Dave & Buster's vs Main Event:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, Dave & Buster's had more branded searches than Main Event among family entertainment centers in the United States. Dave & Buster's had about 1.2 million branded searches, while Main Event had 12,500. Dave & Buster's made up 39.8% of all family entertainment center searches we track, and Main Event accounted for 0.41%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about family entertainment centers, both Dave & Buster's and Main Event appeared in all three answers. Main Event was mentioned before Dave & Buster's in two out of three answers.
Who do people search for more?
Dave & Buster's, about 98 searches for every 1 for Main Event
Who does AI mention more?
Both are mentioned in every answer we collected.
Who does AI recommend more?
Main Event, named ahead of Dave & Buster's in 2 of 3 answers
Follow Dave & Buster's vs Main Event and get free monthly updates on what changed
By continuing you'll get index updates and occasional product news from Brandwave. Unsubscribe any time. Privacy
Top family entertainment centers in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions, both Dave & Buster's and Main Event showed up in all three answers. Main Event was listed before Dave & Buster's in two of them.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
- Main Event1st
Round12nd- Dave & Buster's3rd
Topgolf4th
Bowlero5th
Puttshack–
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
- Dave & Buster's3 of 3Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answers
- Round13 of 3Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answers
- Main Event3 of 3Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answers
- Topgolf1 of 3Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answers
- Bowlero1 of 3Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answers
- Puttshack0 of 3Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answers
See every answer about family entertainment centers
3 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best family entertainment center chain in the US?”
Asked ChatGPT
“Which chain in the US is best for bowling and arcade games?”
Asked ChatGPT
“Where should I go for a fun night out with games and food in the US?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“family entertainment center”
Google showed no AI Overview for this search.
Searched Google, AI Overview
“arcade near me”
Google showed no AI Overview for this search.
Not named in any answer:
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in United States on October 23, 2026.
Is Dave & Buster's or Main Event more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for Dave & Buster's and Main Event by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all six family entertainment centers we track, month by month, from searches in United States.
Share of searches by month for Dave & Buster's, Main Event. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | Dave & Buster's | Topgolf | Round1 | Puttshack | Bowlero | Main Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 36.5% | 44.6% | 7.6% | 4.9% | 6% | 0.4% |
| Nov 2025 | 40.1% | 40.1% | 8.4% | 4.4% | 6.6% | 0.44% |
| Dec 2025 | 36.2% | 44.3% | 7.6% | 4% | 7.3% | 0.52% |
| Jan 2026 | 38.7% | 38.7% | 10% | 4.3% | 7.8% | 0.55% |
| Feb 2026 | 40.1% | 40.1% | 8.5% | 4.4% | 6.6% | 0.41% |
| Mar 2026 | 36.7% | 45% | 7.8% | 4% | 6% | 0.46% |
| Apr 2026 | 37.2% | 45.4% | 7.8% | 4.1% | 5% | 0.46% |
| May 2026 | 37.2% | 45.4% | 7.8% | 4.1% | 5% | 0.46% |
| Jun 2026 | 32.6% | 48.8% | 8.4% | 4.4% | 5.4% | 0.47% |
| Jul 2026 | 36.6% | 44.7% | 9.3% | 4.9% | 4% | 0.46% |
| Aug 2026 | 32.9% | 49.3% | 8.5% | 4.4% | 4.4% | 0.41% |
| Sep 2026 | 39.8% | 39.8% | 10.2% | 5.4% | 4.4% | 0.41% |
How has the Dave & Buster's and Main Event comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- Dave & Buster's was ahead of Main Event in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Dave & Buster's’ share of searches among family entertainment centers in the United States moved from 36.5% to 39.8%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 1.5M to 1.2M.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Main Event’s share of searches among family entertainment centers in the United States moved from 0.4% to 0.41%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 16.5K to 12.5K.
How did search popularity change for United States family entertainment centers in September 2026?
2 changes
In September 2026, Dave & Buster's overtook Topgolf to become the leader among family entertainment centers in the United States, with 39.8% of the searches.
Estimated monthly branded searches for Main Event in the United States fell 24.2% over 12 measured months, from 16.5K to 12.5K in September 2026.
How are branded searches counted?
3 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Dave & Buster's’ and Main Event’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.
Dave & Buster's
1 branded search term
- dave and busters
Main Event
2 branded search terms
- main event bowling
- main event entertainment
Other head-to-heads among family entertainment centers
Put your own brand in this comparison
Brandwave tracks your branded demand next to the rival you actually watch, with your campaigns, spend and outcomes on the same timeline.