visit to the park where they can roam the expansive open-air grounds and embark on an international flavor journey inspired by the tastes and smells of the Caribbean, Italy, Brazil, Asia and beyond. The event, which happens every Friday, Saturday and Sunday, April 2 through May 30^th (and Memorial Day, Monday, May 31^st) will feature the park’s enhanced health and safety measures including increased cleaning and sanitation, temperature checks, and face covering requirements. 

With almost 100 international flavors including 50 fresh global cuisine tastings from around the world – featuring more than 20 NEW food items, the most additions in the events history – guests can taste everything from the most indulgent fare to the park’s all-new savory vegetarian bites. In addition to the amazing food, this year’s festival includes SeaWorld’s most expansive beverage menu ever with nearly 50 specially curated cocktails, wines, and craft beers.

Guests can discover the flavors of the globe at more than 13 festival marketplaces:

• Enjoy two ALL-NEW global regions, Germany and Korea: Indulge in Korean fare such as Kimchi fries, Kimchi pancakes, and Galbi beef short ribs. Taste buds will be transported to Germany with Beer Braised Bratwurst with Caramelized Onions, Braised Beef with Spaetzle, Beer Cheese Spaetzle with Sautéed Onions, and Apple Strudel with Frozen Vanilla Cream.
• Spice it up with flavors from the Caribbean: Jerk Chicken with Caribbean Cole Slaw, Jerk Pork White Cheddar Mac and Cheese, Curried Chicken Street Patty, Passion Fruit Custard, and Guava Crème Custard.
• Bold flavors from the Mediterranean: From Greece, Chicken Shawarma with Skhug Sauce served on warm pita bread. An assortment of crepes including Turkey, Mushroom Spinach and Swiss; Chocolate-Cherries and Cream; Hazelnut, Banana, and Strawberry; Cuban, and Chocolate Crème Brulee from France. From Italy guests can sink their teeth into Meatball sliders, Mediterranean Shrimp and Pesto, Chicken Margherita, Pizza con Patate (potato pizza), and Artisan Flatbreads.
• Fresh and sustainable bites and vegetarian delights: NEW Potato Pizza, Jackfruit Yakisoba, Spicy Tofu Poke Bowl, Baklava, Beer Cheese Spaetzle with Sautéed Onions and more!
• Delectable sweets: Try all-new tantalizing Chocolate Crème Brulee, Rizogalo rice pudding, Guava Crème Custard, or indulge in Apple Strudel with Frozen Vanilla or Pina Colada Sorbet.
• Explore 50 beverage choices: Sip on globally inspired wines and mixologist-curated cocktails: Sip on globally inspired wines and mixologist-curated cocktails: Caribbean Rum Runner (Spiced rum, coconut rum, orange, pineapple and cranberry juice), Honey Bee Hurricane (Spiced rum, passion fruit puree, hibiscus syrup, lemon juice and club soda) Watermelon Frosè (Pink sangria, lemon juice and watermelon puree), Goddess Athena (Vodka, juices, brown sugar and club soda), Soju Sunrise (classic soju, sake, orange juice and grenadine) Mai Tai (assorted rums, orange juice, triple sec, and grenadine), Assorted flavored Soju, Tennessee Mule, Jack Honey Lemonade, Old Fashioneds, and more!
• ALL-NEW this year, Whiskey Tasting and Tequila Tasting experiences: Guests can relax and unwind as they sip on whisky or sample a whole flight in a lively setting.With physical distancing and limited capacity, this area is an open-air, shaded space—the perfect place to sit back and enjoy the festival.
• NEW and unique photo opportunity backdrops: Festival goers can commemorate the good times and post to their social media in front of a dozen new colorful and artistic backdrops, each commemorating a “country” visited. Guests can tag #SEAWORLDSANANTONIO for a chance to be featured on the parks Instagram page to commemorate their visit!

Best Way to Savor and Sip:
Discover boundless combinations of food and drink selections with a Seven Seas Food Festival Tasting Lanyard. Guests can embark on their culinary journey with a 10-sample lanyard starting at only $55 or take it up a notch and save more than 30 percent with the fan favorite 15-sample lanyard for the best savings. SeaWorld San Antonio pass members also get the VIP treatment with even more flavor and savings with their 3 free additional samples with the purchase of a 15-sample lanyard.      

CARLSBAD, Calif. — LEGO costume characters, employees and a brass band greeted guests as LEGOLAND California Resort reopened today after being closed for 13 months due to COVID-19. The long-awaited opening was welcomed by kids and families who are able to ride rollers coasters for the first time in more than a year, drive miniature cars and experience Miniland U.S.A. again at the family theme park in Carlsbad, California. LEGOLAND California is reopening with Park Preview Days now through April 12 before officially reopening on April 15, 2021. 

Park Preview Days offers guests access to select rides including Driving School, LEGO TECHNIC Coaster, Fairy Tale Brook and Coastersaurus.  Kids and their families are able to  enjoy socially distant character meet and greets, live entertainment, a wide variety of food options and Miniland U.S.A. The Resort officially reopens April 15, offering access to SEA LIFE aquarium,  LEGO CHIMA Water Park, and some of the Park’s more than 60 rides, shows and attractions.

Guests can purchase tickets and reserve their spot now along with pass holders and existing tickets holders through LEGOLAND California’s new reservation system for their desired Park visit. Hotel reservations for stays at LEGOLAND Hotel and LEGOLAND Castle Hotel can continue to be made online as well.

To ensure a safe and healthy experience for its guests, the Resort is implementing safety guidelines which include reduced capacity, cashless payments, social distancing practices and enhanced cleaning regimes. Face coverings will be required for all guests two years of age and up as well as all staff members and temperatures will be taken upon check in. For more Resort information and to make reservations, visit: www.legoland.com/california.

Powers Great American Midways (PGAM) took delivery of its new Sky Hawk from ARM of Winterville, Ohio, last week while the show was playing a still date in South Carolina. Show owner Corky (Les) Powers said the spectacular ride will play some upcoming major Florida  fair dates later this month before rejoining PGAM for its festivals and fairs route.  PGAM of Whiteville, N.C., got on the road in March. (Courtesy ARM Inc.)

CALVERTON, N.Y. — The longest offseason in the 31-year history of Splish Splash Waterpark will come to an end on Saturday, May 29, as New York’s Largest Water Park reopens its gates to guests for the first time since Labor Day 2019, a 627-day closure caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Splish Splash’s 30th season may begin a year later than initially planned, but with no shortage of excitement for the return of summer fun to Long Island. The first step in this comeback campaign: hiring roughly 1,000 seasonal staffers to provide a clean, safe and fun experience for Splish Splash visitors.

“We’re so excited to get back to the business of fun here at Splish Splash,” said General Manager Mike Bengtson. “Creating opportunities for people to get back to work is an important step in the recovery process, and we will keep safety as our top priority for staff and applicants throughout the recruitment, orientation and training process.”

Safety will be at the forefront of all activity for Splish Splash during the current recruiting period and as the water park prepares to open and welcomes guests back this summer. Splish Splash Waterpark will follow recommendations and rulings from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, New York Department of Health, and best practices within the amusement and attractions industries. Recruiters will conduct interviews virtually, and orientation and training will also be virtual for most positions.  Any in person trainings will require facial coverings, strict adherence to state capacity limitations, and social distancing.

Splish Splash recruiters are looking to fill roughly 1,000 openings in departments including Lifeguards, Food & Beverage, Facilities, Retail and Sales. The flexible positions offer part-time and full-time opportunities to high school and college students, professionals looking for a change of pace, and retirees interested in supplementing their income and staying active. Most seasonal positions are available to applicants age 16 and older, with job perks including free admission, team-building celebrations, discounts on park food and merchandise, flexible scheduling, and more. For more information and to apply online, visit the Employment page of Splish Splash Waterpark<https://www.splishsplash.com/employment>.