The LBX Show #78 - Captain Cacao, Immersive Fever, Summer Passes, & more!

Sponsored by Intercard!On this week's show we run through the LBE headlines that matter, from where to meet the Intercard team at upcoming events to what Universal’s Epic Universe teaches about building original characters that drive merch and loyalty. Then Kevin Williams joins us for Open & Shut to unpack a wave of new venue openings and why the lack of reported closures might be a warning sign.• Intercard’s 2026 event lineup for operators • Universal Orlando Epic Universe using Captain Cacao to turn story into merchandise and guest connection • How creating simple lore can deepen your venue experience and unlock new revenue • Popstroke’s $50 unlimited Summer Pass as a pricing, cash flow, and repeat visitation strategy • Why food and beverage becomes the profit lever when play is prepaid • Open And Shut’s openings scan and what “no shuts” could signal about the market • Dave and Buster’s Australia launch and what to watch in its format and mix • Rush Funplex and Thrillz as examples of broad attraction mixes and wristband-enabled access • Sandbox VR, Smithsonian immersive VR, and the growing role of ticketing platforms like Fever • Laser Limbo’s mixed reality laser tag moving from product pitch to operating a venue • Toca Social’s rapid rollout and the risk of weak secondary spendSubscribe and visit LBX Collective for more!