AMF Bowlless not a good combination IMHA!!

[tccstudent]

Bowlmor does not care about league bowlers they are wanting to turn the centers in too more of a glow bowl premire entertainment place. At least that is what I am hearing from some of the management from Sheridan lanes here in Tulsa. The only good thing I have seen from this takeover is they now give free refills on you soft drinks. Even though the small is now more expensive then the large used to be.

[MICHAEL]

Bowlmor does not care about league bowlers they are wanting to turn the centers in too more of a glow bowl premire entertainment place. At least that is what I am hearing from some of the management from Sheridan lanes here in Tulsa. The only good thing I have seen from this takeover is they now give free refills on you soft drinks. Even though the small is now more expensive then the large used to be.

What works in New York, does not cut the mustard here in Kansas City Mo! Leagues are a life line to the bowling lanes, take them away and they truly will die! Bowlmore will lose a LOT OF BOWLERS if lane conditions falter!

Our bowling lanes are not about Expensive Food and Drink, but about good lanes that are oiled before league!

We had a representative form Bowlmore at our lanes this evening doing an inspection! They are on the prowl!!

So far I can't complain! Good lane conditions, and we are all happy! They change the wicks on the oil machine one a mouth, on the 15th at our lanes. If they discontinue this maintenance , all of the serious bowlers will simple go to one of many independent lanes!!

So far other then the crappy hours of operation,,, opening many days at 4pm.... lose of our once a week 2hours of free practice... its not been to bad!

We do get the 2 fee games a week now! But before we got 2 free games a week for each league we were on, plus the 2hours one day a week.

Report CARD SO FAR,,, is a ( B )..... could have been an A, if they would have kept some of the benefits, and better hours.

[Aslan]

We had a representative form Bowlmore at our lanes this evening doing an inspection! They are on the prowl!!

I saw that at the AMF I roll at as well. The staff was quite nervous.

The problem is...Bowlmor wants to enhance the "environment" and the "ambiance" and the food and the drink and the paint on the walls and the music and the black lights and, etc.., etc... Then when you go to the alley and ask why their oil machine is broken and half their lanes are not working...it's a "lower priority". In other words..."bowling" isn't really Bowlmor's priority.

[MICHAEL]

I saw that at the AMF I roll at as well. The staff was quite nervous.

The problem is...Bowlmor wants to enhance the "environment" and the "ambiance" and the food and the drink and the paint on the walls and the music and the black lights and, etc.., etc... Then when you go to the alley and ask why their oil machine is broken and half their lanes are not working...it's a "lower priority". In other words..."bowling" isn't really Bowlmor's priority.

Having been in business a little myself, don't ask what, its none of your business!

Let me just say this,,, their model that Works with rich yuppies in New York, will not cut the mustard here! If the oil machine breaks down, and they don't get it fixed that week, all the bowlers I know would leave those AMF's in a heart beat!!!! Not speculation a FACT! If the oil machine does not lay correct patterns and needs maintenance and it does not get it,,,,,,,, That whole league will take its business else where!

New York, and Midwest are two opposing bowling crowds! BEWARE BOWmor!,,,, Don't mess with our LEAGUES!!
Or suffer another bankruptcy!! There are many other places were we can bowl here in Kansas city!

I know in New York, Filthy Rich Stock Brokers, and Bankers, go to the lanes for Expensive foods, Drinks, entertainment,,, and abeyance maybe even throw a ball with dollar signs all over it, down the bone dry lanes, with hot chicks dressed in 4,000.00 jeans and shoes!

Sure it worked there, but it won't here!

We would be happy bowling in an air-conditioned/heated barn, if it has good lanes, dressed correctly! We like are cheap beer, and Jack Daniels whiskey here! All that other girly stuff, needs to stay on the East Coast!!

Real men bowl here, Blue Blooded, hard working men and women that know the value of good oiled lanes, dressed correctly and cheap bear and pretzels!! Were not into sushi and caviar, at the lanes!

[Aslan]

I might actually agree with Iceman. I'm in Cali…but I'm not a "California born" resident. I was born in one of bowlines meccas…Detroit. So for this midwestern born bowler…I would actually prefer a bowling alley with no frills or video screens…a smoke filled bar…old circa 1970s bowling equipment…and the old projection scoring tables where ya had to mark your own scores.

But do you realize how many leagues would bowl at a place like that?? Zero. In Cali, they want that Bowlmor nonsense. The cushy couches, red lighting, high-priced mixed drinks, gourmet food. I walk in there wearing an actual bowling shirt…and I look around and see women in sweaters and yoga pants…and men wearing jeans so tight I can't imagine how you could sit down much less bowl.

But since I sure as HELLo ain't moving back to Detroit or to the other major city thats pretty much on par in terms of looking like a natural disaster (St. Louis)…I guess I gotta put up with the aggravation.

[tccstudent]

Thats fine but this model aint a one size fits all. What works here aint gonna work there. You make all those changes to a place like Tulsa and you are just gonna have a empty building most of the time. The AMF Sheridan Lanes in tulsa has always been a league house all 60 lanes are full almost every night for leagues. We already have one bowling alley that caters to this kind of crowd. There is the Dust bowl for adults. This is just a downtown bar that has 8 lanes and the ambienance. It has never had a league and never will. Then there is Andy B's which has laser tag a VIP bowling area which is away from the regular lanes.
We already have leagues saying they aint coming back to Sheridan next year. They are supposed to be updating the scoring system right now we dont have league for two weeks due to the holidays so we will see if it gets done.

[circlecity]

But do you realize how many leagues would bowl at a place like that?? Zero. In Cali, they want that Bowlmor nonsense. The cushy couches, red lighting, high-priced mixed drinks, gourmet food. I walk in there wearing an actual bowling shirt…and I look around and see women in sweaters and yoga pants…and men wearing jeans so tight I can't imagine how you could sit down much less bowl.(

I was born and raised in Socal and have have bowled in my share of alleys. Perhaps you need to find an alley farther away from Orange County. What about Riverside, Norco, San Bernardino. Have they also gone to the darkside?

[Aslan]

I was born and raised in Socal and have have bowled in my share of alleys. Perhaps you need to find an alley farther away from Orange County. What about Riverside, Norco, San Bernardino. Have they also gone to the darkside?

Well, San Bernadino and Norco are about 5-6 hours away so I don't think I'm driving that far to bowl.

And Riverside requires a drive on the I91 through the Green River pass…which means a 3 hour traffic nightmare that will literally cause me to kill myself.

I have bowled in Riverside…at Mike White's stomping ground…and it's a cool crowd. I just can't deal with that nightmare traffic.

Fountain Bowl and Tustin aren't bad. Neither is Carter (Fullerton) either. They just tend to get "uppity" when you get closer to coast, LA, Anaheim. I wish Fountain Bowl was closer…but as I eluded to; in California…you are sort of restricted to lanes within 15-25 minutes drive…otherwise you're gonna be late on league night because traffic is such a nightmare. If I bowled at Fountain Valley on a weeknight…trying to go on the 55, 405, and/or I-5…forget about it. It could take me 45 minutes or it could take me 2 hours and 45 minutes. I'd love to bowl at Fountain Bowl…I mean it's a legitimate alley that has hosted big PBA tournaments over the years…so it's legit. But traffic is a nightmare in Cali as you know.

Yorba Linda was kinda old skool…but it closed down. Concourse (Anaheim Hills) is my usual center. AMF Carter (Fullerton) isn't too far away and I can get to it avoiding the I-91 during rush hour. If those 2 ever cease to become options…I'd have to look for an alley closer to where I work in Whittier and just go there direct from work.

[MICHAEL]

You know we lived in Modesto California for 6 years, and then moved back home to Kansas City to be close to family that needed help! We had two nice size bowling alleys, but I never bowled ONE game while there!! I could kick myself in the ASK, for not getting into bowling while there!!

I can't even tell you what the lanes were like to bowl on, but they looked like they had some history, and would have been interesting to have bowled on!

We have a number of Mom and Pop bowling lanes around the Kansas City area, that will be here even if AMF/Bowlmore fails!

When and IF the AMF/Bowlmor lanes fail, that's up to them!

I haven't seen a lot of renovations being done like they did out East! None at all other then taking away perks, and raising the price of the same food, and drinks?????

[tccstudent]

Our center was supposed to do things over the Christmas break one install a new scoring system and two put in automatic doors. As of last week neither had been done.