Arlington, TN
With the vaccine on the rollout (this is not a thread to start a "for or against the vaccine" argument, let's leave that one for the off topic section) the forest fire that is the pandemic should begin to slowly wain in the next few months/quarters. Unfortunately it won't be like flipping a light switch but more than likely a slow return to normal with flair ups and hotspots that will at least be easier to contain with increased testing and contact tracing and more of the population immunized. With that in mind, where do you see our "pinball thing" as people begin to be more comfortable going out again and restrictions start to lift?
My wife and I both work in the medical field so we have already been vaccinated with jab #1 (Her Pfizer and me Moderna). After my second dose this will allow me to get back out and work on my machines around town with a little more peace of mind, so that's a good start for me. I've only gone out a handful of times to play and do maintenance since March, but the machines haven't been played much so it was o.k.
What do some of y'all see for on location pinball as covid is contained? Will people be comfortable going to tournaments again? Just playing casually? Will there be a big hunger to get out and play for people who have been cooped up for months? Will it be a windfall of customers old and new for operators? Will some tournament directors require proof of vaccination for tournaments? Will commercial property be cheaper allowing more operators to open their own locations or will the suffering of businesses witnessed in the last year cause them to give up that dream altogether? Will the big Expos return in 21, or will it be 22 and beyond or never? Put on your best Nostradamus and let's hear what you think!
So many unanswered questions, but I really hope for all of us that 2021 is at least the starting line of better things to come.
