There is a threat to the bowling landscape in Los Angeles

[seblake834]

Bowling has been quite the staple in Los Angeles for several decades. There's always been great centers, great lanes, the famous Phil Yoakum's Bowling Supply pro shop owned and operated by Phil Yoakum, and leagues everywhere imaginable in the city. Tournaments and leagues have always had a great turnout in the city, as well as PBA events in our city, as many PBA events have been held at centers throughout all of Los Angeles.

Now there's a threat to the competition and league oriented environment of bowling in Los Angeles. With remodels of the bowling alleys being done fairly recently in my area, which is the westside of Los Angeles, more specifically close to LAX, there is a blatant disappearance of pro shops, leagues, and the overall landscape of the places have changed completely. In the place of AMF El Dorado Lanes came Bowlero Los Angeles. In the place of AMF Mar Vista Lanes came Bowlero Mar Vista. And in the place of AMF Bay Shore Lanes came Bowlmor Santa Monica. Now don’t get me wrong, the new bowling alleys all look really nice and are definitely up to date, but the one thing that is missing is the inclusion of leagues. How are people supposed to combat this? Not everyone is willing to travel out to Downtown, Torrance, and Gardena just to take part in a league. And now, there are signs pointing in the direction that these bowling center remodels are not through yet. Even more bowling centers could be changing and pro shops leagues could be wiped out completely in this city.

What action should be taken by the bowlers if any can be?

[LOUVIT]

So they are just interested in open bowling? Doesn't make sense to me.

[seblake834]

So they are just interested in open bowling? Doesn't make sense to me.

It doesn't make any sense to me either. Yes, they make tons of profit off of open bowling, but we league bowlers and tournament bowlers have made these centers tons of money over the years and for them to suddenly lose interest in it is baffling to me.

[ep1977]

They re-did an alley near me a year ago and changed into a bowlmor which has no leagues and is all about glow bowling. Around here there are so many houses within 15 minutes that this one didn't matter but if more make the switch I'd be concerned.

[LOUVIT]

I can't imagine a full house on a Monday night where a 8 or 9pm league would be. I would think the leagues fill up these lanes on nights like that

[Aslan]

When Bowlmor bought AMF and then Brunswick centers, there was a lot of fear that Bowlmor would try to turn every center into a "Lucky Strike/Gourmet/Cosmopolitan" style of center. Some changes early on drew negative attention. They changed hours, the got rid of staff that had been there a long time and had the higher salaries and benefits, they ditched many of their less profitable centers, changed menus to make them more expensive, did a lot of re-painting/re-modeling, got rid of alot of the pro shops, and yes...they believe in a business model that does not support much league play.

Bowlmor believes that bowling alleys are simply bars with an extra bit of competitive excitement. Kinda like a western themed bar with a mechanical bull or a Dave & Busters. Bowlmor doesn't really value the sport of bowling and view it not as a "sport" but as an "activity"...like darts or billiards or gambling.

Most of the centers kept leagues and continued to try and get the center managers to keep leagues going. Leagues simply make money. Every center that has tried to ditch leagues completely has had either niche success OR has completely failed and went under. Bowlmor thinks they have the equation to make bowling more profitable...but they also want to hedge their bets and keep leagues in places they aren't quite confident in.

California and other "high rent" areas are really under pressure because the land the bowling centers are on is so valuable. Yorba Linda Bowl was gone in 2012 because a developer wanted to buy the land and use it for a Whole Foods store...but that project stalled out...so now it's just a partially built building. Tustin Lanes closed last year because the land was worth far more than a bowling alley could ever make...even a profitable one like Tustin Lanes...once the owner passes away, it's hard to convince the family to make less money running a bowling alley than a fat payday for selling.

In my opinion, Bowlmor is incorrect in many of their assumptions regarding their business model. Their data is flawed and based on some very niche markets. The bottom line is that leagues for over 50 years have been the foundation of bowling centers. And for the few open bowlers that get turned away on a weeknight...it's a steady payday and league bowlers that bowl there...also bowl there during open bowling times.

The best illustration of this is pro shops. Go to the pro shop during a non-league time....it's a deserted ghost town and you wonder how they can afford to even stay open. Go there during a league...and there are 6-9 people in line...people buying balls, at the start of the season it seems like they are selling 4-6 pairs of shoes a day...bags...supplies...etc... Leagues buy alcohol...consistently. They provide lineage, even when league members can't make it to bowl. They are much less abusive to equipment than casual bowlers. And league play translates to every single area of the country. Bowlmor's new model...only works in population centers or college towns. Bowlmor can't get enough foot traffic in some random podunk town in the bible belt. They need Chicago, or LA, or Anaheim, or D.C., or Boston, or Manhattan. They need bored young adults with a LOT of money.

[jimgilmore]

You are very right about all off that. But the fact that the land in many locations is worth far more than what they make a year has been a problem for much longer than this recent group of actions. I left to come to Ca. And it was shortly after that that the bowling alley that was on Long Island which held PBA events closed and I believe it sold for $20 mil. Though the business only made around $150,000 a year.

[JasonNJ]

Bowlmor is definitely going after the recreational bowler and does not care about leagues. I just heard Brunswick Zone Carolier in NJ is going to be remodeled. They have 84 lanes but I think about 20-30 of the lanes were an addition so they are actually on a slightly lower level. I heard they are only going to have leagues on that lower lever and they are remodeling the top level to be the trendy night club bowling alley. This is a real shame because Carolier has hosted a bunch of US Opens and they hosted the women's US Open last year.

[1VegasBowler]

While all of this is disturbing news, one has to wonder why this is happening. No matter where you go it seems like bowling is down in numbers. While there maybe a couple of areas that could be holding pretty well, that seems more like the exception than the rule.

Back in the days of the 60's-80's, bowling was one of the big things to do. One or both of our parents bowled during the week, and we watched bowling on Sundays.

While technology has taken over bowling with all of the different oil patterns, bowling balls and scoring, this same technology has take over our lives. From TV's to cell phones and anything else out here, there's no room for interacting with people on a personal level anymore.

This is the technology that has taken over the youth of this country in a way that shuts them out from reality. Whether it's smartphones or video games, very few kids these days don't do much of anything productive.

It is also feeding the entitlement mentality. Mommy & Daddy are paying for everything they want until they become adults, and when that well runs dry they look for other things they don't have to pay for, and this certainly includes bowling.

While there are a good number of kids who are darn good bowlers out there, they realize that when college is over they have to find a job and actually work for a living. Bowling isn't the answer for the great majority of these kids because the money isn't there like it once was. and trying to make a living on the PBA Tour is problematic at best.

The PBA doesn't help this cause because their sponsors are few and far between. The more money the sponsors have to shell out, the more money it is going to cost us to buy their products. Bowling balls that go for $200-$300 a clip is a result of this.

And while Pete Weber is a great bowler, he's not going to be around forever. They have to start looking at something else to market the game.

The USBC doesn't help in any way either. They have this thing that says "A Future Of The Sport". While the future needs to be looked at, the present needs attention now, or there will not be a future.

The bowling centers aren't much of a help either. Instead of improving their own equipment and conditions, they would rather invest in new carpeting, upgrading their arcade areas and even removing lockers. Their priorities go in the wrong direction and they wonder why people aren't bowling.

What is the answer to any of this? I wish I knew it, but I don't. But we have to get started on this PDQ or bowling is going to slip farther into the toilet than it already is.

The USBC & The PBA need to work together by forming a committee to see what can be done. BUT, the committee can't just be a room full of suits and pros. They need to have league bowlers be a part of this, and each state needs a couple of representatives.

The only way to get this kind of ball rolling is to get more bowlers involved at USBC meetings to get this started.

Complaining that our local associations do nothing is a byproduct of only letting the board members having their say with no and/or little input from the membership they are representing, and the power of the vote belongs to those who attend.

While we all certainly have our opinions, just placing them here in an internet forum isn't going to be loud enough for anybody to hear it. Kinda like trying to talk with somebody at a professional sports venue when your home team just won a world championship.

[fordman1]

First this should have been this is a threat to bowling everywhere.
This is one of the best topics one this or any web site that I visit.
Every bowler should start looking around and finding a place or two to bowl that is like Bowlmor.
Centers should be between 20 to 42 Lanes. Maybe have a sports bar.
They could have cosmic bowling on Friday and Saturday night after 11 P.M.
Make league bowling their main business. Cater to the league bowlers.
Make sure the lanes are oiled and the approaches are cleaned before each league.
WHEN THE LEAGUES DIE SO DOES EVERY OTHER PART OF BOWLING WE ARE ALL USED TO.

[Jaescrub]

We thought this might be coming to Tulsa as the house we bowl at is an old AMF center. They have made a ton of changes, new flooring, new lighting, food and drink, but if you show up before league or after you can open bowl your hearts out, if you show up depending on the league size or if more then one league is bowling that night you almost can't get lanes, the changes have made more people come in to open bowl at the same time keeping leagues going. The problem here before Bowlmor was that leagues have lost bowler or fell off completely, the only thing that sucks about the changes so far is one prices have gone up, and two we lost some long time running local tournaments :(

[1VegasBowler]

First this should have been this is a threat to bowling everywhere.
This is one of the best topics one this or any web site that I visit.
Every bowler should start looking around and finding a place or two to bowl that is like Bowlmor.
Centers should be between 20 to 42 Lanes. Maybe have a sports bar.
They could have cosmic bowling on Friday and Saturday night after 11 P.M.
Make league bowling their main business. Cater to the league bowlers.
Make sure the lanes are oiled and the approaches are cleaned before each league.
WHEN THE LEAGUES DIE SO DOES EVERY OTHER PART OF BOWLING WE ARE ALL USED TO.

Outside of Las Vegas, I couldn't agree more because we are fortunate to have all of the above here. Our smallest facility has 18 lanes. BUT, all this does is make us fortunate in comparison, because they're all within a casino and the casino is the one who budgets the bowling centers. And you can tell who cares and who doesn't.

League bowlers can bowl at discounts, and seniors (50 & over) can gets days at different facilities where they only pay $1/game. Midnight bowling around here is only $1/game Mon-Fri.

Cosmic bowling happens just abut everywhere, with various starting times as early as 6pm on weekends.

I'm not saying that this is what everybody else should be doing, but maybe it's a good starting point for some if they don't already do it.

Just as LA has/had many choices, so do we. It just depends on where you live and how much you want to travel. And like everybody else, I certainly have places here I like and don't like and they're all for various reasons.

But for those who have limited choices, your suggestions should be explored.

[Amyers]

The real issues here are the demise of the 9-5 job and the connected lifestyle that many lead that cause people to feel that a minute taken from family or work obligations is a sin against humanity. I'm lucky I still have a 9-5 job but my wife works midnights at a Toyota plant and likely will until we are seniors. It severely limits her ability to bowl in leagues usually limiting her to 1 or 2 per season and at least her job is somewhat consistent. Many of my friends aren't so lucky they work positions that are on call or with rotating shifts to the point that trying to commit anywhere or anytime on a regular basis is not just unlikely but simply impossible.

Bowling was a blue collar worker sport as those positions continue to disappear the alleys have to look for new patrons. You can move downscale by trying to keep prices low but this effects the profitability of the centers and causes deferred maintenance to the centers and higher repair bills when something does die. You can move upscale make boutique centers with higher pricing, drinks, and other amenities but these items don't appeal to the league/tournament bowler and most of them won't pay $6-$7 a game or more.

It takes a very committed owner and manager to try and figure out how to have both. Truth is there are too many centers with too many lane beds to service the remaining bowlers and the industry will shrink farther. Until an equilibrium is reached and prices can go up and the centers can still retain bowlers centers will continue to close. Unfortunately it may not be the centers with the best product that survive but those with the biggest pockets and least encumbered finances that remain.

[LOUVIT]

You are very right about all off that. But the fact that the land in many locations is worth far more than what they make a year has been a problem for much longer than this recent group of actions. I left to come to Ca. And it was shortly after that that the bowling alley that was on Long Island which held PBA events closed and I believe it sold for $20 mil. Though the business only made around $150,000 a year.

What house in LI closed? I used to bowl in Babylon

[LOUVIT]

I just came from my house http://oakfieldlanes.com/ on Monday and Thursday they have $1 a game certain hours of the day like 9am -1pm. Friday morning is bogo. It was pretty well packed today. I don't know how they make money with all these specials. Click on it and just look at the specials

[fordman1]

[QUOTE=Amyers;144668]The real issues here are the demise of the 9-5 job and the connected lifestyle that many lead that cause people to feel that a minute taken from family or work obligations is a sin against humanity. I'm lucky I still have a 9-5 job but my wife works midnights at a Toyota plant and likely will until we are seniors. It severely limits her ability to bowl in leagues usually limiting her to 1 or 2 per season and at least her job is somewhat consistent. Many of my friends aren't so lucky they work positions that are on call or with rotating shifts to the point that trying to commit anywhere or anytime on a regular basis is not just unlikely but simply impossible.

Bowling was a blue collar worker sport as those positions continue to disappear the alleys have to look for new patrons. You can move downscale by trying to keep prices low but this effects the profitability of the centers and causes deferred maintenance to the centers and higher repair bills when something does die. You can move upscale make boutique centers with higher pricing, drinks, and other amenities but these items don't appeal to the league/tournament bowler and most of them won't pay $6-$7 a game or more.

It takes a very committed owner and manager to try and figure out how to have both. Truth is there are too many centers with too many lane beds to service the remaining bowlers and the industry will shrink farther. Until an equilibrium is reached and prices can go up and the centers can still retain bowlers centers will continue to close. Unfortunately it may not be the centers with the best product that survive but those with the biggest pockets and least encumbered finances that remain.

Automation (robots) and outsourcing to Mexico and Asia killed millions of factory jobs and many were bowlers.

[LOUVIT]

[QUOTE=Amyers;144668]The real issues here are the demise of the 9-5 job and the connected lifestyle that many lead that cause people to feel that a minute taken from family or work obligations is a sin against humanity. I'm lucky I still have a 9-5 job but my wife works midnights at a Toyota plant and likely will until we are seniors. It severely limits her ability to bowl in leagues usually limiting her to 1 or 2 per season and at least her job is somewhat consistent. Many of my friends aren't so lucky they work positions that are on call or with rotating shifts to the point that trying to commit anywhere or anytime on a regular basis is not just unlikely but simply impossible.

Bowling was a blue collar worker sport as those positions continue to disappear the alleys have to look for new patrons. You can move downscale by trying to keep prices low but this effects the profitability of the centers and causes deferred maintenance to the centers and higher repair bills when something does die. You can move upscale make boutique centers with higher pricing, drinks, and other amenities but these items don't appeal to the league/tournament bowler and most of them won't pay $6-$7 a game or more.

It takes a very committed owner and manager to try and figure out how to have both. Truth is there are too many centers with too many lane beds to service the remaining bowlers and the industry will shrink farther. Until an equilibrium is reached and prices can go up and the centers can still retain bowlers centers will continue to close. Unfortunately it may not be the centers with the best product that survive but those with the biggest pockets and least encumbered finances that remain.

Automation (robots) and outsourcing to Mexico and Asia killed millions of factory jobs and many were bowlers.

I am not disagreeing but our jobs really have nothing to do with an empty house on a weeknight where open bowlers won't be there but a league will be there.

[Tampabaybob]

Lou...I think what Fordman is trying to say, is because of the differences in the economy the last few years, there are more people working shift work and not really able to bowl in an evening league. I've had that happen to me and it cost me 2 years of bowling, but you have to do whatever it takes to make a living. Bosses don't want to hear, "I need Thursday night off to bowl." They'll just replace you.

If you're interested, and want an inside insight as to what's going on, check out this website/blog from a former PBA member. Micke Machuga tells it like it is, and in fact writes a warning on the top of the blog for people that can't handle the truth. It's a good read and it echoes a USBC board member I had a conversation with two years ago. check it out: http://www.machugabowling.com/blog/

Asian is correct in what Bowlmor is trying to do. They could care less about leagues, league bowlers, and the Sport as a whole. They have one interest and one only ....... $$$$$ ! It is something that may never turn around, because now they have the monopoly on almost all of the houses in America. The only ones that'll survive are the family owned centers, and I'm sure many of them are struggling.

[ep1977]

What house in LI closed? I used to bowl in Babylon

AMF Bay Shore closed and Melville is now a Bowlmor

[Amyers]

[QUOTE=fordman1;144685]

I am not disagreeing but our jobs really have nothing to do with an empty house on a weeknight where open bowlers won't be there but a league will be there.

I understand what your getting at and I agree that league bowling should be a more consistent revenue stream. Unfortunately when was the last full house you seen on a weeknight league. Around here it just doesn't happen. Even on a Friday league (usually biggest night) your lucky if the house is 75% full. Even with that 25% of those guys are so cheap they try to sneak their own beer and cokes into the alley.

It pisses me off. I actually enter tournaments that I know I can't win to try and support my houses and competitive bowling so it still exists on some level for my kids and people are so cheap they try to save a buck on a soda.

The economy here is terrible and only going to get worse but. Can't really blame a house for trying to survive even if I don't like the method but I do agree that it's flawed from the get go.

[fordman1]

No what I was saying is it takes one tenth as many workers today as it did 40 years ago. Automation took 3 out of four jobs. The others were outsourced. The new non union jobs don't pay enough for people to bowl and raise a family.

[Jessiewoodard57]

No what I was saying is it takes one tenth as many workers today as it did 40 years ago. Automation took 3 out of four jobs. The others were outsourced. The new non union jobs don't pay enough for people to bowl and raise a family.

And its only going to get worst as people cry out for a 15 dollar minimum wage you will see many jobs automate or leave for cheaper off shore work forces. the latest being fast food using automated ordertakers. and how about shipping chickens out of the USA to be processed and sent back to our supermarkets? 40 hour a week jobs are hard to come by now

[fordman1]

Jesse what is the tipping point where so many jobs have been shipped out and wages are so low that no body is left with enough money to buy the stuff made by slave kids in Asia?

[Jessiewoodard57]

when I lived in Lansing 25 years ago. 40% of every Chevy made at Fisher Body was foreign made. A real shame politics and back room deals

[Aslan]

If you're interested, and want an inside insight as to what's going on, check out this website/blog from a former PBA member. Micke Machuga tells it like it is, and in fact writes a warning on the top of the blog for people that can't handle the truth. It's a good read and it echoes a USBC board member I had a conversation with two years ago. check it out: http://www.machugabowling.com/blog/
The only problem I have with Machuga's article is he's heavily focused on how the game is letting down the pros. And from time to time, you hear pros complaining about there not being enough money in the sport, etc... But anyone that understands basic economics knows, there isn't going to be more money until there is more interest. There isn't going to be more interest until there is ?????????? <----That's the problem.

Some people say, "well, if there was more money in it, there'd be more interest." But you can't just create a 10 million dollar prize fund and hope that it spurs interest. Because if it doesn't, you've bankrupted the USBC, PBA, and numerous ball manufacturers.

I've offered opinions in the past about how to get to the next level. It's going to take something drastic...something to really elevate bowling visually in the mainstream...and a really solid grass roots effort with local schools to pry kids away from their comfy couches and video games. Until bowling really starts to think outside the box and really put some real effort into getting youth into the sport...and expanding the profit base of the manufacturers...and getting more competitive bowling out in front of the public...it's just gonna be a string of gimics.

And bowlmor is doomed to fail. They tout their great acheivements...but for every "happening Bowlmor success", there are a string of older AMF or Brunswick centers that were closed and sold off. And losing leagues is almost a complete killer to a center. I saw an AMF center that got bought by bowlmor and they put 10s of thousands of dollars into renovations and new scoring equipment...only to close the center months later...because when they changed the hours...they lost all of their daytime senior leagues...then they lost their evening leagues...now a company is building apartments or condos where the center used to be...and the private center not too far away is busy morning till night with all the leagues that came over from that center.

[fordman1]

When a corp. buys any business all they think about is the bottom line. Profit is the only goal. A family business owner can "just make a good living" and run a great center. They are not interest in getting rich jus make a living. Greed is what corp. are there for just like wall street.

[jimgilmore]

the one on long island that closed i think was maybe in great neck... going by memory and that is faulty at best. It was near the border of Queens and Long Iisland. I believe.

[Briantime]

When a corp. buys any business all they think about is the bottom line. Profit is the only goal. A family business owner can "just make a good living" and run a great center. They are not interest in getting rich jus make a living. Greed is what corp. are there for just like wall street.

Bunk.

I work for a fortune 100 company and spent the day yesterday on company time, while being paid, along with 200+ fellow employees working at local food banks to help those in need. How did that help the bottom line?

[classygranny]

Bunk.

I work for a fortune 100 company and spent the day yesterday on company time, while being paid, along with 200+ fellow employees working at local food banks to help those in need. How did that help the bottom line?

Same thing as marketing and advertising, and it promotes good will in customers and clients. No additional outlay of funds, just some lost work production which a big corporation doesn't see effecting the bottom line as much as an outlay of cash.

[got_a_300]

Same thing as marketing and advertising, and it promotes good will in customers and clients. No additional outlay of funds, just some lost work production which a big corporation doesn't see effecting the bottom line as much as an outlay of cash.

I'll have to agree with classygranny on this, now if they were paying you wages
and then furnishing the food to hand out then it would be a different story on the
greed of big corporation(s) bottom line.

They probably have or found a way to write it off on their taxes as a promotional
cost, marketing cost, and or advertising cost so it doesn't hurt the company profits.

[jimgilmore]

Classy granny , are you saying that the company you work for, did not pass your hours doing charity. Down stream as charitable contributions on their taxes ????
It is well known that the rich and companies will choose which money they spend which would go to taxes to select where their taxes are really going . So the rest of society gets no actual benefit. When they do do their taxes.

[1VegasBowler]

I read the article by Mike Machuga, and while it does have a centering piece to the pros, it also correlates to the everyday bowler as well.

But Mike isn't the only one that feels like this. I was at a PBA50 event recently, and you would be surprised at how many pros feel the same way as he does. He just happened to put it in writing to let everybody know how he feels. He is also correct in the possibility of being fined and/or suspended for what he did, and that's what prevents others from doing what he did.

And when you look at the prize pools for the pros, they have decreased over the years where somebody who wants to be on tour better have some financial backing to do it. The buy-in, travel expenses, lodging, food, etc., all adds up in a hurry and you need to consistently be in the top 5 in order to try to stay ahead of the game.

The blue collar bowler has to contend with the economy as well and to bowl more than twice each week is a struggle. Even once each week can be a struggle for some, and it's not going to get better anytime soon.

With whats happening in LA, I only hope that the non Bowlmor centers don't end up raising their fees because of the demands that will come from the Bowlmor centers that are pushing away their past bowlers, and I think that it's something you have to be prepared for.

[Mike White]

Bunk.

I work for a fortune 100 company and spent the day yesterday on company time, while being paid, along with 200+ fellow employees working at local food banks to help those in need. How did that help the bottom line?

Did the company make sure it was well know that their employees were there doing the work?

[classygranny]

Classy granny , are you saying that the company you work for, did not pass your hours doing charity. Down stream as charitable contributions on their taxes ????
It is well known that the rich and companies will choose which money they spend which would go to taxes to select where their taxes are really going . So the rest of society gets no actual benefit. When they do do their taxes.

The company I work for, is owned by myself. I personally, do not pass any of my hours for charity, nor would I for my employee's hours as charitable contributions. Nor could I afford to pay my employees for doing charity work. My charity issues are addressed on my personal taxes, but I don't operate as a large corporation would. I am just a small business owner, struggling to survive until able to retire.

[QUOTE=1VegasBowler;144879]With whats happening in LA, I only hope that the non Bowlmor centers don't end up raising their fees because of the demands that will come from the Bowlmor centers that are pushing away their past bowlers, and I think that it's something you have to be prepared for. [\QUOTE]

Our Brunswick houses, now owned by Bowlmor have raised their fees to a point I don't understand how any family could go out for an evening of fun. Mon-Thurs, and Friday til 4pm is $4.29 game. Friday 4 pm-8 pm, Sat til 8 pm, Sun til 6 pm is $5.99 game, and Friday/Saturday 8 pm to close is $6.59 game. Sunday 6 pm to close is $3.00. At least league bowlers get two free games a week!

[Briantime]

Did the company make sure it was well know that their employees were there doing the work?

No, they did not.

[Briantime]

Classy granny , are you saying that the company you work for, did not pass your hours doing charity. Down stream as charitable contributions on their taxes ????
It is well known that the rich and companies will choose which money they spend which would go to taxes to select where their taxes are really going . So the rest of society gets no actual benefit. When they do do their taxes.

I think I would be inclined to challenge your assertion if I understood what you wrote...:confused:

[jimgilmore]

No, they did not.

I find that very commendable but I doubt that is the norm.

[billf]

Average cost per game of open bowling around here is $4.50
League lineage is $11.50 for three games
Birthday party for a child is $10.95 with 8 kid minimum for two hours of bowling (87.60 for party compared to 46 for two four person teams)

Leagues being so popular that two shifts are needed seem to be a thing of the past at most places. The number of association members who attend local meetings is deathly low. Basically the average league bowler doesn't support their local center, league or association. They just want to show up once a week or less, drink, bowl and leave. I'm a league president, vice-president and on the local association board. Being a center employee I can say for a fact that only about 10% of all league bowlers visit the center other than for leagues with the vast majority being youth bowlers.

Despite all this our owner recently upgraded adding synthetic overlays, ball returns, back gutters and sidewalls and new masking units. Adding new monitors as soon as the crew gets back from doing a job in Kansas. We had foundation issues they fixed that pushed the timeline off. Now all this was done for league bowlers as the old wood would have lasted another 100 years of open bowling.