2009 USBC Open Championships venue to feature 60 lanes

**onefrombills** · 11-12-2008, 11:22 PM

GREENDALE, Wis. - With nearly 15,000 teams already registered, the 2009 United States Bowling Congress Open Championships is slated to be the largest tournament held outside of Reno, Nev., and that number will continue to grow following the decision to add more lanes to the venue.

Instead of 56 lanes and a capacity of 16,300 teams as planned, the 2009 USBC Open Championships will feature 60 lanes and be able to accommodate 17,400 teams, which could make it the largest tournament in history. The participation record of 17,285 teams was set when the National Bowling Stadium in Reno opened its doors in 1995. The largest event outside of Reno was the 2005 tournament in Baton Rouge, La., which featured 13,222 teams.

The 2009 Open Championships, being held at Las Vegas' Cashman Center, will kick off on Feb. 21 and run for a record 154 days, concluding on July 24. The tournament will feature a new look with state-of-the-art LED scoreboards and 60 lanes for the first time in a non-Reno year.

"The interest in next year's event in Las Vegas has been overwhelming, so we decided to add more lanes to accommodate all interested bowlers," said Jack Mordini, USBC Vice President of Membership and Tournament Services. "We are certainly amazed and grateful for the positive response, and we are thrilled that the tournament continues to grow each year."

The official closing date for entries is Dec. 12, 2008. For more information, visit USBCopen.com or contact the Tournament Entries department at (800) 514-2695, ext. 3320.