Current:Home > InvestChuck E. Cheese has a 'super-sized' game show in the works amid financial woes -ChatGPT
Chuck E. Cheese has a 'super-sized' game show in the works amid financial woes
View
Date:2025-04-16 11:01:43
A game show series is in the works for "big kid" adults still fond of Chuck E. Cheese, the iconic pizza place that doubles as an arcade and entertainment center.
The series, being produced by Magical Elves ("Top Chef," "Brain Games" and "Nailed It!") will focus on the brand's arcade experience, the company announced Tuesday.
Paired-off contestants will compete over "supersized arcade games," including pinball, air hockey, alley roller and the human claw, according to the company. The duo with the most tickets will exchange them for a much cooler version of the Chuck E. Cheese prize wall.
"We are thrilled to be working with Magical Elves, whose deep expertise in unscripted content make them the perfect partner to capture the wholesome competitive spirit tied to childhood memories and transform the Chuck E. Cheese experience for television," Melissa McLeanas, VP of global licensing, media, and branded entertainment development for Chuck E. Cheese, said in a statement.
"Chuck E. Cheese is THE place where a kid can be a kid – but as grown adults, we still have dreams of ruling the arcade, taking on the iconic games we love," Magical Elves co-CEOs Jo Sharon and Casey Kriley added. "We're excited to celebrate these legendary arcade games plus the best of today, all with a super-sized twist."
The Irving, Texas-based company did not share timing details.
The show is over:Munch's Make Believe band closes at all Chuck E. Cheese locations but one
Gameshow series comes amid company struggles
This is the company's latest attempt to expand its brand presence outside its four walls.
Wildly popular in the 1990s, Chuck E. Cheese has steadily been on the decline since 2012, according to a timeline reported by Business Insider, but it really took a hit with the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Since Chuck E. Cheese is known more for its entertainment than its food, sales tanked 21% in the first quarter alone, with families being isolated at home. The company tried to pivot by rebranding around a delivery service that would also bring the company's mascot around for in-person meet-ups, but it didn't prove to be successful.
Lying under a mountain of debt, Chuck E. Cheese is exploring a buyout, according to reporting by Reuters. The company is working with Goldman Sachs to restructure to "attract potential buyers, including private equity firms and other entertainment companies, like Dave & Busters."
veryGood! (566)
Related
- Krispy Kreme offers a free dozen Grinch green doughnuts: When to get the deal
- 90 Day Fiancé's Big Ed Calls Off Impulsive 24-Hour Engagement to Fan Porscha
- US Naval Academy says considering race in admissions helps create a cohesive military
- Kentucky’s Supreme Court will soon have a woman at its helm for the first time
- Google unveils a quantum chip. Could it help unlock the universe's deepest secrets?
- BLM Plan for Solar on Public Lands Sparks Enthusiasm and Misgivings in Different Corners of the West
- West Virginia woman charged after daughter leaves home in handcuffs and seeks neighbor’s help
- Alsobrooks presses the case for national abortion rights in critical Maryland Senate race
- B.A. Parker is learning the banjo
- Jazz saxophonist and composer Benny Golson dies at 95
Ranking
- Trump invites nearly all federal workers to quit now, get paid through September
- BLM Plan for Solar on Public Lands Sparks Enthusiasm and Misgivings in Different Corners of the West
- Trump wants to lure foreign companies by offering them access to federal land
- Keith Urban Shares Update on Nicole Kidman After Her Mom’s Death
- The 401(k) millionaires club keeps growing. We'll tell you how to join.
- Trump wants to lure foreign companies by offering them access to federal land
- Colorado men tortured their housemate for 14 hours, police say
- Michigan repeat? Notre Dame in playoff? Five overreactions from Week 4 in college football
Recommendation
Highlights from Trump’s interview with Time magazine
90 Day Fiancé's Big Ed Calls Off Impulsive 24-Hour Engagement to Fan Porscha
Sur La Table’s Anniversary Sale -- Up to 50% off on Staub & Le Creuset, Plus an Exclusive $19.72 Section
What are Instagram Teen Accounts? Here's what to know about the new accounts with tighter restrictions
Tree trimmer dead after getting caught in wood chipper at Florida town hall
NFL suspends Chargers' Pro Bowl safety Derwin James for one game
Eric Stonestreet says 'Modern Family' Mitch and Cam spinoff being rejected was 'hurtful'
Chiefs RB Carson Steele makes his first NFL start on sister's wedding day