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FAMILY FUN CENTERS

ing services on the program.
We tapped in to Ron Rossman
and his team at Navy Motion
Pictures, and they provided a lot
of guidance in developing the
theater — not only the look and
feel, but certainly ideas on seat-
ing and angles and other things.
We do 3D movies. The Surround
Sound is just awesome. We have
even had a couple of sneak pre-
views since we opened up in
January.”
of-famers who have been in the Navy and been here at Great The Epicenter also has a space for live entertainment and
Lakes, and competed against colleges across the board,” he said. events. “It has a stage and comfortable lounge furniture,” he
“George Halas and Paddy Driscoll were two hall-of-famers said. “It has a dedicated dance floor area if we need it. Hav-
who played on our 1919 Rose Bowl team. Great Lakes won ing a DJ or band in there seems to work well. We can do just
the Rose Bowl in 1919. In World War II, there was no shortage about anything in there. We just had a 90s band in there that
of professional athletes who came through here and a lot of was extremely popular. We are programming it similar to the
hall-of-famers, including a couple of coaches. Weeb Ewbank catering business. We can turn that room into anything we
and Paul Brown were on the same coaching staff up here for need it to be and support the various populations we serve,
the football team. Bob Feller is one of the bigger names who whether it is families, kids, single sailors or even commands
played on the Great Lakes baseball team.” that are coming there.”
Near Legends and Spinz is a small amusement area. “There The facility also has an outdoor patio. “We have a great
are some redemption games in there,” said Prue. “There are outdoor patio with a bar and new furniture out there,” said
a few high-end basketball pop-a-shot games, and a variety Prue. “It is a great area, and we will be programming that
of other race games. We don’t own the games, but we get a as well, bringing DJs and bands out there. It is a nice place
percentage of that. It is a nice area; it is not overdone. It seems to hang out outside. You can just walk right out of Legends,
to meet our needs for the various populations and ages — ev- and this beautiful patio is out there.”
erything from kids when they come out for birthday parties Reaction to the facility from the base community has been
to the single sailors who like to use those games.” outstanding, though Prue was worried what the reaction might
Another area that is very popular, especially among the be. “Frankly, because it was an enlisted club and was always
young personnel, is a billiard room. “It just became a nice where the young sailors went, when we morphed it into an
room where they could chill out,” he said. “There are plenty all-hands facility, we were curious what the families were
of places to bring your food and eat and hang out. There are going to say. Would they be afraid to go there because it was
also plenty of outlets for their mobile devices as well. The for single sailors? We designed the building appropriately,
place is covered with Wi-Fi all over, so for someone to bring and what we are hearing from the families is that we hit it
either their laptop or surf the net with their smartphone, they out of the park with the design.”
can do that. It becomes a neat area. We have two of those He continued, “It is really working. It is a great place for
stand-up units that you can plug in anything if you didn’t them to go and see a movie, grab a pizza, enjoy themselves
bring your own cord.” or go over and bowl and do whatever they need to. We are
Another addition to the new Epicenter is a 175-seat state- hearing from people who want to come in and book birthday
of-the-art movie theater. “We moved our movie operation parties. The families aren’t afraid to come over there, and it is
out of an old 1942 traditional auditorium with a balcony, great place for the single sailors to come. Literally they walk
which we were lucky to get 200 people in a showing,” said right out of their barracks, and the Epicenter is right there. It
Prue. “The Navy Motion Picture Service provided consult- works out well.” —MCH

26 MILITARY CLUB & HOSPITALITY | JUNE 2017