# CHICAGO AREA PINBALL LEAGUE: SUMMER 2016 **Source:** Pinball News Website **Type:** article **Published:** 2016-11-02 **Beat:** Pinball **URL:** https://www.pinballnews.com/site/2016/11/02/chicago-area-pinball-league-summer-2016 --- ## Analysis A Lake County, Illinois meetup group organized an informal pinball league during summer 2016 across six locations in the northern Chicago suburbs. The league featured over 15 players competing on classic and modern machines, with the stated goal of raising awareness of pinball availability in the region and introducing lapsed players to modern pinball manufacturing. Stern Pinball donated a signed Star Trek translite as the grand prize. ### Key Claims - [HIGH] Over 15 players participated in the Lake County pinball league during summer 2016 — _Direct statement in article about league participation_ - [HIGH] Some participants said they had not played pinball in years and were unaware pinball was still being manufactured — _Quoted observation about participant backgrounds_ - [HIGH] The league's purpose was to elevate awareness of pinball locations in northern Chicago and provide social engagement — _Stated explicitly in league formation rationale_ - [HIGH] Stern Pinball donated a Gary Stern-autographed Star Trek translite as the grand prize — _Documented prize award with photo evidence and thanks to Stern_ ### Notable Quotes > "it has been years since they had played pinball" > — **League participants** > _Demonstrates existence of lapsed player base in the region targeted by the league_ > "were unaware that pinball games were still being manufactured" > — **League participants** > _Highlights low awareness of modern pinball manufacturing among casual players_ > "Thanks to everyone who came out to participate and hopefully raise awareness of places to play pinball in the northern Chicago suburbs." > — **League organizer** > _Summarizes primary mission of the league_ ### Entities | Name | Type | Context | |------|------|---------| | Lake County IL Meetup Group | organization | Hosted the informal pinball league during summer 2016 | | Stern Pinball | company | Donated grand prize (signed Star Trek translite) to the league | | Chicago Area | location | Geographic region where league operated across multiple northern suburbs | | Kristoff's Entertainment Center | location | Hosted two league events (Ghostbusters LE in May, Metallica in October) | | Lake Villa Public House | location | Hosted first league event with The Addams Family; game later removed | | R.J.'s Eatery, Lindenhurst | location | Hosted Iron Man event in April | | Lighthouse Miniature Golf, Waukegan | location | Hosted NASCAR event in August | | Bill's Pizza Pub North, Grayslake | location | Hosted The Simpsons Pinball Party event in September | | The Addams Family | game | League event #1 in March at Lake Villa Public House | | Iron Man | game | League event #2 in April at R.J.'s Eatery | | Ghostbusters LE | game | League event #3 in May at Kristoff's Entertainment Center | | NASCAR | game | League event #4 in August at Lighthouse Miniature Golf | | The Simpsons Pinball Party | game | League event #5 in September at Bill's Pizza Pub North | | Metallica | game | League event #6 in October at Kristoff's Entertainment Center | | Star Trek | game | Stern Pinball game; translite autographed by Gary Stern used as grand prize | | Steve Zivilik | person | Grand prize winner of 2016 Lake County league; won autographed Star Trek translite | | Keith | person | League participant pictured playing NASCAR at Lighthouse Miniature Golf | | Gary Stern | person | Signed the Star Trek translite used as grand prize; likely executive at Stern Pinball | | 2016 Pinball Expo | event | Chicago-based expo; provided swag distributed at final league event in October | ### Topics - **Primary:** Community engagement and location-based pinball promotion, Casual/location player participation and retention, Pinball manufacturing awareness among lapsed players, Regional pinball league organization - **Secondary:** Manufacturer support for grassroots league initiatives, Classic and modern game selection for casual play ### Sentiment **Positive** (0.85) — Article presents league as successful community initiative with good participation, positive outcomes (raising awareness, introducing lapsed players), and manufacturer support. Tone is celebratory of grassroots organization and participants. ### Signals - **[community_signal]** Grassroots Lake County league successfully engaged 15+ players with explicit goal of raising awareness of pinball locations and accessibility in northern Chicago suburbs (confidence: high) — League participation numbers and stated mission to 'elevate awareness of the locations that have pinball in the northern Chicago area' - **[community_signal]** Stern Pinball actively supporting grassroots league initiatives through prize donations and Gary Stern personal involvement (confidence: high) — Stern Pinball donated signed Star Trek translite and swag from 2016 Pinball Expo to league - **[market_signal]** Significant population of lapsed pinball players in suburban Chicago area unaware that modern pinball was still being manufactured (confidence: high) — 'A number of people who said it has been years since they had played pinball, and a few said that they were unaware that pinball games were still being manufactured' --- ## Transcript Date: Summer 2016 Location: Various around Chicago The Lake County IL ‘Meetup’ group hosted an informal pinball league during the Summer months of 2016. The reason for forming this league was to elevate awareness of the locations that have pinball in the northern Chicago area, and also to enjoy an evening of fun with people who were interested in playing pinball. There were a number of people who said “it has been years” since they had played pinball, and a few said that they were unaware that pinball games were still being manufactured. There were in excess of 15 players who participated in this league, each participant receiving a ticket good for the drawing of a grand prize at the last event. The more events that they attended, the more tickets a player received. The games and locations in the league were: #1 March – The Addams Family at Lake Villa Public House (game now removed) #2 April – Iron Man at R.J.’s Eatery, Lindenhurst #3 May – Ghostbusters LE at Kristoff’s Entertainment Center, Round Lake ![Ghostbusters LE](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/chicago-area-league-summer-2016/2.jpg) Ghostbusters LE at Kristoff’s Entertainment Center #4 August – NASCAR at Lighthouse Miniature Golf, Waukegan ![Keith putting the moves on NASCAR at Lighthouse Miniature Golf ](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/chicago-area-league-summer-2016/1.jpg) Keith #5 September – The Simpsons Pinball Party at Bill’s Pizza Pub North, Grayslake #6 October – Metallica at Kristoff’s Entertainment Center, Round Lake ![Metallica at Kristof’s was a fun challenge](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/chicago-area-league-summer-2016/3.jpg) Metallica at Kristof’s was a fun challenge At the end of each event, a small ‘fun’ prize was given for high score of the night. At the October game there was also swag from the 2016 Pinball Expo in Chicago. The grand prize was awarded following the October game. The prize was a translite from the Stern Pinball game Star Trek autographed by Gary Stern. Many thanks to Stern Pinball for providing this prize! ![Steve Zivilik was the 2016 grand prize winner- he has the Star Trek translite already framed and on display in his recreation room](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/chicago-area-league-summer-2016/4.jpg) Steve room Thanks to everyone who came out to participate and hopefully raise awareness of places to play pinball in the northern Chicago suburbs. To be added to the Lake County Pinball League mailing list, please drop an e-mail to [[email protected]](/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#3b575a505e58544e554f42495a585e4c5a427b5c565a525715585456) or for more information visit the host meetup page at facebook.com/LakeCountyDiveBarsandPubsMeetup. _(Acquisition: raw_text, Enrichment: v1)_ --- *Exported from Journalist Tool on 2026-04-13 | Item ID: 4a7cf5ba-e0c2-4d6c-a42f-4189278d94f6*