Sad day, our amf is closing it's doors may 10!!

[MICHAEL]

Wow,,,, the lanes where I have had my best games will be closing it's doors next month after fall leagues end! They just passed the work down yesterday, after we won 3 games and have a 4 game lead going into the final few weeks.

This establishment has been around for many years, and Bowlmore had put some money into to it, but not as much as some of the other AMF's in the area. Reason for closing, not making profit, and low league numbers...

I will miss this place..... !! Another one bites the dust!! Could it be that many people just can't afford it anymore, with so many minimum wage job's, and few good paying ones out there???? Could it be home entertainment centers at home, and video games are part of the blame??

Not that many younger people getting into the bowling it seems to me, other then the once in a while Cosmic Bowling Stuff!

Is bowling doomed???

SAD DAY for ICEMAN...... its going to be like losing a great friend, and hangout!!!
I need to pull myself together,,,, Ice cycles freezing to my cheeks..... (

[MICHAEL]

I need a good shrink??? Anyone know of a good one in the Kansas City Area???

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S8Ppyskw5Vw

[vdubtx]

Well that certainly sucks. Sorry to hear. I think the death of not just this AMF center, but many others around the country, is the way they went about trying to attract more recreational bowlers rather than keeping their regular league bowlers happy. Also heard of a once great center in Austin that got bought out by AMF years ago and is now closing it's doors. The center used to be a great one and was packed every night of the week with leagues. AMF and now Bowl Mor is ruining bowling.

[MICHAEL]

Well that certainly sucks. Sorry to hear. I think the death of not just this AMF center, but many others around the country, is the way they went about trying to attract more recreational bowlers rather than keeping their regular league bowlers happy. Also heard of a once great center in Austin that got bought out by AMF years ago and is now closing it's doors. The center used to be a great one and was packed every night of the week with leagues. AMF and now Bowl Mor is ruining bowling.

They should call this company Bow-Less!!! I agree!! The format that they used to make money in New York ect... was RICH bankers, stockbrokers ect... coming in to basically Cosmic Bowl while drinking sham-pane, and eating caviar!!

Is bowling going down the tube??? Sorry to hear about the center in Austin!! We had another HUGE AMF with an Ice skating ring below it, Huge gameing room with 32 pool tables go under a few years ago. It use to be a King Louie establishment,,,, ALWAYS busy,,,,, Then AMF purchased it, and down it went?? What's going ON???

This is a disturbing trend!!!! There MUST BE a REASON!! What ever it is we need to fix it NOW!! Does Iceman need to give blood?? What can we do fellow bowlers,,,, is it the END TIME!!!

[tr33frog]

Wow. Wonder what the'll do with College Lanes. Maybe you will be lucky and someone else will buy it.

[MICHAEL]

Wow. Wonder what the'll do with College Lanes. Maybe you will be lucky and someone else will buy it.

Dear Jesus,,, if you do hear ICEMAN's thoughts, and prayers,,,, WORK A miracle, like at the wedding where you changed water to wine!!

Don't get me wrong, this is not a selfish request, but rather a VERY SELFISH REQUEST!! Please find a buyer for our beloved bowling alley!

I know you get a lot of requests, but you also know I don't ask much of you ever!!! Now I am asking,,,,, as you parted the Red Sea's for the Israelites, please Open the heart of some Rich Guy to buy and re-open the AMF on Vivion Rd!!

If you need the address I can send it to you!! Amen! iceman

P.S. I know you have a special place in your heart for bowling up there in heaven,,,, last night while it was raining VERY HARD, I kept hearing your angles bowling most of the night! Maybe you might change their bowling balls, to the Hammer Deadly Aim,,, its much more quit! "NOT THAT Iceman is complaining!"

[SilverFear]

My current lanes were bought out by 3 new owners, and they dropped AMF. Judging by what you guys are saying, I'm glad they did! If they closed my alley, I'd be quite disappointed. Its the only local alley that I like bowling at!

I'm sorry for your loss ICEMAN. Good luck on the last few weeks of your season!

[circlecity]

I'm guessing it will be a family fitness or something in the near future. What a bummer!

[Aslan]

This establishment has been around for many years, and Bowlmore had put some money into to it, but not as much as some of the other AMF's in the area. Reason for closing, not making profit, and low league numbers... (

ding ding ding!!

The bottom line is, Bowlmor is wrong. They use studies put out my groups with a vested interest in expanding casual bowling...to justify that bowling is a white collar recreational activity and leagues and blue collar bowling is a thing of the past. Yet every single center...that has cut their hours, raised their prices, and pushed league bowlers aside in favor of more cosmic/glow/recreational bowling has failed. There are certain centers in big cities, affluent cities, where the model works....but they don't understand that and they think the Wall Street crowd is the same as the Wal Mart crowd.

It's sad. I see a lot of AMF centers...centers with a lot of history...and you see them trying to implement Bowlmor's model/initiatives...and it's like watching 3-legged dog try to win a greyhound race. Doomed to fail. And watch out Ice....the downside to them failing....is whatever following they DID have...now will be crowing nearby centers. Suddenly being able to get practice time in on a weeknight or getting a lane on the weekends....you're gonna be on a waiting list.

AMFs not opening during the week/daytime (many have started not to)...HORRIBLE idea. You lose any chance of your seniors leagues...which are very popular during the weekdays. And you make it nearly impossible for league bowlers to practice. Weekday nights are still somewhat crowded at most centers....and league members can't practice on weekends when prices are through the roof and the lane conditions are abysmal.

[Wigman]

Before i moved to Illinois, that was when i found out they closed down King Louie's, was shocked to find out about that. That place had so much history including being the first alley to use Computerized Scorekeeper. How many more have been closed down or is going to close down?