CONTACT:  Mark Brisson 407-363-3867 extn. 110 - Fun Spot Attractions, Orlando, FL 32819, mbrisson@fun-spot.com

 

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On Wednesday, November 14, 2012, at the Brass Ring Awards portion of the IAAPA (International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions) the locally owned and operated Fun Spot Action Park, located just off International Drive was named the “Best Family Entertainment Center in the USA”.

Owner and CEO, John Arie, Sr declared, “I am thrilled. I have been in this business since the 1960s and to receive this honor is something I want to share with my family and my Fun Spot family.”

 

Arie added, “We weren’t named the best in Orlando, or Florida, but they named us the best in the USA. That’s Huge!”

 

The 14 year old Fun Spot Action Park has 4 go-kart tracks, 13 rides and 100 arcade games. It has previously won 2 Brass Ring Awards for its advertising. It is the sixth Family Entertainment Center (FEC) that Arie has owned.

 

Fun Spot Marketing Director, Mark Brisson explained why this is the last year Fun Spot on I-Drive would be eligible for this award, “Typically an FEC changes to a small amusement park when you add roller coasters. In 2013 we are tripling the size of our 5 acre park to 15 acres and adding 2 roller coasters, a SkyCoaster, a new go-kart track and more rides. We are doing a $20 million expansion. So we won’t be an FEC next year.”

 

Fun Spot is known locally for its unique television commercials, it’s catch phrase by TV spokesperson, John Arie Jr (It’s HUGE!) and was named previously by the Orlando Sentinel as the “Best Budget Attraction” in Central Florida.

 

Arie Sr has received 4 U.S. patents on go-kart track design and was dubbed the “King of Karts” by a local magazine. A long time resident of Oviedo, Arie began on I-Drive in 1978 with Fun’n Wheels. Fun Spot employs 200-250 people, including several members of the Arie family, with a projected 100 more employees upon the completion of its 2013 expansion.

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11/15/2012