Brunswick Corporation to Sell Retail Bowling Business to Bowlmor AMF

[rv driver]

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.

OK. Whew! I didn't know how closely tied PBA was with USBC.

That being said, I wonder why Brunswick is choosing to get out of the business??? Unless they just want to trim back and become a boutique billiards business... I never was a Brunswick fan, in terms of balls, but seeing those crowns and the iconic "B" in bowling centers brought some level of familiarity and comfort.

[rv driver]

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

Well?! Dang it! We've got enough princesses and "Dancing With the Dweebs" and malls and youth soccer leagues and subdivision "fro-yo" shops. Enough! We need something real, and attitudinal, and forthright. Like bowling. Leave. It. Alone!

[circlecity]

Makes me think about not complaining about my league fee going up. I should just be happy they are independant and have leagues!!

[rv driver]

Makes me think about not complaining about my league fee going up. I should just be happy they are independant and have leagues!!

Yeah, we've got several decent, independent centers where I live. And they're all reasonable.

[Hampe]

Hmm....I'm not sure, but I think almost all the centers here are independently owned.

[Amyers]

OK. Whew! I didn't know how closely tied PBA was with USBC.

That being said, I wonder why Brunswick is choosing to get out of the business??? Unless they just want to trim back and become a boutique billiards business... I never was a Brunswick fan, in terms of balls, but seeing those crowns and the iconic "B" in bowling centers brought some level of familiarity and comfort.

Brunswicks main business is building boats 92% of their profits come from boating sales. They didn't feel like they could get the return on investment in bowling that they could with other parts of their business

[rv driver]

Brunswicks main business is building boats 92% of their profits come from boating sales. They didn't feel like they could get the return on investment in bowling that they could with other parts of their business

Thanks for the info. I guess that's good news for the sailors. Too bad Brunswick isn't as loyal to bowling as it is to boating. And money.

[MICHAEL]

[QUOTE=Aslan;111414]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?


NOT ONLY THAT Aslan, but after they bought into AMF, they closed a number of AMF's including one I used, in HOPES that we would all go
to the other AMF that is only 4 miles away!

Well that backfired... several of the leagues did, but one of mine went to a privately owned house, actually twice the distance! We still have options, and AMF, with its BANKER HOURS, is not on my list!

Your right Aslan,,,, adding paint was one of the big things they did around here too. By shutting down some of the LESS profitable lanes, their theory is that the OTHER AMF's will get that business, and they are( but not all.) Many are just moving on to other privately owned lanes, so in a sense they are helping them also!

[MICHAEL]

Hmm....I'm not sure, but I think almost all the centers here are independently owned.

I knew there was something besides ICE I liked about Switzerland!! No AMF's! Lots of Mom and Pop independently owned bowling alleys! ice...

What is the temperature there today??

[rv driver]

[QUOTE=MICHAEL;111448]

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?


NOT ONLY THAT Aslan, but after they bought into AMF, they closed a number of AMF's including one I used, in HOPES that we would all go
to the other AMF that is only 4 miles away!

Well that backfired... several of the leagues did, but one of mine went to a privately owned house, actually twice the distance! We still have options, and AMF, with its BANKER HOURS, is not on my list!

Your right Aslan,,,, adding paint was one of the big things they did around here too. By shutting down some of the LESS profitable lanes, their theory is that the OTHER AMF's will get that business, and they are( but not all.) Many are just moving on to other privately owned lanes, so in a sense they are helping them also!

Just another fine example of what happens when Suits who care nothing about their product sell and operate goods and services. It'a aaaaaall about the $$$.

Blow-Mor. Pffft!!