Check out some interesting parallels that popped up between this year’s World Series of Poker and World Series of Bowling.

This week Joe Cada, from the Detroit area, became the youngest winner in the history of the Main Event at the World Series of Poker. Coverage of this year’s WSOP was different from the last few years. Why would such a successful franchise make major changes to a time-honored format when entries are up, new sponsorships are being created, online play is on the rise and a secure television relationship is in place?

The Professional Bowlers Association opened the 2009-2010 season with its brand new World Series of Bowling event from the Detroit area. The PBA World Championship’s preliminary rounds were contested from Aug. 31 to Sept. 4 at Thunderbowl Lanes, the final event to close the inaugural WSOB.

The final four PBA World Championship competitors Thomas Smallwood, Rhino Page, Bill O’Neill and Wes Malott advanced to the final round of the tournament on Dec. 13 which can be seen live on ESPN from Northrock Lanes in Wichita, Kansas.

The 2009 World Series of Poker Main event began more than four months ago at the Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. Play began then concluded when the final table was determined, the finalists referred to as the “November Nine.” Play was delayed, then ended on Nov. 10 with tape-delayed coverage of the final table scheduled to air later that evening on ESPN.

World Series of Poker organizers promised unprecedented coverage of this year’s Main Event, with more televised hours than ever before. The changes haven’t come without controversy from the poker world.

World Series of Bowling fans were treated to unprecedented coverage of bowling action at Thunderbowl Lanes on Xtra Frame, the official video service of the PBA in addition to seven weeks of coverage on ESPN. Changes to the PBA schedule haven’t come without controversy in the bowling world.

True poker fans want to see more of the nitty-gritty hands and less of the standard, all-in confrontations, they also want to see little things that the pros do to amass large stacks of chips. Many of those nitty-gritty hands, while less exciting than the all-in confrontations, are interesting for different reasons. For some very vocal fans, all they want to see is the all-in confrontations.

True bowling fans have only seen one-game matches in the past; new coverage of bowling at the WSOB is giving fans more of the nitty-gritty of being a professional bowler while featuring the little things that can mean the difference between winning and losing. Many of those elements, recently featured in the documentary coverage of the Cheetah Championship, while less exciting than the one-game live matches, are interesting for different reasons. For some very vocal fans, all they want to see is the live one-game matches.

Is it just good business to change things up to rekindle interest while building a new fan base regardless of what has been done in the past?