Round 2 Set To Acquire Lionel

Lionel officials confirmed industry rumors that Round 2, LLC has announced that it will acquire Lionel, LLC.

As the transaction progresses, Round 2, a portfolio company of investment group Praesdian, will come together with Lionel to form the Lionel Brands Group, the company said in a press release.

“We are aligned around a shared vision to build a stronger, fan-first platform that supports the brands, communities, and partners that have made each company successful, while creating new opportunities to grow over time.

In the near term, it remains business as usual. Our priority is maintaining continuity and supporting the programs already underway. Future announcements will be made on our social media channels.

We appreciate your continued support, and we look forward to building on the strong legacies that define both Lionel and Round 2.”

Lionel, well known for historic model railroad lines and exclusive license for NASCAR diecast, and Round 2, known for brands like AMT, Johnny Lightning, and Racing Champions, aim to leverage their combined “strong legacies” to create new growth opportunities.

Twizted Krawlers Opens Massive Indoor Park In Mesa, Arizona

Twizted Krawlers has opened a 10,000-sq.ft. indoor crawler park in a retail plaza in Mesa, Arizona, southeast of Phoenix.

AMain Hobbies, Reefs RC, and Redcat Racing are among the RC industry leaders that have already checked out the handcrafted indoor terrain park.

Featuring man-made and natural rocks and obstacles, the courses were built from real trail inspiration, technical crawling lines, and years of custom RC rig experience.

The facility features over 10 miles of trails across multiple themed zones, each designed for different skill levels. From the beginner-friendly Boulder Garden to thecompetition-grade Skull Wall, every inch of terrain was built by crawlers, for crawlers.

“We didn’t cut corners; every rock placement, every ledge, and every tight squeeze was tested and refined to deliver the most realistic indoor crawling experience in Arizona,” said owner Erik Biddlecome.Customers can opt for daily admission or a monthly membership. Those without their own vehicle can experience the thrill of off-road adventure with a 1/10-, 1/18-, or 1/24-scale RC rock crawler rental.

Following a flat performance in 2024, the U.S. toy industry regained its footing in 2025, fueled by renewed consumer demand and a clear shift toward higher-value purchases.

According to research firm Circana, the industry scored wins across all three major metrics: total annual dollar sales grew by 6%, average selling price spiked by 4%, and units sold increased by 3%. Compared to 2020, U.S. toy sales are up 16%, equivalent to a 3% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) over the past five years.

The return of unit growth alongside price growth signals a healthier market, with licensed, collectible, and fandom‑driven toys continuing to outperform.

“At the same time, 2025 highlighted a growing polarization between value‑focused purchases and premium offerings, underscoring the importance of innovation and entertainment tie‑ins as key drivers of demand,” said Lennett, U.S. toys industry advisor at Circana.

Entertainment, sports, and gaming licenses kept the engine running in 2025, proving once again that fandom drives the toy aisle. Licensed IP dominated, with Pokémon leading the charge with$2.5 billion in U.S. toy sales, up a staggering 87% year over year, becoming the first property in at least two decades to crack the $2 billion mark in a single year. Overall, 6 of the top 10 toy properties posted growth, fueled by entertainment tie-ins, sports licensing, and video game franchises that translated buzz into baskets.

At the same time, shoppers showed they were willing to trade up. Higher price points gained momentum as consumers spent more per item, even as entry-level and mid-priced toys softened. Products priced between $30 and $69.99 surged 18% year over year, while toys priced $20 and above captured nearly four additional points of dollar share. Meanwhile, lower-priced items under $5 and the $15–19.99 range saw the sharpest pullback.more.

Trainz.com has announced the purchase of hobby shop inventory for its online shop. The company purchased the inventory of Rail Yard Hobby Shop of Roanoke, Virginia, and Len Carparelli’s L&L Model Train Restoration Company assets, as well as Mr. Carparelli’s toy train collection.

“These acquisitions expand our model train offerings and the parts to maintain them,” said Trainz Senior Marketing Analyst Kevin Griffis.

Len Carparelli passed away in September 2025. Rail Yard Hobby Shop’s owner, Jim Molinary, retired in November 2025, according to an article posted by Fox station WFXR.

“We will be listing L&L’s new old stock/postwar parts soon. Shops can use the interactive Exploded Parts Diagrams to find just what they need for their latest repair,” said Griffis.

Supreme Court Ends Some Tariffs, But Questions Remain In February, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the Trump

Administration did not have the legal authority under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to impose wide, sweeping, global reciprocal tariffs.

The Court’s ruling only blocked tariffs created using the emergency law (IEEPA). It did not cancel other tariffs that were created under different trade laws. For example, Section 232 tariffs (the “national security” law, usually applied to steel, aluminum, cars, and auto parts) are still in effect.

Tariffs created under Section 301 (used when the U.S. claims another country is trading unfairly) are also still in place. On top of that, normal base import taxes that apply to all countries under regular trade rules never went away.

The decision came after the court ruled on two cases, Learning Resources, Inc. v. Trump and Trump v. V.O.S. Selections, Inc., a toy company and a wine importer. The ruling ended country-by-country reciprocal rates up to 34% on Chinese imports and the 25% duties on Canadian, Mexican and Chinese goods tied to drug trafficking enforcement. Tariffs enacted under separate statutory authorities remain in place, including steel and aluminum duties under
Section 232.

Questions remain about what will happen to the roughly $179 billion collected so far. American importers paid those dollars, and now there is a question of whether the money will be refunded and, if so, how it will be done.