An Unfortunate Situation

[Phonetek]

Again, the center did nothing wrong with regard to the approaches. You could clean them all day long and it wouldn't make any difference at all. Vegas is just not set up to deal with humidity; it just happens so rarely. Every center in town has the same problem to some degree when the humidity goes up. Depending on the positioning of the bowling center within the casino building, there's some variation but it's always there. Today we have over 70% humidity with a flash flood watch through mid nite tonight. League tomorrow morning is going to be all kinds of fun!

I have to believe there is something that could be done about this. If this happened where I am I'd be dragging my AMF rep to my center showing them the issue to see what they could come up with to combat the problem. It's their job to do that very thing.

My rep is coming out in early August to bring me some new seating by the lanes. I will ask him. If not I'll throw it out there at the next BPAA meeting and see how other centers deal with this. Illinois is far from lacking in humidity. If for any other reason, at least to satisfy my curiosity.

Perhaps it's as simple as improper climate controls and the absence of a de-humidifyer? Surely a casino world have the money to install that?

[RobLV1]

Phonetek: I'm sure that the casinos have enough money to install de-humidifiers; they just don't care enough to do it. Who can blame them? They are giant publicly owned corporations that are in business to make money. The only way that bowling centers can add to this profit is to provide for entertainment for the kids while their parents are gambling. That's why the center where I bowl spent millions to install high tech cosmic lighting so that they can charge $7 a game at night rather than having any leagues at all at night. Bowlers are not important to them, despite the fact that we rarely walk through the casino to get to the bowling center without dropping some money into a slot machine.

[boomer]

I can't imaging anybody installing de-humidifiers for the one day in . . . however long . . . that a DESERT gets humidity! LOL I mean - it's the desert.

I don't agree, though, that bowlers aren't important to them. The number of Vegas Leagues from the SoCal area that send bowlers (which rent rooms and gamble a LOT) is pretty significant. Maybe the resident leagues? IDK - the times I've hung around to see what's going on, the centers seemed full and the drinks were flowing; I can't imagine that the casinos would look past that money.

[Phonetek]

Phonetek: I'm sure that the casinos have enough money to install de-humidifiers; they just don't care enough to do it. Who can blame them? They are giant publicly owned corporations that are in business to make money. The only way that bowling centers can add to this profit is to provide for entertainment for the kids while their parents are gambling. That's why the center where I bowl spent millions to install high tech cosmic lighting so that they can charge $7 a game at night rather than having any leagues at all at night. Bowlers are not important to them, despite the fact that we rarely walk through the casino to get to the bowling center without dropping some money into a slot machine.

It's not only bowling centers in casinos that don't care about league bowlers, we all know it's any of them that are family fun centers. Casinos just have yet another reason not to care. It's so sad and it aggravates me.

Last night we had a celebrity night where they had an event and the after party was at my center. Yeah it was cool and all to shake hands, get some autographs, photos and sit around talking to stars I grew up watching for a few hours. All wonderful people and my wife and kids had a blast but you know what?

I can't wait for the actual bowlers to come back this fall. I'm packing the house 7 nights a week with leagues. I've had enough of birthday parties, wedding receptions, company parties, divorce parties and whatever else you name it. I'm sick of extreme lights and loud thumpity thump music. I wanna see some competition and honor scores! Leave the screaming kids, chicken tenders and sour patch kids at home with the sitter! Sorry Rob, got off on a tangent but you know what I mean.

[Ryster]

My local center has been acquired by Bowlero, and we are still waiting to see what kinds of changes that brings. Based on what has been posted online about Bowlero (who also owns AMF and Bowlmor) and their general practices with regards to leagues, we are expecting major changes. Hopefully they will come in and improve the reliability of the equipment. That would be something we would love to see. However, it is also expected that those changes will come with increases in pricing/lineage fees, and possibly a different approach to lane conditioning compared to what we had under the previous, private owner. Leagues are a massive draw currently and I would hate to see the new owners neglect that in favor of parties and recreational bowlers. Leagues are guaranteed business, however Bowlero also makes a ton of money on food/drink, shoe rentals, and arcades. Most league bowlers aren't renting shoes, nor are they playing in the arcade. If the food prices turn out to be anything like we are hearing they will be (compared to the outgoing restaurant) then league bowlers will be eating a lot less. If prices go too high overall, league bowlers will simply leave.

[mc_runner]

I honestly don't have too many complaints with Bowlero thus far. It's still a league focused center - prices are higher for lineage/games/etc, but the food is better (center-dependent) and the equipment is more up to date. The shot changes regularly and is absolutely more challenging than before. We're now a center where people have a low avg. and kill it on tournaments in other houses, vs. the other way around before. All in all, some good, some bad but nothing I'd really complain about.

[Ryster]

I honestly don't have too many complaints with Bowlero thus far. It's still a league focused center - prices are higher for lineage/games/etc, but the food is better (center-dependent) and the equipment is more up to date. The shot changes regularly and is absolutely more challenging than before. We're now a center where people have a low avg. and kill it on tournaments in other houses, vs. the other way around before. All in all, some good, some bad but nothing I'd really complain about.

After a lane breakdown the other day during league, we asked if Bowlero was going to update the pinsetters. We were told there were no plans for that. That was disappointing to hear. But hey, they already installed a swanky new coffee maker, so I guess we can see where their priorities are.

[classygranny]

I honestly don't have too many complaints with Bowlero thus far. It's still a league focused center - prices are higher for lineage/games/etc, but the food is better (center-dependent) and the equipment is more up to date. The shot changes regularly and is absolutely more challenging than before. We're now a center where people have a low avg. and kill it on tournaments in other houses, vs. the other way around before. All in all, some good, some bad but nothing I'd really complain about.

A lot depends on the past as well as the general manager. Some centers are more "league" centered while others are more "fun" centers with others being somewhere in the middle. Almost every bowling alley in the Phoenix Metro area is a Bowlero, and they all vary. Unfortunately, the two I bowl in the most, have spent more money on remodeling, flooring, awful seating, scoring software (which makes the machines very-very slow) but nothing towards equipment. And nothing done to the restrooms.

Hope you fend better than us!

[Aslan]

I guess I'd approach the question from another angle then.

If this is some magical condition that rarely happens...some "El Nino" event. And this bowler likes to slide but found that on this given night he couldn't due to the humidity...or at least not to his liking. What would you have him/her do?

I mean, lane conditions are one thing. Everyone bowls on the same pair so no matter the issue...everyone can try to adjust. But approach issues...are you:

- recommending that a bowler who routinely slides simply stand at the line and swing the ball back and forth and release it...like a wheelchair bowler?
- recommending the bowler visit the pro shop and buy new shoes, new soles, new heels?
- recommending the bowler purchase an Ebonite sliding sock and learn to use that over the course of 3 games?
- recommend the bowler ask the center for permission to bowl in his/her socks?

Like I said, it's one thing if it's lane conditions. I've played on some HORRIBLE lane conditions that even a blind, bribed USBC tech wouldn't stand for...where it's fairly obvious the center had "issues" with their oiling machine or decided pre-league oiling would be suspended in favor of daily or weekly oiling...for whatever reason. But, you're talking something else. You're talking about getting ready to bowl leagues and having the center shut off the lights, release coyotes in the building, and have the desk attendant randomly yell out "Yahtzee" at various times during people's downswings. And it's supposed to be "okay" because "it's Vegas Baby! Anything can and will happen!"

Being able to slide...at least a little...is a rather important part of an approach. And if you're used to it...I don't know what you want that person to do? I'd personally be fine with it. It'd justify me having a bag full of sliding soles and heels...most of which I never use. But, I'm in the outlier 1% in that regard. Even bowlers that went to the expense of buying the top end, name brand bowling shoes...with replaceable soles...will see me switch soles and remark, "wow, so you got different soles for your shoes?"

[Phonetek]

Okay so I posed the question regarding sticky synthetic approaches at the BPAA meeting as promised. This meeting has proprietors from 26 centers in my area.

I was given 2 solutions that were unanimous throughout all the centers. The first was to use a floor buffer covered with burlap similar to a potato sack. This is not recommended for wood approaches that have been varnished. It will turn them into an ice rink. You'll have the opposite problem. Synthetic on the other hand it works perfectly.

Second solution which I was nearly on the mark before when I said a damp mop. Normally water temperature isn't really anything I worry about but they specified to use very hot water. Again, damp not soaked.

Both of these methods are the common practice here throughout all these centers in Illinois which is a very humid state. Neither are expensive nor difficult. A bit time consuming in larger centers but easily doable even for casino bowling center in the desert.