How to Save the PBA Tour

[Aslan]

I was thinking about this lately and have come up with an idea that might save the PBA.

First; history. The PBA was strong but as bowling interest, blue collar interest, company and church leagues, etc... started to diminish, bowling centers became less profitable, started falling by the wayside...The PBA also lost viewers and interest. In the 80s and 90s, the PBA tried to make their telecasts more exciting, but ultimately failed as the Tour went from being broadcast on network television to being broadcast by ESPN (cable). The PBA was again "rescued" a handful of years ago by some wealthy silicon valley guys and they had the idea that you "prop up" guys like PDW, Rash, Belmonte....and give them "personalities" and rivalries...sort of take a small page from pro wrestling and get people to follow these vibrant personalities...but this hasn't really worked either. They even developed crazy little games like obstacle courses and "The League" to try and re-invent the PBA...also didn't work.

So, here we are. Here's my summary proposition....followed by an explanation of WHY it would work.

First, I think saving "bowling" is a different topic. I've already said that to save bowling we have to start at the elementary school level and get kids away from Wii bowling and actually in alleys. It would be a long process...but it would be far more effective than trying to attract white collar folks to cosmic bowling using gourmet cuisine and fancy drinks.

So; to save the PBA...we do the following:
1) We'd keep the weekly show on ESPN for the first year to try the idea out. If it catches on, make a push to move back to ABC or NBC once the ratings are up.
2) No more "Tour"....it now starts as a USBC Masters type of tournament in January. As the months go by, the original field is reduced from over 100,000 of the nation's top bowlers, to a 64-bowler single elimination tournament that occurs later in the year.
3) To compete in this "New PBA" you must play in a USBC sanctioned league the prior year. Each USBC sanctioned center would have small tournaments of their top bowlers and each center could nominate TWO bowlers into the PBA field the following year.
4) Pros are not exempt. They must participate in a USBC sanctioned league in order to be eligible. The ONLY exemptions are for those who WIN the tournament each year.
5) The "draw" to all bowlers...isn't that they receive some meager $40,000/year salary and minor endorsements. The "draw" is that the winner gets 1.5 million, runner up gets a million...and in the first year...the prizes only get paid out to the top 8 players. The rest get nothing other than 15 minutes of fame. If the idea is successful...many players will get sponsorships from bowling supply companies and ball manufacturers and the prize pool will be expanded to pay higher prizes and pay more places. But it will always be top heavy.

So, how will this save the PBA?
1) It takes two successful models from the TV industry and combines them. The first is March Madness...without a doubt the most popular amateur tournament in sports. It feeds off that concept of cindarella stories. It also uses the model of reality television, which has dominated the networks in recent years.

The first part of the new PBA will be about stories. Initially it will follow former PBA pros that are now tossed aside and forced to "re-qualify"...and it will also follow amateur guys that are now pushed into a bigger spotlight.

As the year goes on, it becomes less about the stories (relaity TV side) and more about the cindarella stories or the Pros that are proving themselves. Much like The Bachelor or The Amazing Race...the audience is starting to "care" about certain participants and developing their "favorites".
2) The "top heavy" prize format will encourage players to "take that chance". Currently, most bowling tournaments pay very little....but pay a lot of spots. So people have to decided whether or not to participate based on the belief that if they pay $55, they will probably win $22...or get lucky and win $40,000. $40,000 isn't life changing money for many people...so it's not a big deal. Maybe they pay off a credit card, buy a car, or put it in a savings account for their kids college....but it's not "life changing". By dangling a couple million dollar prizes...and 6 prizes in the 100s of thousands range...you're offering people a chance to change their lives. For FREE!

How is the field chosen? Well, the field will include 2 USBC snactioned bowlers from each USBC sanctioned bowling center in the United States. The centers will be given leeway in HOW those bowlers are determined, but will be required to have a tournament the prior year (they can't just "pick two"). Whether they have an open tournament for all league bowlers or a "Top ten" tournament for their 10 highest average league bowlers...thats up to them. In January, two bowlers from each of the 40,000-70,000 USBC centers nationwide will start bowling in local, then regional, then state, then larger regional tournaments until those 100s of thousands are widdled down to 64 bowlers.

THIS is how you save the PBA. Telling PDW to be a "bad boy" or pushing 2-handed bowling or re-inventing the game by adding obstacles and WWF style introductions...those gimics aren't going to work. It's time to look at what DOES work...in other sports, in other tv programming, and do something truly different than what has been done in the past. PBA pros aren't ever going to be the draw...until bowling is more popular as a sport...and there's more money in it. Thoughts?

[mc_runner]

On it's own, not a bad idea - I like the thought of a true Open format with a more approachable entryway. There are some major, major hurdles with this though:

1. You'd be completely upending PBA membership, dues, tournament centers, etc. I see this as being an option if and only if the PBA goes belly up and has to completely reinvent itself.
2. What happens to the Pros who were previously making their living on tour? Sure, the idea of a 1.5 mil payout is nice - but when you have a true professional who's source of income IS the tour - and you're doing away with it - what's their incentive to bowl outside of this one event (or anyone's incentive to bowl professionally, for that matter)?

The biggest problem I see - this doesn't make bowling or the PBA more approachable or relatable to the general public or your average once a week league/house bowler - they aren't gonna be good enough to do this, and the folks who ARE are already invested enough in bowling that it won't draw a new audience. Outside of people who are already watching, I'm thinking most of the folks already won't really know outside of maybe in passing who a Sean Rash or Chris Barnes is. If they see an amateur up there on TV its great but chances are they still just see someone bowling.

^ That to me is what I think the biggest problem and challenge facing the PBA is. How do you make it more exciting? Approachable? Watchable? The broadcasts now seem to mostly be the same few pros, and the commentary is... eh. How about some backstory? Some video of an exciting qualifying round? How did bowler x make it through the week up to now to make it on TV?

Like I said though, I like the idea in itself. I think it has merit as a possibility on it's own though, outside of the PBA. A true US Open with a big prize. If you're able to pull something like this off, it might help the PBA and bowling as a "side effect".

[Mudpuppy]

I think the key to saving the PBA is to get grassroots interest. Problem is on a local level there is diminishing interest in bowling all together. The internet, electronics and a million other things are drawing people's attention. And a lot of it has to do with to bowl well you can't just show up to an alley, rent some shoes and throw a house ball. It takes effort. We live in a zero accountability entitled want everything for nothing iSociety. I have had some ideas on how to get more people interested but just never really did anything with them. One idea I had was to have a "fantasy" type of bowling league that is directly tied to the NFL. Your bowling team is one of the 32 NFL teams and follows the same schedule as the NFL. Bowl every Sunday with a bye week. Your scores end up being a win or loss against the other team. I have seen bowling leagues try to kind of capture this - like a NASCAR league where you get a free plastic ball and NASCAR bowling bag at the end of the league. Really wasn't an award winning idea. But it seems to me that even the best idea wouldn't fly - the bowlers who bowl in leagues today mainly are made up of traditional bowlers who like traditional leagues. They don't see the big picture of a dying sport. It is no different than motorcycles - the industry is dying a slow death. The average age of riders is 35-60. There really is no 18-34 getting involved like you would need to keep the tradition alive. But on a slightly different level with motorcycles - economics is a big reason - most 18-34 year olds can't afford to buy their own house let alone consider luxuries. And the perception of motorcycles are dangerous, etc. with the media saying you love the devil if you ride a 2 wheeled monster. And maybe on some level bowling is the same - the economics and the perception of bowling. If I owned a bowling alley I would seriously consider some kind of options to attract bowlers - old and new. If you went over the finances and see what a full house league pulls in every week maybe offering some incentives to the leagues would help bolster participation - like a free ball of choice to the winners of the league, or something of that nature. Your bowling fees include a free large pizza for every set of lanes. There are a million different options. I just think overall the sport is just way too short sighted.

[classygranny]

If anyone is interested, there is a Group on Facebook - Save the PBA. Anyone can join. There are some insights there, as well.

[Mudpuppy]

If anyone is interested, there is a Group on Facebook - Save the PBA. Anyone can join. There are some insights there, as well.

Interesting. Thanks. I will check it out.

[Aslan]

2. What happens to the Pros who were previously making their living on tour? Sure, the idea of a 1.5 mil payout is nice - but when you have a true professional who's source of income IS the tour - and you're doing away with it - what's their incentive to bowl outside of this one event (or anyone's incentive to bowl professionally, for that matter)?

Thats a common misperception. The pros don't make a living from bowling on the Tour. They make a living from the endorsements by the ball manufacturers and other bowling equipment manufacturers. Those that are not sponsored, only bowl in the PBA part time.

And under my plan, the top of the line bowlers will still get endorsed…and the more interest that is generated, the more endorsements. They could actually end up making more…not to mention the huge payment for those that finish top 4 that year.

^ That to me is what I think the biggest problem and challenge facing the PBA is. How do you make it more exciting?

I disagree. Every attempt the PBA has made to try and make bowling "more exciting" has failed miserably. We don't need obstacle courses or "The League" or "bad boys" like PDW. We need "stories"…underdogs.

[circlecity]

If Belmo and Rash traded punches that would help.. Might have actually gotten on sports center.

[mc_runner]

Thats a common misperception. The pros don't make a living from bowling on the Tour. They make a living from the endorsements by the ball manufacturers and other bowling equipment manufacturers. Those that are not sponsored, only bowl in the PBA part time.

And under my plan, the top of the line bowlers will still get endorsed…and the more interest that is generated, the more endorsements. They could actually end up making more…not to mention the huge payment for those that finish top 4 that year.

Bowling USED to have great sponsorships. Nowadays they really don't have that much - sure, they get free practice time and equipment from their manufacturer sponsor, but its not like they're being spokesmen for Subway here. This article is an interesting rundown:

http://priceonomics.com/the-rise-and...ional-bowling/

Even if those amounts look decent, you have to figure in travel, entry, etc. Some of the exempt pros get a stipend of $800 for a tournament but that doesn't pay much more than the entry and maaayyybe a hotel.

To your second point, I think we are actually on the same page just approaching it from different points. I think the gimmicky stuff is dumb and hasn't resonated with the general public.

BUT - the challenge is to bring the interest back, how to make bowling exciting to your grandparents, high schooler, etc to watch. I don't really have an answer as to "how" - maybe get someone really relatable, an everyman who hangs out with the crowd during the event and doesn't act like a primadonna. Think Happy Gilmore or something. Like I said I think your idea has merit for sure, but not as a replacement to the whole tour - it could work in concert, perhaps. It would definitely take a large degree of planning and investment, though, which is tough to ask from a struggling organization.

I'm really not trying to be a downer here. I just really don't know how to "fix" the pro system without blowing out the whole organization (which realistically could spell the end of pro bowling and probably provide a really hard blow for the sport in general).

[Bunny]

It seems like it's getting a little better. Maybe there's hope!

We were bowling over the weekend and there was a birthday party happening. It was what looked like 8-10 year olds. They were ALL bowling two-handed. Boys and girls alike. The birthday girl had on a pink, super-frilly dress and was just ripping it!

I have to say I felt encouraged for the sport just then. Belmonte has inspired a generation of kids (and a lot of adults) to get more into bowling.

It honestly reminds me of why I took up tennis years ago. I saw Andre Agassi playing and was blown away. He made tennis look powerful and exciting the same way Belmo does for bowling. Andre definitely brought a lot of attention to the sport. I believe Tennis got a big boost when he came along. I hoping the same is true for bowling.

We watched A League of Ordinary Gentlemen a couple of weeks ago and boy did the PBA look like a mess. The head guy giving speeches, I can't remember his name right now, but he was a complete DB. Good luck if that guy is still around. I felt sorry for the players having to listen to it. There's a business to run obviously and those issues need to be addressed, but I personally think there are better ways to motivate and inspire people.

[mc_runner]

Belmonte has inspired a generation of kids (and a lot of adults) to get more into bowling.

It honestly reminds me of why I took up tennis years ago. I saw Andre Agassi playing and was blown away. He made tennis look powerful and exciting the same way Belmo does for bowling. Andre definitely brought a lot of attention to the sport. I believe Tennis got a big boost when he came along. I hoping the same is true for bowling.

Agree 100%! He's a great asset for bowling. His online presence and fan interaction is really good/helping as well.