Stern Pinball controls 90 percent of the current pinball market, a figure company designer George Gomez cited during a factory tour in Elk Grove, Illinois. The announcement came as the industry gathered for the annual Pinball Expo in Schaumburg, Illinois, marking a period of significant revival for a sector once considered to be fading.
Hundreds of attendees arrived on a Friday morning to tour the headquarters of one of Chicago's remaining traditional manufacturers. The visit offered a look at the production process, where raw components are transformed into licensed titles including Jaws and the newly released Fallout. Gary Stern, who oversees the company, provided context on the business's four-decade history to the visiting group.
The tour moved from the lobby, which displays dozens of machines, to the factory floor. There, Gomez briefed the group on operations and addressed questions about the company's position in the industry. He stated that Stern dominates the current landscape, with all other competitors dividing the remaining share. The event highlights the renewed interest in pinball, bringing together enthusiasts and industry professionals in the Midwest for the showcase.