PHOENIX — Main Event will reopen its entertainment venue in Avondale on Friday, May 22, the first of its three locations in the Phoenix metro to reopen after closing in March because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The locations in Gilbert and Tempe will remain closed and opening dates have not yet been set for those locations, according to Chris Morris, CEO of Main Event, who spoke to ABC15 on Tuesday via Zoom.
"We don't have a prescribed timeline right now," he said, referring to the potential openings for Gilbert and Tempe. "We're evaluating things on a day-by-day basis. This is certainly an environment where things are changing day by day."
"We feel we have a great opportunity to be able to open our doors, let guests come in and feel very safe and protected with all the enhancements we’ve made to our operation procedures and still be able to relax and have a great time and leave Main Event with a smile on their face," he said.
Morris said changes have been made to nearly every part of Main Event's operations to maintain the safety of the employees and guests.
Among the changes:
- All employees will be required to undergo temperature checks and to wear masks
- Plastic barriers have been placed at cash registers
- More hand-sanitizing stations have been placed around the venue and floor markers to encourage social distancing
- Bowling and seating areas have been reconfigured to maintain physical distancing; all balls and shoes will be disinfected between use.
- CEO Chris Morris said staff would bring bowling balls and shoes to guests
- Laser tag has also been reconfigured into zones to encourage social distancing
- Masks will be required to go on the ropes course, which will also limit capacity
- Mini golf will also have limited capacity
- Gloves will be available for those who want to play arcade games
- Karaoke, rock climbing, billiards, shuffleboard and some arcade games remain closed.
Since the state's stay-at-home order expired on May 15, businesses around Arizona are beginning to reopen. Within the last two weeks, restaurants were given the OK to reopen their dining rooms, pools and gyms were allowed to reopen, as were hair salons, barbershops, massage therapists, and retail stores.
