# Pinball at the Airport

**Source:** Pinball News Website  
**Type:** article  
**Published:** 2010-01-01  
**Beat:** Pinball

**URL:** https://www.pinballnews.com/news/sfopinball.html

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## Analysis

Article from October 2010 documenting Lobby Launch, a touch-screen promotional pinball game created by Courtyard by Marriott, installed at multiple major US airports including San Francisco, Atlanta, Denver, Miami, and Seattle-Tacoma. The game allows players to interact with hotel booking mechanics while competing for prizes linked to social media.

### Key Claims

- [HIGH] Lobby Launch is a seven-foot, nine-screen touch-screen video pinball game created to promote Courtyard by Marriott — _Direct product description in article body_
- [HIGH] Pacific Pinball Museum worked with San Francisco Airport Museum to create a pinball exhibition in January 2010 — _Article references Michael Schiess story from January 2010_
- [HIGH] Lobby Launch was installed at San Francisco Airport Terminal 3 gate 85, and also at Atlanta Hartsfield, Denver, Miami and Seattle-Tacoma airports — _Specific location listing in article_
- [HIGH] Players could win up to $500 in Courtyard gift cards for top Lobby Launch players — _Promotional details section_

### Notable Quotes

> "Lose the ball though, and it's check out time."
> — **Article author**
> _Clever promotional messaging connecting pinball gameplay to hotel check-out mechanics_

### Entities

| Name | Type | Context |
|------|------|---------|
| Pacific Pinball Museum | organization | Collaborated with San Francisco Airport Museum on 2010 pinball exhibition |
| San Francisco Airport | organization | Host venue for pinball installations; Terminal 3 gate 85 location for Lobby Launch |
| Courtyard by Marriott | company | Hotel chain that commissioned and promoted Lobby Launch game |
| Michael Schiess | person | Documented the Pacific Pinball Museum and San Francisco Airport Museum collaboration in January 2010 |
| Lobby Launch | product | Touch-screen promotional pinball game installed at multiple major US airports |

### Topics

- **Primary:** Promotional/commercial pinball installations, Pinball in non-traditional venues
- **Secondary:** Digital/touch-screen pinball, Brand partnerships and IP licensing, Airport entertainment and hospitality

### Sentiment

**Neutral** (0) — Article is informational/reportorial in tone, documenting a product installation without editorial commentary

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## Transcript

Date: 10th October, 2011

Back in January 2010 Michael Schiess told the story of how the Pacific Pinball Museum worked with San Francisco Airport Museum to create a pinball exhibition within the airport concourse.

Now, pinball has returned to San Francisco Airport, but in a rather less conventional form.

Meet... Lobby Launch pinball.

Lobby Launch pinball

Lobby Launch is a touch-screen video pinball game created to promote the Courtyard by Marriott hotel chain.  Players can check in, explore the hotel's facilities and add days to their stay on the seven foot, nine screen game.

Playing Lobby Launch

Players launch the ball by pressing on the plunger, then press on the two touch pad flipper buttons to flip.  Lose the ball though, and it's check out time.

The playfield

Scores can be linked to the Lobby Launch Facebook page and Twitter feed which gives the opportunity to win up to $500 in Courtyard gift cards for the top players, and the chance to have your picture appear on the high score wall.

This game was spotted in Terminal 3 of San Francisco Airport at gate 85, but it is also installed at Atlanta Hartsfield, Denver, Miami and Seattle-Tacoma airports.  Details of the locations in each airport are also on the Facebook page.

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_(Acquisition: raw_text, Enrichment: v1)_

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*Exported from Journalist Tool on 2026-04-13 | Item ID: 659e787c-7b43-4af9-83cd-8064dcb22ad6*