I'm a bit partial to the old style centers which I believe are called "split houses". Rob might know the actual terminology. But, it's where the center has 20 lanes on each side and the traffic and viewing area is in the middle.
I'd like every center to have a pro shop. It's really annoying to bowl in a center that doesn't have a pro shop.
I think every sanctioned center should have much tighter lane condition requirements and pre-league inspections. MUCH stricter...but, that's a bigger topic for another day.
I think every sanctioned center should have to sanction EVERY league except senior leagues and youth leagues. Maybe a requirement that 90% of adult leagues, at any given time, must be sanctioned. 25% of senior leagues if you have at least 4 running. And 25% of youth leagues if you have at least 4.
Although I know it would be a tremendous expense, the IDEAL center would have technology that allows a bowler to choose an oil pattern. The oil machine would be beneath the pin deck. If you pick "PBA Dick Weber"...and centers could require an extra fee for this...the oil machine comes out from the pin deck, oils the pattern, then returns beneath the pin deck.
Also, each rack needs to accomodate a minimum of 20 bowling balls. As has already been mentioned...some of these centers were designed 50 years ago when there were 3-4 person teams and everyone threw one ball. Now you got 8 balls on the rack and about 6-7 balls sitting on the floor, sitting on chairs, bags everywhere...I've seen entire seating areas where bowlers couldn't sit down because the balls were taking up the chairs.
I'd like to see 2 areas of seating. One right off the lanes for the bowlers...and then a couple tables further back. Maybe a tri-level layout where the main traffic is at one level, then you go down a couple steps (on either side if it's a split house) and you have a viewing area, then a few more steps to get to the lanes. It's just too crowded when everyone is jammed into a tiny area...bowlers, friends/family, etc... I've seen almost as many fights break out over tables as I have over bowling.
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