What The Friends Experience does

The Friends Experience operates licensed immersive entertainment attractions based on the FRIENDS television series, operating under a licensing agreement with Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. for use of the show's characters, sets, props, costumes, and branding. The core offering is a timed-entry, approximately 60-minute walk-through experience featuring recreated sets (Monica's living room, Joey and Chandler's apartment, the Las Vegas Wedding Chapel, the PIVOT staircase), original props and costumes from the show, and interactive photo opportunities. Five locations are currently active: a 17,000 square foot flagship in New York City's Gramercy neighborhood (130 E 23rd St), a Las Vegas venue at The District at MGM Grand, and newly launched sites in Mumbai, Brisbane, and Mexico City. The NYC location uniquely houses a fully functioning replica of the Central Perk Cafe serving a seasonal beverage and pastry menu open to both ticketed and non-ticketed guests.

The business generates revenue across multiple streams. Primary revenue is one-time admission ticket sales processed through the Showclix ticketing platform, with tiered offerings including General Admission, Flexible Entry, the Ultimate Ticket Package (with photo package, Central Perk drink, and retail discount), and discounted Group Tickets for parties of 10 or more. Secondary revenue comes from an on-site retail store selling exclusive merchandise (t-shirts, mugs, pins, Hugsy plush), the Central Perk Cafe, and themed occasion packages (Bachelorette Package, Lobster Package, VIP Bundle) targeting celebrations and proposals. Private event venue rentals at the NYC flagship for corporate buyouts, weddings, and team outings start at a $5,000 minimum for groups of 50–275 guests, adding a B2B services layer. Customer segments span FRIENDS TV show fans (primary), bachelorette and celebration groups, corporate and private event planners, tourists and local residents, and wedding and proposal couples.

The go-to-market motion is direct-to-consumer ticketing supported by event-driven social marketing. Branded hashtags (#FriendsTheExperience and location-specific variants), influencer outreach, press coverage, and email/SMS nurture convert awareness into reservations, while group and private event sales run through dedicated inquiry forms and the PerfectVenue platform. The legal entity is Original X Productions, LLC (with related entity OGX Media Experiences, LLC), domiciled in New York, USA. The company's competitive position rests on the exclusive Warner Bros. IP license, the accumulated operational know-how from running the experience in 23+ cities, and the unique Central Perk Cafe offering at NYC, rather than on proprietary technology or AI capabilities.

Name

The Friends Experience

Legal name

Original X Productions, LLC

Website

https://friendstheexperience.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Friends Experience operates licensed, timed-entry immersive attractions based on the FRIENDS TV series through a Warner Bros. licensing agreement, currently active in New York City, Las Vegas, Mumbai, Brisbane, and Mexico City, serving fans, celebration groups, corporate event clients, and tourists.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Immersive Entertainment Attractions

NAICS

Amusement and Theme Parks (71311)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Party Games, Activities & Interactive Entertainment (HSACACAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

VIP, Hospitality & Premium Experiences (MPAGAAAK), Private Social Events (Birthdays, Anniversaries, Private Parties) (MPAGAHAI), Corporate Catering, Staffing & Guest Services (F&B, Security, Ushers) (MPAGAHAM)

Keywords

• Immersive entertainment experiences
• Licensed fan attractions
• Themed event venues
• TV show exhibits
• Private event hosting

Headquarters

HQ city

New City

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Licensing, Infrastructure, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Admission Tickets: Timed-entry tickets for experience access sold online and at door. Multiple ticket tiers including General Admission, Flexible Entry, and premium packages (Ultimate Ticket Package/VIP Bundle). Revenue from child tickets (age 4-12), group bookings, and local resident discounts.
2. Retail Merchandise: On-site retail store selling exclusive FRIENDS merchandise including t-shirts, pins, mugs, Central Perk merchandise, Hugsy Joey's Bedtime Penguin Pal, and limited-edition items. Store open to ticketed and non-ticketed guests.
3. Private Events: Corporate venue buyouts, weddings, team outings, product launches, and fundraisers. Turnkey event planning, production, and audiovisual services. NYC location: 17,000 sq ft bi-level space accommodating 50-275 guests. Minimum $5,000 for private events.
4. Central Perk Cafe: Beverages and pastries sold at the Central Perk replica cafe. Seasonal menu offerings. Included in Ultimate Ticket Package as complimentary drink.
5. Special Packages: Themed experience packages including Bachelorette Package (photo package, themed shot glasses, keychains), Lobster Package (t-shirts, shot glasses, keychains, temporary tattoo set), and Proposal Package. Upsell opportunities on top of base admission.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

The Friends Experience operates timed-entry, walk-through immersive entertainment attractions that recreate iconic sets, display original props and costumes, and provide interactive photo opportunities from the FRIENDS television series, under license from Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. Revenue is generated primarily through admission tickets, premium experience bundles, on-site retail merchandise, Central Perk Cafe food and beverage sales, themed special-occasion packages, and private venue buyouts for corporate and celebration events.

Product overview

The Friends Experience is an immersive entertainment attraction offering timed-entry and flexible admission tickets to walk-through experiences featuring set recreations, original props and costumes, and exclusive behind-the-scenes content from the FRIENDS TV show. The core products include General Admission and Group Tickets, with add-on modules such as Flexible Entry and premium packages (Ultimate Ticket Package, VIP Bundle, Bachelorette Package, Lobster Package). Supporting sub-brands include Central Perk Cafe serving beverages and pastries, and The FRIENDS Experience Store selling merchandise. The company also offers Private Event Venue rentals at their Manhattan location for corporate events, weddings, and celebrations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Central Perk Cafe: A fully functioning replica of Central Perk coffee shop featured in the show, serving seasonal beverages and pastries. Located at the New York City location.

Products and services

• General Admission Tickets Standard timed-entry tickets providing access to the immersive FRIENDS walk-through experience featuring set recreations (Monica's living room, Joey and Chandler's apartment, Las Vegas Wedding Chapel, Central Perk Replica), original props and costumes, and interactive photo opportunities. For individual consumers, families, and general fans of the FRIENDS television series.
• Group Tickets Discounted ticket bundles for groups of 10 or more guests (friends, families, team events). Standard entry at a selected date and time with pre-discounted group rates. Groups larger than 20 require special bookings.
• The Ultimate Ticket Package Premium NYC experience bundle including anytime admission, complete photo package (6 prints plus all digital photos), a Central Perk coffee mug, one drink at the Central Perk replica cafe, free coat/bag check token, and 20% off the retail store.
• VIP Bundle Premium Las Vegas experience bundle featuring expedited entry, one yellow photo frame magnet, one 4x6 photo print, and a VIP lanyard and pin.
• Bachelorette Package Themed celebration package for bachelorette parties and girls' nights, including a complete photo package (all digital photos plus 6 prints), a themed shot glass (Mrs. Ross or Mr. Rachel design), and a themed keychain (Mrs. Ross, Mr. Rachel, or He's Her Lobster design).
• Lobster Package Romantic celebration package inspired by Ross and Rachel's 'she's his lobster' story. Includes 2 t-shirts (Mrs. Ross or Mr. Rachel), 2 shot glasses, 2 keychains, and 1 temporary tattoo set. Designed for proposals and special occasions.
• Central Perk Cafe Fully functioning replica of the Central Perk coffee shop from the FRIENDS television series, offering a seasonal menu of beverages and pastries. Located within the NYC flagship experience and open to both ticketed and non-ticketed guests.
• The FRIENDS Experience Store On-site retail store at each location selling exclusive FRIENDS merchandise, including t-shirts, pins, mugs, Central Perk-branded items, Hugsy (Joey's Bedtime Penguin Pal), and limited-edition memorabilia. Open to ticketed and non-ticketed guests.
• Private Event Venue Rental 17,000 square foot bi-level customizable event space in Manhattan accommodating 50-275 guests. Available for corporate events, weddings, product launches, team outings, and fundraisers, with turnkey event planning, production services, audiovisual equipment, DJ booth, professional photo system, and on-site catering via Central Perk Cafe. Minimum $5,000 starting price.

Quantifiable outcome

• Multiple positive customer testimonials highlighting 'unforgettable experiences' and lifetime memories
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.coreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerThe FRIENDS Experience operates under licensing agreement with Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. for the use of FRIENDS intellectual property including characters, sets, props, costumes, and branding. All related characters and elements are © & ™ Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. This licensing relationship is fundamental to the entire business operation as without it, the immersive FRIENDS experience could not exist.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• The Sopranos Experience: Immersive experience recreating sets and locations from the HBO series The Sopranos. Directly comparable as a licensed-TV-IP attraction targeting adult fans with set recreations, original props, and themed merchandise in a similar urban format.
• Meow Wolf: Permanent immersive art experiences featuring interactive themed environments. Comparable as large-format, walk-through, themed attractions with timed-entry admission, retail, and event space, operating across multiple US cities.
• Museum of Ice Cream: Multi-location immersive themed experience combining set-piece installations, photo opportunities, and branded retail. Comparable as a ticketed, walk-through, photo-first attraction in NYC and other major markets with strong influencer/social media marketing.
• Color Factory: Interactive art experience featuring immersive themed rooms designed for photo-driven visitor engagement. Closely comparable ticketing, retail, and Instagram-optimized attraction model serving tourists and special-occasion groups in major US cities.
• The Office Experience: Immersive walk-through experience featuring recreated sets from the NBC sitcom The Office. Operates on the same licensed-IP, timed-entry, photo-driven attraction model that targets nostalgia-driven sitcom fans, making it the closest direct comparable to The Friends Experience.
• Stranger Things Experience: Immersive Netflix-IP experience featuring set recreations and interactive storytelling. Comparable as a streaming-era licensed-IP attraction using timed-entry admission, themed merchandise, and experiential photo opportunities to monetize fandom.
• Candytopia: Multi-location interactive candy-themed attraction featuring photo-driven installations and themed retail. Comparable as a ticketed walk-through immersive experience with strong Instagram positioning and recurring pop-up/permanent venue cycles in major US cities.
• ABBA Voyage: Immersive concert experience featuring digital avatars of the ABBA band in a purpose-built London arena. Comparable as a licensed-IP, themed entertainment attraction monetizing enduring fan loyalty through premium pricing and merchandise.
• Seinfeld Experience: Pop-up experience recreating iconic sets from the Seinfeld sitcom. Closely mirrors The Friends Experience model: 90s sitcom nostalgia, set recreations, themed merchandise, and timed-entry admission targeting fans of the original series.

Broad incumbents

• Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood: Owned and operated by Warner Bros. Discovery, this is the licensor's own film/TV studio tour experience. Comparable as the broad incumbent that controls the underlying IP licensing and operates competing immersive IP experiences at scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/FriendsTheExp
• Facebookfacebook.com/friendstheexperience
• Instagraminstagram.com/friendstheexperience
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-friends-experience

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Friends Experience