Stern Put Pro Circuit Pinball on ESPN2 and Opened Factory Tours
Stern scheduled its Heads-Up Pinball Invitational for ESPN2, opened paid-member factory tours, and added Pokemon machines to its buyer rewards list.
Stern scheduled the Mountain Dew Stern Pro Circuit Heads-Up Pinball Invitational for ESPN2 at 1:30 a.m. ET on August 7, with a Star Wars: Fall of the Empire machine as the prize. Stern also opened factory tours for paid All-Access members and added Pokemon Pro and Premium to its discounted Rewards Program.
ReportStern Pinball
Stern tied one broadcast, one factory perk, and one rewards update together
Stern's August bulletin scheduled the Mountain Dew Stern Pro Circuit Heads-Up Pinball Invitational for ESPN2 at 1:30 a.m. ET on Friday, August 7. The winner was set to receive a Star Wars: Fall of the Empire machine. The same bulletin opened one free annual factory tour for paid All-Access members and one guest, with additional guests or tours priced at $25 per person.
The Pokemon note needs a careful reading. Stern added Pokemon Pro and Premium to the Stern Rewards Program, which gives qualifying IFPA players a chance to buy an eligible machine at a special price. That is a purchase benefit for qualifying players; it is not an announcement that Pokemon machines only now became eligible for tournament play.
What actually changed
The ESPN2 broadcast was scheduled for August 7 at 1:30 a.m. ET. Paid All-Access members may book one free one-hour factory tour per year for the member and one guest; additional guests or tours are $25 per person. Pokemon Pro and Premium joined the list of machines available through the Stern Rewards Program for qualifying IFPA players.
Why the update matters: The broadcast gave competitive pinball a national television slot, while the factory-tour and rewards announcements gave paid members and qualifying tournament players concrete benefits beyond app quests and standings. Each benefit has a different audience, so they should not be collapsed into a general claim about competitive eligibility.
- Will Stern publish a replay or audience data for the August 7 ESPN2 broadcast?
- How quickly will paid-member factory-tour dates fill, and how often will Stern add new availability?
Check the terms first if:You are considering All-Access mainly for the factory tour; confirm available dates and travel logistics before subscribing for that perk.
Use the rewards list if:You already qualify through the IFPA program and want Pokemon Pro or Premium; confirm the current machine list and purchase rules directly with IFPA and Stern.
Primary pages and records used for this report.
Frequently Asked Questions
When was the Stern Pro Circuit Invitational on ESPN2?▼
Stern scheduled the Mountain Dew Stern Pro Circuit Heads-Up Pinball Invitational for Friday, August 7, 2026, at 1:30 a.m. ET on ESPN2. Stern said the winner would receive a Star Wars: Fall of the Empire pinball machine.
What does a paid Stern All-Access member receive for factory tours?▼
Stern says a paid All-Access member can book one free factory tour per year for the member and one guest. Additional guests or additional tours are $25 per person, and reservations are subject to available dates.
Did Pokemon Pro and Premium become newly eligible for IFPA tournaments?▼
That is not what Stern announced. Pokemon Pro and Premium were added to the Stern Rewards Program, which lets qualifying IFPA players purchase an eligible machine at a special price. The announcement concerns a buyer reward, not tournament eligibility.
Have a launch, correction, or test opportunity?
Brands, product teams, and knowledgeable sources can send relevant details, approved media, or corrections. Coverage is selected independently.
Choose the useful next step.
Know what changed before it changes your workshop.
When a source-backed change affects what to buy, update, test, or ignore, we send a short decision brief with the evidence, the workshop consequence, and what remains unknown.
Know what changed. Know what it means at the bench. Decide whether to act, wait, update, test, or ignore.
Scanned daily. Sent only when the signal changes a workshop decision, with a rare alert when waiting would matter.
See how The Workshop Signal works