HOLLYWOOD, Calif. — Uzbekistan’s Tourism and Entertainment Group (TEG) has retained the globally acclaimed destinations design firm Legacy Entertainment to design TEG’s upcoming integrated resort in Uzbekistan’s capital city of Tashkent. The new project is destined to become Central Asia’s largest integrated resort. Projected to cost over $250,000,000 to construct, the 28-hectare (69 acre) resort will feature signature Hotel, Retail, and Water Park amenities, and is currently planned to open its first phase in 2027.
The Grand Serai, a theme inspired by the caravanserais located along The Silk Road, will be a celebration of Uzbekistan’s rich culture. Throughout their visit, guests will experience imaginative reinterpretations of the country’s architecture, food, music, fashion, and much more. At the heart of the resort will be a 20-hectare Water Park featuring over 20 uniquely-designed rides and shows designed to evoke both the local stories and fables of Uzbekistan, as well as the breadth of the country’s natural splendor. The waterpark project is promising to offer a record-breaking component to its visitors from around the globe.
Regarding this historic project, executives from TEG said, “The architectural design of the park will be meticulously crafted to reflect Uzbekistan’s history and traditions, ensuring that every aspect of The Grand Serai resonates with the country’s cultural identity. Visitors can expect a journey through time, as they traverse the park, encountering modern thrills intertwined with echoes of the past.”
Following an international search, TEG, part of Uzbekistan’s AKFA Group, selected the Hollywood, California-based Legacy Entertainment to lead the design effort. The firm, responsible for many of the world’s top Theme Parks and Resorts, assembled a special team for the Uzbekistan resort, with its members having pedigrees from Walt Disney Imagineering, Universal Studios and Cirque du Soleil. Working in tandem with Legacy, these themed destination design experts will bring Hollywood magic to Uzbekistan.
“Our team thrives on creative challenges,” says Marcus King, Chief Projects Officer of Legacy Entertainment, as well as one of the firm’s owners. “The depth and diversity of Uzbekistan’s culture, both ancient and modern, is providing us with some of the most exciting inspiration our team has ever had to work from. As of this moment, no one has interpreted Uzbekistan’s culture through a theatrical or cinematic lens – so everything is on the table for our very experienced team to work with.”
While additional details about the resort will be forthcoming, TEG did reveal the themes of two signature zones: “The Silk Road Shops” will be the property’s flagship retail and dining experience, highlighting the country’s importance as the central point between Asia and Europe along the Silk Road; while the Water Park will sport the original brand of “Azure.” inspired by the specific shade of blue found on the country’s flag.
Betson Enterprises returns to the International Bowl Expo this year being hosted at the Gaylord Rockies Resort & Convention Center in Aurora, CO. From July 1st to 2nd, attendees can visit Betson at booths #126 & #129 to experience a dynamic lineup featuring the latest innovations from Raw Thrills and more.
Headlining this year’s showcase is the debut of NBA Superstars by Raw Thrills and Play Mechanix, marking the NBA’s thrilling comeback to arcades after a three-decade hiatus. In partnership with the National Basketball Association and the National Basketball Players Association, Raw Thrills and Play Mechanix introduce NBA SUPERSTARS – a high-flying, backboard-shattering three-versus-three basketball blockbuster! The competitive, explosive gameplay is enhanced by the ability to create online player accounts to track game results and statistics. A fully-animated LED stadium scoreboard crowns the epic NBA Superstars cabinet, which dazzles with a breathtaking 75-inch screen, camera flash-simulating marquee lights, team color-coordinated RGB LEDs and four player positions.
The latest card collecting games will also be in booth #129 – Marvel Contest of Champions, players select their favorite Marvel superheroes and villains from a cast of over one hundred, each with their own unique abilities and fighting styles, to engage in fast-paced three-on-three battles on dynamic stages. Minecraft Dungeons Arcade (2-Player) Series 3 introduces an all-new card category to the game and an all-new way to play and collect – Hero Cards! The 20 ultra-rare, ultra-exclusive Hero Cards bring the total number of collectible cards in Minecraft Dungeons Arcade to 118.
The line-up will also include current Raw Thrills favorites and top earners such as Godzilla Kaiju Wars VR, T-Rex Safari VR, King Kong of Skull Island II VR, Halo: Fireteam Raven 4-Player, Fast & Furious Arcade 43” and more.
Visitors to Betson booth #126 can also try out the Skittles Remix Digital Kiosk – this innovative candy vending kiosk is designed to make your customer’s candy cravings a delightful and interactive experience. Elevate your candy-selling game and create a memorable experience for your customers by remixing your candy options with Skittles like never before.
Betson’s sales and finance representatives will be onsite to discuss leasing and financing options tailored to bowling and entertainment venues.
BEIJING, China — On June 15, 2024, OCT Happy Valley Beijing celebrated the grand opening of its expansion at Playa Maya water park, marking a significant milestone in its growth. This expansion showcases six innovative water ride complexes designed and manufactured exclusively by ProSlide, a leading water ride designer based in North America.
The newly opened section of Playa Maya is set to thrill visitors with a range of ProSlide attractions, including:
- MammothBLAST Water Coaster with FlyingSAUCER 45s: An iconic ride beloved by park-goers worldwide for its high-energy twists and turns.
- TORNADO 60 and Double TornadoWAVE 60 complex: Two legendary water rides that promise unique, unforgettable experiences.
- ProRACER: Perfect for those looking to race friends and family down thrilling slides.
- FreeFALL with SkyBOX: A heart-pounding attraction designed for thrill seekers and adrenaline junkies.
- TurboTWISTER: A fresh and exciting take on the classic water slide.
- RideHOUSE 600: An interactive water play area suitable for guests of all ages.
This project highlights the enduring relationship between ProSlide and OCT Group, a collaboration that has spanned over a decade. ProSlide has proudly contributed to many OCT water park projects across China, including OCT Xi’an, OCT Nanjing, OCT Chongqing Water Theme Park, OCT Playa Maya Waterpark, and OCT Xiangyang. The continued partnership showcases ProSlide’s deep understanding of OCT Group’s vision and the unique needs of the Chinese market.
Chuanchao Cheng, chief operating officer – Asia at ProSlide, emphasized the significance of this project: “The expansion of Playa Maya at OCT Happy Valley Beijing exemplifies our commitment to delivering world-class water attractions that resonate with park-goers. Our ongoing collaboration with OCT Group allows us to continually innovate and provide thrilling, memorable experiences for visitors.”
The official opening of the water park expansion marks the beginning of a new era of excitement and fun at OCT Happy Valley Beijing.
NorCal’s largest waterpark, CaliBunga Waterpark in San Jose, is set to open Saturday, June 29, 2024 – tickets are now on sale. Starting at $49.99, guests can now purchase their tickets online and plan their summer visit to the highly anticipated NorCal waterpark. *Guests have the option of purchasing tickets to visit on a specific date of their choice or purchase an any day ticket, good for an any day visit throughout the season. Details available on the website.
Located overlooking Lake Cunningham and the San Jose Foothills, families are invited to experience a newly renovated park featuring splash-tastic rides, a vast array of food options and so much more. From Dragon’s Den, where guests can plummet into the mist-shrouded abyss of the dragon, to free falling one of two slides on Shotgun Falls, to Slide Creek Falls where guests can leisurely float down a moving stream – CaliBunga is sure to be this summer’s hotspot.
SANTA CLAUS, Ind. — America’s first audience-participation drone show will debut at Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari on June 22. Holidays in the Sky drone and fireworks spectacular will feature 500 drones, and a daily Guest vote will determine one of the show’s final scenes. This is the third consecutive year Holiday World has hosted a drone show, and each year the show has returned with more drones and completely new animations and music. Holidays in the Sky will run 44 nights, weather permitting, at 9:00 pm CDT from Saturday, June 22 through Sunday, August 4.
“We were pioneers in the theme park drone show field,” says Leah Koch-Blumhardt, Fourth-Generation Owner and Director of Communications. “When Holidays in the Sky debuted in 2022, only two other parks in North America had drone shows. Now, the major Orlando parks are introducing drone shows, and we’re staying ahead of the curve with interactive light-up toys and the first audience participation in a drone show.”
QR codes will be available around the park for Guests to vote for which of the parks’ four mascots will be featured in the show that night. Voting will begin when the park opens each day and concludes at 5:00 pm CDT.
The best views of the drone and fireworks spectacular are from the Party Plaza, located North of the Good Gravy! and Stuffing Springs area. Guests are encouraged to come early to enjoy the DJ Dance party that begins at 8:30 pm CDT every evening.
“You don’t want to miss the Party Plaza experience,” adds Lauren Crosby, Fourth-Generation Owner and Director of Entertainment & Events. “It’s so fun to dance along with the DJ Dance party, and the interactive bubble wands make the dance party and the drone show even more amazing!”
DALLAS, Texas — Altitude Trampoline Park, the leading family-friendly entertainment franchise, has announced the appointment of Chris Kuehn as the company’s Chief Operating Officer, effective immediately. In this role, Kuehn will leverage his extensive experience to lead the brand’s operations, marketing, and training initiatives.
“Chris brings a wealth of general management expertise that will be crucial for Altitude’s innovations and development,” said Mike Rotondo, CEO of Altitude Trampoline Park. “As we continue to grow our footprint, it is essential for us to streamline our operations, drive staff capability and elevate our brand communications, and Chris’ broad skill set are precisely what we need to create a more seamless guest experience during this expansion. We are excited to continue to grow our leadership team with industry veterans and are fortunate to welcome such a strong executive who will significantly contribute to our ongoing growth and success.”
Kuehn most recently led business development teams for software provider Restaurant365 partnering with Enterprise Brands delivering Operations and Financial technology platform solutions that drive efficiency and profitability. Prior to R365, Kuehn held senior level positions in operations and marketing at PepsiCo, Yum Brands, Arby’s, and Golden Corral. The latter two brands he held the position of Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer for a total of 16 years, driving innovation in multiple disciplines including marketing, purchasing and real estate development.
“Building upon the brand’s operational success in 2023, I am eager to dive into this position at Altitude with the support of a strong and fast-growing parent company full of experts in the family entertainment industry,” said Kuehn.
Altitude Trampoline Park is owned by Indoor Active Brands, a platform company that focuses on indoor entertainment concepts. Most recently, Indoor Active Brands announced the launch of 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.
Dragons are coming to Fair Park and everyone can get a sneak peek at this colorful new attraction today, Monday, June 17.
Sea Dragon Safari — a fleet of six dragon-shaped boats — will soon set sail on the Fair Park Lagoon. The 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.
Sea Dragon Safari will be operated by the Children’s Aquarium Dallas.
On Monday, June 17, Dallas-area artists will be painting their creative visions on the new dragon boats from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. The boats have been coated in bright colors as a blank canvas for their designs.
On Friday Kings Island passholders received a special sneak preview of the amusement park’s newest summer show, Gazillion Bubbles. The 30-minute multimedia show is packed full of high-energy music, lasers and yes, lots and lots of bubbles. The show officially opens for all park guests on Saturday.
WINTER HAVEN, Fla. — With just one win away from sweeping the Edmonton Oilers to win the Stanley Cup, the Florida Panthers have some true LEGO fans at LEGOLAND Florida Resort cheering them on! Using more than 2,000 LEGO pieces, three Master Model Builders created 20 Florida Panther fans and six actual panthers (some even wearing jerseys) gathered on a lawn in Miniland U.S.A. Armed with rats in their little LEGO hands ready to throw onto the rink, these Minilander fans and panthers took more than ten hours to build. The fans are watching the game on a big LEGO screen which took eight hours to design and four hours to build. This slapshot of creativity is on display now near the Miami section of Miniland and the scene could change after Saturday night’s big game!
ST. LOUIS — Intercard, the world leader in cashless technology, has added amusement industry veteran and redemption expert Justin Michaels to its team as an account executive. He will cover the Mid-South territory for the company.
Justin knows the arcade industry and has experience in sales and business development for bowling and family entertainment centers, route operations and redemption services. “For more than 20 years I’ve been working with FEC operators” says Justin. “I know their concerns and I can communicate how cashless technology can increase revenues, decrease operational costs and help them thrive in an evolving industry.”
“Justin’s extensive experience in arcades and redemption operations makes him a strong addition to the Intercard team as we are steadily growing our customer base,” says Rob Geiger, North America sales manager for Intercard.
An arcade fan from an early age, Justin first got hooked by playing “Mortal Kombat” and other 1990’s classics at his grandparents’ renowned Cool Crest FEC near Kansas City, Missouri. He began his career helping to manage the Cool Crest arcade and went on to work for route operator Lee Arcade Solutions. Justin comes to Intercard after 20 successful years at Kansas City-based Redemption Plus, another amusement industry icon.
