FEC Trends: The Future of Indoor FECs Beyond Trampoline Parks
- Jun 1
- 4 min read
For the best part of 15 years, trampoline parks have dominated the indoor leisure landscape. What began as simple rooms filled wall‑to‑wall with trampoline beds and a couple of foam pits quickly evolved into multi‑activity arenas packed with interactive tech, sports courts and gamified experiences.
But as the market matures and customer expectations shift, a new wave of concepts is emerging, and it’s becoming increasingly clear that the next generation of Family Entertainment Centres (FECs) will look very different.
From Trampoline Beds to Interactive Playgrounds
The early trampoline parks were wonderfully simple: jump, flip, repeat. But as competition increased and customer tastes changed, operators began reducing trampoline coverage - in many cases, by 60–70% - to make room for more diverse, interactive attractions.
We’ve seen the rise of:
ValoJump and ValoClimb, blending physical activity with videogame‑style challenges
Rugged Interactive products, bringing reaction‑based games and LED‑driven experiences into the mix
Pixel‑style interactive tiles, turning floors and walls into responsive gaming surfaces
Gamified sports pitches, becoming some of the busiest zones in older parks
These additions haven’t just diversified the trampoline park experience; they have helped solved operational challenges. Gamified zones distribute guests more evenly across the venue, reducing overcrowding on trampoline beds and creating a more exciting, dynamic environment.
Why Sports‑Based Concepts Haven’t Fully Arrived Yet
Over the years, several sports‑themed concepts have tried to break into the trampoline park market. Many of them leaned heavily into data, scoring, and analytics - great on paper, but often lacking the emotional pull and physical freedom that families expect from an FEC.
The result? Experiences that felt more like training sessions than play.
The lesson is clear: tech alone doesn’t create magic. It’s the blend of movement, immersion and social play that keeps guests coming back.
The Rise of Tech‑Heavy Game Rooms: The SPARKX Model
Across Europe, we’ve seen the emergence of venues like SPARKX, which offer giant rooms filled with individual game stations. Guests pay per game, hopping between immersive digital experiences.
These indoor entertainment venues are:
Highly interactive
Visually impressive
Packed with cutting‑edge tech
But they come with trade‑offs. Capacity is typically lower than a trampoline park, and the repeat‑visit potential is still unproven. They’re brilliant for novelty and short‑term buzz but may struggle to deliver the same long‑term family loyalty as more movement‑based concepts.
Slick City: The Indoor Slide Concept Taking the US by Storm
One of the most interesting new models in the FEC market is Slick City, which has exploded across the US in recent years. Slick City venues are typically between 20,000 to 40,000 sq ft (that’s roughly 1,850 to 3,700 m²) where trampolines are replaced by 20+ high‑speed slides, surrounded by sports courts and activity zones.
After I visited multiple Slick City locations in the US, a few things stood out:
Kids absolutely love the slides
The energy is high and the flow is constant
Sports courts remain as popular as ever
The concept feels fresh but still slightly incomplete (in my opinion)
Slides deliver the thrill factor, but without additional layers of interactivity or variety, some guests may feel the experience lacks depth or fails to draw them back to the venue for a second time.
The First UK Slick City: A Step Closer to the “Ultimate FEC”
The first Slick City in the UK has now opened and it feels like an exciting step forward. The mix of:
Slides;
Interactive sports courts;
Gamified zones;
Strong visual theming;
Dynamic LED lighting;
…creates a more rounded, compelling experience. Slick City has also borrowed successful elements from European operators like Rush and AirHop, including UV graphics, glow‑night atmospheres and demographic‑specific programming.
This is the direction the indoor entertainment market is heading: hybrid venues that blend physical thrills with immersive tech and strong branding.
Other FEC & Trampoline Park Trends Worth Watching
Beyond slides and sports, several other indoor entertainment models are gaining traction globally:
1. Immersive Arenas
These venues, such as Immersive Gamebox and Chaos Karts, use projection mapping, motion tracking, and group‑based gameplay to create shared digital adventures. They’re compact, repeatable, and highly social.
2. Hybrid Adventure & Play Venues
Brands like Urban Adventure Park, Funzy and Funtopia combine ropes courses, climbing walls, soft play, and obstacle courses to offer multi‑age appeal and strong dwell time.
3. Inflatable Parks
Inflatables have surged in popularity due to low staffing needs and high throughput. Some US venues are now blending inflatables with tech‑driven zones to increase repeatability, like at Bounce Empire. Airparx’s new 2.0 inflatable park concept, now seen at Innoflate, is certainly getting closer to the mark and is a whole level above the rest, like at
4. Multi‑Activity Social Entertainment (e.g., Gravity MAX, Boom Battle Bar)
While more adult‑focused, these concepts, like at Gravity MAX and Boom Battle Bar, influence the family market by showing how layered experiences and strong branding can drive loyalty.
So… how Long do Trampoline Parks Have Left?
Trampoline parks won’t disappear overnight. They still deliver:
High throughput
Strong birthday party appeal
A familiar, accessible experience
But the format is undeniably shifting. Over the next 6–7 years, we’ll likely see fewer trampoline-only trampoline parks, more hybrid venues, reduced trampoline coverage, increased investment in interactive and gamified zones and a stronger focus on theming, atmosphere, and brand identity.
The trampoline park concept isn’t dying, it’s becoming one part of a much bigger ecosystem.
The Future FEC: What Will it Look Like?
Based on everything we’re seeing across the UK, Europe and the US, the next generation of FECs will be:
Multi‑layered: slides, sports, tech & adventure
Highly gamified: scores, challenges &progression
Visually immersive: UV, projection, LEDs & themed zones
Operationally efficient: balanced capacity, even distribution
Designed for repeatability: missions, levels & seasonal content
The winners will be the venues that blend physical movement with digital magic, not one or the other.
Get in Touch
I’d love to understand your venue, the challenges you’re facing and how my experience in the trampoline park and indoor play sector could support you.
