# New Pinball Museum Planned

**Source:** Pinball News Website  
**Type:** article  
**Published:** 2014-08-18  
**Beat:** Pinball

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

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## Analysis

The Museum of Pinball, a nonprofit organization founded by former arcade chain owner John Weeks, announced plans in July 2013 to open the world's largest pinball museum on an 18-acre plot in Banning, California with 500 machines from Weeks' collection. The organization launched a $150,000 Kickstarter campaign to fund building renovation and infrastructure, but the campaign failed to raise its target ($24,602 raised). Despite the funding shortfall, the Museum proceeded with plans and announced the inaugural Arcade Expo in January 2015 featuring nearly 700 playable pinball and arcade machines.

### Key Claims

- [HIGH] The Museum of Pinball is planning to occupy an 18-acre plot in Banning, California that has already been purchased — _Official Museum announcement via Pinball News article dated July 12, 2013_
- [HIGH] The initial building on the plot is 40,000 square feet and plans include expansion to 80,000 square feet — _Museum plans detailed in Kickstarter campaign description_
- [HIGH] John Weeks, founder and former arcade chain owner, pledged his machine collection (500 machines) and the land to the Museum — _Stated in article as confirmed commitment from Museum founder_
- [HIGH] The Kickstarter campaign raised $24,602 against a $150,000 target before closing — _Update note dated August 18, 2014 confirming final Kickstarter results_
- [HIGH] The Museum of Pinball proceeded to launch the Arcade Expo in January 2015 with nearly 700 pinball and arcade machines despite Kickstarter failure — _Update section announcing Museum's pivot to Arcade Expo after Kickstarter shortfall_

### Notable Quotes

> "The Museum of Pinball is a fully nonprofit organisation, so all the money raised through their Kickstarter - should it prove successful - will go into renovating the existing 40,000 square foot building on the plot and provide the infrastructure to open with 500 machines on display."
> — **Museum of Pinball organization (via Pinball News article)**, July 12, 2013
> _Clarifies nonprofit status and allocation of Kickstarter funds to infrastructure, not land acquisition_

> "After four days the total raised was $13,703, which means an increase in the rate of pledges is needed if the total of $150,000 is to be reached by the closing date."
> — **Pinball News (reporting on Kickstarter progress)**, July 12, 2013 (4 days into campaign)
> _Early signal that campaign was tracking well below target pace_

> "The bad news is that the Kickstarter campaign failed to reach its target, raising pledges of $24,602 by the close. However, the good news is that the Museum of Pinball is going ahead regardless."
> — **Pinball News (update)**, August 18, 2014
> _Documents both campaign failure and Museum's decision to proceed independently, indicating strong organizational commitment_

### Entities

| Name | Type | Context |
|------|------|---------|
| Museum of Pinball | organization | Nonprofit organization planning the world's largest pinball museum in Banning, California; founded by John Weeks |
| John Weeks | person | Founder of Museum of Pinball; former arcade chain owner who pledged his pinball machine collection (500 machines) and 18-acre property to the nonprofit |
| Banning, California | event | Location selected for Museum of Pinball's 18-acre facility |
| Arcade Expo | event | Inaugural pinball and arcade gaming event launched in January 2015 by Museum of Pinball as alternative to failed Kickstarter; featured nearly 700 playable machines, seminars, workshops, and screenings |
| Pinball News | organization | News source covering Museum of Pinball announcement and updates; tracked Kickstarter campaign progress |

### Topics

- **Primary:** Museum and institutional pinball preservation, Crowdfunding and Kickstarter campaign, Arcade Expo event
- **Secondary:** Community engagement and access to pinball machines, Nonprofit organizational structure

### Sentiment

**Positive** (0.75) — Initial announcement is optimistic about museum vision; temporary dip in sentiment after Kickstarter failure, but quickly recovered by Museum's decision to proceed independently and announce successful Arcade Expo alternative. Overall trajectory is positive despite funding setback.

### Signals

- **[business_signal]** Museum of Pinball Kickstarter campaign failed to reach $150,000 target, raising only $24,602 (16.4% of goal), but organization proceeded with alternative event strategy (Arcade Expo in Jan 2015) (confidence: high) — Update dated August 18, 2014 documenting final Kickstarter results and Museum's decision to move forward with Arcade Expo featuring 700 machines
- **[community_signal]** Museum of Pinball received community pledges totaling $24,602 on Kickstarter despite falling short of $150,000 target; demonstrates grassroots interest in pinball preservation institution (confidence: high) — Kickstarter raised $24,602 from community supporters; Museum proceeded regardless, indicating committed founding donor base
- **[event_signal]** First Arcade Expo announced for January 2015 as pivotal community event; nearly 700 playable pinball and arcade machines plus educational seminars and workshops (confidence: high) — Update section announcing Arcade Expo as Museum's response to Kickstarter shortfall; described as successful alternative path forward

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## Transcript

Date: 12th July, 2013, updated 18th August 2014

Plans have been unveiled to open the world's largest pinball museum in Southern California, but to make it happen the team behind it need to raise $150,000 through their Kickstarter campaign.

The Museum of Pinball is planning to occupy an 18-acre plot in Banning, California, which has already been purchased to ensure they are not dependent on a landlord and cannot have the price of their lease unexpectedly increased.

Indeed, The Museum of Pinball is a fully nonprofit organisation, so all the money raised through their Kickstarter - should it prove successful - will go into renovating the existing 40,000 square foot building on the plot and provide the infrastructure to open with 500 machines on display.

The machines are already owned as part of the collection of Museum founder and former arcade chain owner, John Weeks. He's pledged the machines and the land to the Museum, but funding is needed to provide a suitable building, seating, computer system and electrical systems.

The Museum of Pinball's Kickstarter page

As usual with Kickstarter campaign, a range of benefits are offered in return for pledges starting at just $10. These range from your name on the wall of supporters, limited edition commemorative tokens and custom T-shirts, through to VIP opening weekend admission packages and private parties at the Museum.

There are plans beyond simply opening the Museum which include a dedicated visitors' centre, a refreshments room and the opening of a expanded exhibition area of 80,000 square feet filled with historical memorabilia.

The Kickstarter campaign began four days ago and runs for a total of 30 days, ending on 8th August, 2013. After four days the total raised was $13,703, which means an increase in the rate of pledges is needed if the total of $150,000 is to be reached by the closing date.

You can contribute to the campaign through the Museum's Kickstarter page, and find out more about the people behind the project and their plans on the Museum's home page.

We'll keep you updated on the Kickstarter's progress and whether they reach their target by the deadline of 8th August.

UPDATE

There's bad news and good news. The bad news is that the Kickstarter campaign failed to reach its target, raising pledges of $24,602 by the close. As with all Kickstarter fundraisers, if the target is not reached, none of the pledges are collected.

However, the good news is that the Museum of Pinball is going ahead regardless, and the organisers have announced the first Arcade Expo in January 2015 where nearly 700 pinball and arcade games will be set up to play over three days. In addition, seminars, workshops and movie screenings will be taking place at the Museum's facilites.

More details are available on the Arcade Expo website.

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*Exported from Journalist Tool on 2026-04-13 | Item ID: b4c6c1ae-3227-4360-83e9-a4a204a1f9e7*