# PINSPOTTING MAY 2026 **Source:** Pinball News Website **Type:** article **Published:** 2026-05-26 **Beat:** Pinball **URL:** https://www.pinballnews.com/site/2026/05/26/pinspotting-april-2026-2/ --- ## Analysis Pinball News features a venue review of The Pinball Capital, a new 8,100-sq-ft pinball arcade in Stone Park, Illinois that opened in April 2026 with 130+ machines spanning seven decades. The venue, owned by Francis Wisniewski, coincided with the 50th anniversary of Roger C. Sharpe's legendary 1976 NYC Council demonstration proving pinball is a skill game, and positions itself as a competitive and inclusive community hub near Chicago with league play, tournaments, and meticulously maintained machines. ### Key Claims - [HIGH] The Pinball Capital opened in early April 2026 in Stone Park, Illinois with over 130 machines. — _M.G. Brown, Pinball News article, venue visit and opening date documented_ - [HIGH] April 2, 2026, marked the 50th anniversary of Roger C. Sharpe's demonstration before the NYC Council proving pinball was a game of skill. — _M.G. Brown, Pinball News article, historical fact verification possible_ - [HIGH] Francis Wisniewski, former co-owner of The Kickback in Middleton, Wisconsin, invested a 'seven-figure' amount into The Pinball Capital. — _M.G. Brown, Pinball News article, owner background and investment scale_ - [MEDIUM] The venue has two new Stern Transformers cornerstone games on order expected in a few weeks. — _M.G. Brown, Pinball News article, based on venue operator statement at time of visit_ - [HIGH] The Pinball Capital will host IFPA tournaments and Stern Army events in summer 2026 and going forward. — _M.G. Brown quoting Wisniewski, Pinball News article_ ### Notable Quotes > "It's a full-blown cathedral dedicated to the clanging, flashing, glory of pinball." > — **M.G. Brown** > _Characterizes The Pinball Capital's ambitious scope and cultural significance_ > "a 'seven-figure gamble' – to create a destination worthy of Chicago's historic claim as the Pinball Capital of the World since the 1930s" > — **M.G. Brown (describing community characterization)** > _Highlights the investment scale and historical context of the venue_ > "The Pinball Capital positions itself as a community hub rather than the typical dank and noisy arcade." > — **M.G. Brown** > _Describes the venue's positioning and atmosphere philosophy_ ### Entities | Name | Type | Context | |------|------|---------| | The Pinball Capital | organization | New 8,100-sq-ft pinball arcade venue opened April 2026 in Stone Park, Illinois with 130+ machines | | Francis Wisniewski | person | Owner of The Pinball Capital; former co-owner of The Kickback in Middleton, Wisconsin; made seven-figure investment | | Roger C. Sharpe | person | Legendary pinball designer and advocate; demonstrated pinball as skill game before NYC Council in 1976; attended The Pinball Capital opening | | M.G. Brown | person | Pinball News writer and venue reviewer, author of Pinspotting series | | Stone Park, Illinois | location | Location of The Pinball Capital at 3200 W. Le Moyne St.; near Melrose Park former Stern/Data East/Sega factory | | Stern Pinball | company | Pinball manufacturer; revealed Transformers cornerstone game; The Pinball Capital has two on order | | Chicago Gaming | company | Pinball manufacturer with titles at The Pinball Capital | | Spooky Pinball | company | Pinball manufacturer with titles at The Pinball Capital | | Jersey Jack Pinball | company | Pinball manufacturer with titles at The Pinball Capital including King Kong: Myth of Terror Island | | The Kickback | organization | Pinball venue in Middleton, Wisconsin; former co-owner Francis Wisniewski | | Silverball Super Showdown | event | Pinball tournament at The Pinball Capital scheduled for June 26–28, 2026 | | Transformers: More Than Meets The Eye | game | New Stern Pinball cornerstone game announced; two units on order at The Pinball Capital | | Harry Potter | game | Pinball title available at The Pinball Capital | | Rick and Morty | game | Pinball title available at The Pinball Capital | | Pokémon | game | Pinball title available at The Pinball Capital (two variants mentioned) | | King Kong: Myth of Terror Island | game | Jersey Jack Pinball title available at The Pinball Capital | | Star Wars: Fall of the Empire | game | Pinball title available at The Pinball Capital | | Dragon | game | 1977 InterFlip (Spain) pinball machine at The Pinball Capital; rare in United States | | Extra Inning | game | 1971 Gottlieb pinball by Ed Krynski; 350 units manufactured; designed to circumvent NY pinball restrictions | | Skipper | game | 1933 Bally payout/free game art-deco machine at The Pinball Capital | | Sharpshooter | game | 1979 Game Plan pinball designed by Roger C. Sharpe; featured at The Pinball Capital opening | | Sharpshooter II | game | 1983 Game Plan pinball designed by Roger C. Sharpe; featured at The Pinball Capital opening | | InterFlip | company | Spanish pinball manufacturer from 1970s; produced Dragon (1977) | | IFPA | organization | International Flipper Pinball Association; will host tournaments at The Pinball Capital summer 2026+ | ### Signals - **[venue_signal]** The Pinball Capital, a major new 8,100-sq-ft pinball-centric arcade with 130+ machines, opened in Stone Park, Illinois in April 2026. Positioned as a top Midwest destination and competitive venue. (confidence: high) — Article documents opening date, square footage, machine count, and venue positioning as destination arcade - **[community_signal]** The Pinball Capital's April 2026 opening coincided with 50th anniversary of Roger C. Sharpe's legendary 1976 NYC Council demonstration proving pinball as skill game. Sharpe attended opening, screened documentary, and participated in machine giveaway. (confidence: high) — Article explicitly states 'April 2, 2026, marked the 50th anniversary' and describes Sharpe's participation in opening event - **[product_launch]** The Pinball Capital has two new Stern Transformers cornerstone games on order, expected to be available to play in a few weeks from time of article publication. (confidence: medium) — M.G. Brown reports 'TPC has two of the new Stern Transformers cornerstone games on order that are expected to be available to play in a few weeks' - **[venue_signal]** The Pinball Capital is establishing itself as a serious competitive venue with IFPA tournaments, Stern Army events, league nights (Thursdays), and 'Weekly Strikes' tournaments (Fridays) planned for summer 2026 and ongoing. (confidence: high) — Article states Wisniewski confirmed IFPA and Stern Army events, and describes tournament schedule - **[operational_signal]** The Pinball Capital employs on-site technicians, maintains a dedicated repair area, and uses a QR-code reporting system for broken games to ensure tournament-ready condition. (confidence: high) — Article documents repair infrastructure and broken-game reporting system with photos - **[venue_signal]** The Pinball Capital offers multiple entry models: $20 day pass for unlimited play, $125 monthly membership, half-off for women on Tuesdays and industry professionals on Wednesdays, and separate coin-drop room with à la carte pricing. (confidence: high) — Article provides detailed pricing and discount structure - **[historical_signal]** The Pinball Capital houses several rare and historically significant machines including Dragon (1977) by InterFlip of Spain (noted as one of few in United States), Extra Inning (1971) by Gottlieb with only 350 units produced, and 1933 Bally Skipper. (confidence: high) — Article extensively documents and photographs rare machines with historical context - **[collector_signal]** The Pinball Capital's collection spans over seven decades of pinball history from 1947 Gottlieb Humpty Dumpty to contemporary Stern, Chicago Gaming, Spooky, and Jersey Jack titles. (confidence: high) — Article describes breadth of collection spanning 1930s-2020s with specific machines listed - **[business_signal]** Owner Francis Wisniewski made a 'seven-figure gamble' investment in The Pinball Capital, indicating substantial capital deployment and commitment to destination venue model. (confidence: high) — Article characterizes investment as 'seven-figure' through community knowledge - **[venue_signal]** The Pinball Capital is located in Stone Park, Illinois, 1 mile from the historic Melrose Park factory site where Data East, Sega, and Stern manufactured pinball machines, and near Chicago O'Hare airport, positioning it as accessible destination venue. (confidence: high) — Article explicitly notes proximity to historic factory and airport, emphasizing strategic location - **[content_signal]** Pinball News published venue review during author's visit to Stone Park before attending Stern Pinball's media reveal of their cornerstone game, indicating coordinated coverage of major industry announcements. (confidence: high) — Article opening states M.G. Brown visited 'before attending Stern Pinball's reveal of their latest cornerstone game to the media' - **[community_signal]** While some online skeptics questioned the Stone Park location, early visitor feedback has been 'overwhelmingly positive' regarding machine selection, cleanliness, and atmosphere. (confidence: medium) — Article notes 'some online sceptics raised eyebrows about the location, early feedback from visitors has been overwhelmingly positive' --- ## Transcript HomeSITESPINSPOTTING MAY 2026 By M.G. Brown Address: 3200 W. Le Moyne St., Stone Park, IL 60165 Website: www.pinballcapital.com Phone: +1 (708) 731-3147 Hours: Closed Mondays; Tues-Thurs 3pm-10pm; Fri–Sun 11am-11pm. Please consult the Pinball Map for the latest games available to play. During my free partial day in the Chicago area before attending Stern Pinball’s reveal of their latest cornerstone game to the media, I took some time to visit the new ‘Capital’ of pinball in the Chicago suburbs, not far from O’Hare airport. ![](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Entrance-1-scaled.jpg) The Pinball Capital’s location is just 1 mile from the old Data East/Sega/Stern Pinball factory in Melrose Park The Pinball Capital, which opened its doors in early April 2026 at 3200 W. Le Moyne St. in Stone Park, Illinois, isn’t just another arcade. It’s a full-blown cathedral dedicated to the clanging, flashing, glory of pinball. ![](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/New-Games-Notice-1-scaled.jpg) Recently added games are listed on a whiteboard near the entrance ![](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Bulletin-Board-1-scaled.jpg) There is a general notice bulletin board near the entrance of TPC With over 130 machines spanning more than seven decades of the game’s history, the 8,100-square-foot venue ranks among the largest pinball-centric arcades in the Midwest, and a top destination nationwide. From a 1947 Gottlieb Humpty Dumpty to the latest Stern, Chicago Gaming, Spooky, and Jersey Jack titles such as Harry Potter, Rick and Morty, Pokémon, King Kong: Myth of Terror Island, and Star Wars: Fall of the Empire, the collection is staggering in both breadth and quality. The following photos are representative of the over 130 games available in the ‘free play’ area of The Pinball Capital: As you can see in these photos, there is plenty of space to spread out and enjoy your experience. The Pinball Capital (TPC) has two of the new Stern Transformers cornerstone games on order that are expected to be available to play in a few weeks. I am always on the lookout for the pinball ‘unicorns’ and I was pleasantly surprised to find some during my visit. TPC has one of the few Dragon (1977) games, produced by InterFlip of Spain, known to be in the United States. The below photos show some of the unique features of this game. ![](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/InterFlip-Match-1-scaled.jpg) The match on Dragon is three digits ![](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/InterFlip-Logo-1-scaled.jpg) The InterFlip logo- used only for export games. ![](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/InterFlip-Dragon-1-scaled.jpg) The overview of Dragon by InterFlip Also present is Gottlieb’s Extra Inning (1971) of which there were only 350 units manufactured. It is a Ed Krynski game that combines elements of pitch and bat and pinball. Pinball lore has it that this game was designed to be a way around New York’s restrictive laws regarding pinball operation. ![](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Extra-Inning-1-scaled.jpg) Extra Inning Overview For instance, the machine displays ‘innings’ instead of the more conventional ‘ball in play’. The ball is shot onto the playfield from between the flippers when the right flipper button is pressed. ![](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Extra-Inning-Plunger-1-scaled.jpg) Ball is shot up between the flippers – this photo also shows the QR code used to report a faulty game. It was a shame that the Skipper (1933) table top game was not available for play. It was interesting to look at nonetheless. ![](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Skipper-1-1-scaled.jpg) Bally’s Skipper payout or free game art-deco machine from the 1930’s ![](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Skipper-2-1-scaled.jpg) Bally’s Skipper has a clear information card ![](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Skipper-3-1-scaled.jpg) Example of trade publication advert showing Bally’s Skipper The timing of their grand opening was no accident. April 2, 2026, marked the 50th anniversary of Roger C. Sharpe’s legendary demonstration before the New York City Council, where he proved pinball was a game of skill, not chance—helping remove decades-long bans in major cities. Sharpe himself attended the opening, screened the documentary Pinball: The Man Who Saved the Game, and also participated in a machine giveaway. Pinball Capital has games on-hand designed by Sharpe prominently placed on the game floor for the event, including Game Plan’s Sharpshooter (1979) and Sharpshooter II (1983). ![](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Sharpe-Games-1-scaled.jpg) Blast Off is bracketed by two games designed by Roger C. Sharpe The man behind Pinball Capital is Francis Wisniewski, a well known figure in the pinball community and former co-owner of The Kickback in Middleton, Wisconsin. Wisniewski poured significant resources into the venture – described in community circles as a “seven-figure gamble” – to create a destination worthy of Chicago’s historic claim as the Pinball Capital of the World since the 1930s, when companies such as Bally, Williams, and Gottlieb dominated the industry. ![](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Pokemen-1-scaled.jpg) A choice of two Pokemon games to enjoy Entry to The Pinball Capital is straightforward and generous. $20 gets you a wristband good for unlimited play the entire day. For the truly devoted, a $125 monthly membership offers near-unlimited access with discounted tournament entry. Special deals include half-off admission for women on Tuesdays and industry professionals on Wednesdays. Only want to knock out a few quick games? There is an independent ‘coin drop’ room that does not require an all-day admission and games are paid for à la carte. The venue strikes a balance between casual fun and competitive passion. League nights run on Thursdays, ‘Weekly Strikes’ tournaments on Fridays, and larger events like the upcoming Silverball Super Showdown (June 26–28) draw serious players. Open play continues even during tournaments, keeping the space welcoming for families, date nights, and curious first-timers. Wisniewski says that IPFA tournaments and Stern Army events will be hosted by The Pinball Capital in the summer of 2026 and going forward. The machines are meticulously maintained, with on-site technicians, a dedicated repair area, and a QR-code ‘broken game’ reporting system ensuring quick fixes – critical for keeping high-end titles in tournament-ready condition. ![](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Repair-Area-1-scaled.jpg) The repair area is well stocked with tools and parts The Pinball Capital positions itself as a community hub rather than the typical dank and noisy arcade. Their space is bright and welcoming and emphasizes inclusivity, with events designed for players of all ages and skill levels. It’s family-friendly yet serious enough to attract expert players. Located near the village hall, the venue sits in a transitional area of Stone Park that has seen revitalization efforts. While some online sceptics raised eyebrows about the location, early feedback from visitors has been overwhelmingly positive, praising the massive selection, cleanliness, and atmosphere. While The Pinball Capital doesn’t offer any food on-site, their location is near Menards as well as several restaurants. If you purchase an entry wristband, you are welcome to leave for refreshments and then return for more pinball at your leisure. Whether you’re jonesing for a high score rush, hunting for that elusive multi-ball frenzy, or simply wanting to soak up the lights and sounds of mechanical Americana, this is the new must-visit destination just minutes from the Chicago loop and O’Hare airport. - Related Articles - More By M.G. Brown - More In SITES - !Stern's new Transformers: More Than Meets The Eye STERN REVEALS NEW TRANSFORMERS GAME Stern Pinball today announced their second cornerstone game of the year, Transformers: Mor… 5 days ago - !April 2026 PINcast APRIL 2026 PINCAST After all the excitement of new game launches last month, things were a little more sedate… 3 weeks ago - !Pinspotting April 2026 PINSPOTTING APRIL 2026 During our Key West (FL) 10 day vacation we visited a few sites with pinball. 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