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On this week's Sound Off with Kevin Williams, BW and Kevin explore the growing influence of "kidults" in the location-based entertainment industry and how their spending habits are reshaping business models. This demographic shift is forcing operators to rethink their attraction mix, F&B offerings, and overall venue design to capitalize on adults seeking playful experiences with premium food and drink options.

• Kidults (adults seeking entertainment experiences) now represent a major revenue source for many entertainment venues
• Traditional family entertainment centers are discovering that evening business is driven largely by adults without children
• Venues like Swingers and Playground are specifically designed to deliver experiences for the kidult demographic
• Even redemption models are evolving with prizes like shot glasses and adult-oriented merchandise replacing traditional toys
• Chuck E. Cheese is expanding beyond its traditional model with new active play facilities and arcade-only locations
• F1 Arcade is testing a smaller-footprint concept called F1 Box with 12 racing simulators but minimal F&B offerings
• Japanese amusement sector remains vibrant with Silk Hat taking over the iconic Akihabara location
• AI integration is becoming mainstream with Chuck E. Cheese implementing an AI chatbot for customer service
• The XR consumer market is shifting from VR headsets toward AR and mixed reality glasses
• Location-based entertainment venues can differentiate by offering premium VR experiences not available at home

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