Brunswick Corporation to Sell Retail Bowling Business to Bowlmor AMF

[Amyers]

So which is it? Are they looking to sell off the ball manufacturing, or not?

According to the press releases they are looking for a buyer for the ball manufacturing business.

[rv driver]

According to the press releases they are looking for a buyer for the ball manufacturing business.

So, again, does that mean that they're simply farming out the manufacturing process, where they're outsourcing the production of their product design, or are they completely doing away with being in the ball business at all? If the former, we can still expect some good things from Brunswick balls. If not, the whole product line may become dead, or if the name is kept by another company, the balls might not be the same at all -- we could be seeing really crappy stuff with a Brunswick name slapped on it.

[Amyers]

So, again, does that mean that they're simply farming out the manufacturing process, where they're outsourcing the production of their product design, or are they completely doing away with being in the ball business at all? If the former, we can still expect some good things from Brunswick balls. If not, the whole product line may become dead, or if the name is kept by another company, the balls might not be the same at all -- we could be seeing really crappy stuff with a Brunswick name slapped on it.

From what I've read they are selling the whole enchilada. This is not an outsource they are getting out of the business. They did mention that they hoped whoever buys it would keep the people on but who knows maybe storm buys them and just shuts it down one less competitor.

[rv driver]

I don't know anything about Blow-Mor, but I definitely don't like the sound of what Ice is saying: pussified, soccer-mom "family-fun centers" that offer candy-a$$, bubble-gum, disco-ball, Bee-Gees bowling to the happenin' sounds of Barney Sings the Hits and Alvin and the Chipmunks during the day, and blacklight nonsense to the sounds of super-sub bass-pumping, techno-grunge radio bands with trendy, "bad-a$$" names like "Chum Bucket" during the evenings. And "Bowling for Jesus" on Sundays. Next they'll be putting little LED light-up soles on our bowling shoes, and installing pulsing disco lights in clear, acrylic bowling lanes. And while they're at it, they can serve Panera bagels and Starbucks Latte's, with overly-hoppy "craft beer" sold on weekends. Meanwhile, Chuck-E-Cheese will send over characters in costume to wave at the kids and hand out balloons. And they'll paint the pins to look like Katy Perry and Cee-Lo. And bowling will lose its sports edge and become one more banal distraction for the minivan masses. Because it would just be too bad if bowling remained serious for some of us.

Maybe, while they're at it, Blow-Mor can pick up the Brunswick ball contract and put out a bunch of brightly-colored, cheap vis-a-balls, featuring all your favorite contestants from America's Got Talent.

[rv driver]

From what I've read they are selling the whole enchilada. This is not an outsource they are getting out of the business. They did mention that they hoped whoever buys it would keep the people on but who knows maybe storm buys them and just shuts it down one less competitor.

Or I suppose it could become like Ebonite/Columbia/Hammer, et. al. and become one more brand name for some huge ball conglomerate. That would be nice, because they'd likely keep up the quality, knowing that there are a lot of Brunswick aficionados out there. Yeah, Storm could buy 'em out, or Ebonite. Heck, this is Motiv's big chance to dance with the big boys.

[rv driver]

So, if AMF is no longer PBA registered, is that going to be a problem with sanctioning if they take over the Brunswick centers?

[Aslan]

So, if AMF is no longer PBA registered, is that going to be a problem with sanctioning if they take over the Brunswick centers?

I think there's some confusion here.

AMF brand bowling balls are no longer PBA registered. PBA registered does not = USBC Sanctioned. AMF centers are still USBC sanctioned....as will Bowlmor centers.

It's just $&#%. I mean, AMF was a complete failure. So they sold to Bowlmor. Bowlmor has done NOTHING in any center I've seen other than add some paint, trim staff, cut hours, reduce league benefits, and raise food/beverage prices. And now Bowlmor (which isn't making much money) offers to buy it's ONLY COMPETITION!! It's a damm Monopoly!! How does the #1 owner of centers just buy the #2 on the list with NO oversight?

There goes the Sunday morning sport shot league I just joined!! Bowlmor isn't going to want a sport shot in their centers and they aint opening at 7AM on a Sunday. Just wonderful.

As for who buys Brunswick....it aint gonna be Storm, they don't need it. Ebonite already has more brands than it needs and all of them in decline. 900Global would be the best fit, but they aren't doing very well financially. Motiv makes the next most sense because they could really use Brunswick's distribution network. But Motiv is successful in their current business model so that might not fit. Companies like Seismic and Lane #1 and Lord Field probably have nowhere near the resources.

It's the #2 or #3 ball company out there. And when you add in the other products they make, it could really expand the portfolio for a 900Global or Motiv. But it's probably most likely it gets sold to some foreign investment group. Sad.

[got_a_300]

In other words bowling is pretty much dead if that deal goes
through for Brunswick owned centers it will be just like they
killed off AMF bowling centers.

Thank goodness our Brunswick center is independently owned
but we just had 3 people go in together and buy the owner out
but it looks like they are really going to price themselves out of
business if they are not careful.

They have almost doubled the price on food and drinks and I
know a lot of the bowlers including myself that have said they
are not going to pay that price for food and drinks.

I'll just eat before I go bowling and just get me a cup and drink
water out of the water fountain instead of buying soda or coffee.

[Blacksox1]

Aslan's 2nd sentence is 100% correct. WTG !

[Blacksox1]

I don't know anything about Blow-Mor, but I definitely don't like the sound of what Ice is saying: pussified, soccer-mom "family-fun centers" that offer candy-a$$, bubble-gum, disco-ball, Bee-Gees bowling to the happenin' sounds of Barney Sings the Hits and Alvin and the Chipmunks during the day, and blacklight nonsense to the sounds of super-sub bass-pumping, techno-grunge radio bands with trendy, "bad-a$$" names like "Chum Bucket" during the evenings. And "Bowling for Jesus" on Sundays. Next they'll be putting little LED light-up soles on our bowling shoes, and installing pulsing disco lights in clear, acrylic bowling lanes. And while they're at it, they can serve Panera bagels and Starbucks Latte's, with overly-hoppy "craft beer" sold on weekends. Meanwhile, Chuck-E-Cheese will send over characters in costume to wave at the kids and hand out balloons. And they'll paint the pins to look like Katy Perry and Cee-Lo. And bowling will lose its sports edge and become one more banal distraction for the minivan masses. Because it would just be too bad if bowling remained serious for some of us.

Maybe, while they're at it, Blow-Mor can pick up the Brunswick ball contract and put out a bunch of brightly-colored, cheap vis-a-balls, featuring all your favorite contestants from America's Got Talent.

Tell us how you really feel. No sugar coating, please !