IBI December 2014

THE WORLD'S ONLY MAGAZINE DEVOTED EXCLUSIVELY TO THE BUSINESS OF BOWLING

PUBLISHER & EDITORScott Frager

[email protected]: scottfrager

ASSOCIATE PUBLISHERDavid Garber

[email protected]

OFFICE MANAGERPatty Heath

[email protected]

CONTRIBUTORSCarolyn Dorin-Ballard

Patty HeathPamela Kleibrink Thompson

Mark MillerRobert Sax

EDITORIAL DIRECTORJackie Fisher

[email protected]

ART DIRECTION & PRODUCTIONDesignworks

www.dzynwrx.com(818) 735-9424

FOUNDERAllen Crown (1933-2002)

12655 Ventura BoulevardStudio City, CA 91604(818) 789-2695(BOWL)

Fax (818) [email protected]

www.BowlingIndustry.com

HOTLINE: 888-424-2695SUBSCRIPTION RATES: One copy ofInternational Bowling Industry is sent free toevery bowling center, independently ownedpro shop and collegiate bowling center inthe U.S., and every military bowling centerand pro shop worldwide. Publisher reservesthe right to provide free subscriptions tothose individuals who meet publicationqualifications. Additional subscriptions maybe purchased for delivery in the U.S. for $50per year. Subscriptions for Canada andMexico are $65 per year, all other foreignsubscriptions are $80 per year. All foreignsubscriptions should be paid in U.S. fundsusing International Money Orders.POSTMASTER: Please send new as well asold address to International Bowling Industry,12655 Ventura Boulevard, Studio City, CA91604 USA. If possible, please furnishaddress mailing label.Printed in U.S.A. Copyright 2014, B2B Media,Inc. No part of this magazine may be reprintedwithout the publisher’s permission.

MEMBER AND/OR SUPPORTER OF:

6ISSUE AT HAND

Xmas Comes Earlyto Vegas

By Scott Frager

8SHORTS

• Will new scoringfor the game get usinto the Olympics?

• Self-expressionin San Fran

• Pin Action –a good readBy Patty Heath

16FEATURE

The Tough Road toGlory

The National BowlingAssociation celebrates 75

years of activism… and fun.By Robert Sax

CONTENTS VOL 22.12

16

28

IBI December 20144

22

22INDUSTRY NEWSLet’s Talk FECThe newest industryconference, whereexperienced owners andoperators will share bestpractices in an open forum. By Pamela Kleibrink Thompson

28COVER STORYBetting BIG on Bowling Michael Gaughan’s SouthPoint Hotel and Casinoinvests millions to lurebowlers to Las Vegas.By Mark Miller

36WHAT BOWLINGMEANS TO METhe One-Way TicketA bowling legend recollectshow one decision changedthe course of her life.By Carolyn Dorin-Ballard

40 Showcase

42 Classifieds

47 Datebook

6 IBI December 2014

THE ISSUE AT HAND

Who wouldn’t be delighted by an earlyholiday present from Santa Claus? Sincemost centers don’t have fireplaces, I’m notexactly sure how Santa woulddrop off our gifts, but thenagain, what does it reallymatter?

This past month, Las Vegaswas treated to a present ofgrand scale: a $35 million,92,000-square-foot, 60-lanetournament bowling center, built by MichaelGaughan’s South Point Hotel and Casino.

With a 360-seat viewing area, over 700lockers and a squad room than cancomfortably seat 350, Mr. Gaughan andteam have provided bowlers in Las Vegas withthe ultimate holiday gift. Like flying reindeercapture the imaginations of kids of all ages,the new facility will draw bowlers by thetens of thousands annually.

South Point Bowling Plaza, as the centerhas been named, does not come without itsshare of detractors and concerns. In LasVegas, no significant project comes withouta touch of controversy.

But at the Oct. 30 media day, there wasnothing but smiles from the visionaries whodreamed this facility and built it from thesandy desert floor up.

Besides amazing hi-definition video screens that span thelanes over the masking units in this 60-lane, split-lane facility,and some very sophisticated noise- and vibration-dampening,

the center is straightforward in itsfunctionality. Nothing gaudy,nothing over-the-top as Las Vegascan be. I can only imagine howhard it must have been for thedesigners, builders and visionariesto refrain from adding layers andlayers of window-dressing for

dressing’s sake. But the Plaza was built for tournament play by people who

understand tournament play.During media day, it was announced that the facility already

has significant bookings for 2015 and 2016 and for at least 310days in 2017.

Take a look at this month’s cover story. Mark Miller gives us anexclusive look inside South Point Bowling Plaza and shares someof the controversy surrounding it.

It must have been hard for Santa to deliver this particularpresent. Las Vegas, the industry andbowlers have to give Messrs. Gaughan andClaus a huge hand for imagining anddelivering big!

– SCOTT FRAGER, PUBLISHERAND [email protected]

Xmas Comes Early to Vegas

4THIS MONTH AT www.BowlingIndustry.com

When was the last time you went online? IBI Online? If you haven’t visited in a while, there islots to see, including new videos and a nice nod to Jack Fine, Canadian proprietor and bowlingindustry leader, who passed away in August.

The groups are growing with Laser Tag and Beyond Bowling being recently added. Whateveryour niche, there is a group for you. Maybe more than one. Membership has topped 2,320. Areyou among that number?

Be sure to check out the interesting thoughts of Jim Osdale, Jackie Fisher and Andrea Gage-Werren under Blogs, and, of course, the 2,500 posted photos and ads looping on the homepage.

IBI Online is worth a daily visit. Join now at www.bowlingindustry.com.

The holidays are for giving and centerspractice this not only in December butthroughout the year by supporting causes intheir communities and nationwide.

Plano Super Bowl in Plano, TX, was thevenue for two very successful fundraisers in2014. The first event, in May, was for theJuvenile Diabetes Research Fund (JDRF),managed by Lynda Barnes. Lynda and herhusband, Chris, whose son Troy is afflicted withjuvenile diabetes, organized and MC’d theevent, raising $60,000. This past October, thecenter, its staff and Senior All Star BowlingAssociation held a member-ladies doublestournament with 48 teams raising funds forJDRF. This event garnered $18,000 which putthe total for the year at $78,000.

A night of crazy, glow bowling dubbed Bark& Bowl, was held at Plaza Lanes in Highland,IN, to raise funds for Humane Society CalumetArea which is a nonprofit organization helpingshelter animals.

Another Indiana fundraiser was the TerreHaute Firefighters Bowling Association’s StrikeOut the Burn bowling tournament at Vigo Bowl.Since its inception in 2009, the tournament hasraised $46,000 for Hoosier Burn Camp. Thecamp offers, at no charge, a safe and supportedenvironment for burn survivors.

The Brain Injury Association of Ohio hostedits Bowling for Brain Injury event at two centers,AMF Sawmill Lanes in Columbus and WickliffeLanes in Cleveland. Donations raised go tothe state organization whose mission is to be“The Voice of Brain Injury through Help, Hope& Healing.”

The American Warrior Initiative raises moneythroughout the country to assist disabledveterans adjust to their lives after the military.In November Trindle Bowl of Mechanicsburg,PA, accepted the call and held Bowling forHeroes.

Thruway Lanes in Cheektowaga, NY, was thesite of a Star Wars-themed bowling fundraiserto benefit Summit Educational Resources, anorganization offering autism programs whichhelp raise awareness and acceptance of autism.

What is your center doing? Email Patty Heath [email protected].

GO

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Yes, Led Zeppelin frontman RobertPlant played Brooklyn Bowl! It was a rareclub date, but as the iconic singer shared,he “can’t get enough” of performing. Hedecided to play the center after hanging outthere following his performances at theBAM, Brooklyn Academy of Music.

‘JUST GOTTA GET IT OUT’

WATCHMedia

Celebrity is high on the socialradar and Pinz Entertainment Centerin Los Angeles is a go-to spot.

In early November, a relaxedevening of bowling was on theagenda for Nick Cannon, actor,comedian and DJ; Amber Rose,model turned actress; Blac Chyna,model and fashion designer; and rapper Nelly. While fun was thegoal of the evening for Cannon, Rose and friends, rumors werethe result, wondering whether Cannon and Rose were headingto being an item. All that is known for sure is that bowling is funand everybody enjoys an evening out at a bowling center.

JUST HANGING OUT

A great holiday gift for the bowler/reader in your family, PinAction by Gianmarc Manzione. The sub-title really says it all:“Small-Time Gangsters, High-StakesGambling and the Teenage Huslter WhoBecame a Bowling Champion.”

This non-fiction book transports thereader to 1960s Brooklyn and a dingybowling alley, Avenue M Bowl, whereafter-hours and early mornings helddrama, money and sometimes tragedy.It was action bowling with head-to-head matches between kids who madeas much in a night as their fathers made in a month.The stories are non-stop and the stakes were high.

BOWLING BOOK CORNER

8 IBI December 2014

SHORTS

11IBI December 2014

SHORTS

Some people wear their hearts on their sleeves,but this San Franciscan wears his sport on his car.

Is Scoring the Path to the Olympics?

Machinery is always tobe respected. It is inmoments of doing the jobone always does thattragedy can strike.

David Geiger, 53 ofCincinnati, OH, lost his lifein a freak accident atNorthwest Lanes in Fairfield. Authorities sayGeiger was trapped in the pinsetter after hisclothes became tangled in the machinery andpulled him in. OSHA is investigating.

Geiger had worked at the center for fouryears. Jason Vandermark, a general manager atthe center said, “David was a great guy. Hewas known well throughout the bowlingcommunity--a hard worker, always willing tohelp out. It’s a tragic situation.”

It is a reminder that, especially with machinery,safety is not to be taken lightly.

IBI sends its condolences to the Geiger family.

IN REMEMBRANCE

“If curling can be an Olympic sport, why can’t bowling?”blogged Marissa Payne of The Early Lead, a sports blog, onWashingtonpost.com.

World Bowling president Kevin Dornberger feels thereason might lie with image. “People still see it [bowling] asa recreation where you have a few beers and it is a wonderfulsocial experience. But,” according to Dornberger, the headof the sport’s governing body, in an interview with USAToday, “there’s also an elite competitive side, and being inthe Olympics would open up incredible opportunities interms of visibility and appeal.”

World Bowling, along with the International OlympicCommittee, feels one way to change the perception ofbowling is to revamp the scoring system. They feel confusionover scoring makes bowling difficult to follow. A differentapproach to scoring was experimented with during theWorld Bowling Tour Finals held in November at the SouthPoint Bowling Plaza in Las Vegas.

Explained by the PBA, the new system emphasizeswinning the frame, similar to golf’s Ryder Cup whichemphasizes winning a hole. This will reduce the length of time

and complexity of scoring required to complete a two-playermatch. It will also eliminate the 300 game.

In a nutshell: The new game consists of 12 frames inwhich each player will throw one shot. If Player A gets ahigher pin count than Player B, that bowler will win theframe. If both strike, the frame will be tied. If neitherstrikes but each has the same pin count, both will try toconvert the spare. If both are successful, the frame will bea tie. Otherwise the player with the higher pin count aftertwo shots will win the frame.

Scoring for the match will reflect who has won the mostframes. All-square means the match is tied. At the point oneplayer has won more frames than frames remain, e.g. threeup after 10 frames, that bowler will be declared the winner.If the match is all-square after 12 frames, the tie will bebroken using the single-frame format until the tie is broken.

The result of this experiment during the Tour finals was notavailable at press time. Breaking with tradition is never easy.“I love tradition, but it’s vital that we become an Olympicsport,” said Dornberger. “If we have to be dragged intothe 21st century to do that, I’m okay with that.”

TRAGEDY STRIKES OHIO CENTER

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12 IBI December 2014

SHORTS

Update: More than Halfway ThroughIn May, 2013, nine-year-old Natalie Savant of San Antonio, TX, started on her self-

proclaimed journey to bowl in every state in the contiguous U.S. In February 2014, IBI caughtup with Natalie on ABC’s morning television show, Live with Kellyand Michael, which was in state #29. As of this past July,#38 was reached at Brattleboro Bowl in Brattleboro, VT.

Natalie has aspirations to be a PBA member someday.However, the immediate carrot is a college scholarship. This isby far not the only goal for this little over-achiever. According toher mother, Ginger, she has a list of goals while a junior bowler:bowl her first 200 game; average 150 in league play; place inthe top 10 at Junior Gold; and become a member of Junior Team USA.

Natalie Savant is truly an ambassador of bowling and an inspiration as to what you canaccomplish if you set your mind to it.

Plan AheadIt is not too soon to think about next year’s Bowl Expo or the year after that or the year

after that. Expo for 2015 will return to Las Vegas at the Paris Hotel; for 2016 it will stay inVegas at the Mandalay Bay Resort; and in 2017 it will visit Nashville at the Opryland Hotel.

There will be a new wrinkle in 2015. The $349 registration fee will include all events. Thetrade show will move from Wednesday and Thursday to the last two days, Thursday and Friday.

USBC Partners with Brunswick BowlingUSBC has named Brunswick Bowling the exclusive equipment provider for the USBC

Open and Women’s Championships starting in 2015 and running through 2024. This is thelongest contract in USBC Championships history.

Stipulated in the agreement, Brunswick will provide GS-X pinsetters, Pro Lane syntheticlanes, ball returns and the new Sync scoring and management system.

“We are very proud to continue our long-time relationship with bowlers across the countrythrough our partnership with the USBC,” said Brent Perrier, president of BrunswickBowling Products.

Chad Murphy, USBC executive director, shared, “The USBC Open and Women’sChampionships give our members an event in a world class venue and this long-termpartnership with Brunswick ensures state-of-the-art equipment is part of it.”

The Gutter Is Back in BusinessNot to give support to Ebola mania, it is nice to see that the

regular customers of The Gutter in Williamsburg, Brooklyn havecome out to support their quaint center. A bar with eight vintagebowling lanes and two stages which host great bands, The Gutterhad been closed due to Dr. Craig Spencer’s visit prior to beingdiagnosed with Ebola after returning from a stint with Doctors Without Borders in West Africa.The bowling alley was thoroughly cleaned and given an all-clear from health officials. Bowlerslove their hangouts, and this one did not suffer from an over-reactive clientele staying away.

SHORT SHORTS

At press time, Rip Van Winkle Lanes in Norwalk, CT, wasscheduled to reopen this month as Bowlmor Lanes. Shared byRichard Lee, writer for GreenwichTime, Bowlmor touts the reborn38-lane facility as “Connecticut’s first-ever boutique bowling alley,”which includes a laser tag arena. The space has an interestingbackground. It started life as an airplane hangar and later becamea skating rink. It then transformed itself into a tenpin center. RipVan Winkle manager Steve Bartek noted that Bowlmor will not hostsanctioned leagues; its target audiences are families and adultsseeking a weekend night out.

As posted by Olivia Pulsinelli, of the Houston Business Journal,Dallas-based ShowBiz Cinemas plans to nearly double its numberof theaters in Texas, adding three new locations in the Houston area.Two of the locations, Baytown and northeast Houston, will have 14lanes of bowling each, along with the movie screens. The companyalso has an additional 34 screens and 44 bowling lanes undernegotiation and expects to make official announcements soon.

EXPANSIONS, OPENINGS& NEW BEGINNINGS

The 50th QubicaAMF Bowling World Cup washeld Nov. 1-9 at 24-lane Sky Bowling Center inWroclaw, Poland. 158 players from 88 countries –86 men and 72 women – registered to compete.Twenty of the center’s 24 lanes were used. Livestreaming on Bowl.com’s BowlTV was providedby USBC. Sky Bowling Center is also set to hostthe 2017 World Games.

POLAND HOSTS

The Sky Bowling Center ison the third floor of the Sky

Hotel in Wroclaw.

Glass walls separate the audience fromthe players’ area.

FEATURE


he long struggle of black Americans for civil rightswent down many roads. One of them was madeof oiled pine and had 10 pins at the end of it.

It took a dedicated organization of black bowlers 11years to break the color bar in bowling. Founded inDetroit in 1939 as the National Negro Bowling Association(NNBA), it is known today as The National BowlingAssociation (TNBA). In May 2014, the spiritual and sportingheirs of those founding activists gathered in Detroit tocelebrate the group’s 75th anniversary.

In 1939, bowling was extremely popular in Detroit andother Midwestern cities. Tens of thousands of Detroitersbowled regularly at local lanes, but only if their skin colorwas white. The major sanctioning bodies, the AmericanBowling Congress and Women’s International BowlingCongress, had clauses in their constitutions that restrictedmembership and affiliated bowling alleys to whites only.

Prior to the TNBA’s founding, the only blacks allowed inwhite-owned bowling centers worked as pinboys, janitorsand custodians. But interest in playing the game was high

amongst the many blacks who had migrated to northern cities andjoined the working class. They enjoyed the primarily working-class sportfor the same reason as whites: bowling offered fun and socialrecreation at an affordable price.

Summer Cherland, a historian at University of Nevada Las Vegas,has studied the civil rights movement and its effect on sports,including bowling. “We see a rise in bowling in the interwar periodbecause Americans, black and white, had a little more money andthey would spend it on all sorts of amusements. Bowling was oneof those,” Cherland says.

WINNING A PLACEBy the late 1930s, blacks were playing in their own leagues and

competitions. In 1939 Cleveland hosted the first black nationalbowling tournament with teams from Cincinnati, Detroit, Chicago,Toledo and the host city.

But blacks were often relegated to improvised or substandardlanes. Despite a ready market, black entrepreneurs found it difficultto get financing to build their own lanes, and few new centerswere completed before the early 1940s. In the meantime, it was hard

T

A TOUGH ROAD TO GLORYTNBA Celebrates 75 Years of Activism

By Robert Sax

TNBA's 75th anniversary poster. Bowling during World War II. William “Bill” Rhodman.

FEATURE

17IBI December 2014

to find enough places to hold tournaments.J. Elmer Reed, a black businessman and bowling enthusiast in Cleveland, established

the Cleveland Bowlers group in 1932 and built the United Recreation Center, the firstblack-owned bowling alley in the country. He negotiated stealth venues using hisconnections in the white business community. He would arrange for the owners ofsegregated alleys to close their places “for repairs” so that black teams could bowlin after-hours league tournaments.

As membership in black bowling leagues boomed, Reed and his colleagues realizedthat they could not build lanes fast enough to meet the demand. They decided thatthey needed a national organization to fight for the right of blacks to bowl anywherethey wished. The group’s 22 founders met in a nightclub in Detroit on Aug. 20, 1939to establish the NNBA. Cincinnati, Cleveland, Chicago, Detroit and Toledo werehome to the first chapters, known as “senates.”

While the majority of its members were black, NNBA also welcomed other groupsexcluded from white-owned bowling alleys, including Asians, Hispanics and NativeAmericans. To reflect its multicultural membership, the association changed its nameto The National Bowling Association in 1944.

During World War II, many black servicemen and women were introduced tobowling on American military bases, which boasted 4,500 lanes. “Bowling becameextremely popular among African-Americans after World War II,” says WaydeBroughton, TNBA’s historian. “The military bases really pushed it. It was the best socialrecreation you could get.” When they returned to civilian life, they still wanted to bowl.

ABC (AND WIBC) AT LASTThe interest in bowling continued to spread and so did bowling centers owned or

operated by black Americans. In 1942, boxing champion Joe Louis and a group of blackinvestors built the 20-lane Paradise Bowl in Detroit. In Toledo a 13-member group builtBelmont Lanes, and Atlanta, GA got its first black-owned center, the Auburn Bowliseum.In Los Angeles, Nate Moreland, a Negro League baseball player, owned the Central BowlingAcademy. By 1950 black Americans owned bowling establishments from the Atlantic to

the Pacific.But the ABC and WIBC restrictions

still rankled black bowlers. In the sameperiod, activists were challenging thecolor bar in baseball, track and field andother sports. TNBA joined with otherorganizations, including the NAACPand the United Auto Workers’ “FairPlay for Bowling Committee,” utilizingboycotts, demonstrations and theirown tournaments to call attention tothe issue. “In the period 1939-1968there was quite a lot of community

Allen Supermarket team with William Rhodman. TNBA great Charles Bedell circa 1950. TNBA great J. Wilber Sims.

J. Elmer Reed

FEATURE


leadership occurring,” says Cherland. “[TNBA]was a very prominent group.”

The fight for “equality in bowling” resulted inthe ABC and WIBC removing the restrictive clausesfrom their constitutions in 1950. TNBA continuedits fight, especially in the Southern states, throughthe civil rights era and into the mid-1970s, whende facto segregation of bowling alleys ended. (In1978 Reed became the first black elected to theABC Hall of Fame.)

In May 24, 1951, at St. Paul, MN, black bowlerscompeted for the first time in the ABC nationaltournament. The team was from Detroit and wassponsored by Lafayette Allen, a bowling writer and

owner of a supermarket chain. The Allen Supermarket team placed 72nd andwon $600 in prize money.

LIKE FAMILYOver the years TNBA has continued to grow its membership, which

spread across the country with the historical migration of black Americansfrom the South. In 2014 TNBA has more than 22,000 members nationwide,who belong to more than 100 senates.

As befits its motto, “Sportsmanship, fellowship and friendship,” TNBAthrives on the social and competitive nature of bowling. Its adult programs includeleague bowling competition plus regional, national and celebrity tournaments.It also maintains a hall of fame and scholarship and charity programs.

TNBA’s junior bowling program has more than 2,800 members betweenthe ages of six and 22. Its events include league bowling competition, fourregional tournaments and a national junior championship tournament. Ascholarship program provides more than $10,000 per year in grants toyoung bowlers who are high school graduates and entering a vocationalschool, trade school or college.

Annette R. Samuels, executive director of TNBA, typifies the dedicationof its membership, some of whom have belonged for more than 60 years.She has worked for TNBA for more than 27 years, even relocating from NewYork City when the organization moved its headquarters to Cincinnati in 2005.

Although TNBA members are serious competitors, Samuels describes themas “a family” off the lanes. “We’re not strangers to anyone. If you were to cometo our convention, you would immediately be made to feel like family,” says

TNBA board meeting, 1944.

FEATURE


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Robert Sax is a writer and PRconsultant in Los Angeles. Hegrew up in Toronto, Canada, thehome of five-pin bowling.

Samuels. “I can go anywhere in the United States and call [a member] andif I need something they will come to my aid, no matter what it may be.”

THE TRIUMPHANT RETURN TO DETROITThe 75th anniversary convention was held May 22-June 1, 2014 in Ann

Arbor, MI, near Detroit. More than 10,000 people participated in theconvention. Multiple tournaments were held at five area bowling centersincluding Colonial Lanes, Plum Hollow Lanes, Skore Lanes, Super Bowl,and Thunderbowl.

Since the group’s inception, serious competition mixed with fun hasbeen the hallmark of TNBA tournaments. “Trash talk,” the African-Americantradition in which creative insults and boasts are used to try to intimidate an opponent,plays a prominent role. “It’s no fun if there’s no trash talk’” says Samuels. “[It’s about]you beating your opponent and having fun beating your opponent.”

The Margaret S. Lee Battle of the Sexes, another fundraiser, pitted five-membermen’s or women’s teams against each other. Samuel believes this may be the mosthotly-contested event of the tournament. “If you really want to hear some trash-talkin’,”says Samuels, “you have to attend the Battle of the Sexes.”

Junior bowlers faced off at a fun fair, which raises funds for the scholarshipprograms, and the Anthony J. Roberts Championship Rolloff. The AJR bringstogether the Division I handicap team champions from each TNBA regional tournamentto determine a national champion.

Fun is paramount at the TNBA convention, which includes several non-bowlingevents including luncheons, dinners, and a gospel music festival. Chief among themis the King and Queen Coronation Ball, which recognizes the top male and femalefundraisers of the year. The king and queen are crowned and then begin a year asgoodwill ambassadors for TNBA, visiting all the regional events.

LOOKING AHEADWhile Samuels honors TNBA’s past, she also measures the group’s success in the

achievements of contemporary black bowlers. “You really didn’t have at one time manypros who were African-American. Now we’re definitely on the rise,” she says. Thanks to

TNBA’s leadership and activism, “African-American bowlers are just as competitive[as other bowlers] because they have moreopportunities than they did back then.”

Those opportunities have led tooutstanding achievements by blackbowlers. In April 2014, Amos Gordonof Colorado Springs became the firstbowler in the state of Colorado to roll a900 series. If approved by the USBC,Gordon’s score would be only the 25thUSBC-approved 900 in history.

In professional bowling, Billy Oatmanof Chicago was PBA Rookie of the Year in2006-07, the first black bowler to win thattitle. In 2008, the first matchup of blackplayers for a professional title in the historyof bowling occurred at the U.S. Women’sOpen. Kim Terrell-Kearney of GrandPrairie, Texas defeated Trisha Reid of Ohio,216-189, to win her second Open.

Given its many achievements at age 75,TNBA could be excused for resting on itslaurels. But Samuels and her organizationcontinue to work hard for the future. “Ourgoal is to continue to provide our servicesto our members, and to continue to helpour youth to become productive adults,”she says. “If we want to be around foranother 50 years, we have to get ouryoung members involved.”

As long as there is bowling, you canbet that TNBA will be around. ❖

Fuller Gordy team winners.

INDUSTRY NEWS


amily entertainment centers are gathering places,but in February leaders in the industry will have

a gathering of their own. “Most conferences are really aimed at people

starting an FEC business but no quality forum exists currentlyfocused on leadership. This conference is for decision makers,”shares George Smith, a co-founder of Face 2 FaceEntertainment Conference (F2FEC).

“Four years ago, two friends and I first got the idea to bringthe best of the best together because by sharing informationwe can improve the business both in political and financialarenas. There have been very few innovations in the FECbusiness for decades. Much of it is derivative of earlyprogenitors such as Chuck E. Cheese and what worked in theentertainment marketplace.

“The FEC business is unique. We want to create a forumwhere experienced owners and operators can share bestpractices and have face-to-face interaction to keep up withthe challenges of the industry.”

The inaugural Face 2 Face Entertainment Conference isscheduled for Feb. 24-26 at the Point Hilton Tapatio CliffsResort in Phoenix. It is designed as an educational conferenceto benefit all family entertainment center professionals,

including manufacturers, suppliers and operators in allsegments of the industry including bowling centers, traditionalfamily entertainment centers, roller and ice skating rinks,trampoline parks, water parks, hybrid parks and specialtyentertainment center attractions.

Family entertainment center industry veterans Rick Iceberg,Ben Jones, and George Smith—known as The ThreeAmigos—have teamed up to stage a comprehensive FECconference experience.

The trio are veteran operators industry supporters andactive volunteers with 95 years combined experience infamily entertainment.

Iceberg is owner and president of C.J. Barrymore’s, alarge amusement center with indoor and outdoor attractions,with a strong corporate event and party base, in ClintonTownship, MI (Detroit) for 40 years.

Jones, with 20 years as an FEC owner/operator, also hasexperience with 18 startups and 27 years as an entrepreneur,and is currently an FEC Specialist and Senior Lender at LiveOak Bank headquartered in Wilmington, NC. He is anexperienced trainer, speaker and event planner.

With more than 30 years experience in the entertainmentand amusement business, Smith is president of Family

LET'S TALK FECLeaders share what's now, what's next in family entertainment

F

By Pamela Kleibrink Thompson

The Three Amigos are, from left,Rick Iceberg, Ben Jones and George Smith.

INDUSTRY NEWS


Entertainment Group, Barrington, IL, a coin-operatedgames and attraction operator with more than 90locations in 14 states.

When asked about the relationship of The ThreeAmigos, Ben Jones answered, “We have tremendousrespect for each other’s talents and we really enjoyworking together.”

Smith added, “Our approach is different, our styles aredifferent, our industry experiences different, and yet wealign on the basics and come together on common goals,big ideals and hopes for the entertainment industry.”

The three men spearheaded the 2013 FEC PhoenixConference under the auspices of IAAPA, but “we feelthat we only got it 70% right,” reflects Rick Iceberg. “Wecan do better, do more, and we can create a betterexperience and value for everyone attending.”

After their success there, the three decided to createtheir own independent, stand-alone FEC conferenceevent and return to Phoenix for its debut. “Pointe HiltonTapatio Cliffs Resort has great venues and the right mixof amenities which are so important for stimulating greatconversations, and we have the space with freedomand flexibility to hold meetings, social functions and bartime in multiple locations, both indoors and outside,”shared Jones.

The three planners are pledging that the new FECevent will be “Bigger, badder, bolder, better and different.”

Jones notes, “To us, bigger doesn’t mean numbers.Bigger for us is bigger centers and a bigger breadth ofgenres. The point of differentiation for F2FEC is that we

are designing the conference for leaders in the industry. We will havenew speakers, new topics and new perspectives.”

Iceberg adds, “The F2FEC is all about building relationships in acasual setting. Sessions will be short and to-the-point by industryexperts. We will not have any long, boring speeches that don't haverelevance to our industry. It will be about industry people sharingamong industry people and finding ways to grow the business.”

Sessions at F2FEC will be presented in 17-minute stints similar to“TED-style” presentations inspired by the Sapling Foundation’spopular technology, entertainment and design conferences. Sessionswill focus on best practices and trends.

Complementing the TED-style talks, table talks and “group think”open forums will sustain a highly engaging atmosphere.

Keynotes and debates will alternate with group meals,entertainment, receptions, and prizes to enliven the conference.

“By combining genres and sectors, and fostering camaraderie andidea-sharing among high-level professionals, F2FEC will be able to drivebusiness growth and needed change,” stated Jones. “Someone whoisn’t current, who doesn’t hit the ‘refresh’ button, is hurting the industry.We want to develop leadership qualities in our attendees. Thisconference is not for everyone. We can be exclusionary to the benefitof the attendees. We want senior level professionals to talk about someof the things that are never discussed at other FEC conferences.”

“The F2FEC will be a gathering of the best operators in thecountry,” promises Iceberg. “We have one goal—make more money.We will share knowledge and experience.”

F2FEC is an independent, philanthropically-produced conferenceopen to all entertainment industry supporters. Membership oraffiliation with specific organizations or trade associations is notrequired for attendance, exhibition, or sponsorships.

“There is no other event for experienced FEC professionals, andto keep it independent of any organizations we are subsidizing theF2FEC out of our own pockets,” Smith comments.

Iceberg is excited about bringing different genres of the industrytogether to create more innovation. "Bowling is what totallychanged my complex. Without bowling my center wouldn't beanything what it is now. Bowling is a great industry to add to anentertainment center."

For more information about F2FEC, contact the organizers RickIceberg at (810) 444-2222, [email protected]; Ben Jones at(248) 371-0700, [email protected]; or George Smith, (630) 240-8261, [email protected].

For more information about Pointe Hilton Tapatio Cliffs Resort,go to http://www.tapatiocliffshilton.com. ❖

Pamela Kleibrink Thompson lives in Idaho. In addition to writing, sheis a career coach and scenario role player for peace officer training.Pamela worked as a production manager on the Emmy Award-winninganimated series The Simpsons, where she bowled regularly withmembers of the crew. She speaks on career issues at conferences allover the world. You can reach Pamela at [email protected].

COVER STORY


COVER STORY

29IBI December 2014

ith 680 lanebeds in just 15 centers, it could be argued thatLas Vegas already is the Bowling Capital of the World. So whatdoes an area with nine facilities each with 56 or more lanesneed with another bowling establishment of that size?

A permanent place to hold major tournaments, that's what. It's why Michael Gaughan, owner of the South Point Hotel and Casino that

already features a 64-lane bowling center, spent $35 million of his own moneyon a building that includes a 60-lane stadium, in partnership with the Las VegasConvention and Visitors Authority, Las Vegas Events, and the United StatesBowling Congress (USBC).

Called South Point Bowling Plaza, it opened to much fanfare Nov. 1-2 with thetaping of the PBA World Series of Bowling VI. That was nearly nine months aheadof schedule, something that made South Point bowling operations directorMike Monyak extremely proud.

“It made my wife happy because it was giving me gray hairs,” Monyak said.“We caught a lot of breaks on the early part of the project with the concretepourers and steel pourers and everywhere else. The weather held up and therewere no down days.

W

By Mark Miller

“Once we realized we'd be done early we thought, ‘Let’s open Jan. 1.’ Then oncewe thought that, we figured, ‘Let's go for the whole thing and have it ready for thePBA's World Series of Bowling TV shows.’”

The facility features 30 lanes on either side of an elevated 50-feet-wide concourseset high enough so spectators can easily see bowlers and scoreboards on both sides.The sound and lighting systems also have been designed to make the place bothspectator- and tournament-friendly.

“I go through moments of 'Wow, this is really neat' and then another moment of'What have I gotten into?’” Monyak said of his 92,000-square-foot baby. “It's an ideathat Mr. Gaughan and I have kicked around for the last 10 years and this time theidea fell into a time slot and a niche where it was needed and just all came together.

“Combining the center with the Priefert Pavilion beneath us for equestrian events(that opened in June), all worked out for us all the way around. And by bringing USBChere so many times over the next nine years or so helps the city out as well. There'sno way we can accommodate all the hotel rooms needed to host these events.”

Monyak said reports that South Point can only house 27% of attendees are high,adding to the benefit other properties should enjoy. While some properties aren'thappy with the arena being built elsewhere in town, Monyak quelled rumors of publicmoney helping pay for the project.

“This is all being paid for by Mr. Gaughan,” he said. “The money that people keepmisrepresenting is the money that Las Vegas Events is giving USBC to subsidize itslineage (which USBC receives from all host cities). It's no different than any other citythey've ever gone to.”

A major reason the venue happened was USBC’s agreeing to bring its Open andWomen's Championships to South Point a combined seven times between 2016 and2024. An additional 40 bowling events and conventions promised over a dozen yearsmade it even easier for Las Vegas Events to put up $5.6 million.

“Las Vegas and the new world-class bowling stadium at South Point Hotel andCasino offer the perfect backdrop for the United States Bowling Congress OpenChampionships and Women’s Championships,” said Rossi Ralenkotter, president andchief executive officer of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority. “Las Vegas’relationship with the USBC began back in 1973 when we hosted the Women’sChampionships [at the old Showboat]. Since then, we’ve hosted many USBC events

over the years [at Showboatand the Cashman Field Center]that have brought hundreds ofthousands of visitors to LasVegas and generated tens ofmillions of dollars for our localeconomy.

“We’re very excited towelcome the athletes and theirlegions of loyal fans to LasVegas through 2024 andprovide them with anexperience found nowhereelse. This is a strong partnershipthat leverages the proudheritage of bowling and a state-of-the-art, multi-million-dollartournament facility with the

excitement and energy of Las Vegas. That’sa winning combination.”

Monyak strongly believes other LasVegas-area bowling properties shouldbenefit rather well because bowlers willstay where there are bowling lanes.

“I want all of us to be successful,”Monyak said. “I also want Reno to benefitfrom us building our events up. The Stadiumin Reno is a beautiful facility. It is an excellentfacility that deserves the respect of every

COVER STORY


Ryan Growney, general manager of South PointHotel and Casino.


bowler that has a USBC card. It's ashame the numbers are going downthere.”

Monyak believes the new SouthPoint Bowling Plaza has thepotential to help USBC reverse itsdeclines in participation for its Openand Women's Championships.

“We also know Vegas is acreature [unto] itself,” he said. “It'snot about me, Mr. Gaughan orSouth Point. It's Vegas, and Vegasdraws. If we can build the numbersof the events and that residual goesinto Reno, as far as I'm concernedwe've done our job. That's thewhole idea to make this event bebetter and better.”

But USBC will not be the only game in town. Monyaksaid about 120 days of events already are planned for2015, “a good operating window for the first year.” In2016, when USBC's rotation begins with the Women'sChampionships, he expects to be busy 220 days. Then in2017, buoyed by the USBC Open Championships, thePlaza will host events for more than 300 days.

Among the other events scheduled for 2015 are theTeen Masters and PBA World Series of Bowling.

“I'm looking forward to the bowlers coming here,”Monyak said.

To ensure bowlers feel right at home, Monyak enlistedhis staff to help decide on South Point Bowling Plaza'samenities.

“My entire staff here at South Point all got togetherand literally listed all of our gripes of places we've been,”Monyak said. “We fixed the majority of problems and took

into consideration what do we want to see and I'm fortunate thata lot of my staff here are bowlers and we put down what we'd liketo see and incorporated it into the center.”

What are some examples? “The bowlers area behind the pair is literally wide open,” Monyak

said. “Normally when one bowler comes off the approach and theother is at the ball return getting ready to take a practice shot, youhave to turn sideways to get past each other. Two guys my size cango by each other without having to turn sideways.

“The settee is designed for business. It is not a social settee. That'sthe reason there's no open play, there's no leagues. It's like someonementioned, and I've used this phrase a lot: ‘You don't play softballat Yankee Stadium.’”

Monyak said USBC and Brunswick worked together to create astrong scoring system while Brunswick has integrated into thearena's Daktronics system for overhead scoreboards.

“It is strictly designed for competition,” Monyak said. “It's not asocial center at all. There's chairs for the players to sit but there’s no

tabletops in the settee area. We did thefloor in two colors in the settee area.A lighter color indicates where youbowl from, this is business; and adarker area is where you walk andwhere you store your bags.”

That's in contrast to the South PointBowling Center that opened morethan a decade ago for league andrecreational bowlers.

“It is not designed to do the kindof tournaments I will be doing in here,”Monyak said. “It was designed forheavy league, heavy open play, heavysweepers. And we've done okay withit but now we have a facility that lends

COVER STORY

VIP onlookers and the press view the opening festivities from the stands.


Mark Miller is a freelance writer, editor, and public relationsspecialist from Flower Mound, TX. He's the author of Bowling:

America's Greatest Indoor Pastime available at Amazon.com ordirectly from him at [email protected].

itself to those bigger events.” Some big events that have been held in the bowling center

will stay there rather than move to the arena because they aremore social in nature. But any event with television will be in thenew stadium. The World Series of Bowling previously taped itsshows on specially-installed lanes in the property's exhibit hallssince the center isn't designed for television like the new arena.

Televised shows will be filmed on lanes 23 and 24 which willallow use of the entire seating area on the first 30 lanes. Forthose on the low end who can't see the pins, the overhead

scoreboards will show the action. But there will notbe any down-lane seating.

“We're looking to make the shows more likethey were in the ’80s where everyone sat behind thebowlers,” Monyak said. “The bowlers were theprime thing you watched. Nothing was aroundthem. They were the focal point.”

If the many competitive bowlers passing throughSouth Point Bowling Plaza agree, Monyak believeshe and his staff will have done their jobs.

“For us here we're looking forward to thereception of the bowlers and we're hopeful that theyrecognize that we took into consideration whatbowlers want,” he said.

“Everybody's come together on this project, notjust one person or a couple of people that's gotten together.We're looking forward to the bowlers' perception of it. Our goalis that the bowlers receive it well and I think they will.” ❖

Frank Zhao (left) and the top Chinese PBA players are honored to meet Gary Smith (center) ofBrunswick Bowling.

COVER STORY

WHAT BOWLING MEANS TO ME


eing the mom of a 10 year old, I can’tescape the fact that choices that wemake in life have consequences. Ourchoices shape us, and when I look back

on the choices I have made, they all together putme right where I am today. I often reflect back on

the times when I had a choice to goanother way, and I can’t imagine

who I would be or what Iwould be doing if a differentchoice had been made.

One story I use nomatter the audience, I call“One- Way Ticket.” I use itto help others, especially

high school and collegiatebowlers who are just starting

out, realize their potential. I was blessed to be a part of a

strong community that was involvedin education for generations. My sister

Cathy and I were immersed in my mother’spolitical world, and we have served ourcommunity since we were eight years old, fromserving pasta at spaghetti dinner fundraisers, tosinging at fundraisers, to selling raffle ticketsdoor-to-door. It’s a life lesson to be a part ofsomething you know will impact people’s livesand make a difference.

My mom was on the board of education for aslong as I can remember, so Cathy and I knew theimportance of education. Going to college wason my radar, but I wasn’t sure my grades wouldget me in.

I was an okay student in high school, but I hadterrible study habits. I was the one that crammedthe night before the test. After graduation, I

THEONE-WAYTICKET

By Carolyn Dorin-Ballard

B

WHAT BOWLING MEANS TO ME

37IBI December 2014

went to business school and didn’t really care for it, sodecided to enroll in community college. If I raised my GPA Iknew I could go away to college. My mom was shocked thatI was trying to raise my grades because going away to schoolwas never discussed.

After raising my grades, I took my parents to dinner to tellthem that I had applied to West Texas State University andhad been accepted. WTSU had the number-one bowling teamin the country at the time, and that was what I wanted to do:bowl collegiately.

After some discussion, my mom laid down the law. Shesaid, “Here is what we will do. We will buy you a one-wayticket and you must stay for the whole semester. If at the endof the semester you are unhappy, you don’t have to goback. But you have to stay the whole semester.” This was justthe motivation I needed.

At that moment all I could think was what a big decisionI would have to make. But I knew I could do this. In the end,I definitely made the right choice and was successful. I wentto class every day, (I couldn’t imagine wasting my parents’money!), and made the dean’s list. Yes, the dean’s list,something of which I am extremely proud. I worked on mystudy habits and loved my major, communications, with aminor in public relations.

The lesson I learned is that if you truly believe in something,

you can succeed. All I everwanted to do was bowl,and to bowl I had to keepup my grades. I was willingto learn the new skill of“how to study” in order tobe able to do the thing Iloved most, bowl.

One of the greatestthings I love aboutbowling is that you don’thave to be the smartestor the best. Many of the greatest bowlers became who they arebecause of their passion, desire, heart, and pure love of the game.It is with commitment, dreams and hard work that we succeed.

Anyone—I mean anyone—can do what I did. You just have tobelieve that dreams do come true! ❖

Eliminate rental shoes, increase profits and enhance your customers bowling experience

• Bowl in your own shoes. •Great for parties & events.Your customers will enjoy bowling in their own street shoes. Our research revealed they would even bowl more often!

Bowling Buddies Shoe Covers come in 3 sizes that will fit 97% of all shoe sizes. Visit our website to purchase a sample box and give them a try.

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Carolyn Dorin-Ballard is a professional bowler with 22 national titlesand is a USBC Hall of Famer. Mrs. Dorin-Ballard recently joined TurboGrips as manager of their professional and amateur staff andevents. She is mom to 10-year-old Alyssa and wife of Del BallardJr. When Mrs. Dorin-Ballard isn’t working or bowling, she and herhusband run Ballard’s Bowling Academy.

Dorin-Ballard, far left, with her #1 collegiateteam, West Texas State University.

TRADE SHOW NEWS


“10 across 10” tournament atthe National Bowling Stadiumkicked off the West BowlingCoast Bowling Convention, Oct.

19-21, hosted at the Silver Legacy ResortCasino in Reno. How the new EMV creditcard technology will affect proprietors,success with teenage employees, and theserious profit potential in a wine-by-the-glass program highlighted education at theshow. Principal sponsors this year includedBrunswick QubicaAMF, Shock Top BrewingCo., CleanSource supply distributor, andHerzog Insurance Agency. ❖

A

WEST COAST SHOWA Silver Strike in Reno

The lineup, aka 10 past presidents of Nor Cal Bowling Centers(the Northern California association), organizer of the show.

Ryan Foley, Epic Wines & Spirits, whose seminarbriefed proprietors on the money in wine.

Susan and Jim Decker of Rohnert Park.He is a Nor Cal past president.

“10 across 10” tourney at theNational Bowling Stadium.

Words for attendees at the tradeshow from Tim Gregory of ShockTop Brewing Co.


SHOWCASE

MINI BOWLINGQubicaAMF’s Highway 66 Mini Bowlingsystem has just been enhanced. Nowavailable in eight, new attractive themesto match your center, “wow” yourcustomers and keep them playing longer.It also offers the ultimate in quality andhassle-free maintenance and operation. Proudly made in theU.S.A., QubicaAMF has taken mini bowling to a whole newlevel. Highway 66 is an exciting, casual alternative forcustomers of all ages. Learn more by visiting www.amuse-ment.qubicaamf.com.

LASER TAGJonesboro Bowling Center is home to one ofthe latest Lasertron offerings. Lasertron offersturnkey packages which include professionaldesign services as well as the laser tag equip-ment, LED arenas, new facades and acomplete POS solutions. By making spaceavailable within an existing center, laser tagcan become a profitable attraction bringing repeat playersback into the center and to the attraction. For more informa-tion about how laser tag can enhance your center, [email protected] or visit www.lasertron.us.

FURNITUREVenue Furniture for bowlingfurniture and wall elements.The HEADPIN sofa series isspecifically designed for thebowlers’ settee and can be built in many shapes and styles. Itcan be arranged in a lounge-style setting with coffee tables orin a dining configuration with dining-height tables. With acomplete line of high-quality bowling furniture, a designpackage can be created specifically for your center at aaffordable price. For more info go to BowlingFurniture.com,email [email protected] or call 855-55VENUE.

SPECIAL FLOORINGGKM International has beenawarded a second patent for itsProfit Platform®, an innovative,portable and expandable platformdesigned to allow centers to transform their lane and gutterarea into a flat surface for special events. A perfect way toincrease revenue and maximize ROI per square foot.Manufactured in the U.S.A. using recycled plastics, the ProfitPlatform® is being used by over 60 bowling centers in theU.S. and Japan. For more info call 310-791-7092 or visitwww.profitplatform.biz.

CUSTOMIZEDSCORING SYSTEMSTwelve Strike, takes each customer’sneeds into account. Steve Goldie,owner of Pismo Bowl, Pismo Beach,CA, opted for a solid, black pedestalonto which he could affix adhesive signs as needed. “From thefirst day, our customers have stepped right up to the new touchscreen format and operated the new system with ease,” saysGoldie. 24/7 tech support and talking with a real person werealso important benefits. For more info on products and servicesvisit www.twelvestrike.com or call 562-984-6240.

BOWLING PINSLinds World Impex has provided qualitybowling products since 1919. Its bowlingpins, approved by USBC, offer durabilityand reliability. All Linds pins, mini andstandard, have a one-year warrantyagainst manufacturer defects and alifetime warranty on base separation. Pins come in white,glow white, red, yellow, orange, silver and gold. A custombirthday pin is also available. Go to www.linds.com/pins.htmlfor more information or call 800-950-4568.

SCORING REPAIRS& UPGRADESNew Center Consulting, Inc.’sTouch Desk III and Touch Score3 received a big response and many new customers at BowlExpo due to its increased capabilities, new features, affordableoptions, and expanded tech support. The goal is scoring repairsand upgrades in “piecemeal” fashion to save expense and offeradditional support. The lowest-cost path to new scoring. Thenew Tech Support hotline is 239-244-9464; new Tech Supportemail is [email protected]. Additional info can befound at 248-375-2751.

NOVELTY PRODUCTSSierra Products’ website,NoveltyBowlingStuff.com, is theperfect stop for birthday partypackages, tournament sales, leagueprizes, glow bowling nights, andsnack bar sales. Most products canbe personalized with your centername or event name. Call 800-900-7695 for more informationor visit www.NoveltyBowlingStuff.com.


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WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/BOWLINGFAN202 Bridge StreetJessup, PA 18434570-489-8623www.minigolfinc.com

MINIATURE GOLF COURSESIndoor/Outdoor. Portable/Pre-Fab. Black

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•Keys & ComboLocks for allTypes ofLockers.

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43IBI December 2014

CLASSIFIEDS

Felix Erickson Co., Inc.Strike Zone© Family of Lane Products

Strike Zone© Next Generation LC 5 gal case $105Envi-Cide II Disinfectant Shoe sparay 12/15 oz $87.95

Solve-It © Orange Foam Cleaner 12/18 oz $69.95FESI Solve-IT© Ball Wheel Liner 22’ $90

NEW RM 107 Rubber/Cork Wheel Liner $29.95/Roll070-006-757S Smooth Dist. Belt w/ lacing $35 ea.

000-024-604 Gray Ball Lift Belt $195 ea.

Exclusive Phenolic Kickback PlatesFront F128D 16” x 33” $88 ea.

Rear F129 19” x 23 3/4” $88 ea.NEW F131T 16” x 40” $125 ea.

All plates include screws and instructions

800-445-1090 (F) 609-267-4669 festrikezone.comResurfacing - Repairs - Supplies

ARE YOU A FAN OF BOWLING? www.Facebook.com/BowlingFan


CLASSIFIEDS

MANAGER WANTED

Don't miss your chance to grow with anIndustry Leader! Looking forExperienced, Service-Oriented GeneralManagers for our U.S. bowling retailcenter locations. Please check us out atwww.brunswickcareers.apply2jobs.comfor more details on our current openings.Act Now! Apply Today!

NEEDED: GM for mid-sized Kansas Citycenter. Proficiency with computer skills,business management & marketing skills.Aggressive promotion needed. Partnershipavailable for right person. Email resume [email protected].

EQUIPMENT WANTED

LANE MACHINES WANTED. We willpurchase your KEGEL-built machine, any ageor condition. Call (608) 764-1464.

SERVICES AVAILABLE

Drill Bit Sharpening and Measuring BallRepair. Jayhawk Bowling Supply. (800)255-6436 or jayhawkbowling.com.

AMF 5850 & 6525 CHASSIS. Exchangeyour tired or damaged chassis for anupgraded, rewired, cleaned, painted andready-to-run chassis. Fast turnaround.Lifetime guarantee. References available.CHASSIS DOCTOR (330) 314-8951.

EQUIPMENT FOR SALE

Get Redline Foul Lights atwww.joystickscoring.com or call Werner @(888) 569-7845. Sold exclusively in Canadaby JD Bowling Services (800) 346-5781.Home of Bowlingtrader.com, your FREEbuy & sell site.

EQUIPMENT FOR SALE

MISC: rebuilt Brunswick power lifts $750,“as is” $550; 20 factory A2 pinsetters,$500/ea.—must take all; original Anvil dotand arrow panels; 30 AMF HPL lanes, full,approach, pindeck; Phoenix lane machine$3500; reconditioned Gloss Boss $2500; 24lanes AMF Excel scoring; plastic AMFcapping; AMF bumper/gutter; 30 ea. 27”granite-cased Steltronic monitors $50 or all$1,000; wood lanes. COMPLETE LANEPACKAGES. (719) 251-1616.

EQUIPMENT FOR SALE

REPAIR & EXCHANGE. Call for details (248)375-2751.

NEW & USED Pro Shop Equipment.Jayhawk Bowling Supply. (800) 255-6436or jayhawkbowling.com.

WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/BOWLINGFAN

CENTERS FOR SALE

OKLAHOMA: 16-lane center with laser tag,arcade, snack bar, lounge. Only game intown. Must see—fully remodeled & beautiful.Needs a bowler to build very potentialbusiness. Owner will carry to viable investor.(719) 215-1616.

45IBI December 2014

CLASSIFIEDS

WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/BOWLINGFAN


CLASSIFIEDS

CENTERS FOR SALE

TENNESSEE: Recently remodeled 16-laneBrunswick A2 center with AS-90 scoring,Large game & billiard room. 3 party rooms.Full-service snack bar w/ pizza oven.Opportunities available. Includes RE – leaseor purchase. Would like to move quickly.Phone Curtis @ (501) 580-1452.

GEORGIA: Busy 32-lane center, real estateincluded. Great location in one of fastest–growing counties in metro Atlanta. 5 yearsnew with all the amenities. Excellentnumbers. Call (770) 356-8751.

NE MINNESOTA: Food, Liquor & Bowling.Established 8 lanes between Mpls & Duluthw/ large bar, dining room, banquet area.Two large State employment facilitiesnearby. High six-figure gross. Call Bryan(218) 380-8089. www.majesticpine.com.

CENTERS FOR SALE

LARRY DOBBS APPRAISALS. (214) 674-8187. [email protected].

SOUTHWEST KANSAS: Well-maintained 8-lane center, A-2s, full-service restaurant.Includes business and real estate. Nice,smaller community. Owner retiring. $212,000.Leave message (620) 397-5828.

CENTRAL ILLINOIS: PRICED TO SELL!!8-lane center with AMF 82-70s, full-servicerestaurant, pro shop. Plus pool tables,karaoke machine & DJ system. Asking$125,000.00 with RE. (217) 351-5152 [email protected].

NEW YORK, Lowville (home of QubicaAMFpin production): new, established 12-laneQubicaAMF center with all amenitiesincluding soft-serve window, state-of-the-artkitchen, bar & arcade. 16,640 s/f buildingwith parking 150+. (315) 376-3611 or (315)486-4325.

TEXAS: 24-lane center with limitedcompetition and good upside. Building &equipment in good condition. Real estateincluded. Owner retiring. Ken Paton (503)645-5630.

MISSOURI (east of Kansas City): 8 lanes.Excellent building. Divorce forces sale. Alloffers considered. (816) 415-9186.

BUY SELL

AMF • BRUNSWICK EQUIPMENT COMPLETE PACKAGES WORLDʼS LARGEST NEW – USED SPARE

PARTS INVENTORYALL AMF BUMPER PARTS, XS Q-BUMP,

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Danny & Daryl TuckerDanny & Daryl TuckerTucker Bowling Equipment Co. Bowling Parts, Inc.609 N.E. 3rd St. P.O. Box 801Tulia, Texas 79088 Tulia, Texas 79088Call (806) 995-4018 Call (806) 995-3635Fax (806) 995-4767 Email - [email protected]

www.tuckerbowling.com

Michael P. Davies (321) 254-7849291 Sandy Run, Melbourne, FL 32940

on the web: bowlingscorer.com email: [email protected]

AS80/90 • BOARD REPAIR • FrameworxSERVICE CALLS WORLDWIDE • PRE-SHIPS • WE SELL

NEW KEYPADS • FRONT DESK LCD MONITORS

NEW ITEM

AMF Chassis Plug Access Door. Easyaccess to work on chassis plugs.$9.99 ea. Nationwide AMF service.Visit TheBowlDoctor.com or call(608) 381-9276.

PROPRIETORS WITH AMF 82-70S.S. & M.P. MACHINES

Save $$ on Chassis & P.C. BoardExchange & Repair!

A reasonable alternative forChassis and P.C. Board Exchanges

MIKE BARRETTCall for Price List

Tel: (714) 871-7843 • Fax: (714) 522-0576

13-18ITC (Intercollegiate TeamChampionships)Northrock LanesWichita, KSwww.bowl.com/tournaments

19-20BCA of OhioFall Seminar & MeetingDoubletree HotelColumbus, OHPat Marazzi(937) 433-8363

MAY4-8Brunswick TrainingGS-Series Pinsetter MaintenanceMuskegon, MI(800) 937-2695, Option 2www.brunswickbowling.com/service-support/training

11-15Brunswick TrainingVector Scoring MaintenanceMuskegon, MI(800) 937-2695, Option 2www.brunswickbowling.com/service-support/training

13-19USBC Queens-Sr. QueensAshwaubenon BowlGreen Bay, WI(800) 514-BOWL (2695)

JUNE10-11Birthday UniversityRaleigh, NCFrank Price(919) [email protected]

47IBI December 2014

DATEBOOK

JANUARY 20152-7Team USA TrialsThe OrleansLas Vegas, NVTennelle Milligan(817) [email protected]

11-15BPAA Bowling SummitHyatt Regency San AntonioSan Antonio, TX(800) 343-1329www.bpaa.com/bowlingsummit

12-16Brunswick TrainingGS-Series Pinsetter MaintenanceMuskegon, MI(800) 937-2695, Option 2www.brunswickbowling.com/service-support/training


20-22Foundations EntertainmentUniversityPhoenix, AZRandy White(816) 931-1040

22BCA of OhioExecutive Board MeetingDoubletree HotelColumbus, OHPat Marazzi(937) 433-8363

28-29Birthday UniversityHilton Garden InnOrlando, FLFrank Price(919) [email protected]

FEBRUARY2-8USBC Masters TournamentAshwaubenon BowlGreen Bay, WI(800) 514-BOWL (2695)[email protected]/Masters

MARCH9-13Brunswick TrainingGS-Series Pinsetter MaintenanceMuskegon, MI(800 937-2695, Option 2www.brunswickbowling.com/service-support/training


24-26AAMA-AMOA Amusement ExpoLas Vegas Convention CenterLas Vegas, NVwww.amusementexpo.org

APRIL1-2Birthday UniversityChicago, ILFrank Price(919) [email protected]

IBI December 2014

REMEMBER WHEN

48

arlands, ribbons, snow, a red velvet suit, and a bagfull of bowling gifts, another charming holiday cardshared by bowling writer Chuck Pezzano.

The year? Timeless.We at IBI wish you all the Merriest of Christmases and the

Happiest of Holidays. ❖

It’s in the BagG

Documents

IBI December 2014