Main Event Knoxville — Restaurant in Knoxville

It all started with trying to book a reservation online. After multiple attempts to book a reservation, I got frustrated and called Main Event, and was told that online reservations were not possible on a mobile device, and I would have to use a home computer. The representative told me that it was also not possible to book a reservation over the phone. After I told them that I don't have access to a home computer, they decided that they could make the reservation over the phone after all. I found it odd that after a solid 45 minutes of trying to make a reservation, they still charged me a $10 convenience fee, but I paid it nonetheless. We arrived at our scheduled time, picked up our bowling shoes and started a round. After about 20 minutes, the building lost all power. No problem, we all assume it's nobody's fault, and we patiently sit tight while they figure out the issue. The lights intermittently go on and off over 20-30 minutes or so, and they eventually came around and asked everyone to evacuate the building and told us that we would receive either a voucher or coupon for a later date. We stopped at the exit and they took down everyone's phone, email, and information whilst promising that we should expect some form of compensation on Monday morning. Monday came and went so I called Tuesday afternoon and was told that nobody had any recollection of promising compensation for the issues, but the manager wasn't there so they would have to call me back. I received no call back by Thursday, so I called again. Again, there was nobody available that could help and they offered to call me back again. Friday - one week past our original reservation - I called again, finally spoke to a manager and was promised a refund receipt would be promptly sent to my email. I received an email showing the receipt from my original reservation, which I can only assume they hoped I wouldn't realize what it was, and no refund was ever made. I checked my statement in hopes that it was just a mistake but it was not. It was just another scummy attempt to try and fool a customer. I called back again, and was asked to hold until the manager returned, within a few minutes, someone came on the line speaking Spanish... Turns out, they transferred me to the Tucson location, seemingly in hopes that I give up and forget about my refund. You win, Main Event - I no longer expect to receive any compensation for my wasted money. I can only hope that you don't continue to conduct business in this manner with other customers.

I am sympathetic to the fact that the location experienced an issue that night that was likely unavoidable. Its fact that the staff clearly had no intention to provide the vouchers that we were all promised, and is just standing by in hopes that everyone forgets that they never received any compensation for a wasted night out. It's the empty promises, and at this point, outright refusal to make it right that ensures I will never return to another "Main Event".

Save your money, support a small local bowling alley or event center rather than wasting your time and money on Main Event.

Edit 8-24: Since I can’t reply to the comment under mine - I won’t be reaching out to your “guest relations department”. You’ve had multiple chances to make it right and I won’t be wasting any more time. My information has been provided to Main Event multiple times, if you want to make it right, the relations department can...

TL;DR “Save your money. And your dignity. Go literally anywhere else.”

My husband and I recently hosted our 16-year-old’s birthday here, spending well over $700 between the “Teen All-Access” party package for 11 guests, extra food, and an adult meal for four at the bar. For that amount, I expected, at minimum, warm food, functional games, and not to feel like an unwelcome intruder in a place I was actively patronizing. But alas.

What is even more frustrating is that this wasn’t our first time hundreds on a party here, it was our second. Our first “hosted party” in 2022 was also pricey, but the entire experience was truly outstanding in every way, which is exactly why we chose to return. Unfortunately, this most recent visit was also the last time we will spend a dime at Main Event.

The Teen party food was cold, haphazardly thrown together, and barely edible. The adult bar food billed as an upgrade somehow managed to be worse: soggy tacos, cold on arrival, with cocktails that had been sitting so long they were topped with a visible layer of melted ice water. Not exactly the celebratory vibe we were aiming for.

Service is where things truly unraveled, though. Our server evidently didn’t appreciate our friend asking for his food to be remade, and went so far as to falsely accuse him of using profanity (he did not) creating an awkward, unnecessarily hostile atmosphere. As I sat in the bar with a friend, sipping a cocktail and chatting while waiting for the rest of our group to arrive, a manager approached me out of the blue and asked if I was “okay”. It was an oddly patronizing moment, as though we were somehow taking up too much space-despite the fact that we were actively spending hundreds of dollars in their establishment.

When it came time to settle the bill, the party host handed me the check and, without irony, asked me not to steal her pen. Not a joke. Not a luxury, high-end writing instrument mind you, a cheap pen…an even cheaper interaction, considering the context. It was an embarrassingly tone-deaf way to treat a guest with whom you are presenting a massive bill.

As for the plentiful “leftover” party food? It was all dumped— the fries, churros, sliders, chicken nuggets— into a single greasy pizza box, like the kitchen was closing up after a frat party. So many of the games were out of order, the bathrooms were genuinely filthy and understocked, and the new Gel Blaster Nexus “paintball-laser tag” experience left visible and painful welts all over my daughter and her friends.

I have never in my life been treated this way in any establishment—not even close. The lack of professionalism, the poor communication, the apathetic service… it was honestly appalling.

In summary: this was a chaotic, overpriced, and poorly managed experience that left all of us wondering how a place this poorly run continues to operate. Main Event might market itself as fun for all ages, but in reality, it’s a case study in how not to get repeat customers.

Save your money. And your dignity. Go literally...

This last weekend, went to Main Event, at 9081 Kingston Pike, Knoxville, TN. The kids from Band had a field trip planned and I was asked to help chaperone the event. The Field Trip was to Main Event. I have never been there before but I am always wanting to try new things so I went along. The building was huge, the Parking was open when we got there, there are plenty of parking spaces including Handicap parking as well. Their parking lot was clean. We went in, of course there is a Sales Office right inside the front door. There was also a wall for Main Event which has similar the those Red Carpet walls you see on the TV shows sometimes. The Main entry is accessible to everyone including persons in Wheelchairs. The Restrooms were also Wheelchair accessible. We went to the Main Event Welcome Station, basically a large Menu of the various events and prices (picture included). To the Left side there is a huge gaming area and to the right side there was La Bella's Italian Street Food (opens at 11:00 am), the Bar/Lounge Area, Pool Table going between the Bar and the Front of the building. There were 2 different Playroom behind the Lounge Area. Looking toward the Back of the building (inside) on the Left is a Gift Shop (Credits from the games to purchase), a Laser Tag Arena, and a 22 Lanes Bowling Alley. Between the upper Bowling Alley and La Bella's are long tables for Birthday Parties or whatever. I do know that they have to be reserved in advance. Also, in the Game, above all the games is a Rope Course complete with a Zip Line.

To the best of my knowledge, all the kids that I helped to chaperone had a good time. They Bowled, they did Laser Tag, some did the Rope Course & Zip Line, they ate Pizza, they had soft drinks & ate Desserts.

I did not have pizza or soft drinks, I ordered Beef Nachos from the Bar as it was about the healthiest choice on their Menu. They had Beefy Burgers and No-Bun options but when I asked about the Beef, meaning if it was 70/30, 75/25, 80/20, 85/15, 90/10 and so one, they could not answer my question. I did look up the Main Event Nutritional Facts for the dishes they serve. Their 'No-Bun Burger Bowl' wads 73g of fat, which made me think that there Beef is 70/30 or 75/25. The nachos were an easy out for me. Especially since I got a few bites, no worries.

Anyway, the Kids had fun, my girlfriend had fun and I had fun as well. I will go back there some day soon.

Their building is clean, plenty of parking including Handicap spaces, Wheelchair accessible as well, and The Staff are friendly & helpful.

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