Jorge Mochkovsky, CEO of Sacoa Cashless System and Sacoa Entertainment, has been honored with induction into the American Amusement Machine Association’s (AAMA) Amusement Hall of Fame. This accolade celebrates individuals that have made exceptional contributions to the entertainment and amusement fields.
Jorge’s journey in entertainment spans over six remarkable decades. Expressing his gratitude, Jorge stated, “This induction is not just a personal accomplishment; it’s also a tribute to the dedication and hard work of the entire Sacoa team. It’s an honor to be recognized by the AAMA, and I accept this induction with immense gratitude.”
Starting his career at the age of 10, Jorge actively contributed to his father’s business by assisting in the operation of jukeboxes. The family’s venture into the U.S. in 1960 fostered strong ties with industry luminaries and the establishment of Sacoa family entertainment centers long before the term “FEC” gained popularity.
Under Jorge’s leadership, Sacoa Entertainment operated over 50 FECs simultaneously in the 1990s, providing thousands of Argentine families with steady employment. Jorge’s visionary drive continued with the creation of the Sacoa Cashless System in 1992, revolutionizing traditional payment methods with a digitized solution.
Reflecting on his industry impact, Jorge remarked, “I have been very fortunate to have had the opportunity to develop several products and ideas that I believe will continue to service the entertainment and amusement industries for several decades to come, and I am certain that my sons, Sebastian and Pol, as well as their kids, will continue to contribute to the industry I grew up in for as long and as effectively as I did.”
Jorge hopes this achievement will inspire his family and industry newcomers alike. “Our journey from humble beginnings to a four-generation family enterprise showcases the resilience and innovation defining our industry,” he added.
Jorge Mochkovsky’s induction into AAMA’s Amusement Hall of Fame epitomizes his steadfast dedication to industry evolution, leaving an enduring legacy in the realms of amusement, entertainment, and leisure.
ITASCA, Ill. — Family Entertainment Group (“FEG”) is excited to announce the addition of Gregory Bacorn to its team as an Account Executive, effective immediately.
With years of experience in the entertainment industry, Bacorn joins FEG with a wealth of knowledge and a passion for driving growth through strategic partnerships.
In his previous role as founder of Barron Games International, Bacorn introduced innovative products that captured the imagination of audiences worldwide. Notably, Bacorn’s Birdly VR experience earned the prestigious AMOA Innovator Award, showcasing his commitment to pushing the boundaries of entertainment and technology.
In his new role at FEG, Bacorn will spearhead efforts to research and identify strategic partnerships within the resort, amusement park, water park, and tourist destination segments to support the expansion of FEG’s outsourced revenue share business. He will work closely with team members and vendors to plan, design, and integrate best-in-class entertainment concepts that deliver exceptional guest experiences and financial outcomes for partners.
“We are thrilled to welcome Gregory Bacorn to our team,” said Ray Smith, Vice President of Business Development for FEG. “His experience and proven track record make him the ideal candidate to help drive our strategic partnership initiatives and support our continued growth.”
Gregory Bacorn’s appointment as Account Executive underscores FEG’s commitment to delivering exceptional guest experiences and driving revenue growth through strategic partnerships. With Bacorn’s expertise and leadership, FEG is poised to expand its presence in key markets and continue to set the standard for excellence in the entertainment industry.
PITTSBURGH, Pa. — Palace Entertainment, a leading leisure park operator with more than 20 major entertainment venues across the United States and Australia, today announced the appointment of Michael Reitz as Director of Engineering and Maintenance across all Palace Entertainment venues.
Michael Reitz brings more than 30 years of engineering experience to Palace Entertainment. He has a background in mechanical engineering and began his career with Mercedes Benz in 1992. Since then, he has worked for key leaders within the amusement industry including LEGO Engineering and Premier Rides Inc. Most recently, he spent more than 20 years at Six Flags Entertainment Corporation working across all domestic and international properties including Canada, Mexico, China and Dubai. Michael was also instrumental in the opening of several iconic attractions throughout his tenure with the theme park operator including The Texas Giant and Kingda Ka, the tallest roller coaster in the world.
“We are pleased to announce the addition of Michael to our support center team,” said Interim Chief Operating Officer Anil Rao. “His diverse experience with some of the industry’s most well-known attractions makes him the perfect fit to help lead our ongoing maintenance projects across each of our unique properties.”
Michael will be responsible for leading the maintenance teams across all properties with a specialized focus on increasing ride-up time, providing direction and standards for training and facilities maintenance and increasing guest experience through additional capital maintenance projects. He will also work alongside the Palace Entertainment Director of Construction to help oversee all major new ride construction projects.
Throughout 2023 and into 2024, Palace Entertainment has committed to growing its support center staff and leadership roles within the organization by adding top-tier talent from across the industry to the team. The appointment of Michael Reitz comes on the heels of three industry veterans being promoted to General Manager positions within the organization, at the Dutch Wonderland resort property, Sea Life Park Hawaii and Story Land Theme Park.
BRISTOL, Conn. — Spring is in the air and that means Opening Day, April 27, at Lake Compounce Amusement and Water Park is just over one month away. America’s First Amusement Park is celebrating its 178th season as the longest-running amusement park in the United States as it continues its long-standing legacy, the park has also continued to make park-wide updates and improvements in the off-season while also growing its unique event lineup.
New for the 2024 season, thrill-seekers are invited to hop on a new ride experience on the nearly 100-year-old Wildcat roller coaster. During the 2023 season and the park’s off-season, Wildcat has gone through the first phase of a two-year wood re-tracking project in partnership with Gravity Group. Throughout this process, more than 800 feet of the coaster’s wood track have been completely replaced with Gravity Group’s signature vertically stacked track, meaning wood pieces have been vertically stacked on top of one another instead of horizontally. This process allows for less bouncing on the track creating an overall smoother and more enjoyable ride.
“This season, our new park leadership team of industry veterans is focused on enhancing the overall guest experience throughout the park,” said General Manager Doug Hemphill. “We are proud to have restored the Wildcat coaster while also maintaining its integrity as an all-wood roller coaster as the ride celebrates nearly 100 years.”
In addition to upgrades on Wildcat, the park’s award-winning Boulder Dash roller coaster has also gone through a transformation with more than 1,000 feet of steel Titan Track being added to the ride throughout a two-year project. Other new improvements are centered around the park’s food and beverage and retail stores. On Opening Day, guests can grab a pick-me-up at the park’s new 1846 Coffee Co., enjoy a sweet treat with new milkshakes at Johnny Rockets and check out the new retail location, Toy Store.
This year, parkgoers can also expect to be delighted by a full lineup of seasonal events including the re-introduction of Kids Fest every single weekend in June. The young and young at heart are invited for a pint-sized party to meet their favorite characters like Pete the Cat™, enjoy roaming performers and check out kid-friendly shows on the park’s Kiddie Land Stage. Then in July the park’s Summer Concert Series returns headlined by nationally touring acts featuring the sounds of summer guests know and love including Good Vibrations, a celebration of the music of the Beach Boys, Bruno & the Hooligans, a full experience Bruno Mars tribute act and Adventures in Parrotdise, a tribute to Jimmy Buffet. The beach is bouncing all August long as the all-new Beach Bash takes place every Saturday and Sunday. The 2024 season will wrap up with the return of Phantom Fall Fest and Holiday Lights.
Those interested in joining the fun all summer long can grab a 2024 Season Pass now during the park’s Spring Sale. Right now, future visitors can pay for just one day at $64.99 and get the whole summer season. Season Passholders will enjoy a variety of new perks in 2024 including 50% off cabanas in June and the opportunity to be among the first to ride Wildcat on Opening Day.
On Saturday, March 23, Universal Orlando Resort guests can meet the MinaLima founders, the designers behind the graphic props of the Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts films, during a special appearance at the “House of MinaLima” pop-up store inside the Universal Studios Store at Universal CityWalk. From 1:00p.m. to 5:00p.m. EST, fans can meet, greet and take a photo with Miraphora Mina and Eduardo Lima, who have brought to life some of the most iconic Wizarding World props such as the Hogwarts Acceptance Letter, The Marauder’s Map, The Daily Prophet, the Black Family Tapestry and more.
During their visit, guests can also shop a variety of authentic, MinaLima-designed magical keepsakes at the limited-time “House of MinaLima” pop-up store, featuring prints, journals, stationery, home décor, accessories and more. For more information about the Universal Studios Store,
Polin Group is excited to announce the promotion of Ahmet Sumer to the position of Business Development Director for the Latin America region. Formerly serving as the Sales Manager for more than 6 years, Sumer brings a wealth of experience and expertise to his new role.
As the newly appointed Business Development Director – LATAM, Sumer will lead the expansion efforts of Polin Group in the Latin American market. With his deep understanding of the region’s dynamics and market trends, he is well-positioned to capitalize on emerging opportunities and strengthen the company’s presence in this strategically important region.
Commenting on his appointment, Ahmet Sumer expressed his enthusiasm for the new role, stating, “I am honored to take on this new challenge and excited to further contribute to the growth and success of Polin Group in the Latin America market. I eagerly anticipate collaborating closely with our dedicated team and valued partners to drive innovation, deliver exceptional value, and exceed our customers’ expectations.” Sumer’s appointment underscores Polin Group’s commitment to investing in top talent and strengthening its global leadership team to drive sustainable growth and expansion initiatives.
SANTA MONICA, Calif. — Santa Monica Amusements LLC (SMA), the operating group of Pacific Park on the Santa Monica Pier, today announced its sale to SC Holdings (SC), an investment firm with extensive experience in the consumer, entertainment, and hospitality sectors. Over the next five years, SC will make $10 million in capital investments in Pacific Park’s food and entertainment programs, supporting park operations and keeping it a fun and welcoming destination for tourists, families, and the community.
Pacific Park is a cultural institution and hub for entertainment and recreation located on the Santa Monica Pier, which welcomes ten million visitors annually. As the only admission-free amusement park in Los Angeles, Pacific Park has delivered some of Southern California’s highest-quality entertainment for almost 30 years.
Pacific Park’s Vice President and General Manager Jeff Klocke and his long-tenured management team will continue to lead the Park’s day-to-day operations. Collectively, this team has 300 years combined experience managing the Park’s operations.
SC Holdings, led by Managing Partners Jason Stein and Daniel Haimovic, brings substantial capital and operational capabilities to Pacific Park. Since 2019, SC have been active investors in the entertainment and live experience sectors, including The SpringHill Company, the merger of Major League Pickleball and the Professional Pickleball Association, and celebrated chef James Kent’s Saga Hospitality Group which is home to multiple Michelin star restaurants, a top ranked bar in the world, events venues, and membership clubs.
In Santa Monica, SC will work closely with Pacific Park’s longtime management team to further support the Pier as a premiere destination for visitors to California and the Los Angeles community. Lars Liebst, who served for 24 years as CEO of the celebrated Tivoli Gardens in Copenhagen, will serve on SC’s Pacific Park Advisory Board. He will be joined by David Swinghamer, the former CEO of Shake Shack, who brings his successful and highly regarded consumer, food, and beverage experience to the board.
“Having SC as owners and investors in Pacific Park is a milestone moment,” said Pacific Park Vice President and General Manager Jeff Klocke. “The Pier is a treasured part of Santa Monica, and a place where both tourists and Angelenos come for fun and relaxation. SC’s investment and resources will help us expand what makes Pacific Park great today and write its next exciting chapter.”
“We’re honored to support the Park’s growth through investments into its programs and operations,” said SC Partner Adrian Williams, “The Pier and Park are such iconic parts of Southern California’s coastline, and we want to make sure they stay a welcoming place where visitors and locals can come have fun and relax.”
In the coming months, SC and Pacific Park will make additional announcements about growth and developments on the Pier, including new food and entertainment amenities. For more information on Pacific Park on the Santa Monica Pier, visit www.pacpark.com.
BOTTROP-KIRCHHELLEN, Germany — New year, new production schedule on the Hollywood set! Movie Park Germany is kicking off the 2024 season on 22 March. Germany’s largest movie and amusement park will once again show itself to be as diverse as the various film genres: from adrenaline-packed action on the attractions to new horror scenes in the Halloween autumn and to festive experiences inspired by Christmas movies, guests can expect a versatile script for the whole family in 2024.
Movie Park will further reinforce its identity as a movie and amusement park. The former “Pizza & Pasta” restaurant will be transformed into “Trattoria Hollywood” with an American-Italian ambience and a new “all you can eat” concept. A new Tom & Jerry 4-D movie experience and various events will also ensure days full of fun in 2024, while the “Sherlock Holmes – A Game of Mystery” show with Christian Farla will have another season in summer with some new illusions. Christmas wishes will come true again at the end of the year: Following the positive guest feedback last year, the winter event “Movie Park’s Hollywood Christmas” will continue and create an original American Christmas experience with over 700,000 lights, shows and entertainment.
“In the last few years, Movie Park Germany has continuously developed and integrated its movie- related theme more and more clearly into the park. We will follow this direction in the future,” says Managing Director Thorsten Backhaus. “At the same time, we have made some improvements and renovations in the park during the winter break to optimize the experience in Hollywood in Germany.”
In order to further develop the central theme of the park, the future of the 4-D simulator “The Lost Temple” is also set to be planned and conceptualized for a reopening in 2025.
Together with its partner SimEx-Iwerks, Movie Park is bringing a piece of nostalgia to the big screen in the Roxy 4-D cinema with Tom & Jerry 4D Experience in the 2024 season. The legendary rivals are up to no good. The two frenemies are determined to win their epic cat-and- mouse battle once and for all, leaving a trail of commotion and destruction wherever they go. With added special effects and eye-popping 3-D, “TOM & JERRY 4D Experience” brings viewers along on a hilarious adventure fit for the whole family. Both fans of the old cartoon classics and the younger generations come together here. The movie thrives on its humor and can be easily understood by all national and international guests.
More magic returns to Studio 7! Award-winning illusionist Christian Farla once again takes on the role of the most famous detective in movie and literary history. A revised storyline and some new illusions are planned for the continuation of the successful “Sherlock Holmes – A Game of Mystery” series in the summer from July 1 to August 25.
The Movie Park production team has more news from the set to announce and can already place a cliffhanger for 2025: To fulfill a great wish of many guests, the 4-D simulator “The Lost Temple” is to receive a new storyline. Like the “Movie Park Studio Tour” roller coaster and the new stunt show “Operation Red Carpet”, this attraction is to be further integrated into the park’s Hollywood DNA with a new family-friendly adventure. The attraction will therefore remain closed for renovation work in the 2024 season.
During the winter break, some renovation work was on the production schedule at Hollywood in Germany. As part of its quality strategy, Movie Park has extensively renovated its former “Pizza & Pasta” restaurant and changed its concept. In the new “Trattoria Hollywood”, guests can expect a new, cozy ambience in American-Italian style. For a one-off fee, they can enjoy pizza, pasta, salads, and snacks from an Italian “all you can eat” buffet, choose their drinks from the beverage dispenser and linger in the new dining area with around 250 indoor seats or use the outdoor terrace. At the start of the season, the new trattoria will open in “soft opening mode” to optimize operational processes.
In Hollywood, the first scene of the day already counts – and so does the main entrance to the park! To create more space for the flow of visitors, the ticket office area was remodeled during the winter break and some of the ticket booths were removed. The freed-up space now highlights the view of the archway at the entrance and the Movie Park skyline on arrival. In addition to operational and visual factors, the park reacts to the change in visitor behavior in recent years: over 90 percent of tickets are now purchased online and in advance, meaning that fewer ticket booths are required than was once the case.
New ideas are also implemented in the retail area. The park welcomes a new candy shop behind the attraction “The High Fall” in the western area. Here guests can find colorful fruit gum strings, candies, wine gums, jelly sweets, and candies in various shapes and flavors, inspired by typically American candy stores.
The characters from PAW Patrol and SpongeBob SquarePants are popular stars at Movie Park. To meet the high demand from guests for meet and greets, the “Back at the Barnyard Bumpers” bumper car attraction makes way for a new stage in the recently renamed “nickelodeonLAND”. This is how the popular character show can take place or meet and greets can be held even when it rains, regardless of the weather conditions. The new stage is supposed to be ready for use in summer 2024.
The Cheerleading Championships will once again provide plenty of action over the Whitsun weekend. After last year’s successful premiere, the Camera Day will continue and herald the start of summer. Amusement park fans, content creators and photographers can use the Movie Park backdrops exclusively for photo shoots and video recordings on a closing day. Due to its popularity in recent years and to celebrate the fifth anniversary of its cosplay event, Movie Park is hosting the Cosplay Days for the first time on two days in mid-June. The US Car Show and Spotlight – Dein Auto im Rampenlicht will also bring cinematic US entertainment to the park. The hour of horror will strike again in the fall, when the 26th edition of the Halloween Horror Festival will kick off with 24 event days between September 28 and November 10 and provide new scary surprises.
The Movie Park Entertainment Crew will also provide Hollywood entertainment. a new street act is planned to entertain guests, as well as a new show in the Warsteiner Saloon, which can take place regardless of the weather. There will also be a new performance at the Santa Monica Pier and on the New York Plaza Stage to cover as many of the park’s themed areas as possible.
As the last highlight of the year, “Movie Park’s Hollywood Christmas” will be continued with over twenty event days and will enter its second season at the end of November. A few days ago, Movie Park Germany received the prestigious FKF Award for the premiere in the category “park novelty” – which is usually only given to new, major attractions. This is the first time that the award (presented since 2003) has honored an event instead of a ride or themed area.
The park team will now tackle the second season of “Movie Park’s Hollywood Christmas” with new inspiration. The Movie Park crew was able to gather numerous experiences in the first event year and will incorporate them into all upcoming plans until Santa Claus, Marilyn Monroe and the grumpy movie clapperboard S.A.D. knock on the winter gates of Ho-Ho-Hollywood again.
The results are in for Kennywood’s Vote for the Most A-peel-ing New Ride Name Sweepstakes to name the all-new Potato Patch fries themed bumper cars. Potato Smash comes out as the clear winner claiming half of the total votes submitted. With deep-fried determination, Kennywood fans cast almost 20,000 votes during the week long spud-tacular sweepstakes with one lucky winner receiving a 2024 Gold Season Pass and a year supply of Potato Patch fries.
Potato Smash is well on its way to welcoming guests for this one-of-kind experience this upcoming season. The most appetizing attraction around is getting the total ‘tuber’ treatment during this off-season. Park teams have painted the Potato Smash marquee an eye-catching red and yellow with the iconic symbol of the Potato Patch® eatery. Brand new artwork now covers the walls around the bumper car track with imaginative Potato Smash designs that perfectly showcase the mash up of both beloved brands. Even better, more families can enjoy Kennywood’s cheesiest ride together – with the new experience comes a lower height requirement, too. Potato Smash permits riders at 42 inches tall and drivers at 48 inches tall.
GENK, Belgium — Hero Zone, provider of the largest network of operator-powered free roam virtual reality solutions in location-based entertainment, is proud to expand its catalog of free- roam VR game titles with a new escape game, as well as adding a new, flexible mobile set-up for amusement operators.
Hero Zone will return to Las Vegas in booth 1939 at Amusement Expo International 2024 from March 20-21 in the Las Vegas Convention Center.
“Hero Zone recognizes that there all kinds of amusement business operators with varied business needs, so we keep coming up with additional hardware configurations to meet our customers where they are and where they are going,” said Hero Zone Sales Director Aziza Jarnija. “We also want to be sure to have a range of VR games that guests will love, from escape games and zombie shooters to player versus player competitive titles and collaborative games.”
Hero Zone’s second VR escape room title, developed in-house, is an epic sci-fi adventure called “Wayfinders: Escape From Aurora”. “Escape From Aurora” transports crewmates to the heart of a space station on the brink of destruction after it was struck by asteroids. The mission is to navigate through the ravaged rooms of the station and save its crew before the time runs out, while solving puzzles, working together as a team, employing logic and taking action. “Wayfinders: Escape From Aurora” is one of eight VR game tiles offered to Hero Zone operators.
Hero Zone Mobile is a new flexible solution that allows operators to easily set up free roam in spaces from 15’ X15,’ to ‘20 X 20’, to 20 X 30, whether they are looking to build and offer fixed VR in an existing facility or they are taking Hero Zone outside to a pop-up event that can be set up in around ten minutes. Hero Zone Mobile comes in a rugged and easy to transport flight case that contains a 15” laptop computer and router, 6 Pico 4 VR headsets and 6 extra batteries for continuous play.
