Case Studies Entertainment

When Brian Hamilton was profiled in Blueprint in spring 2021, he was helping Resorts World Catskills reconstruct a “monster,” a famously difficult golf course so nicknamed by golfer Gene Sarazen because of its notorious fourth hole and large size. The new version of The Monster, which closed in 2015, is scaled down from 7,650 yards […]

Don’t worry, they’re not breaking up the band at Chuck E. Cheese. A forerunner in using animatronics for entertainment, Chuck E. Cheese has been a birthday party destination for so long that grandparents are enjoying the shows again anew. However, as the iconic band of Chuck E. Cheese, Helen Henny, Jasper T. Jowls and Mr. […]

In the classic Adam Sandler comedy “Happy Gilmore,” the title character takes a trip to a miniature golf course late in the film to hone his putting skills ahead of a major tournament. While working with his coach Chubbs Peterson, Gilmore gets frustrated as obstacles like windmills and laughing clowns keep his ball from going […]

Ken Bennett clearly remembers his first “aha moment” with contemporary art. He was helping install the exhibition, “Between Action and the Unknown: The Art of Kazuo Shiraga and Sadamasa Motonaga,” at the Dallas Museum of Art. Sixty works by the two Japanese artists were on display from February to July of 2015. When Bennett, the […]

In some ways, it seemed as though casinos in the U.S. picked up right where they’d left off when the COVID-19 pandemic began to wane in the face of vaccinations. According to the American Gaming Association, first quarter revenues at casinos this year hit $11.1 billion, matching a high set in the third quarter of […]

They built it and people came. But more importantly to Dan Mitchell, when they reopened Chicago’s Navy Pier in March, people came back. Pre-COVID-19,  Navy Pier drew more than 9 million visitors annually—people coming to shops, restaurants and attractions Mitchell helped develop in a career that’s brought him back to the pier repeatedly over the […]

After more than three decades, Danny Murray was ready to retire from working for Alberta’s largest city, but he wasn’t ready for retirement. Murray wanted something more, and he wanted to give back to the community in a different way than working for the city of Calgary. “I was scooped up pretty quickly and got […]

For many businesses in the U.S.—especially franchises—the pandemic has posed considerable challenges, from reduced store capacity to employee health and safety. But while some companies have had to scale back operations, others have found new opportunities for growth. One business that’s managed to thrive is Restore Hyper Wellness, a retail provider of services such as […]

The Concord Resort Hotel was a legendary property in the Borscht Belt of the Catskill Mountains in upstate New York known for its casino and for performances by icons like Barbara Streisand, Tony Bennett, Buddy Hackett and Judy Garland. Martin Luther King Jr. even received an award at the Concord in 1963. The hotel closed […]

A night at the movies is changing. In many ways, it can feel like a night at home, with cushioned recliners and blankets for snuggling. But not only is there the amazing big screen and a sound system that you can’t replicate in your living room; the popcorn is better and gourmet food and specialty […]