Now Trending by Howard McAuliffe – March 2026

Replay Magazine·article·analyzed·Mar 1, 2026

Analysis

claude-haiku-4-5-20251001 · $0.019

TL;DR

AEI 2026 venue upgrades and networking strategy for arcade operators in Las Vegas.

Summary

Howard McAuliffe, CEO of Pinnacle Entertainment Group, provides an industry insider's guide to attending Amusement Expo International (AEI) 2026 in Las Vegas. He highlights venue upgrades (move from Westgate to Resorts World, Tesla Tunnel connection), new networking events targeting operators and women in the industry, and his strategy for working the trade show floor. The article emphasizes AEI's value as a more intimate alternative to IAAPA, focused on route operations and FEC profitability through vendor relationships and peer knowledge-sharing.

Key Claims

Amusement Expo International is smaller and more focused than IAAPA, specifically tailored for route operations and family entertainment centers
high confidence · Howard McAuliffe, AEI positioning comparison
AEI 2026 moved the host hotel from Westgate to Resorts World, which is a Hilton property offering Honors points and modern resort experience
high confidence · Howard McAuliffe, logistical announcement
The Tesla Tunnel (The Loop) connects Resorts World directly to Las Vegas Convention Center's West Hall, eliminating multi-story hall fatigue
high confidence · Howard McAuliffe, venue infrastructure details
AEI is where operators see actual sales data from games in their first few months of operation, whereas IAAPA is where games debut
high confidence · Howard McAuliffe, show strategy and positioning
The social golf sector is experiencing explosive growth with multiple high-end competitors: Atomic Golf, Swingers, Puttery, and PopStroke
medium confidence · Howard McAuliffe, Las Vegas attraction trends
F1 Arcade at Caesars Palace is a 21,000-square-foot venue with 87 full-motion simulators demonstrating the viability of high-end F&B paired with competitive gaming
high confidence · Howard McAuliffe, Las Vegas venue observation
Pinnacle Entertainment Group uses Intercard for card system management and Redemption Plus for prize counter/merchandise management
high confidence · Howard McAuliffe, vendor partnerships

Notable Quotes

“While IAAPA is the global giant, AEI offers a more intimate, focused environment tailored specifically to route operations and family entertainment centers. This smaller footprint is a feature, not a bug.”
Howard McAuliffe @ opening section — Defines AEI's market positioning and explains why operators choose it over IAAPA
“The incremental profit ideas and show-special savings I gather at AEI more than pay for the trip.”
Howard McAuliffe @ closing of floor strategy section — Quantifies ROI value of attending the show for operators
“IAAPA is where games debut; AEI is where we see the actual numbers from the first few months of operation.”
Howard McAuliffe @ working the floor section — Articulates the temporal/strategic difference between the two major shows

Entities

Amusement Expo International (AEI)eventHoward McAuliffepersonPinnacle Entertainment GroupcompanyIAAPAorganizationResorts WorldvenueLas Vegas Convention Center West HallvenueThe Loop (Tesla Tunnel)infrastructureAREA15 ExpansionvenueUniversal Horror Unleashedattraction

Signals

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event_signal: AEI 2026 venue moved from Westgate to Resorts World with Tesla Tunnel integration to Las Vegas Convention Center West Hall. Single-level layout eliminates multi-story navigation.
high · Detailed venue infrastructure description with specific logistics improvements
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event_signal: AEI 2026 introducing new networking events: Level Up Lounge (Monday post-education), Rise & Shine Breakfast (women in industry focus, Tuesday), and expanded All-Industry Gala.
high · Explicit enumeration of three new events with dates and purposes
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market_signal: Social golf sector experiencing explosive growth with multiple high-end competitors (Atomic Golf, Swingers, Puttery, PopStroke) using tech-tracked balls to gamify traditional sport.
medium · McAuliffe identifies four separate social golf concepts as growing trend, though secondary analysis rather than primary data
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market_signal: F1 Arcade at Caesars Palace demonstrates viability of large-scale (21,000 sq ft, 87 simulators) high-end F&B + competitive gaming model in premium locations.
high · Specific venue specifications and positioning as 'social racing at the highest level'
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operational_signal: Route operators rely on long-standing relationships with card system providers (Intercard) and prize/merchandise management systems (Redemption Plus) for cost control and labor efficiency.
high · McAuliffe details his annual vendor review strategy and mentions years of partnership with both suppliers

Topics

Trade Show Logistics and Venue ManagementprimaryRoute Operator Business Strategy and ProfitabilityprimaryNetworking and Industry RelationshipsprimaryFEC Design and Attraction TrendssecondaryGaming and Arcade TechnologysecondaryLas Vegas Entertainment Venue ConceptssecondaryWomen in the Amusement Industrymentioned

Sentiment

positive(0.85)— McAuliffe is enthusiastic about AEI 2026 improvements and expresses optimism about venue upgrades, networking opportunities, and vendor relationships. Tone is professional and promotional but grounded in operational specifics. No critical or negative commentary present.

Transcript

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The Road to Las Vegas Get Ready for Amusement Expo 2026! by Howard McAuliffe, Partner, Pinnacle Entertainment Group Who wants to spend St. Patrick’s Day and the opening rounds of the NCAA Tournament in Las Vegas, surrounded by friends while conducting business that improves your bottom line? I’m betting the answer is everyone. Amusement Expo International (AEI) is the industry’s premier spring event, and for 2026, it is shaping up to be our most impactful gathering yet. While IAAPA is the global giant, AEI offers a more intimate, focused environment tailored specifically to route operations and family entertainment centers. This smaller footprint is a feature, not a bug; it allows for meaningful face-to-face time with vendors and, perhaps more importantly, with fellow operators. We are an industry built on shared knowledge, and the networking here is where the real “ROI” of the trip often begins. New Venue, New Efficiency We have several logistical upgrades this year designed to streamline your experience. First, we’ve moved the host hotel from the Westgate to Resorts World. This is a significant step up in quality, offering a modern, integrated resort experience. For those of us tracking expenses and travel perks, it’s a Hilton property, so you’ll earn Hilton Honors points on your stay. The commute to the show floor is now easier than ever. The Tesla Tunnel (The Loop) links Resorts World directly to the Las Vegas Convention Center’s West Hall, where both our education sessions and the trade show will be held. The West Hall is a state-of-the-art facility that keeps all exhibitors on a single level, eliminating the “hall fatigue” of multi-story layouts. Strategic Networking We’ve listened to attendee feedback and added several new events to foster professional connections: • The Level Up Lounge (Monday, March 16): A dedicated post-education reception at Resorts World. It’s designed to be a relaxed yet structured environment to debrief on the day’s sessions. • Rise & Shine Breakfast (Tuesday, March 17): This new event celebrates and supports women in the industry, featuring candid insights from female leaders. It’s open to all attendees, and I strongly encourage everyone to attend. I certainly will be there. • All-Industry Gala Reception (Tuesday, March 17): A staple of the show, but this year it’s integrated into our Resorts World “HQ,” making it the central social hub of the week. “Inspiration” Tour I always set aside time to explore Las Vegas’s latest out-of-home (OOH) concepts. While high-budget Vegas attractions aren’t always directly transferable to a community FEC, they offer vital inspiration for hospitality and immersion. My “must-see” list for 2026 includes: 1. The Vegas Immersive District (AREA15 Expansion): Specifically, Universal Horror Unleashed. This is Universal’s first year-round permanent horror attraction. It’s a masterclass in rotating seasonal content – keep an eye on their “Krampus” winter expansion for ideas on how to keep your own attractions fresh. 2. F1 Arcade (Caesars Palace): A 21,000-square-foot venue with 87 full-motion simulators. This is “social racing” at the highest level, proving that high-end F&B paired with competitive gaming is a winning formula. 3. The Golf Evolution: Between Atomic Golf (the next-gen Topgolf competitor near The Strat) and boutique concepts like Swingers, Puttery and PopStroke, the “social golf” sector is exploding. Notice how they use tech-tracked balls to turn a traditional sport into a “live-action” arcade game. Working the Floor The trade show floor is larger than ever. My strategy remains consistent: I head to the Shaffer booth first to grab their new-game flyer. From there, I move through the manufacturers, but I don’t just look at the cabinets – I ask for real-world sales data. IAAPA is where games debut; AEI is where we see the actual numbers from the first few months of operation. I also spend significant time with card system providers. We use Intercard at our centers, and even after years of partnership, I always find a new software feature or reporting tool that helps us cut labor costs or boost transparency. Finally, I check in with Redemption Plus, another supplier with which we have a long-standing relationship. The arcade’s “cost of goods sold” is managed at the prize counter, and seeing the new merchandise trends in person is the only way to ensure your prize mix stays relevant. Ultimately, I find that the incremental profit ideas and show-special savings I gather at AEI more than pay for the trip. I look forward to seeing you all in the West Hall! Howard McAuliffe loves to imagine and implement new products, business models, and ideas, and is CEO and president of Pinnacle Entertainment Group Inc. He’s an industry veteran who got his start in the business when he was just 16 and has 20 years of expertise in product development, as well as FEC and route operations. Howard’s wife Reem and young son Sami are the center of life outside of work. When he’s not working, Howard can be found enjoying the outdoors, hiking, fishing and mountaineering. Traveling anywhere new or to old favorites like the American West is a passion. Readers can visit www.grouppinnacle.com for more information or contact Howard at [email protected], he welcomes positive as well as constructive feedback and counterpoints.