What is LBE?

What is location-based entertainment, which is commonly abbreviated to simply, LBE?  Well it depends on what out-of-home activities you include.   The term was in use before it was widely embraced following the introduction of University CityWalk, the Metreon, an array of themed restaurants, monobrand retail stores, and studio attempts to step up intellectual property licensing in any manner of placed-based consumer products.

Although LBE has been known by different terms over its many eras, location-based entertainment (“LBE”) is among the most enduring of industries since its first organized forms as “pleasure gardens” in the late 1600’s.   And it can be argued that the village squares, inns and taverns, The Coliseum of Rome, and city forums were each precursors as well.   Consumers enjoy what leisure-time they have, and they appreciate the new and the fresh, which keeps pushing LBE to new forms and approaches.   Consumer preferences are ever-evolving.

Location-based entertainment became a popular term with the entrance of CityWalk, Metreon, theme restaurants, and monobranded retail stores.

Production Innovation is the Essential Ingredient of Location-Based Entertainment

The LBE industry is also a story of fresh innovation and the integration of new location-based technologies.  Although we look today for the new forms of truly immersive experiences (virtual, living stories, or otherwise), there was a time when the first drive-in movie theater was a marvel, when automatic pinsetting transformed bowling alley economics, and Americans were delighted with the first enclosed climate-controlled shopping malls.   And of course, if consumers change their minds and those enclosed malls in the suburbs lose their appeal to main street and urban great street formats for out-of-home experiences, well that’s to be expected.

So, what is LBE?   We’ll see. The industry will continue to evolve but its centuries-long history of new ideas and new place products, certainly promises good things to come.   We welcome your suggestions about the history we’ve provided here (below).   We’ve been involved with LBE as consultants and have contributed to its location-based product innovations over the years, so we’ll enjoy what comes next.

Areas of Location-Based Entertainment

Location-Based Entertainment – The History and the Players