# STERN OF THE UNION ADDRESS – FEBRUARY 2026

**Source:** Stern Pinball Website Newsfeed  
**Type:** article  
**Published:** 2026-02-03  
**Beat:** Pinball

**URL:** https://wp.sternpinball.com/2026/02/03/stern-of-the-union-address-february-2026/

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## Analysis

Stern Pinball Inc. 2026 monthly newsletter announces CES booth presence, Star Wars: Fall of the Empire promotional activities, new All-Access member factory tours, community engagement initiatives (Gameroom/Location of the Month), Stern Army expansion, and Stern Pro Circuit updates featuring Raymond Davidson victory at Starfighters Arcade. The company highlights ongoing code update development and merchandise offerings.

### Key Claims

- [HIGH] Stern Pinball participated in CES 2026 with a booth presence — _Stern of the Union Address, official monthly newsletter_
- [HIGH] All-Access members can now book free annual factory tours (1 per year for 2 people, $25 per additional guest) — _Official Stern announcement in February 2026 newsletter_
- [HIGH] Stern Army program provides first priority shipment of new games to locations hosting official Launch Parties — _Stern of the Union Address, official program description_
- [HIGH] Raymond Davidson won the Starfighters Arcade Stern Pro Circuit tournament, the first of the 2026 season — _Official Stern Pro Circuit results reported in February 2026 newsletter_
- [HIGH] Star Wars: Fall of the Empire Pro and Premium models were added to the IFPA Stern Rewards Program — _IFPA/Stern partnership announcement in February 2026 newsletter_

### Notable Quotes

> "Stern Pinball reinforced how pinball stands out amidst a sea of technological innovation."
> — **Stern Pinball (newsletter writer)**, February 2026
> _Positions pinball as differentiated in tech-heavy marketplace at CES_

> "Step behind the scenes at the Stern Pinball factory… Watch pinball machines come to life—from initial wiring to cabinet decaling"
> — **Stern Pinball (factory tour promotional material)**, February 2026
> _Describes factory tour experience and manufacturing process transparency as All-Access perk_

> "Spots are limited and will fill up fast — secure your visit to the Stern factory and see how the game is made!"
> — **Stern Pinball Inc.**, February 2026
> _Creates scarcity/urgency around factory tour booking, indicates high demand expected_

### Entities

| Name | Type | Context |
|------|------|---------|
| Stern Pinball | company | Major pinball machine manufacturer; subject of February 2026 monthly newsletter |
| Star Wars: Fall of the Empire | game | Stern's major 2025 release; featured in February newsletter for continued promotion and strategy content |
| Raymond Davidson | person | Stern software engineer and elite competitive player; won Starfighters SPF Stern Pro Circuit tournament (first 2026 event) |
| Stern Pro Circuit | event | Sponsored tournament series by Stern Pinball and Mountain Dew; 2026 season underway |
| IFPA | organization | International Flipper Pinball Association; partner in Stern Rewards Program |
| Stern Army | organization | Community ambassador network for Stern Pinball; receives priority shipments and support for Launch Parties |
| Insider Connected | product | Stern's membership/subscription program; includes All-Access tier with factory tour booking access |
| Matt Jusiak | person | Winner of Stern's Gameroom of the Month feature for February 2026 (shared with Kristen Jusiak) |
| Kristen Jusiak | person | Co-winner of Stern's Gameroom of the Month feature for February 2026 (shared with Matt Jusiak) |
| Public House Pinball | venue | Location in Happy Valley, Oregon; won Stern's Location of the Month for February 2026 |
| CES | event | Consumer Electronics Show 2026; Stern Pinball booth presence announced |
| Starfighters Arcade | event | First Stern Pro Circuit tournament of 2026 season; Raymond Davidson won |
| Conan O'Brien | person | Referenced in Stern's content highlights; recent pinball spotlight featured |

### Signals

- **[community_signal]** Stern launching factory tours as exclusive All-Access member perk, indicating investment in community engagement and brand experience beyond products (confidence: high) — All-Access factory tour scheduling announcement; limited spots with expected high demand
- **[business_signal]** Stern monetizing All-Access membership tier with factory tour access ($25 per additional guest), indicating subscription revenue strategy expansion (confidence: high) — Factory tour pricing structure and exclusive member-only access
- **[event_signal]** Stern participated in CES 2026, positioning pinball as differentiated innovation in consumer tech space (confidence: high) — CES booth presence reported with emphasis on pinball standing out amid technological innovation
- **[competitive_signal]** Raymond Davidson (Stern designer/engineer) won first 2026 Stern Pro Circuit event, maintaining competitive presence while in development role (confidence: high) — Starfighters SPF tournament result; Raymond Davidson victory reported
- **[product_strategy]** Star Wars: Fall of the Empire Pro and Premium added to IFPA Stern Rewards Program, suggesting continued promotional push for the title despite mixed reception (confidence: high) — IFPA announcement of Pro and Premium SKUs added to rewards eligibility
- **[operational_signal]** Stern Army continues expansion with emphasis on first-priority shipment access and launch event support, indicating structured operator/location loyalty program (confidence: high) — Stern Army update highlighting program growth and benefits; recruitment call for new locations
- **[content_signal]** Stern creating content with major media figures (Conan O'Brien pinball spotlight featured), indicating broader pop culture integration strategy (confidence: medium) — Reference to Conan O'Brien pinball spotlight in content highlights section
- **[market_signal]** Star Wars: Fall of the Empire continues active promotional campaign 5 months post-release with toppers, strategies, and rewards program inclusion (confidence: high) — Multiple Star Wars references throughout newsletter including toppers, strategies, rewards program additions

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## Transcript

STERN OF THE UNION ADDRESS – FEBRUARY 2026 The Stern of the Union Address, your monthly resource for news, information and highlights on all things Stern Pinball. Without further ado my fellow pinheads: Stern Pinball at CES: At this year’s CES, Stern Pinball reinforced how pinball stands out amidst a sea of technological innovation. And you just never know who will stop by our booth… Star Wars: Fall of the Empire: Star Wars: Fall of the Empire continues to spread the joy of pinball across the galaxy and it never hurts to get some nice strategies on how to play this adventure or even dress it up with one of the coolest toppers out there! Insider Connected: Community Quests and Global Leaderboards are kicking things off right in 2026! New All-Access Perk Unlocked: Book Your Free Stern Factory Tour! Ready to see where the magic happens? We’re excited to announce that factory tour scheduling is now open exclusively for All-Access members with a paid subscription! As a member, you get: • 1 FREE factory tour per year (Admission for you + 1 guest) • Additional guests or tours: just $25 per person During this one-hour, guided factory tour, you’ll: • Step behind the scenes at the Stern Pinball factory • Watch pinball machines come to life—from initial wiring to cabinet decaling • Learn about the craftsmanship, technology, and passion that power every Stern game • Experience an up-close look at the world’s leading pinball manufacturer How to Book 1. Click the link below to open the booking page 2. Log into your All-Access Insider Connected account using the link on the booking page 3. Choose your preferred date and time 4. Add any additional guests (optional) 5. Complete the checkout process in order to book your tour. Spots are limited and will fill up fast — secure your visit to the Stern factory and see how the game is made! Contact us at [email protected] if you have any questions. Gameroom of the Month: Congrats to Matt & Kristen Jusiak for winning Gameroom of the Month! Do you have a special home gameroom you want to share with the world? Submit your incredible gameroom directly to [email protected] for your chance to be featured as our next winner! Stern Army Updates: The Stern Army continues to grow with troops spreading the gospel of pinball across the globe. Stern Army locations receive first priority shipment of new Stern games for hosting official Launch Parties in addition to supporting events with prizes, giveaways, promotional materials, and tools for hosting recurring tournaments and leagues. Engage and expand your local pinball community and to join the Stern Army, please reach out to [email protected] Location of the Month: Congrats to Public House Pinball of Happy Valley, Oregon for winning Location of the Month! Do you have a special location you want to share with the world? Submit your pictures directly to [email protected] for your chance to be featured as our next winner! Stern Pro Circuit: Congrats to all competitors at this year’s first Stern Pro Circuit tournament of the 2026 season, Starfighters SPF. In the end, Stern’s own Raymond Davidson took down all competitors for the circuit victory to kickstart the season. For full details on the Stern Pro Circuit sponsored by Mountain Dew and to keep up with the current standings and schedule, please visit – https://wp.sternpinball.com/stern-pro-circuit/ Upcoming Stern Pro Circuit Events: Stern Pro Circuit 2026 Schedule: Mark your calendars for the upcoming 2026 season of the Stern Pro Circuit sponsored by Mountain Dew! Stern Rewards Program: In partnership with the International Flipper Pinball Association (IFPA), the Stern Rewards Program annually provides IFPA players who qualify the chance to purchase a new Stern Pinball machine at a special IFPA price plus the opportunity for additional Stern merchandise discounts. Detailed rules for the Stern Rewards Program, including an updated list of qualifiers and updated list of rewards available can be found HERE. The IFPA is excited to announce that Stern has added Star Wars: Fall of the Empire Pro and Premium to the rewards program! Status of Code: We are continuously working to update and improve software for our machines. There are always code updates and bug fixes in various stages of development; we will release them upon update completion. If you would like to join our mailing list for code updates, please send an e-mail to [email protected]. If you do encounter any bugs please feel free to provide information to [email protected]. Get Connected and play! https://insider.wp.sternpinball.com/ Code updates and read me files are available at https://wp.sternpinball.com/support/game-code/ Merch and Accessories: Check out our Stern Shop for all accessories, collectibles, clothing and more! Stern Pinball accessories are also available to purchase from your local authorized dealer – https://wp.sternpinball.com/find-a-dealer/ Ask Jack Anything: You’ve got questions? Jack has answers! Ask Jack Anything* is a place to communicate more personably with us at Stern Pinball. Think of it as a digital suggestion box. Don’t be afraid to reach out about anything. It’s as anonymous as you want it to be! ⚡ Check out some of the latest episodes here! Drinks with Jack: Random Tutorials, Interviews, and more: Check out a slew of fun content, tutorials, and interviews including a fun pinball spotlight on a recent Conan O’Brien!

_(Acquisition: web_scrape, Enrichment: v5)_

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*Exported from Journalist Tool on 2026-08-03 | Item ID: 7376971a-fab4-40c1-937c-562eacf14afb*