PBA Struggling Heading into 2014

[Aslan]

Here's a link to an interesting article about the state of the PBA and upcoming changes in 2014.

http://11thframe.com/news/article/6302

[zdawg]

That's not particularly good news. I haven't researched the history much, I just remember bowling being more prevalent when I was a kid in the 80's. We had a local chain of alleys called Bowl America (I think they still exist on the east coast), and they had commercials all the time (so did Putt Putt before they disappeared from the DC area), and bowling was on every Saturday.

I just think they need to do something to perk up public perception of bowling as a sport and interest overall, I would think there has to be some marketing/PR "A team" that can offer help with that, I know the poker boom was due in part to the proliferation of online poker, the hole card camera, but the fact that Chris Moneymaker won the world series in 03' certainly helped push it over the edge - the marketing teams took that ball and ran with it.

Not sure it would be possible for a total noob to ever show up at a major tournament and oust an all time great bowler, in fact I suspect it would be almost impossible. But take the fact that there is a PBA league in existence, I would NEVER EVER have known about it if I hadn't been watching the World Series of Bowling this year (due to my new bowling hobby) and wondered why these guys were wearing shirts with team names, and why the hell TO was on TV bowling LOL

[got_a_300]

It is not looking good for the PBA to be around several years
from now just like the WPBA folded and disappeared quite a
few years ago.

I truly hope they can can pull themselves up again and save
the PBA Tour from folding like it almost did back in what was
it 2000 I think it was or there abouts before the Redmon boys
stepped up and bought it out and saved it.

[tccstudent]

Not sure it would be possible for a total noob to ever show up at a major tournament and oust an all time great bowler, in fact I suspect it would be almost impossible.

You mean like Tom Smallwood did a few years ago

[Aslan]

You mean like Tom Smallwood did a few years ago

Ironically…a lot of the PBA "purists" don't like that idea. I think it would add excitement…but opinions vary.

[zdawg]

You mean like Tom Smallwood did a few years ago

Ah ok, I was unaware. I just started bowling 4 months ago, and following it on TV a few weeks ago...:p

But yeah, that's the kind of thing that sells well to the audiences, the thought that maybe some of these champs are regular everyday guys

[Aslan]

I think the PBA is trying to be more like Nascar where you have the same drivers every weekend…maybe they change uniforms every other year…but it's the same 30 guys. Unfortunately, fans haven't really responded with allegiance to a bowler or brand the way they did in Nascar. In Nascar most people have an allegiance to the car maker (Ford, Chevy, Dodge, etc…) and then choose a driver or two or three. For some reason bowlers with allegiance to Hammer, or Storm, or DV8…the allegiance just isn't as strong for some reason.

[J Anderson]

I think the main problem with the PBA league ( and the PBA in general) was trying to do it on the cheap. Any other team sport, the teams actually have a home field, stadium, or arena. While there have been teams like the Green Bay Packers under Lombardi, that have had a national fan base, the appeal of most teams is local. Had they had at least one week in each of the home cities it might have developed more of a local following.

[Bunny]

I think the main problem with the PBA league ( and the PBA in general) was trying to do it on the cheap. Any other team sport, the teams actually have a home field, stadium, or arena. While there have been teams like the Green Bay Packers under Lombardi, that have had a national fan base, the appeal of most teams is local. Had they had at least one week in each of the home cities it might have developed more of a local following.

The PBA has no "gate" so to speak. A big hurdle to overcome IMO.

[sprocket]

The PBA is doomed, period. Non-bowlers don't watch the PBA. There are no gimmicks that will make them watch. We can't go back in time anymore to when non-bowers were fascinated to watch the great skill of pro bowers. You now have top pros like Belmonte or Rash that can absolutely blow rack apart. It is very impressive and you would think it would be cool to watch even for a non-bowler. But it isn't. At least not enough to keep them coming back for more. The only hope is that it continues on just as advertising for ball companies and other stuff and that advertizing money will be enough to pay the bills. All the PBA is now is advertizing. They just hope enough bowlers will watch and then go out and buy more stuff.

The only tournament in recent years that I thought was really cool was the plastic ball tournament, but they cancelled that. Of course it wasn't a true plastic ball tournament because they were allowed to bring the surface down to like 240 and use whatever layout they wanted.

[Aslan]

Agreed. I never watched bowling at all until I actually started bowling.

Thats why I think for the sport to really grow, it's gotta be grown at the youth level. I spend a fair amount of time at the lanes and I see so very few young people bowling. There's the cosmic bowlers and that kinda thing...but you don't see youth teams or even high school teams. And without that "base"...it's virtually impossible to grow the sport.

I'd like to see lanes get together, maybe work through their regional USBC...and work with local elementary schools. Start elementary school "leagues" where once every two weeks during slow times during the week...have elementary school teams play against each other. The schools can win school supplies...the teams can win bolwing balls and shoes. Make it as low cost/free as possible. It's a small price to pay...if you can get even 15% of those kids playing regularly. Pretty soon...you have enough players for a "youth league"....mixed junior/senior doubles....and thats where you make your money back. ot to mention...these kids grow up...they join adult leagues.

If the bowling centers don't get away from the Bowlmor model...where cosmic/casual bowlers and night club atmospheres are seen as the future...and start seeing that leagues are the backbone of any successsful center...it's just never gonna get back to anything near what it used to be. I don't think the PBA matters much. I hate to see it go...but at this point, it's not really drawing anybody to bowling in the US. Maybe outside the US is is, but not in the US.

[DLP]

Did you know that the first $1 million sports endorsement went to a bowler? (I'll leave the rest of the trivia up for grabs, so to say).

The thing is, the reason we see it as doomed, is it really all does come down to the mighty dollar. The generation of today isn't going to aspire to be a couple a hundred-thousand if you're lucky on tour bowler if you can get drafted into a team, and sit on the bench all season and make the same amount.

[Aslan]

Did you know that the first $1 million sports endorsement went to a bowler? (I'll leave the rest of the trivia up for grabs, so to say).

Correct. I've made that point many times as I think back to the "good ole days".

I stand on my previous comments. I think the way for bowling to regain at least some of it's "glory" is a long process that involves a huge amount of effort at the elementary school level. I think the USBC, PBA, AMF...these groups that have a vested interest in bowling becoming bigger, need to make a real investment in kids...get those kids rolling better balls, get them their own shoes, and get them in an alley at least once a week.

Here's the economics of it:

Lets say you have 2 alleys in your city and 14 elementary schools. The alleys set up a league and split the cost. Each elementary school fields a team of 6 bowlers (rotating teams of 5). The cost of a ball, bag and shoes for that age group is lets say $100 each. The alleys match that with a $200 donation per team to each school.

Thats $100 * (6 * 14) = $8400 Plus $200 * 14 = $2800. Thats $11,200 split between 2 alleys = $5600 per alley.

24-week league on early mornings on the weekend. We'll assume actual lane time is $0 because the lanes are already there and staff is already there.

The ROI (return on investment) initially is:

Lets assume each team when they bowl spends a mere $35 on food/beverages. Lets say the alley provides free food the 24th/final week...so thats 22 weeks at $490/week. Thats $10,780 just on food/beverages.

Now lets assume that these families spend just ONE more time at the alley because their kid is in a league and wants to practice. A family goes to the lane, $28 in lane rental and shoes, $24 food beverage, times players (6 * 14), times 24 weeks = $104,832.

So just over the course of a 24 week league...each of the alleys puts an investment up front of $5600 and the return on that investment is ($104,832 + $10,780)/2 = $57,806. $57,806 - $5600 = a gross profit of $52,206 or $2175.25/week.

But here's where many, many alleys are short sighted. THAT isn't where the money is. The money is when just 4 of those kids grow up, stay in the area, and become adult bowlers...and bowl in a league each week. Now you're raking in $35 bar tabs and league fees each week with virtually ZERO investment.

And thats how you save bowling. Kids involved = adolescents involved = colleges more involved = greater USBC membership and league players = a greater interest in pro bowling = more advertising = more profits = higher salaries. But it isn't going to happen overnight. Bowling has been in decline for 3 decades...and it'll take at least 3 decades to regain that ground. It's not gonna be some stupid "The League" gimmic or making the players more "aholish" like pro wrestlers and it's not gonna happen by trying to get more adults to play. The PBA/USBC/alleys are attacking the problem at the top of the pyramid...when they NEED to be building the base. Once you get the ball rolling...it'll move itself due to momentum. Thats my take anyways.

[zdawg]

Did you know that the first $1 million sports endorsement went to a bowler? (I'll leave the rest of the trivia up for grabs, so to say).

The thing is, the reason we see it as doomed, is it really all does come down to the mighty dollar. The generation of today isn't going to aspire to be a couple a hundred-thousand if you're lucky on tour bowler if you can get drafted into a team, and sit on the bench all season and make the same amount.

Not just today's generation, I grew up in the 80's and always aspired to be a pro football player. On top of that, I also played many other sports, most notably soccer (where I had the best chance to turn pro although MLS doesn't pay crap). Bowling was just a once every few years thing I did when somebody suggested it, or I just wanted a casual date environment.

I never would've considered pro bowling as something to aspire to, not enough money (which is why I ultimately quit soccer to focus on football), and it doesn't really have the mass media appeal of other sports. To young aspiring athletes, I'm just not sure how you can sell them on that.

Its funny, I didn't even realize there were youth leagues until I picked up the sport a few months ago, I mean who knew? Some of it is geography I think, I was born in Miami, grew up and lived in DC and NYC for almost my entire life. I see there are a lot of posters here from the Midwest so where you grow up probably has a lot to do with starting at a young age too

[YODA]

On thing that is hurting bowling as a whole is how expensive it has gotten.. I remember when I used to be able to bowl on certain nights for $1 a game, or $10 to bowl all night on friday and sa night. Not to mention the overall fun some of the alleys near me created. Where I grew up there were 3 bowling alleys in my town when I left for the Marines when I was 18. When I returned home at the age of 22 there was only 1 still left.

[Bunny]

On thing that is hurting bowling as a whole is how expensive it has gotten.. I remember when I used to be able to bowl on certain nights for $1 a game, or $10 to bowl all night on friday and sa night. Not to mention the overall fun some of the alleys near me created. Where I grew up there were 3 bowling alleys in my town when I left for the Marines when I was 18. When I returned home at the age of 22 there was only 1 still left.


So true. A family came in to bowl on Sunday while were playing the monthly tournament. One game each plus shoes $63. Two games plus shoes$93! They got it down to $75 by doing two hours. But still. Yikes!

Luckily, we have quite a few centers in Orange County so we can follow the specials around.

And the whole Cosmic thing has screwed going bowling on Friday or Saturday nights. Some of the centers are doing cosmic all freaking day on the weekends!

[sprocket]

I still bowl for cheap. $7 after 9pm on weekdays for all you can bowl until closing and $1 per game on Sundays before noon. I bowled 16 games last Sunday. I'm still feeling it.

[Aslan]

Luckily, we have quite a few centers in Orange County so we can follow the specials around.

Agreed. Nice advantage.


And the whole Cosmic thing has screwed going bowling on Friday or Saturday nights. Some of the centers are doing cosmic all freaking day on the weekends!

Preaching to the choir there. If it's anywhere NEAR a holiday...where kids are out of school...cosmic bowling all damn day. I went there the Friday after Christmas...got there a little early for league play and thought I would practice....lights were off, cosmic bowling. They turned them on an hour before league play started.

I think bowling when compared to other sports/activities is cheaper than people give it credit for. I practice on Mondays for $2/game. Most weeknights after 9:30PM it's $12 until close unlimited bowling. The other center I used to bowl at, $12 for 2 hours. And when I played league there...I got 2 free games and unlimited games at between $2-$3. I bowl in a clinic some Saturdays...$10 for 2 hours and you get occasional instruction. I even found an alley on a college campus where I bowled for $1 a game. And...I entered a tournament recently...$25 + $5 for optional side pot. And this is CALIFORNIA folks...the land of expensive living.

The "cost" of bowling is league bowling...and it's mostly your bar tab. I may spend $92/month to bowl leagues...and thats a sanctioned, expensive, 24-week, sweeper league. But I'll probably spend another $132/month on food/alcohol during league play.

Other sports I've played?? Hockey was cheaper...but a much higher up front equipment cost. Paintball was ungodly expensive...$50-$120 per day. Running is cheap but it's God awful boring. Biking is cheap except for the $1000-$3000 bicycle. Martial arts was expensive. Just joining a gym is expensive. Shooting isn't too bad except for the cost of bullets/shells. You ever try to get your kids into things like figure skating or horseback riding. You'll pay $35-$125 an hour for those activities. I'd like to try surfing or skiing...but surfboards are $600+ and I've heard skiing is about the priciest possible activity other than skuba diving or learning to fly a plane.

Even on Fridays or Saturdays...I can go to an alley and for $20 bowl for 2 hours. There's not a lot of stuff you can do for 2 hours that only costs $20. A movie ticket is around $10...snacks/drinks?? Forget about it. Even going to the damn beach...pay like $9-$17 to park?? I played poker Sunday and got knocked out of the tournament in just over an hour...that was $45 + gas...coulda bowled most of the day for that money.

Actually...it's not the COST that has annoyed me about bowling...it's when I want to find an open lane to practice and CANNOT find one! So it can't be THAT expensive....because bowling alleys certainly aren't empty anytime after 5PM. 1-4PM...yeah, I've went to alleys that were ghost towns at those hours. But trying to find an open lane in the evening...friggin sucks.

[YODA]

Cosmic bowling can actually be fun, especially for a family with kids.. My kids love Cosmic Bowling. And luckily only $1 a game at one center close to us. Although the way Cosmic bowling has gotten, its way too much IMO as some others stated above. For me Bowling is the most expensive sport I play... For as much as it costs me and my family to bowl on one average price night, I can buy a new bowling ball. Where I live leagues actually make it cheaper, although Bar tabs surely can ring up, but drinking IMO is not part of the sport that is needed :)

I Bowl, Play Baseball, Basketball, and my kids are in little league, and bowling is still more expensive then those three.

[Aslan]

It's pricey enough that I am really struggling over my decision about playing 2 leagues come March. I really, really want to. But even if I can just trim down the bar tab a bit...my daughter is big into horseback riding and there's talk of leasing her a horse this riding season...probably will quit poker first if I have to...but bowling is next on the chopping block if I need the money for horseback riding. Kids come first.

[YODA]

It's pricey enough that I am really struggling over my decision about playing 2 leagues come March. I really, really want to. But even if I can just trim down the bar tab a bit...my daughter is big into horseback riding and there's talk of leasing her a horse this riding season...probably will quit poker first if I have to...but bowling is next on the chopping block if I need the money for horseback riding. Kids come first.



Oh I agree 100% with that one.. My Boys want to play baseball again this year, and my girl wants to continue Gymnastics and Ice Skating lessons. :)