Maybe Gyms are different where you are but the one that I go to, it is considered proper Gym Etiquette to wipe the machines down after you use them and people do.

Unfortunately, they do wipe the dumbbell handles. The disinfectant builds up in the knurling and makes them hard to hang on to. You're right about the plates, I've never seen a plate get wiped down. Personally I would take my chances at the gym over most places.

Back on topic. I just got word that my largest locations (around 60 games) won't be opening till July and it is a summer seasonal location. Most of their business there is from renting their hall out and they don't have any bookings for the rest of the summer yet.

You should ask some of the arcade lobbyists to talk with the fitness lobbyists to see how they got fitness centers included... oh wait there is not an arcade lobby group. That is that.

There is one the AAMA and there's one for the amusement parks that FECs can also join. There are also State level organizations. The one in PA has been fighting with the state about the Skill games.

The gyms can't open soon enough for me. I go to the gym almost daily to keep some auto accident induced chronic pain in check and well it has been a living hell without being able to go.

The problem is that you're "competing" with the 7x24 news cycle that seems to be trying to convince everyone that they are going to die from Corona if they go out for anything that resembles entertainment. It is going to take a lot of convincing to get people back out into the entertainment venues again.

I have learned a lot in the last month. Making all these sanitation changes at the arcade might make me feel better knowing I am keeping people safer but I honestly feel it has done little to change anyone’s mindset about coming back. As I said our indoor is safer than any indoor business in town including a doctors office, but it’s still not enough. Perceived unsafe and unnecessary is for all intents and purposes reality. Walmart and Lowe’s doesn’t have to convince you to come in, and therefore doesn’t have to do anything other than unlock the door and set out a bottle of Purell.
I however do need to convince people, but what I am learning is no change I can make is going to turn the tide here. There are much larger forces at work and I am gonna just have to decide how much I am willing to lose before throwing in the towel or hibernating like otherS have done already. Not willing to give up, but our fall usually sucks so I can expect more of this in the near term. I may be more amenable to shuttering in a few weeks.

You're so right, this is the problem and it will be hard to get people out of this way of thinking and back into arcades and other entertainment venues. I feel the same way even at some of my locations. (I supply the games a few arcades and at some of the places, I don't have control over how the arcades themselves are run) I'm also in agreement with doing what I can to prevent catching the virus but not worrying about catching it.

Here in PA, it is legal for businesses to give away beer and you don't need a liquor license to do it. But it has to be free with no strings attached like "free with purchase" or they label you a speakeasy and fine and arrest you. They send undercover people out to verify that you are giving it away and carding everyone. (Apparently PA pays someone to go drink free beer)

I had one of my locations try this tactic to get people in the building. Every Sunday afternoon, they would get a keg of beer and turn on whatever sport was on that afternoon. As I carried my games out after they closed I truly wondered how bad you had to fail that even free beer couldn't get people in the building.

(disclaimer, it has been a few years, the laws may have changed since then, I am not a lawyer and check with local laws before trying it in your business and it may not help anyways)