A poll on what type of bowling alley you want

[Mudpuppy]

Here's a great idea to increase league participation...

Day Care centers.

What if? WHAT IF?

What if to attract couples to bowling leagues, the bowling center offered free child care during league play? How many couples fail to join a league because it's too hard to get a babysitter? Or too expensive to join a league AND pay a babysitter? How many couples with a toddler would like a "break" for a few hours on a weeknight evening?

You want to grow leagues AND increase female bowling participation?? There ya go.

How many centers could instantly fill a midday league of stay at home moms if they made it a sort of "play date" where the moms all bowl and visit while all the kiddies are cared for in a little day care center for 2-4 hours??

Or cheaper idea just give them a box of condoms at the end of the league so they won't need daycare. I have 5 kids and I am trying very hard to improve the gene pool - all these other people need to stop messing it up.

[Aslan]

RV- You're missing the point.

Casual Bowling does not = sport bowling

Go to any open bowling night and watch young adults throwing balls all crazy into bumpers and laughing and drinking like fools. They have ZERO desire to bowl. It is a joke to them. The worse they do, the more popular they feel. They are not "bowlers"...they are "drunks" who are using a bowling alley as a meeting place. These people will NEVER become league bowlers...SPORT bowlers. If they do, they'll bowl thumbless and quit after one season because it's not that fun to suck when people don't laugh and celebrate it.

Sport bowling is more serious. It's still fun. It's still a great 2-4 hours of drinking and laughing. But most of what is done during cosmic bowling would not only be not allowed and a violation of league rules...but would be frowned upon by fellow bowlers.

The problem you're missing is that sport bowlers don't really develop from casual bowlers. Thats one of the HUGE problems with the sport as a whole. There's no "avenue" to get people interested in the SPORT. And celebrating "casual bowling"...does nothing to help that other than convince centers like AMF that they should raise menu prices, expand their bar selection, reduce their hours, lessen league benefits, and start cosmic bowling earlier each night. Then those centers lose leagues...they lose 60-70% of their income...and they close because they can't get a steady flow of white collar casual folks to consistently show up each night.

[rv driver]

RV- You're missing the point.

Casual Bowling does not = sport bowling

Go to any open bowling night and watch young adults throwing balls all crazy into bumpers and laughing and drinking like fools. They have ZERO desire to bowl. It is a joke to them. The worse they do, the more popular they feel. They are not "bowlers"...they are "drunks" who are using a bowling alley as a meeting place. These people will NEVER become league bowlers...SPORT bowlers. If they do, they'll bowl thumbless and quit after one season because it's not that fun to suck when people don't laugh and celebrate it.

Sport bowling is more serious. It's still fun. It's still a great 2-4 hours of drinking and laughing. But most of what is done during cosmic bowling would not only be not allowed and a violation of league rules...but would be frowned upon by fellow bowlers.

The problem you're missing is that sport bowlers don't really develop from casual bowlers. Thats one of the HUGE problems with the sport as a whole. There's no "avenue" to get people interested in the SPORT. And celebrating "casual bowling"...does nothing to help that other than convince centers like AMF that they should raise menu prices, expand their bar selection, reduce their hours, lessen league benefits, and start cosmic bowling earlier each night. Then those centers lose leagues...they lose 60-70% of their income...and they close because they can't get a steady flow of white collar casual folks to consistently show up each night.

I'm not talking about the drunken college boys and rednecks. I'm talking about families and kids. you're absolutely right. The group you mention will never turn into serious bowlers. But kids might if they see their parents enjoying the game and teaching them to enjoy the game. These people are casual bowlers, as well. And they certainly are the ones who turn into serious bowlers.