Pinball fans flock to Schaumburg for 41st annual expo highlighting culture of the games
The 41st annual Pinball Expo greeted fans of all ages Thursday, with more fun promised through Saturday night at the Renaissance Schaumburg Convention Center Hotel.
In addition to 100,000 square feet of show space for more than 400 pinball machines, seminars and other demonstrations, the expo offers an opportunity to tour the Stern Pinball factory in neighboring Elk Grove Village Friday.
Stern is the largest pinball manufacturer in the United States.
Expo founder Rob Berk of Ohio said every pinball machine has two potential sources of appeal — the intricacies of the game itself and its theme.
A new “Harry Potter” pinball machine by the Jersey Jack design team is at this year’s show, as well as the designer of an incredibly popular “Addams Family” machine from the 1990s.
Fans of movies, music and other entertainment genres are often drawn to machines by their preexisting interests, Berk said.
The expo will continue from 8 a.m. to midnight on Friday and then from 9 a.m. Saturday until 1 a.m. the following day at 1551 N. Thoreau Drive in Schaumburg.
Single-day tickets are available for $50 with further options also available, such as for the Stern factory tour.
For more information, visit pinballexpo.com.