DALLAS, Texas — Altitude Trampoline Park, the leading family-friendly entertainment franchise, announced today the remarkable growth the brand has experienced since the start of the year. With a focus on providing family-friendly entertainment, Altitude has proven itself as an attractive investment opportunity for franchisees, with six signed development agreements that will bring 13 new locations to target markets nationwide. Since the start of 2024, Altitude has opened four locations in Spring Hill, Florida; Austell, Georgia; North Versailles, Pennsylvania; and Webster, Texas, and currently has eight units leased and under construction. Altitude is continuing this momentum, with its franchise agreements to bring locations to North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee, among other states.

“Our growth in 2024 has been phenomenal. Dedicated to providing family friendly-fun, we are committed to expanding nationwide to make our parks accessible to everyone,” said Mike Rotondo, CEO of Altitude Trampoline Park. “It’s amazing to see several of our existing franchisees expanding their footprint while also welcoming new franchisees into our system. As our growth continues, exciting plans are in store that will continue to make Altitude a worthwhile investment for franchisees and a top destination for all families.”

Altitude is continuing its growth, with eight units currently under construction. These units will be located in:

• San Jose, California – Owned by Tim Kurtz
• Coral Springs, Florida – Owned by Raj Chopra
• Milpitas, California – Owned by Guru Kamar and partners
• Folsom, California – Owned by Guru Kamar and partners
• San Dimas, California – Owned by Guru Kamar and partners
• Birmingham, Alabama – Owned by Shafiq Samji
• Chicago, Illinois – Owned by Kevin Kolb
• Schaumburg, Illinois – Owned by Shahista Jiwani

Also in 2024, Altitude expanded its leadership team, welcoming new hires, including Chris Kuehn as Chief Operating Officer, Mike Stout as Vice President of Franchise Development, and Mike D’Arezzo, Director of Franchise Development. As Altitude continues to grow, the brand is dedicated to developing its leadership team with industry veterans to strengthen the brand’s operations and franchise development initiatives.

The brand’s commitment to providing an outstanding customer experience has resulted in an impressive systemwide sales increase of 3% since the start of 2024. This positive momentum showcases Altitude’s ability to attract new customers while also retaining its loyal fanbase.

Altitude Trampoline Park is owned by Indoor Active Brands, a platform company that focuses on indoor entertainment concepts. This year, Indoor Active Brands launched its latest brand, The Pickle Pad, an indoor pickleball playground featuring a chef-inspired restaurant, bar, and yard games for all ages. Established by NRD Capital, Indoor Active Brands utilizes industry experience in the family entertainment and restaurant industries to support and assist its franchisees.

For the remainder of the year, Altitude on track to open six new locations. These locations will bolster the brand’s presence in key markets and offer more families the chance to enjoy the excitement and joy of its state-of-the-art entertainment.

ALTOONA, Iowa — Adventureland’s Tornado roller coaster will be named a landmark coaster by the American Coaster Enthusiasts. The organization will present the Altoona theme park with its landmark plaque on August 17, when the park hosts the American Coaster Enthusiasts’ national Preservation Conference. The plaque will be located near Tornado’s entrance.

Fewer than 50 coasters have been designated a landmark coaster by the American Coaster Enthusiasts since the program was established in 2000. It is reserved for coasters that have made a notable impact in the theme park industry and have provided lasting memories for generations of riders.

Tornado was designed by the famed coaster designer William Cobb. It opened to the public on July 1, 1978, with the official grand opening one week later, with then Iowa Governor Robert D. Ray riding in the front seat. Tornado was Adventureland’s first major coaster, helping put the small Iowa theme park on the map. The coaster quickly gained popularity among Iowans and coaster enthusiasts from around the world. After opening, it was named among of the top ten wooden coasters.

“Tornado left its impact on Adventureland when it opened nearly 50 years ago, and it remains one of our most beloved attractions today,” Adventureland General Manager Mike Lusky said. “We are incredibly honored to have Tornado recognized by the American Coaster Enthusiasts, especially during our 50^th celebration. We are proud to continue our investments in preserving this classic attraction for future generations.”

Adventureland has made a significant investment in the preservation of Tornado over the last year, retracking several sections of the coaster and having its trains rebuilt by Philadelphia Toboggan Coasters. It’s a part of the Altoona theme park’s dedication to preservation. In the last year, the park has also retracked several sections of Outlaw and reopened the reimagined Underground, the world’s only indoor wooden roller coaster.  

NEW YORK, N.Y. — RWS Global, the world leader in live moments, has announced the appointment of cruise entertainment expert, Ryan Fitzgerald as Executive Vice President of Sea Production. With more than 20 years of experience in entertainment, cruise experiences, professional sports and events, Fitzgerald is set to enhance RWS Global’s cruise entertainment division as the company continues its worldwide expansion.

RWS Global’s Founder, Chairman & CEO, Ryan Stana, expressed his enthusiasm for the company’s newest executive appointment, stating, “We are thrilled to welcome Ryan Fitzgerald as our Executive Vice President of Sea Production. His extensive cruise industry experience and expertise are essential as we continue to expand and innovate our onboard entertainment. We are confident that Ryan will be pivotal in shaping our live and experiential offerings at sea and contributing to our overall success.”

Prior to joining RWS Global, Fitzgerald served as General Manager at Insignia Event Services, where he led a team responsible for much of the in-game production, events, logistics, and premium hospitality for Super Bowl LVII, Men’s Final Four 2024, The Fiesta Bowl, the kickoff for Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour and the Arizona Cardinals. Before that, he spent two decades producing and directing entertainment for Carnival Cruise Lines and Princess Cruises while managing each line’s global fleet of entertainment leaders.

As EVP of Sea Production, Fitzgerald will oversee the global operation of RWS Global’s 40+ vessels and manage all cruise teams in New York, Sydney, the UK and several additional locations. He will focus on developing client relationships, company management, production, creative programming, talent and wardrobe. In addition, he will collaborate closely with the production and operations teams to develop and execute innovative, best-in-class entertainment at sea.

Fitzgerald expressed his excitement about joining RWS Global, saying, “I am honored to be joining RWS Global and excited to service an impressive portfolio of partners in the cruise industry. I look forward to being a part of the continued success of our current and future clients, providing solutions and exceptional experiences for guests worldwide.”

Fitzgerald’s appointment comes after RWS Global announced the launch of RWS Global Sports, following the acquisition of Great Big Events. This new division provides an unrivaled, comprehensive range of offerings for the sports experience, including venue design, entertainment, sports production, merchandise and more. Fitzgerald’s new role further bolsters RWS Global’s leadership team and capabilities, positioning the company for continued success and growth as the world’s largest provider of live experiences.

DALLAS, Texas — Embed, the ultimate cloud-based, cashless solutions provider for the amusement, entertainment, and leisure industries showcased its reliability and innovation through its solutions at the International Bowl Expo in Denver, Colorado from July 1-2.

Known for its tech partnership with Apple, Google, and Amazon Web Services, the solutions provider exhibited its system’s reliability at the show – from its solutions to its customer support and even to its payment processing gateway solutions:

“We are always on the lookout at what stunts our customers’ potential for transformational growth and expansion – and one of them is losses from credit card processing fees or merchant fees from their payment providers,” says Jeremy Dickamore, Payment Gateway Guru at Embed. “That’s why we offer free consultations by experts to help operators cut their losses and see the savings they can get from simply switching to another provider.”

Embed is raising awareness of the costs (which is loss of revenue) from paying published rates instead of effective rates (inclusive of different, fluctuating fees). CMO and Growth Officer Sara Paz explains, “We are challenging our partners and operators to stop and think twice about their payment provider. This means it’s business as usual even when the internet is down thanks to manual transaction processing; it’s security from fraudulent transactions and chargebacks with 3D Secure 2.2; it’s pricing transparency for effective budgeting; it’s saving money from better rates so you can keep as much of the revenue you’ve earned.”

“This is the Embed difference,” says Renee Welsh, CEO. “After decades of being a family-owned company with deep roots in the family entertainment business, we know how to layer value and remove areas that hamper our customers’ growth, like unnecessary costs from payment processing. It’s not enough to offer an FEC the best cashless business solution and then watch them get straddled with a payment processor that absorbs their revenue with hidden merchant fees, so we’re doing something about it and changing lives! It’s how Embed layers value for our customers, enabling them to maximise their system to transform their businesses. It’s the mission of Embed’s Success Squad, that’s why it’s complimentary! That’s just how it is when you’re a member of the Embed family. We live service and reliability.”

Embed showcased its Software as a Service (SaaS) solutions like the Mobile Wallet virtual game card – which promises a 5x increase in average reload value compared to cash and credit cards. To amplify this transformational growth, Embed brought its Success Squad’s training arm GoTrain to the show, sharing the benefits of staff training (virtual or onsite) to drive greater Mobile Wallet registrations and sign-ups.

“We also featured our all-new 40 Made-to-Order Designer Game Cards to help boost guest spend and loyalty,” says Megan Lim, Transformation Growth Director. These dynamic card designs are now available in the Embed eSHOP to ensure availability and ease of procurement.

NORTH RICHLAND HILLS, Texas — Buckle up! Route 7 Karting and Entertainment has teamed up with TrainerTainment to turbocharge their sales team. After an electrifying two-day kickoff, the Route 7 crew is geared up and ready to put the pedal to the metal.

Kickoff Highlights:
Amazing Experience: The Route 7 team raves about the two-day onsite kickoff, calling it “amazing.” TrainerTainment’s Denise Killian brought the PCQPC (Prospect, Connect, Qualify, Propose, Close) sales process to life with a mix of fun, sincerity, and practical wisdom. Denise Killian commented, “It was awesome bringing the team together to collaborate creatively and operationally, with ideas to implement in their operation and increase sales.”

What’s Next?
Route 7 is ready to rev up their engines and see real results! With TrainerTainment’s ongoing coaching, the team is eager to shift into high gear, putting new strategies into action and watching their sales soar.

Why TrainerTainment?

• Quality & Accountability: Route 7 loves the high-quality training and the weekly check-ins that keep the sales team on track
• Grow Academy Access: Continuous learning and training to keep the team sharp.
• Fun & Effective: Engaging, practical, and downright fun coaching that makes a real difference.

Lori Saltsman, the owner of Route 7, shared her excitement: “TrainerTainment’s coaching has been a game-changer for us. The tools and strategies are not only practical but also incredibly fun to implement. We’re already seeing a positive impact!”

A Winning Partnership
Route 7 wholeheartedly recommends TrainerTainment’s coaching. If you’re in the Family Entertainment business and looking to boost your sales, TrainerTainment is your pit crew

NEW YORK — TouchTunes Music Company, LLC (“TouchTunes”), North America’s largest in-venue interactive music and entertainment platform, today announces an exclusive partnership with Lucra, the leading technology provider of gamification services.

Coming to millions of bar patrons across the country following the launch of FunWallet later this year, the exciting new mobile integration makes it fun, safe, and convenient for people playing darts or other bar games to challenge each other to win cash or credits, up-leveling their in-venue experience.

“We know many of our members already love to make a friendly wager for cash or drinks when they play bar sports like darts or pool. Partnering with an innovative technology company like Lucra allows us to elevate the in-venue experience with more fun and easy ways for people to connect and compete,” said Ross Honey, CEO of TouchTunes. “Engaged patrons play more and stay longer at their favorite bar or restaurant. So, by adding this new capability to FunWallet seamlessly within our massively popular mobile app, we are not only bringing joy to consumers but also driving growth and value for our operator customers and venue partners.”

Bar patrons will soon be able to take darts to the next level by challenging friends (or strangers!) to compete for real money or credits, whether they’re together in the same bar, or even miles away via remote-play on connected BullShooter dartboards. Lucra’s software, embedded within the TouchTunes FunWallet, will allow users to easily keep track of scores, win rates, earnings, and lifetime leaderboard stats, so they can always know who has ultimate bragging rights across all their favorite games.

“We’re thrilled to add Lucra’s gamification technology to the TouchTunes app, as we have a common belief in harnessing friendly competition and music to enable shared experiences that connect, energize, and inspire communities,” said Dylan Robbins, CEO of Lucra. “This partnership will allow millions more people to create memorable moments together by providing exciting new ways to compete with friends on the games we all love.”

Enabling peer-to-peer contests in the TouchTunes mobile app makes the whole experience safe and convenient. Lucra’s technology will be available in select markets, and provides responsible gaming capabilities that allow consumers to set limits and self-exclude. Users must be aged 18 or over to compete for cash or credits. The new social gaming feature will be coming to the TouchTunes mobile app so dart players can compete for real money or credits in the app while playing against each other on a BullShooter dartboard. Electronic darts contests in bars will be eligible in states across America following the launch of FunWallet in Q4 2024.

Dragons are coming to Fair Park.

WHAT: Dallas’s newest family fun attraction opens on Wednesday, July 3, 2024. Sea Dragon Safari — a fleet of six dragon-shaped pedal boats — will set sail on the Fair Park Lagoon beginning on Wednesday, July 3, 2024. The classic pedal boats, which come in two-person and four-person sizes, will be available for rent daily at the Fair Park Lagoon near the Children’s Aquarium. The boats have been painted in bold and whimsical colors and designs by local artists.

Sea Dragon Safari is operated by the Children’s Aquarium Dallas.

WHEN: Opening day — Wednesday, July 3, 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. Last rental at 4:30 p.m. Extended hours on July 4 during Fair Park Fourth.

WHERE: The Fair Park Lagoon across from the Children’s Aquarium Dallas. Parking is free in front of the Aquarium. Enter Fair Park via Gate Six.

MORE: The four-person dragon-shaped boats are 10 feet long and five feet wide. The two-person boats are eight feet long and five feet wide. The boats rent for $30 for a 20-minute ride

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. — Celebrate the July 4th holiday at the Big Top Arcade Pigeon Forge, Arcade City Pigeon Forge and Arcade City Gatlinburg.

Mention our July 4th Special Offer and receive an extra $100 Play Credit with a $100 card purchase. Offer is only valid on July 4, 2024.

PIGEON FORGE, Tenn. — Celebrate the July 4th holiday at Rockin’ Raceway.  Mention our July 4th Special Offer and receive an extra $100 Play Credit with a $100 card purchase. Offer is only valid on July 4, 2024.

Rockin’ Raceway features a speedy go-kart racetrack with hairpin turns & a retro-themed, neon-lit arcade with 150 games and is located at 2839 Parkway, Pigeon Forge, TN 37863.

PIGEON FORGE, Tenn. — Celebrate the July 4th holiday at Guy Fieri’s Downtown Flavortown.  Mention our July 4th Special Offer and receive an extra $100 Play Credit with a $100 card purchase. Offer is only valid on July 4, 2024.

Guy Fieri’s Downtown Flavortown is an impressive 43,000-square-foot family entertainment center that is a “must-do” for Pigeon Forge visitors and locals alike. Guests enjoy Guy Fieri’s award-winning dishes, craft beers, and cocktails plus a 14-lane Duck Pin bowling alley; over 10,000 square feet of state-of-the-art arcade games ranging from redemption to virtual reality and beyond; a full-service Freaky Tiki bar; and a photo opportunity in front of an iconic 1968 Chevy Camaro. 

For more information on Guy Fieri’s Downtown Flavortown visit www.DowntownFlavortown.com. Downtown Flavortown is located at 2655 Teaster Lane Suite 100 at the Mountain Mile Shopping Complex in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.