Our regular end of week round-up of news from the last seven days.
FEC: Nickelodeon plans Lakeside opening
Nickelodeon will be opening its first themed family entertainment centre at one of Hollywood Bowl’s biggest venues at Lakeside shopping centre in Essex next year.
ARCADES: New report projects $20bn market worth
A new report from Technavio forecasts a global arcade market worth $20bn by 2021.
VIRTUAL REALITY: Zero Latency expands Down Under
VR arcade specialist Zero Latency is opening and operating a nearly 400 square metre (4,300 square foot) VR gaming arena in Brisbane, Australia capable of running two 8-player VR games simultaneously side by side.
LICENSING: Bandai rides superhero upsurge
With Bandai investing heavily in its superhero products and prize offerings, the firm has highlighted new research from NPD, showing that £1 in every £13 spent on toys in the first half of 2017 was spent on superhero brands.
TRAMPOLINES: Let’s Jump heads to Huddersfield
Let’s Jump is seeking planning permission to expand with another trampoline centre in Huddersfield.
FEC: New Dubai mall hosts FEC/attractions
Another new mall is about to spring up in Dubai, boasting a family entertainment centre and other attractions.
RECRUITMENT: Triotech boosts European team
Triotech has appointed Tony Gattillo as regional sales director for Europe and Africa.
DEAL 2018: Innovation is key says organiser
Players within the theme park and amusement industry sectors should constantly innovate to attract the inbound tourists and also “factor in the residents to grow the industry”, according to Abdul Rahman Falaknaz, chairman of International Expo Consults, organiser of the DEAL show.
SYSTEMS: Locker Network continues water park growth
The Locker Network is continuing its expansion into waterparks with a new installation at the Coconut Cove mini-waterpark at Banana’s Fun Park in Grand Junction, Colorado.
RIDES: WOR ups production of new coin handlers
UK-based ride-on specialist, World of Rides, says it is accelerating production of units using a roll-down coin mechanism that only accepts the new £1 coin after quicker than expected take-up of the new currency.