The attractions are the heart of a family entertainment center (FEC). They decide who visits, how long people stay and how often they come back. This guide explains the main FEC attractions, who each one suits and how to choose the right mix for your space.
What makes a good FEC attraction?
A good attraction does four things:
- It draws people in. It is a reason to visit.
- It keeps them busy. Families stay longer, and spend more on games and food.
- It brings them back. There is a new challenge or a new score to beat next time.
- It fits your site. It suits your floor area, your ceiling height and your team.
Anchor attractions and support attractions
Most successful FECs have one or two anchor attractions. An anchor is large, easy to see and easy to describe: “the place with the big soft play” or “the place with laser tag”. Support attractions fill the time around the anchor: games, rides and small play zones.
Choose the anchor first. Then add support attractions for the ages that the anchor does not serve.
See the attractions that FUNCO supplies →
The main FEC attractions
Soft play
Multi-level play frames with slides, nets, ball pits and climbing. Soft play suits toddlers and young children. It is often the anchor in mall FECs, and it suits birthday parties. FUNCO designs and supplies soft play. Read our guide to choosing a soft play supplier.
Trampoline parks and ninja courses
Free jump areas, dodgeball, foam pits, climbing walls and obstacle courses. They suit older children, teens and active adults. They need more floor space and ceiling height than soft play. See adventure and trampoline parks.
Arcade and redemption games
Video, racing, sports and ticket games. In redemption games, players win tickets and change them for prizes. Games suit every age, use little floor space per machine and earn every day. See the games FUNCO supplies and our arcade games supplier guide.
Laser tag
Team games in a themed arena with vests and phasers. Laser tag suits older children, teens and adults, and works well for groups, parties and company events. See laser tag systems.
Mini bowling
Short lanes, light balls and small pins. Mini bowling suits families and mixed ages, and needs much less space than ten-pin bowling. See mini bowling lanes and our mini bowling guide.
Rides
Kiddie rides, small coasters, drop towers and spinning rides. Rides add movement, and people see them from far away. Check the ceiling height and the safety zones early. See rides.
Virtual reality (VR)
Headsets, simulators and motion seats. VR suits teens and adults and takes little space, but staff must help the players. FUNCO supplies VR games as part of its games range.
Toddler zones and edutainment
Soft, low play for the youngest children, and play-and-learn areas such as role play and science play. Parents value a safe and calm zone. See Eduplay.
Party rooms, café and seats
These are not attractions, but they earn money and keep families longer. Put party rooms near the main play zone, and seats where parents can see their children.
FEC attractions compared
| Attraction | Best for | Floor space | Staff need | Main income |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Soft play | Toddlers and young children | Medium to large | Low to medium | Timed entry, parties |
| Trampolines and ninja courses | Older children, teens, adults | Large, with high ceiling | Medium to high | Timed entry, parties |
| Arcade and redemption games | All ages | Small per game | Low | Game play, prizes |
| Laser tag | Older children, teens, adults | Medium | Medium | Per game, groups, events |
| Mini bowling | All ages | Medium | Low | Per game, parties |
| Rides | Depends on the ride | Medium to large | Medium | Per ride |
| VR | Teens and adults | Small | Medium to high | Per play |
| Toddler zone | Toddlers | Small | Low | Timed entry |
This is a general guide. The real space and staff need depend on the products and the layout. FUNCO checks them for your site at the concept stage.
How to choose the mix for your FEC
- Know your visitors. Who lives and shops near the site? Young families need soft play and toddler zones. Areas with many teens need laser tag, VR and games.
- Pick the anchor first. Choose one attraction that people will talk about.
- Cover every age in the family. Add support attractions, so brothers, sisters and parents all have something to do.
- Fit the space. Check the floor area, the ceiling height and the columns. Trampolines and rides need height. Games need little space.
- Plan the flow. Put games near the entrance and the exit, the anchor where people can see it, and quiet zones away from loud ones.
- Balance the income. Mix timed entry, game play, parties and food, so the income does not depend on one source.
- Plan for change. Leave room to add or change games every year, so local families have a reason to come back.
FUNCO plans the entertainment mix as part of FEC design, and supplies the attractions through FEC supply. Tell us about your site and we reply within one working day.
Frequently asked questions
It depends on your visitors and your space. In malls with many young families, soft play is a common anchor. For teens and adults, laser tag, trampolines or bowling often work better. Start from who will visit.
There is no fixed number. Most centers have one or two anchors and several support attractions, so every age in a family has something to do. The space and the budget set the limit.
Common additions are new arcade and redemption games, VR, mini bowling and themed party rooms. They need little space and give regular visitors something new. See the FUNCO product range.
