Game on!

The new world we found ourselves in post-pandemic is marked by significant cultural transformation, evolving lifestyles, and a desire for unique experiences. Consumers now seek retail destinations that serve as social meeting places. This has led to a growing demand for retail developments that provide a comprehensive offering of food, shopping, daily needs, and entertainment all in one location.

India lacks well-maintained, international-standard leisure spaces. Entertainment infrastructure projects catalyze economic growth and urban renewal, attracting businesses and improving public spaces.

The entertainment sector has evolved, with consumers now valuing experiences over products. Indoor amusement centers have transformed over two decades, with international and new local operators introducing premium formats. These centers are now essential to retail developments, driving foot traffic and enhancing appeal.

India has 6.6 million sq ft of operational indoor amusement centers (IACs) across 523 locations. These are found in Grade A and B shopping centers, standalone formats, mixed-use developments, and premium high streets. The majority of IACs in India are concentrated in Tier 1 cities. The top 8 cities (Delhi NCR, Mumbai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Pune, Chennai, and Ahmedabad) have ~60% of the total operational IACs in the country. These metro cities have close to 3.75 million sq ft of indoor entertainment space across 291 centers. This can be attributed to various factors such as higher demand, spending ability, and the desire for experiential offerings.

Domestic operators dominate the IACs space in the country with a 72% share. International operators have a share of 28%, with operators like Timezone, Funcity, and Funtura dominating the space. Almost half of the operational Indoor Amusement Centers (IACs) in the country are in the gaming zone format, followed by trampoline parks and the emerging eatertainment format.
 

Domestic operators dominate the IACs space

Given the positive demographics, stable economy, and the projected completion of high-quality retail developments within the next five years, the outlook for the entertainment segment is bright. Increasing global travel has heightened shoppers' awareness, leading to a demand for unique and immersive retail experiences.

By 2028, indoor amusement center stock is expected to reach ~11 mn sq ft. Larger retail developments and malls are expected to accommodate more expansive and innovative centers. Further, standalone indoor amusement parks that offer a variety of entertainment concepts under one roof are expected to become increasingly popular in the coming years.

Area leased for indoor amusement centres in the last 20 months

For more insights, download the report.