Is Bowlmore Fing up AMF.

[GeoLes]

More lanes are taking advantage of the broader entertainment market by becomeing a jack of all trades. There are lanes, like National Lane, who who not only bowl, but have a number of pool tables, lazer tag, ball room and huge video parlor; a kind of Chucky cheeze with bowling, if you will. They will make their overhead plus.

As I understand it, Bowlmore is just another one of those "Bowling Lounges"; the adult verson of the entertainment center. There are others as well. Lucky Strike, who has centers in New York and LA. It is part of the growing trend of "entertainment centers" you find around the country. I recall visitng one such lane called "300 Club" in New York on the Chelsea Pier. A very nice place but the lanes were bone dry Everything broke way left, even a flat ball with the slightest hint of spin. Very nice, but not designed for bowlers.

http://www.bowlmor.com/

Personally, I don't think it will ruin bowling at all. There will always be a place for the hardcore bolwer. This is just targetted at different markets. If you want to throw a ball down the lane and knock down some pins while having fancy coctails, fancy popcorn shrimp, and quacomole; go to a bowling loung. Believe me, you will pay for it. If you want to hone your bowling skills, learn to bowl better, master sport patterns, emulate the pros; The traditional lanes are for you.

Ecomonics may drive many lanes to abandon tradition in pursuit of profit, but I believe tradional bowing centers will still be available. Maybe not as many as we would like, but they will be there nontheless.

[HughScot]

Here is a link to the news about the "merger" between Bowlmor and AMF. http://www.timesdispatch.com/busines...0e1c7a8bd.html

[Judy clemons]

thank you for that link HughScot it sounds like AMF is going to get to hang around and i guess that was what i was wondering about the most for now.

[HughScot]

Hang around is the operative phrase. They filed for chapter 11 and the answer was to get with Bowlmor which means Bowlmor will be running things from now on. The AMF center where I bowl most often is a total dump, nothing has been updated since the mid '80s. We've had four "managers" in three years. The cost to upgrade is prohibitive so who knows what will happen to it.

[GeoLes]

This is sounding more like Walmart for bowling.

[JPbowl]

Well Bowlmore has started F'n up NY.
Our leagues are not effected but their greediness now has them charging $20 a pitcher for sam.
Which has awoken my inner cheapness. After 4 years of spending 100+ month on alcohol there i will now be spending 0.
It only costs me $3 to make and bring my own "soda"

Good job Bowlmore.

[MICHAEL]

Prices on Food, beer ect.. going up at our amf!! Hours of being open, cut back also... several days a week they don't open till 4pm!!! Said they analyzed the times people were coming in to bowl, vs, expense to operate!
Well It might be time to look for an independent bowling alley! Who knows the real reason for AMF's problems, (could it be like in may corporations, they are too TOP HEAVY in management, and salaries?)
I don't like the direction they are going, and they may FIND WHAT WORK's in NEW YORK, does not here in Kansas City! We take our bowling serious, (but fun), and want our lanes oiled, and predictable!!
We also like to the HOURS THE WAY THEY WERE!!! Time will tell, if this new, (NO OIL, FUN, GAMES, FOOD, and high liquor prices company works out!

[Perrin]

WOW. we pay $8 a pitcher to Sam here.

[Aslan]

Bowlmor cost AMF my business today. I had a free afternoon and wanted to get a little practice on synthetics before my league tomorrow. But...they now don't open till 4PM...so I sat home and polished my ball (not a euphemism...although that too) instead of going bowling. Thanks Bowlmor.

[Aslan]

What is your deal dude!!

Exactly what I said...I couldn't believe the manager was taking a hard line on refunding them all a game and shoe rentals when they had been waiting around for like 25 minutes for a lane to get fixed after being moved from a lane that was broken. Just seemed like a no brainer to give them their money back and maybe even give them some kinda voucher or something to come back and bowl for free at a later date.