Family entertainment centres
FEC consulting, from business model to a well-run centre
Feasibility, business models, operations and profitability for family entertainment centres and indoor attractions in Indian cities: in malls, standalone or inside resorts.
Who this is for
FEC feasibility and business model
Whether an FEC works in a given city and location, and how it should make money.
- City, catchment and mall or standalone location
- Size and attraction mix for the space and age groups
- Pricing model: pay-per-play, passes, parties and groups
- Revenue and cost model, and commercial viability
Indoor attraction mix
Rides, games, soft play, climbing, trampoline, VR and other indoor attractions chosen for the space, the audience and repeat visits, not just the opening buzz.
Operations and profitability
Professional operating systems for centres that are open and want to do better.
- SOPs and management practices
- Staffing and service standards
- Birthday, school and group sales
- Games, F&B and retail revenue
- Maintenance planning and management reporting
Shirish led EsselWorld's move into urban family entertainment with Downtown EsselWorld at Seasons Mall, Pune.
How we work
4 steps, one team
- AssessLocation, catchment and competition.
- DesignAttraction mix and business model.
- ModelRevenue, costs and viability.
- OperateSystems, team and profitability.
Led by Shirish Deshpande, former CEO of EsselWorld and Water Kingdom and former President of IAAPI. Advice from people who have run the parks.
Questions we are often asked
Frequently asked questions
Who can help assess the commercial viability of a family entertainment centre in an Indian city?
SDA assesses FEC viability: catchment and location, attraction mix, pricing model, revenue and cost projections. Shirish Deshpande led Downtown EsselWorld at Seasons Mall, Pune, as CEO of EsselWorld.
What business model works for a family entertainment centre in India?
It depends on the location and audience, but successful FECs rarely rely on walk-ins alone. Passes, birthday parties, school and corporate groups, F&B and a refreshed attraction mix usually make the difference.
Can you help an existing FEC improve operations and profitability?
Yes. We review operations, SOPs, staffing, pricing and revenue mix, and build an improvement plan for the centre.
Do you advise on indoor attractions in malls?
Yes. We advise mall developers and operators on indoor amusement centres: size, location within the mall, attraction mix and the business model.
Related insights
Read more
The Repeat Visitation Problem
Parks track first-time footfall religiously. Far fewer track the number that predicts long-term health: how many guests came back.
₹510 inside.
Wonderla's Q2: The Number Behind the Headline
Guests paid a little less to get in, and spent more once inside. Why spend per guest tells you more about a park than the ticket price.
Tell us about your project
Where you are, what you are trying to do and where you are stuck. Shirish reads every message.