Skip the Arcade. Catch the Action.

by Lou Desmond

More excitement, more connection, and more value for families


Image of Strykers crowd and Dave and Busters Arcade


The Family Fun Face-Off: Why Empire Strykers Beats the Arcade for Your Next Weekend Outing


Every parent knows the weekend dilemma. The kids are bounce-off-the-walls bored, you want to get out of the house, but you also don't want to mortgage your home just for a few hours of family bonding.

Let's compare a couple of nearby options for family entertainment in the Inland Empire: a high-energy professional indoor soccer match with the Empire Strykers, or a trip to the sensory overload zone that is Dave & Buster’s.


While a flashing arcade might seem like an easy win, when you look at the actual entertainment value, time spent together, and your final receipt, hitting the pitch with the Strykers crushes the competition. Here is how the breakdown looks for a family of four.



The Cost Breakdown: No Hidden Surcharges on the Pitch


Arcades are notorious for "micro-transactions." You buy a card, then you pay a fee to activate the card, and suddenly you are tapping away your life savings 250 credits at a time.

When you compare a standard night out, the Empire Strykers keep your budget on a clear track. Tickets run just $20 to $25 each, parking is a flat $15, and classic stadium food won't break the bank.

Here is how a complete family outing actually compares:

Expense Item

Empire Strykers Game

Dave & Buster's (Standard Menu Pricing)

Tickets / Game Cards

$80.00 – $100.00

$100.00 ($25 x 4)

Activation / Parking Fees

$15.00 (Parking)

$12.00 ($3 per new card)

Food & Drinks

$50.75 (4 Hot Dogs, 4 Sodas, 1 Popcorn)

$46.00 – $60.00 (2 Adults, 2 Kids)

Adult Beverages / Extra Sodas

Included above

$22.00 – $32.00 (2 Beers/Cocktails + 2 Kids Sodas)

Estimated Total

~ $165.00

$180.00 – $204.00

At Dave & Buster's, standard pricing quickly balloons past the $200 mark. With the Strykers, your $165 outing is locked in, predictable, and simple.



Time at the Venue: Memories vs. The 45-Second Timer


Have you ever watched a kid use a $25 arcade card? They find a giant flashing machine, drop 12.5 credits, pull a lever once, and it's over in 45 seconds. Before halftime of a normal soccer match, your arcade budget has vanished into a digital vortex, leaving you with 400 tickets—just enough to buy a plastic spider and a single piece of saltwater taffy.

An Empire Strykers game gives you a full evening of sustained entertainment. You get pre-game warmups, four quarters of fast-paced, high-scoring indoor soccer action, halftime shows, and fan interactions. It is a structured 2- to 3-hour event where you are guaranteed entertainment from the opening whistle to the final buzzer. There is no running out of "chips" or waiting in line because someone else is hogging the racing simulator.



The Entertainment Value: Real Connection vs. Screen Time


Let’s be honest: when you go to an arcade, the family immediately scatters. Mom and Dad are playing nostalgic pop-a-shot basketball, one kid is hypnotized by a claw machine, and the other is playing a virtual reality shooting game. You are in the same building, but you aren't really together.


At a Strykers game, you share the experience as a team.

  • You cheer together when the ball flies off the perimeter walls.
  • You groan together at the near-misses.
  • You high-five strangers when the hometown team scores a spectacular goal.


Indoor soccer is uniquely chaotic, fast, and intimate. The fans are right on top of the action, the music is pumping, and the energy is infectious. It teaches kids the joy of live sports, local community pride, and creates shared memories you'll actually talk about on the car ride home.


The Verdict


While arcades have their place, they can quickly turn into a stressful, expensive scramble to keep game cards loaded. For a smooth, high-energy, and genuinely collective family experience, the Empire Strykers take the win. You get more reliable pricing, hours of non-stop action, and a chance to truly unplug and bond as a family.

Pack up the squad, skip the token machine, and head to the arena instead!


If you are looking for things to do in San Bernardino County, San Bernardino County attractions, things to do in San Bernardino County this weekend, or especially family activities in San Bernardino County, look to the Empire Strykers of the Major Arena Soccer League. It is one of the best sports events in San Bernardino County that you will ever attend.  You can find season tickets for the Empire Strykers, individual game tickets for the Empire Strykers, and Empire Strykers fan gear at www.theempirestrykers.com.