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Dave & Buster’s
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Updated Sep 21, 2026
Dave & Buster's appoints COO, CMO, CFO and expands C-suite ahead of claimed growth inflection
Dave & Buster's announced a major C-suite overhaul on August 24, 2026, installing Amanda Busby (formerly COO of SSP America) as Chief Operations Officer, alongside appointments of Chief Marketing Officer, Chief Technology and Digital Officer, Chief Accounting Officer, Chief Legal Officer, and Chief Strategy and Revenue Management Officer. The leadership reconstruction, paired with a prior CEO appointment (Darin Harper), signals management intent to execute a 'Back-to-Basics strategy' and drive same-store sales and EBITDA growth. No financial guidance, same-store sales figures, or operational metrics are disclosed in the filing.
Tone: bullishRevenue
$2.1B
PLAY 10-K · FY 2026
Employees
23,610
Revenue FY2024
$2.1B
Founded
1982
Profile
PLAY 10-K Item 1 · Mar 31, 2026Dave & Buster's Entertainment operates 243 entertainment and dining venues across North America under two brands: Dave & Buster's (179 stores) and Main Event (64 stores). The company generates roughly 63% of revenues from entertainment — arcade games, redemption, simulation, and sports viewing — with food and beverage comprising the balance. A nascent international franchise program with four locations open adds a capital-light growth vector.
Read filing description ↓ Collapse description ↑
Dave & Buster's Entertainment, Inc. is the owner and operator of 243 venues in North America that offer premier entertainment and dining experiences for both adults and families under the Dave & Buster's and Main Event brands. As of February 3, 2026, the Company had 179 Dave & Buster's branded stores in 43 states, Puerto Rico, and Canada that offer guests the opportunity to 'Eat Drink Play and Watch', all in one location. Each store offers a full menu of entrees and appetizers, a complete selection of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, and an extensive assortment of entertainment attractions centered around playing games and watching live sports and other televised events. Internationally, the Company is in early-stage growth as a franchisor of the Dave & Buster's brand, with four franchised locations currently open. As of February 3, 2026, the Company also has 64 Main Event stores in 22 states across the United States. Main Event offers food, drinks and entertainment, including state-of-the-art bowling, laser tag, arcade games and virtual reality, making it the perfect place for families to connect and make memories. The company's entertainment offerings have low variable costs, generating a gross margin of 91.9% for fiscal 2025. Because entertainment generated 62.9% of fiscal 2025 revenues, the company has less exposure to increasing food costs and associated restaurant labor than traditional restaurant concepts.
Primary products
- arcade and redemption games
- simulation games
- virtual reality experiences
- bowling
- laser tag
- billiards
End markets
Geographies
Named competitors
“We believe that our combination of interactive games, attractive television viewing areas, high-quality dining, and full-service beverage offerings, delivered in a highly energized atmosphere, provides a multi-faceted customer experience that cannot be easily replicated at home or elsewhere without having to visit multiple destinations.” Competitive position, as stated in the filing
Revenue commentary · FY 2026
Total revenues decreased $29.9, or 1.4%, to $2,102.8 in fiscal 2025 compared to $2,132.7 in fiscal 2024, driven primarily by a 5.0% decline in comparable store sales partially offset by incremental sales from new store openings.
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