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The
Circles Of Light is a stage format found at Chuck E. Cheese's locations which either opened with the stage or replaced a previous stage from August 2012 to 2021.
It is an upgrade to the
Galaxy Stage, which debuted in 2011 at the
West Melbourne, Florida location. there are 3 variants, a 32M version, a 16M version, and a version with no animatronic, with the no animatronic version being more common, As of September 2022, there are 88 Circles of Lights stages left, 39 in the United States, and 50 in Chile, Guatemala, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Trinidad & Tobago, Peru, Panama, Mexico, Columbia, Honduras, and Costa Rica.
History
In early 2012, Weigl Control, a electronics manufacturer, became a Vendor Partner with CEC Entertainment, Inc. in order to help with a new show concept to modernize its long time
Studio C series of stages.
Circles of Light was introduced to Chuck E. Cheese's locations starting in August 2012 as the replacement for the then almost 12-year old
Studio C Beta show. CEC was planning for the fifth iteration of the main stage attraction when Weigl was asked to engage in the conversation. A major priority was to evolve the technology to allow for more advanced programming and control.
Dubbed Circles of Light, the new stage show includes many new elements designed to further engage the guests and highlight the Chuck character. Features include a large HD screen on the wall, enhanced theater-quality lighting, and touch-sensitive LED-backlit wall panels. The new stage was fabricated by Corman & Associates and continued to use the famous Chuck character produced by the California-based animatronics company, Garner Holt Productions. The first location to install this new stage show was
Dallas, TX (13364 Montfort Dr).
In September 2012, Dallas removed their animatronic from their COL stage. This would not affect Circles of Light installations afterwards until August 2013 when the second bot-less store opened their doors in Montgomery, Alabama. From there on every Circles of Light stage would be installed with no animatronic with the exception of franchises like Tucson, AZ, Chandler, AZ, and Kapolei, HI.
Since the Chuck E. Cheese Halloween Boo-Tacular Show 2022, Circles of Light shows have no longer been programmed, though from November 1 to November 20, 2022, the Chuck E. Cheese Evergreen Show 2022 (August Update) played again for stores that had yet not switched to the new CEC Showtape Networking Module during that time. This is because of the Studio C SD/HD's special file formats not being able to support the new system. Since the Chuck E. Cheese Winter-Winner Land 2022 Show, Circles of Lights (and every other Studio C-based stage type) have had an extra 'random lights' program installed, intended to make use to the stage's many lights, as during the initial testing of the Navori system, stage lights on Studio C did not function. The lights will change color each song, a supposed 'random' effect, although it will be the same if the same show is viewed multiple times from the same stage.
As of August 2024, 82 Circles of Light stages remain in the United States, South America, and the Middle East. 27 of the remaining COLs have Live Stages installed and the location in Kapolei, HI is the only COL/Live Stage combo with an animatronic due to the location's long construction process starting around 2015/2016, and ending in October 2018.
Designs
Original Design (August 2012 - December 2012)
The original design of the Circles of Light stage debuted at the Dallas, Texas (13364 Montfort Dr) location in August 2012. It featured a 32m or 16m Chuck E. bot (32m at Montfort) on a platform with a barrier with lights on it. There were many circles that lit up (hence the name
Circles of Light.), with a large circle behind Chuck E, which had a line vertically going through the middle. 7 locations had this design installed, and 3 are still in operation, though Montfort does not have the Chuck E. bot.
Updated Design (December 2012 - October 2014)
This design was the second version to come out, it debuted at the San Diego, California (3414 College Ave) location in December 2012. The large circle from the previous design was changed to a large circle with multiple lines going horizontally through the circle. It featured a 32m or 16m Chuck E. bot, or no bot at all.
Updated Design #2 (November 2014 - October 2021)
This design was the third design to come out, it debuted in November 2014 at
Jersey City, NJ (701 Route 440). This design removed the large circle and replaced it with multiple circles like what is seen on the left side of the stage.
Updated Design #3 (February 2023)
The third and final design of the Circles of Light debuted at the Trinidad & Tobago location in The Falls at Westmall in February 2023. This design was cut down to only a video screen with the left and right circles on the side, very similar to the
Video Wall but with small aspects of the Circles of Light. From July 2023 onward, future international CEC locations would receive the Video Wall.
Variants
- 32M COL
- 16M COL
- No animatronic COL
- COL with Live Stage
Current Circles Of Light Stages with the Animatronic
Current Total Remaining: 10
| Location |
Address |
Installed |
Version |
Condition / Notes |
| Birmingham, Alabama, United States |
4647 US-280 |
2013 |
16M COL |
|
| Naples, Florida, United States |
1000 Immokalee Rd |
2013 |
32M COL |
Bot from Meriden, CT. Last 32m COL in Florida (West Palm Beach recieved 2.0 and Port Orange was destroyed by Hurricane Ian). Last Animatronic of any kind in Florida. |
| Takoma Park, Maryland, United States |
1127 University Blvd |
2013 |
16M COL |
Only COL in Maryland with bot. |
| Winchester, Virginia, United States |
145 E Tevis St |
2013 |
16M Bot |
Only in Virginia. Last Animatronic of any kind in Virginia. |
| Multiplaza Pacific, Panama |
|
2013 |
16M Bot |
|
| Los Trapenses, Chile |
Av. Jose Alcalde Delano 10533 |
2014 |
16M Bot |
Franchised Location. |
| La Serena, Chile |
Avda. Fco de Aguirre 02 |
2015 |
16M Bot |
Franchised Location. |
| Kapolei, Hawaii, United States |
700 Haumea St |
2018 |
16M COL |
Also has Dance Floor. Last store to open with animatronic. Franchised Location. |
Current Circle of Light Stages without the Animatronic.
| Location |
Installed |
Version |
Condition / Notes |
| Chuck E. Cheese's Corporate Office |
2015 |
No Bot |
Miniature version of Circles of Light. Formerly used for show programming until September 2022. |
| Melrose Park, IL (1030 Winston Plaza) |
2012 |
No Bot |
Had the last 16m bot in Illinois. Second location to open with Circles of Light. |
| San Diego, CA (3414 College Ave) |
2012 |
No Bot |
Last COL with bot in California. |
| Montgomery, AL (1116 E Eastdale Mall) |
2013 |
No Bot |
First COL to be installed without a bot. |
| West Palm Beach, FL (2471 Okeechobee Blvd) |
2013 |
No Bot |
Former 32M COL. 2.0 in March 2022. Opened on same day as Port Orange, Florida. Bot was from South Portland, ME. |
| Bossier City, LA (2515 Viking Dr) |
2013 |
No Bot |
Former 16M COL. 2.0 in 2024. |
| Lawton, OK (1276 NW 82nd ST Building A) |
2013 |
No Bot |
|
| Tucson, AZ (6125 E Speedway Blvd) |
2014 |
No Bot |
Bot came from Kelso, Washington. Removed during 2.0 remodel. COL kept. |
| Little Rock, AR (2706 S Shackleford Rd) |
2014 |
No Bot |
Relocation from old store in Little Rock. |
| Carson, CA (20700 S Avalon Blvd) |
2014 |
No Bot |
|
| Wesley Chapel, FL (6170 Wesley Grove Blvd) |
2014 |
No Bot |
|
| Pompano Beach, FL (2201 N Federal Hwy) |
2014 |
No Bot |
2.0. Also has 2019 Dance Floor, despite being remodeled in February 2022. |
| Streamwood, IL (1000 S Barrington Rd) |
2014 |
No Bot |
|
| Woodbury, MN (445 Commerce Dr) |
2014 |
No Bot |
Only in Minnesota |
| Jersey City, NJ (701 Route 440) |
2014 |
No Bot |
Only in New Jersey. |
| Oklahoma City, OK (2241 West Memorial Rd) |
2014 |
No Bot |
|
| Norman, OK (2201 Interstate Dr) |
2014 |
No Bot |
|
| Mt Juliet, TN (60 Belinda Pkwy) |
2014 |
No Bot |
Only in Tennessee. 2.0 in 2023. |
| Tuscaloosa, AL (1800 McFarland Blvd E Suite 508 |
2015 |
No Bot |
|
| Chandler, AZ (2977 W Frye Rd) |
2015 |
No Bot |
Bot came from Phoenix East Bell. Removed during 2.0 remodel. COL kept. |
| Rohnert Park, CA (601 Rohnert Park Expy) |
2015 |
No Bot |
This COL replaced a 1-Stage, which was sent to Citrus Heights, and was removed during their January 2024 2.0 remodel. |
| Naperville, IL (509 Illinois Rte 59) |
2015 |
No Bot |
|
| Parkville, MD (8886 Waltham Woods Rd) |
2015 |
No Bot |
|
| San Jose, CA (2445 Fontaine Rd) |
2018 |
No Bot |
Very large, replaced Studio C Alpha. 2.0, also has Dance Floor which was added in Spring 2022. Former PTT. |
| Springfield, PA (381 Baltimore Pike) |
2012 |
No Bot |
Only in Pennsylvania, relocation of old store, which had the second Road Stage, and then a 2-Stage. former 16M. Bot Removed during 2.0 remodel in Summer 2024. COL kept. |
| Austin, TX (9811 S Interstate 35) |
2013 |
No Bot |
Bot removed during 2.0 remodel. COL kept. |
| Houston, TX (12523 Westheimer Rd) |
2012 |
No Bot |
|
| Harlingen, TX (2815 W Expressway 83) |
2012 |
No Bot |
First store to open with a Circles Of Light. |
| McAllen, TX (1200 Trenton Rd Building 100) |
2012 |
No Bot |
|
| Dallas, TX (13364 Montfort Dr) |
August 2012 |
No Bot |
First Circles Of Light, former 32M, Bot removed in September 2012 and sent to Port Orange, Florida. Now 2.0. |
| Weslaco, Texas (725 E Expressway 83) |
2012 |
No Bot |
|
| El Paso, TX (1910 N Zargoza Rd) |
2013 |
No Bot |
|
| Fort Worth, TX (4200 South Fwy #50) |
2015 |
No Bot |
|
| Concepcion County, Guatemala (HG3W+Q4P, Carr.) |
2016 |
No Bot |
|
| Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (Eastern Ring Branch Rd) |
2013 |
No Bot |
Originally 16M COL, bot removed in 2021. |
| Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (King Abdul Aziz Rd) |
2013 |
No Bot |
Originally 16M COL, bot removed in 2021. |
| Riyadh, Saudi Arabia |
|
No Bot |
|
| Riyadh, Saudi Arabia |
|
No Bot |
|
| Riyadh, Saudi Arabia |
|
No Bot |
|
| Dammam, Saudi Arabia |
|
No Bot |
|
| Dammam, Saudi Arabia |
|
No Bot |
|
| Mecca / Makkah, Saudi Arabia |
2015 |
No Bot |
|
| Al Mubarraz / Elhasa, Saudi Arabia |
2016 |
No Bot |
|
| Jeddah, Saudi Arabia |
|
No Bot |
|
| Al Khobar / Al Raka (King Faisal Ibn Abd Al Aziz) |
2017 |
No Bot |
|
| Hail, Saudi Arabia |
2018 |
No Bot |
|
| Al Jubail, Saudi Arabia |
2018 |
No Bot |
|
| Dhahran, Saudi Arabia |
2015 |
No Bot |
|
| Al Madina / Medina, Saudi Arabia |
|
No Bot |
|
| Yanbu, Saudi Arabia |
2019 |
No Bot |
|
| Metha Plaza, U.A.E |
2014 |
No Bot |
|
| Mina Jebel Ali, U.A.E |
|
No Bot |
|
| Chaguanas, Trinidad & Tobago |
2014 |
No Bot |
|
| San Fernando, Trinidad & Tobago |
2016 |
No Bot |
|
| Lima, Peru |
2013 |
No Bot |
|
| Arequipa, Peru |
2014 |
No Bot |
|
| Trujillo, Peru |
2014 |
No Bot |
|
| Centennial Mall, Panama |
|
No Bot |
|
| Sendero, Mexico |
2014 |
No Bot |
|
| Paseo La Fe |
2016 |
No Bot |
|
| Aquascalientes, Mexico |
2017 |
No Bot |
|
| Saltillo, Mexico |
2016 |
No Bot |
|
| Torreon, Mexico |
2015 |
No Bot |
|
| Santiago de Queretaro, Mexico |
2016 |
No Bot |
|
| Tampico, Mexico |
|
No Bot |
|
| Patio Santa Fe, Mexico |
|
No Bot |
|
| Oasis Coyoacan, Mexico |
|
No Bot |
|
| Puebla Centro Mayor, Mexico |
2015 |
No Bot |
|
| Guadalajara, Mexico |
|
No Bot |
|
| Miyana Polanco, Mexico |
2017 |
No Bot |
|
| Fortuna Lindavista, Mexico |
|
No Bot |
|
| Boca Del Rio, Mexico |
|
No Bot |
|
| Metepec, Mexico |
2016 |
No Bot |
|
| Plaza Satelite, Mexico |
2020 |
No Bot |
2.0. |
| Cumbres, Mexico |
2021 |
No Bot |
2.0 |
| Chihuahua, Mexico |
2021 |
No Bot |
2.0. Last store to open with Circles Of Light as of September 2022 |
| Bogota, Columbia |
2017 |
No Bot |
|
| Tegucigalpa, Honduras |
2017 |
No Bot |
|
| San Pedro Sula, Honduras |
2018 |
No Bot |
|
| Heredia, Costa Rica |
2018 |
No Bot |
|
Former Circles of Light Stages
| Place |
Installed |
Removed |
Version |
Condition / Notes |
| Long Beach, CA (290 E 4th St) |
December 2013 |
June 2020 |
No Bot |
Store was closed permanently during the COVID-19 pandemic. |
| Port Orange, FL (5539 S Williamson Blvd) |
December 2013 |
September 2022 |
32M Bot |
Bot came from Dallas, TX. Store was closed indefinitely after building damage caused by Hurricane Ian. |
| San Antonio, TX (6874 Ingram Rd) |
March 2014 |
July 2017 |
No Bot |
This COL replaced a 3-Stage. |
| Los Angeles, CA (2706 Wilshire Blvd) |
April 2014 |
September 2020 |
16M Bot |
Store was conceptualized during a 3 year period. Store was closed permanently during the COVID-19 pandemic. |
| Cumbres (Madeira), Mexico |
August 2014 |
March 2021 |
No Bot |
Store was closed permanently. |
| Oud Metha Plaza, U. A. E. |
December 2014 |
Between 2020 and 2021 |
No Bot |
Store was closed permanently. |
| Matteson, IL (106 Town Center Rd) |
February 2015 |
June 2020 |
No Bot |
This COL replaced a 3-Stage. Store was closed permanently during the COVID-19 pandemic. |
| Parque Interlomas, Mexico |
September 2015 |
November 2019 |
No Bot |
Store was closed permanently. |
| Puebla Centro Mayor, Mexico |
November 2015 |
Sometime in 2021 |
No Bot |
Store was closed permanently. |
| Bogota (Atlantis Plaza), Colombia |
November 2015 |
October 2021 |
No Bot |
Store was closed permanently. |
| Ibn Battuta Mall, U. A. E. |
February 2016 |
Between 2020 or 2021 |
No Bot |
Store was closed permanently. |
| San Fernando, Trinidad & Tobago |
July 2016 |
January 2023 |
No Bot |
Store was closed and likely relocated to a new location. |
| Wilmington, DE (3601 Silverside Rd) |
September 2017 |
October 2020 |
No Bot |
This COL replaced a 3-Stage. COL came from San Antonio, TX (6874 Ingram Rd). Store was closed permanently during the COVID-19 pandemic. |
| Queretaro Constituyentes, Mexico |
March 2018 |
November 2020 |
No Bot |
Store was closed permanently. |
Trivia
- Circles of Light programming has ended as of September 19, 2022, as the Chuck E. Cheese Halloween Boo-Tacular Show 2022 has started playing, this also applies to Studio C stages (Alpha, Beta, Cappa, Studio C Alpha Beta Mix|Alpha / Beta Mix) and the Galaxy Stage and Dance Floor (For the ones with the COL light up posters and washers.)
- They were a total of 5 32M COLs installed: Dallas, Texas (Montfort) (Removed bot in September 2012), Naples, Florida, Port Orange, Florida (which was destroyed by Hurricane Ian in September 2022), West Palm Beach, Florida (Which received 2.0 in March 2022 and removed the bot), and Chandler, Arizona (which received 2.0 in March 2023). As of May 2023, only Naples has it.
