onefrombills
08-02-2009, 06:10 PM
LAS VEGAS - In a few short weeks, the bowling lanes that have occupied Cashman Center for more than seven months will be gone, but the memory of the USBC Open Championships will live on in Las Vegas as supplies from the 2009 tournament are used to build houses for low-income families.
Beginning in December, Cashman Center was transformed into the ultimate bowling venue, complete with 60 lanes, the world's largest mobile video scoreboard, spectator seating and office and vendor space. The project took 45 days and used enough materials to build five three-bedroom homes.
The venue played host to more than 86,000 bowlers during the record 154-day run of the 2009 Open Championships, which concluded on July 24. What provided those bowlers with a memorable tournament experience now will become the ultimate gift for local families thanks to a continuing partnership between USBC and Habitat for Humanity.
USBC already donated materials leftover from the building process, and those items were used to help complete one home.
"The donation we received from the build supplied much of the lumber and drywall needed to complete one house," said Roger Cooper, Project Manager Habitat for Humanity-Las Vegas. "Last Friday was the dedication of that house for a family of three."
Now that the tournament has come to an end, Habitat for Humanity will send between 200 and 250 volunteers to help dismantle the venue and take the material to benefit two more families.
"With the materials from the teardown, two more houses will be built immediately," Cooper said. "And we'll take the material we don't use in building those houses to our Restore program to resell it. The profit would then go to building another house."
In addition to plywood for roofs and wall sheeting, USBC will be donating chairs, desks and carpet for the Restore program.
"With materials that will go to Restore, USBC will sponsor almost a whole house," Cooper said.
Habitat for Humanity-Las Vegas is its own chapter and has been helping the Las Vegas community since 1991. Since then, 70 families have benefited with a place to live.
"We try to do this every year," said USBC Construction and Logistics Manager Chris Chartier. "When the tournament is at the National Bowling Stadium in Reno, Nev., we don't have as much in the way of materials since we don't have too much to build, but every time we build the lanes, we try to get Habitat involved."
Because of the harsh economy the country is facing, Habitat-Las Vegas has seen an estimated 30 percent drop in sponsorships, but thanks to this partnership with USBC and the help of volunteers, the community can still obtain benefits from a helping hand.
"The biggest thing is the power of volunteer work," Chartier said. "You bring people from different walks of life to help. I love it when you get it all together and get the partnership to work because we help one last time on our way out of town, and the community sees long-term benefits. Our event does have a sizable economic impact in the host cities, but this opportunity is a pretty special bonus."
The transformation of venue back into a convention center will begin immediately after the World Tenpin Bowling Association World Women's Championships, which will occupy the tournament lanes until the afternoon of Aug. 2. The entire teardown process is expected to be completed by Aug. 14.
Presenting sponsors for the 2009 USBC Open Championships are the Coast Casinos in Las Vegas and the Eldorado Hotel Casino, Silver Legacy Resort Casino and Circus Circus in Reno, Nev. Other participating sponsors are Kegel, official lane maintenance provider; Brunswick, capital equipment supplier; Storm Products, Inc.; Binion's Gambling Hall and Hotel and Four Queens Hotel and Casino, the official brackets sponsors; Sapphire Gentleman's Club; Golden Nugget Hotel and Casino; MGM Mirage; Jerry's Nugget Casino and Fitzgerald's Casino and Hotel.
Beginning in December, Cashman Center was transformed into the ultimate bowling venue, complete with 60 lanes, the world's largest mobile video scoreboard, spectator seating and office and vendor space. The project took 45 days and used enough materials to build five three-bedroom homes.
The venue played host to more than 86,000 bowlers during the record 154-day run of the 2009 Open Championships, which concluded on July 24. What provided those bowlers with a memorable tournament experience now will become the ultimate gift for local families thanks to a continuing partnership between USBC and Habitat for Humanity.
USBC already donated materials leftover from the building process, and those items were used to help complete one home.
"The donation we received from the build supplied much of the lumber and drywall needed to complete one house," said Roger Cooper, Project Manager Habitat for Humanity-Las Vegas. "Last Friday was the dedication of that house for a family of three."
Now that the tournament has come to an end, Habitat for Humanity will send between 200 and 250 volunteers to help dismantle the venue and take the material to benefit two more families.
"With the materials from the teardown, two more houses will be built immediately," Cooper said. "And we'll take the material we don't use in building those houses to our Restore program to resell it. The profit would then go to building another house."
In addition to plywood for roofs and wall sheeting, USBC will be donating chairs, desks and carpet for the Restore program.
"With materials that will go to Restore, USBC will sponsor almost a whole house," Cooper said.
Habitat for Humanity-Las Vegas is its own chapter and has been helping the Las Vegas community since 1991. Since then, 70 families have benefited with a place to live.
"We try to do this every year," said USBC Construction and Logistics Manager Chris Chartier. "When the tournament is at the National Bowling Stadium in Reno, Nev., we don't have as much in the way of materials since we don't have too much to build, but every time we build the lanes, we try to get Habitat involved."
Because of the harsh economy the country is facing, Habitat-Las Vegas has seen an estimated 30 percent drop in sponsorships, but thanks to this partnership with USBC and the help of volunteers, the community can still obtain benefits from a helping hand.
"The biggest thing is the power of volunteer work," Chartier said. "You bring people from different walks of life to help. I love it when you get it all together and get the partnership to work because we help one last time on our way out of town, and the community sees long-term benefits. Our event does have a sizable economic impact in the host cities, but this opportunity is a pretty special bonus."
The transformation of venue back into a convention center will begin immediately after the World Tenpin Bowling Association World Women's Championships, which will occupy the tournament lanes until the afternoon of Aug. 2. The entire teardown process is expected to be completed by Aug. 14.
Presenting sponsors for the 2009 USBC Open Championships are the Coast Casinos in Las Vegas and the Eldorado Hotel Casino, Silver Legacy Resort Casino and Circus Circus in Reno, Nev. Other participating sponsors are Kegel, official lane maintenance provider; Brunswick, capital equipment supplier; Storm Products, Inc.; Binion's Gambling Hall and Hotel and Four Queens Hotel and Casino, the official brackets sponsors; Sapphire Gentleman's Club; Golden Nugget Hotel and Casino; MGM Mirage; Jerry's Nugget Casino and Fitzgerald's Casino and Hotel.