Advance Capital Partners to buy a majority stake in WOOP!

In a significant move within Slovenia's entertainment industry, Advance Capital Partners has reached an agreement to acquire a majority stake—70 percent—in WOOP!, one of the most successful amusement and sports parks in the region. The deal marks a pivotal moment for WOOP!, which has grown rapidly over the past decade into a leading name in experiential entertainment across Slovenia and Austria. According to reports, the transaction is expected to close in the autumn months after receiving approval from relevant competition authorities. This acquisition will provide WOOP! with additional momentum as it plans its expansion across Europe.

The agreement was announced on June 16, 2026, in Ljubljana, where Advance Capital Partners expressed confidence in WOOP!'s potential for further growth. Aleš Škerlak, CEO of Advance Capital Partners, stated that WOOP! has already built one of the most recognizable brand names in the amusement park sector in Slovenia and Austria. He emphasized that the company would continue expanding its network of parks across Europe while exploring opportunities for international growth through a franchise model.

WOOP! was founded in 2017 when co-founders Samo Habič and Miran Razoršek opened their first trampoline park. Since then, the company has expanded significantly, offering a wide range of attractions including kart racing, bowling, escape rooms, laser tag, virtual experiences, climbing walls, mini-golf, billiards, and more. Today, WOOP! operates four amusement-sports parks in Ljubljana and Maribor, with its first international location opening in Graz, Austria, at the end of 2025. The company expects revenue to increase by more than half this year, reaching around €15 million, and aims to reach approximately €50 million by 2029 once the franchise model is fully implemented.

The entertainment and leisure industry is among the fastest-growing sectors globally, with an anticipated annual growth rate of about 13 percent. The global market for family entertainment centers is currently valued between €25 billion and €30 billion. WOOP! has demonstrated strong performance, attracting over 300,000 individual visitors annually in Slovenia alone, along with more than 500 companies and 10,000 students during sports days and school trips. Additionally, the company organizes over 4,000 birthday celebrations each year.

Despite the success of WOOP!, the acquisition by Advance Capital Partners has raised some questions regarding the nature of the investment. While the initial report from Si21 clearly states that Advance Capital Partners is acquiring a majority stake in WOOP!, another source, Bloomberg Adria, appears to have misreported the situation, suggesting that the firm is purchasing a stake in a dental group instead. However, this discrepancy remains unexplained, and the primary focus continues to be on WOOP!.

As part of its strategic approach, Advance Capital Partners specializes in managing private equity funds and sets clear strategies for each company it invests in. The firm has raised €249 million in commitments for its special investment fund, ACP SIS, which is designed to support high-potential ventures. With this backing, WOOP! is poised to accelerate its expansion plans, both domestically and internationally, under the leadership of its founding team, who will remain part of the management structure post-acquisition.

Looking ahead, WOOP! plans to refresh its entire visual identity in September under the new slogan "Let Life Be Fun" and continue developing into the largest entertainment platform in the region. The partnership with Advance Capital Partners is expected to facilitate faster implementation of ambitious growth strategies while maintaining the unique qualities that make WOOP! popular among its customers. As the deal moves toward finalization, all eyes are on how this collaboration will shape the future of experiential entertainment in Europe.