With Brunswick getting out ...(Misterk)

[misterk]

With Brunswick getting out, AMF & Bowlmor merging are leagues a thing of the past? AMF and Bowlmor both seem to prefer open bowling, then they can charge more! They are money hungry!

[Aslan]

I think leagues are certainly in danger of failing. But I think that eventually houses will start to disappear without them. I mean, the high end centers…that attract the younger crowds…around the big cities, college campuses…they'll stick around. But centers in rural areas…without leagues they'll go under eventually. It's a shame because the Bowlmor model is being sold to these centers as something that is the future…but outside of a handful of uptown areas…the model isn't really working.

And starting leagues is hard. I recently put together a 5-man team for spring/summer…everyone seemed to be having fun…but we had 5 regulars and 4 subs. When I tried to start a fall league…I got 3 regulars and 3 subs. Then 1 guy said he had some college class conflict…now the other guy is talking about taking the Fall/Winter off…I mean, wtf?? I've never understood why it's so hard to get people to do something so fun.

But we live in a time where the competition for people's time…the endless distractions and television and cable and internet and video games and fantasy leagues and just one thing after the other. So, I'm done. If this Fall/Winter league thing doesn't happen…screw it. I tried. I'm gonna try to get back on my old team in my old league and screw it.

[tccstudent]

I put together a team for a scratch traveling league and got more people interested then I had space for on my team so I was able to pass the extras on to others needing a team member and it looks like we are have four more teams then we did last year

[Amyers]

I put together a team for a scratch traveling league and got more people interested then I had space for on my team so I was able to pass the extras on to others needing a team member and it looks like we are have four more teams then we did last year

This is great to hear. So much of what gets out is negative anymore. The center where I bowl now and used to many years ago almost closed before I came back this summer they had huge problems with the a/c and the ownership changed up again (main one involved bought out the partners but still turmoil) they have lost quite a few people. Convincing people to come back or getting new people is difficult especially for a small center. I've brought two new teams in on Friday for fall and trying to get two new teams for Saturday youth this fall for them but its hard.

[classygranny]

At our meeting on Monday evening, the manager of the Brunswick, now AMF said that he intends to promote the league bowling in the alley and wants all to report any negative issues going on with league play. Said they would be stripping and oiling with the same shot (provided the less than 1 yr old, $25K lane machine works correctly - ??) and that he wants all league players to speak up if something is not to their liking.

Hope it holds up. This center doesn't do a lot a active searching/promoting of leagues like the other house I bowl in does. Maybe that will change as well.

[Aslan]

There have been some positives since the Bowlmor deal.

The AMF website is much better than it used to be. AMF is running TV commercials for the first time in probably over 2 decades. And one of the centers around here put in brand new equipment with touch screen functionality and all kinds of features.

But the downside is that AMF is still AMF. Before Summer/Spring, I sent an e-mail through the AMF website asking for info on two different AMF centers because I was starting a team. I never heard back from EITHER of them. Now, Fall/Winter is approaching...ONE of the houses contacted me back (but had no 4-man sanctioned leagues for all males) and the OTHER one...the e-mail kicked back and when I tried a different e-mail address...no response. I also went to practice at one of these houses recently...and it appeared that 1/2 of the lane was completely dry like plywood. I have very, very small of a rev rate...and my weakest ball was hooking over and hitting the 7-pin.

I'm tempted to write AMF/Bowlmor an e-mail and let them know about this...because I really think it would hurt bowling to lose the AMF centers and the Brunswick centers. As for the Brunswixk centers...not sure how active Bowlmor has been with them yet...but thus far I've had nothing but positive experiences with the one Brunswick center I bowl at.

I mean, if they are honest about being committed to league bowlers...isn't Step #1 returning an e-mail or making a phone call when a person is asking you if you have a league avaialble for his/her team?? Should I have to go to the center in person and leave a handwritten note to contact me...or mail them something they have to sign that they received??

[mike_thomas93]

I think that's really going to end up causing a bit of a crisis around the industry. I mean with the Brunswick alleys being sold, leagues may end up starting to become obsolete.

[circlecity]

From bowling journal below.

Three AMF bowling centers in suburban Milwaukee have been closed by new owner Bowlmor AMF, the Milwaukee Business Journal reports. The centers were located in the communities of Waukesha, West Allis and South Milwaukee, and the properties have been listed for prices ranging from $900,000 to $3 million. According to a spokesman for the listing company, interest already has been shown in all three properties, primarily for possible industrial or retail redevelopment.

[MICHAEL]

I think that's really going to end up causing a bit of a crisis around the industry. I mean with the Brunswick alleys being sold, leagues may end up starting to become obsolete.

Mike, I don't think they will ever become obsolete in the near future anyway! What is happening around here is that when one closes, league bowlers move to the NEXT closest lanes that have a good reputation for taking GOOD care of their league bowlers! Word gets out, if a bowling establishment takes good care of there league bowlers... BELIVE ME!! (:)

It a lot like evolution, and survival of the fittest! When one closes, another one in that general area WILL get those HARD core league bowlers.

I think in bowling hay day, maybe just too many were built! Now with many closing, the ones that survive, will get stronger! The interest will always be there for league bowling IMHA!

[mc_runner]

Before Summer/Spring, I sent an e-mail through the AMF website asking for info on two different AMF centers because I was starting a team. I never heard back from EITHER of them. Now, Fall/Winter is approaching...ONE of the houses contacted me back (but had no 4-man sanctioned leagues for all males) and the OTHER one...the e-mail kicked back and when I tried a different e-mail address...no response. I also went to practice at one of these houses recently...and it appeared that 1/2 of the lane was completely dry like plywood. I have very, very small of a rev rate...and my weakest ball was hooking over and hitting the 7-pin.


Interesting you mention, I am (was?) in a Men's league that recently had to amend their rules saying that it was men-only. I guess by USBC rules or anti-discrimination lawsuits or something they can't allow only one gender leagues - and it goes both ways.

Just thinking that maybe this is what that first house meant by no sanctioned leagues for all males. Kind of nitpicky but good timing that it came up in our league meeting the other day and I noticed this post :confused:

[Aslan]

Interesting you mention, I am (was?) in a Men's league that recently had to amend their rules saying that it was men-only. I guess by USBC rules or anti-discrimination lawsuits or something they can't allow only one gender leagues - and it goes both ways.

Just thinking that maybe this is what that first house meant by no sanctioned leagues for all males. Kind of nitpicky but good timing that it came up in our league meeting the other day and I noticed this post :confused:

Around here, nearly every league REQUIRES that you have to have at least 1 female bowler. There are 3-4 that are "open" and don't have that requirement. But you are correct, there are no "all men" leagues that I know of that restrict women. However...a common theme if you're white and middle aged...there are MANY leagues that are restricted to "women only"...especially during the daytime and on weekends. Go figure.

[classygranny]

We still have men's leagues around here.

[Shaneshu87]

i'm in a Full mens league as well, however due to a decline in female participation i see the all womens league getting shut down soon enough and our "men's" league will become an open league, it has already been discussed in our meetings

[mc_runner]

I think they can call it a men's league, but if a woman wants to join they can't legally say no. Same goes for a man wanting to join a women's league. Chances are, that won't happen either way but its just more PC stuff.

[Aslan]

Back in the day mixed leagues were less common...but they had a lot of mixed doubles...or two couples pairing up for 4-person teams.

But now, around here...nearly EVERY league is not only mixed (which is great) but it's mandatory to have at least 1 man or 1 woman. And for complete dorks like me and my co-workers...we don't have a giant network of females chomping at the bit to hang out with us once a week. And with the current PC environment...I'm getting too close to "sexual harrassment" by even asking the gals that work here if they'd like to bowl with us....which they don't.

The good news is...if you have ONE gal...and FOUR guys...there are leagues every single weeknight at every single center around me. But if you drop down to FOUR people...and at least ONE isn't female...there's 1-2 tops. Same thing with FIVE ALL GUYS...literally like 1 league for 5 people w/o a female.

I asked a gal I know who used to bowl...but she doesn't want to commit to 32-37 weeks of bowling. I could ask Bunny, but she's getting her surgery and she is usually hesitant about long running leagues that are $20+ a week. Especially if it's her AND the hubby...now thats $40+ a week!

I was hoping to meet some gals when I did tournaments...and I cam across a couple decent female bowlers that were pleasant...but one is a sub I know that is already in 2 leagues and barely can afford that...and the other is from way on the other side of Orange County and also already in 2 leagues.

I understand "why" centers try to encourage at least 1 female bowler:

1) It's a way to make teams try and recruit a female into bowling...otherwise the female bowler numbers will continue to dwindle.
2) It keeps from having teams with competitive advantages showing up with 5 above average male bowlers and putting teams with one new female bowler at an extreme disadvantage....which would then disuade teams from having a female bowler on their roster.

On the one hand...you wouldn't think in a high handicap league that it would matter much. And I've seen more than a few female bowlers that are pretty damn good and can outscore me on as many nights as not. On the other hand...our team is in 2nd and the team ahead of us (in 1st)...we both are all male teams. Coincidence? Probably. But some would say there are no such things as coincidences.

[Hammer]

What is wrong with an all men or all women league anyway? This country is drowning in political correctness. Everybody is afraid to hurt someones feelings. And you know that there will always be that person that will have to force their way into something that they don't like
the way it is setup if it don't include them. I guess everything has to be mixed with men and women combined. Hey how about a Mister and Miss America combined with men and women? The women will wear bikinis and the guys will wear speedos.