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Prioritizing Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility p. 51 Activating Adult-Focused Activities at FECs p. 46 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2024 The Metropolis of Hasbro City Mexico’s fresh approach to “shoppertainment” in a region hungry for leisurewww.luckeyclimbers.comFEATURES LUIS SÁNCHEZ NÚÑEZ DE CÁCERES INSIDE | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2024 COVER STORY | page 38 The Metropolis of Hasbro City Mexico’s fresh approach to “shoppertainment” in a region hungry for leisure COVER PHOTO: LUIS SÁNCHEZ NÚÑEZ DE CÁCERES 46All Grown Up The evolution of adult-focused family entertainment centers PAINTED PIN SPECIAL SECTION: IDEA 51Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility A look at how attractions around the world are working to develop enriching experiences for all visitors2 Funworld | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2024 | IAAPA.org/Funworld O—GROWTH Thinking Inside the Box … 7 O—DISPATCH … 10 O—REGIONAL UPDATES … 12 O—INNOVATION Sportainment: An Opportunity for Operators and Technology Suppliers … 16 O—INGENUITY Thinking Outside the Box … 18 O—WHAT WORKS Brands Drive Business for Experiences … 20 O—MOVERS AND SHAKERS … 22 O—IN MEMORIAM … 23 O—PEOPLE OF THE ATTRACTIONS Brian Knoebel Gets a Kick Out of His Family’s Park … 24 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2024 VOLUME XLIV • ISSUE 1 Funworld is a member benefit of IAAPA, the global association for the attractions industry. ASSOCIATION NEWS EVENTS IAAPA Expo 2023 Reaches Record-Breaking Brilliance … 28 Strengthen Leadership Skills at the IAAPA Institute for Attractions Executives … 31 AWARDS Join the Inaugural IAAPA Honors Celebration in Las Vegas … 30 BOARD OF DIRECTORS Apply to Join the 2025 IAAPA Board of Directors … 30 IIAAPA PUBLIC AFFAIRS IAAPA Public Affairs: Advocating for the Attractions Industry … 32 IAAPA FOUNDATION The IAAPA Foundation: Empowering the Next Generation of Leaders … 33 ALMANAC Learn from Industry Innovators … 34 From the IAAPA Archives: Award Legacy … 34 CALENDAR … 36 DEPARTMENTS AD INDEX … 66 TIM’S TURN … 68 ® Launch BUSINESS RESOURCES ELEV8 INSIDE | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2024 Visit IAAPA.org/News for leading industry news in the IAAPA News Hub. 62Home Sweet Home The strategic advantages and considerations of on-site housing 64Just Walk Out Six Flags’ partnership with Amazon transforms point-of- sale transactions EUROPA-PARK SIX FLAGSA Global Leader in Miniature Golf & Game Court Design/Installation U.S. ( 888 ) 725-4386 • INT’L ( 231 ) 922-8166 Traverse City, MI | Chicago | Miami | Venice, FL AGSGolfAndSports.com Generate Fun & New Revenue with Miniature Golf & Game Courts! Indoors, outdoors or on rooftops… permanent, temporary or fully portable…from our eco-friendly Modular Advantage™ Mini Golf system, SplashGolf® and our Bunkers & Bumps™ fairways-and-greens putting course, to pickleball, bocce ball and more, we have ideas and solutions to make your venue more inviting, profitable and fun! Here are some fun ways to enhance your attractions: Modular Advantage™ This eco-friendly system uses interlocking patented panels to give you the look and feel of a permanent concrete course with faster installation, less maintenance and less cost. Panels are made of recycled materials and are permeable for water drainage. Can be ADA compliant. If desired, course can be moved! Above is mini golf course designed and installed in wooded area of Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island. Portable / Modular Play mini golf wherever and whenever you like with all the fun and features of a permanent course – topography, waterfalls, ponds, themed scenes, landscaping, etc. Modular design means you can install yourself or engage an AGS professional crew. Above is a “Pop-Up” Park used at Delta, British Columbia. Custom Modular Mini Golf! Installations on rooftops, piers or indoors often require lighter weight construction elements. Our modular system can be custom designed to fit your space while providing all the features of a permanent concrete course like waterfalls, ponds, obstacles and more! Above is parking deck rooftop course designed and built for Caribe Resort, Orange Beach, AL From custom designs to “ready to go” systems, put our 35+ years’ experience to work for you – saving you time and money. Contact us today! 18-hole custom concrete course featuring multiple levels, stone boulders and water elements at the Thrillsville Adventure Park in Slade, Kentucky EUROPEAN DEALERS WANTED Email: cathy@adventureandfun.com4 Funworld | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2024 | IAAPA.org/Funworld Rope Drop Funworld (ISSN 08923752; mailed in Canada under IPM #0902179) is published bimonthly by IAAPA, 4155 West Taft Vineland Road, Orlando, FL 32837; phone: +1 321-319-7600. Periodicals postage paid at Orlando, FL, and additional offices. The purpose, function, and nonprofit status of this organization have not changed during the preceding 12 months. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Funworld, 4155 West Taft Vineland Road, Orlando, FL 32837. ©2024 IAAPA. No material or part thereof may be reproduced or printed without the written consent of IAAPA. Ride-along may be enclosed. DISCLAIMER . IAAPA makes no rep- resentations or warranties about the accuracy or suitability of any informa- tion or materials in this publication; all such content is provided on an as is basis. IAAPA hereby disclaims all war- ranties regarding the contents of this publication, including without limita- tion all warranties of title, non-infringe- ment, merchantability, and fitness for a particular purpose. IAAPA does not guarantee, warrant, or endorse the information, products, or services of any corporation, organization, or person. IAAPA shall not be liable for any loss, damage, injury, claim, or otherwise, whether an action in contract or tort and further shall not be liable for any lost profits, or direct, indirect, special, punitive, or consequential damages of any kind (including without limitation attorneys’ fees and expenses). 4155 West Taft Vineland Road | Orlando, FL 32837 USA +1 321-319-7600 Funworld Magazine Team Director, Global Editorial and Digital Content Scott Fais SFais@IAAPA.org Managing Editor, Funworld Magazine Michael Costello MCostello@IAAPA.org Associate Editor, Funworld Magazine Avery Matteo AMatteo@IAAPA.org Digital Content Editor Lynnette Cantos LCantos@iaapa.org Contributing Editor Juliana Gilling julianagilling@gmail.com Manager, Global Advertising Sales Julie Rice-Witherell JRiceWitherell@IAAPA.org Production Manager Michelle Wandres MWandres@IAAPA.org Contact us for advertising info at 703-299-5755 or email at Advertising@IAAPA.org IAAPA.org/Funworld IAAPA Chairman of the Board Wuthichai Luangamornlert IAAPA President and CEO Jakob Wahl IAAPA Vice President, Global Marketing, Communications, and Membership Patrick Haller IAAPA Asia Pacific Vice President and Executive Director Jack Chan IAAPA Europe, Middle East, Africa Executive Director and Vice President Peter van der Schans IAAPA Latin America, Caribbean Vice President and Executive Director Paulina Reyes IAAPA North America Vice President and Executive Director Michael Shelton IAAPA.org ® CEDAR POINT Coaster Revvvolution Towering over Lake Erie and Sandusky Bay, Top Thrill 2 now sports two 420-foot-tall towers, one of the few roller coasters on Earth to feature two structures, each more than 400 feet tall. Crews completed the track install of the new Zamperla coaster at Cedar Point, in Sandusky, Ohio, just before the holidays. Once open in 2024, Top Thrill 2 will boast three launches: 74 mph, 101 mph (backwards), and 120 mph. Learn more on IAAPA News Hub at IAAPA.org/TT2For over 60 years, we have manufactured innovative, immersive and award-winning attractions for FECs around the world. Unsurpassed technology is built into all of our products to maximize efficiency, safety, and profit without compromising unique and thrilling experiences for your customers! M o s t a d v a n c e d g o - k a r t s i n t h e w o r l d ! 1-800-438-3558 | amusementproducts.com INNOVATION BEGINS HERETRANSFORMING WATER PARKS | VISIT US AT PROSLIDE.COM Copyright © 2023 ProSlide Technology Inc. All rights reserved. ProSlide, the ProSlide logo and any other marks used herein are trademarks or registered trademarks of ProSlide Technology Inc. in Canada, the United States of America and any other countries. HIGH PERFORMANCE WATER RIDES. ONLY FROM PROSLIDE. AQUALIBI WATER PARK ON THE GRAND OpENiNG! CongratulationsIAAPA.org/Funworld | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2024 | Funworld 7 Launch IT’S NO SECRET THAT AS ONLINE COMMERCE CONTINUES TO SKYROCKET , shopping malls around the world have experienced declines in customer traffic and revenue, even forcing some malls to close. This trend was reinforced by numerous COVID-19 restrictions in many global regions. However, a movement born not long before the pandemic began is now burgeoning: the installation of attractions and leisure entertainment offerings that are credited for a resurgence of visitors to malls. In the United States, which still has more than 1,000 enclosed malls, Coresight Research reported in June 2023 that for the first time since 2016, more stores opened in U.S. shopping malls in 2022 than closed. In addition, sales grew more than 11% to almost $819 billion. Consumer traffic increased 10% to 12% at malls in 2022 over 2019 pre-pandemic levels. “Attractions are absolutely having an impact,” says David Goldfarb, founder of Elev8, a Florida company that’s installing attractions in shopping malls to attract customers. “They’re bringing in families—kids that come with a parent who might want to get a facial or shop for clothing. A lot of this traffic had stopped coming to malls. What we’re doing is taking something that was becoming nonexistent and helping to make it popular again.” Goldfarb is also president and owner of Prime Time Amusements in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. He says when Xtreme Action Park, a family entertainment center (FEC) he co-owns, won FEC Location of the Year in 2019, presented by the American Amusement Machine Association (AAMA), Goldfarb had an inspiration: “Xtreme Action Park Thinking Inside the Box Attractions resurrect shopping malls by Keith Miller GROWTH c ELEV8 With its logo positioned prominently on wall surfaces, Elev8 locations feature a brightly lit food and beverage space, with table seating surrounding a centralized bar.Next >