CONTENTS
VOL 23.6
8 ISSUE AT HAND
46 FEATURE
An exciting, frightening past
The Main (Event) Idea “Segmentation” okay as the chain opens number 20.
By Scott Frager
By Fred Groh
10 SHORTS • Bowling celebrates heavy metal voice. • Chrisman, Voight honored by BPAA. • MillerCoors signs as official beer.
52 BUSINESS 30
Bowling’s Biggest Ally Debra Boje stands legal guard for Florida. By Pamela Kleibrink Thompson
By Patty Heath
THE WORLD'S ONLY MAGAZINE DEVOTED EXCLUSIVELY TO THE BUSINESS OF BOWLING
PUBLISHER & EDITOR Scott Frager frager@bowlingindustry.com Skype: scottfrager
ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER David Garber garber@bowlingindustry.com
OFFICE MANAGER Patty Heath heath@bowlingindustry.com
CONTRIBUTORS Fred Groh Patty Heath Paul Lane Anna Littles Pamela Kleibrink Thompson Mark Miller
CONTRIBUTING EDITOR Fred Groh fredgroh@bowlingindustry.com
EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Jackie Fisher fisher@bowlingindustry.com
ART DIRECTION & PRODUCTION Designworks
56 MILESTONE
16 EXPO EXTRA
USBC Celebrates Decade
Putting on a Happy Face
Tribute to pre-USBC execs highlights convention week.
Biggest-ever raffle still paying off after two years.
By Mark Miller
By Fred Groh
58 SPOTLIGHT
24 CENTER STAGE
Keeping Score
The Gospel of Bowling The family that bowls together, stays together.
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Steltronic tallies for the women, seven years running.
Hunter Whiskey By Patty Heath
Former MLB player fulfills his PBA dream. By Mark Miller
Jessie Phua has a big plan for Singapore bowling.
69 Datebook
By Paul Lane
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62 Showcase
By Anna M. Littles
From the Bullpen to Tenpin
FOUNDER Allen Crown (1933-2002)
SUBSCRIPTION RATES: One copy of International Bowling Industry is sent free to every bowling center, independently owned pro shop and collegiate bowling center in the U.S., and every military bowling center and pro shop worldwide. Publisher reserves the right to provide free subscriptions to those individuals who meet publication qualifications. Additional subscriptions may be purchased for delivery in the U.S. for $50 per year. Subscriptions for Canada and Mexico are $65 per year, all other foreign subscriptions are $80 per year. All foreign subscriptions should be paid in U.S. funds using International Money Orders. POSTMASTER: Please send new as well as old address to International Bowling Industry, 12655 Ventura Boulevard, Studio City, CA 91604 USA. If possible, please furnish address mailing label. Printed in U.S.A. Copyright 2015, B2B Media, Inc. No part of this magazine may be reprinted without the publisher’s permission.
By Mark Miller
30 PROFILE
www.dzynwrx.com (818) 735-9424
THE ISSUE AT HAND
An Exciting, Frightening Past I’ve got to admit that the first cuts were hard to watch and hear. The sounds of saw blades ripping, the smoke, the smell. I had weird feelings as if doctors were about to operate on my own body and I was forced to watch the entire thing. It wasn’t me, thankfully, but the first of 32 lanes we were replacing. Upgrades like this happen approximately once every quartercentury, so to have this responsibility fall during my tenure was both exciting and frightening. The exciting elements centered on the education I needed. I wanted to learn everything about lanes— how they are made, why one is different from another, the installation process, and, of course, the costs associated with the purchase and installation. I wanted to know all I could so that I could make an informed decision for the center’s partners. What an education it was. What surprised me was the uniqueness each manufacturer builds into its product. Anyone who thinks lanes are a commodity, where the only determining factor is price, is simply wrong. However, it is true that there are many great lane products out there. It’s hard to make a bad decision. The frightening part of the upgrade happened the first night of the install. We had decided not to close our center during the process. That would have made things easier, but we just couldn’t afford to lose any business. So we carefully worked out how many lanes would be worked on during the week so
we could be open for a full house on the weekend. Our installer worked hard to make it happen. But, as everyone knows, skeletons appear anytime one goes through such an extensive project. For instance, we discovered that the old installer used a type of glue between the panels and on the old wood lanes that rendered them useless even in the re-sale market. It took much longer to remove and our installer was back to sanding the lanes, just like the old days. When the old synthetics were removed, we discovered the previous installer’s handwritten measurements on the original wood lanes from 23 years ago. We found out how resourceful he was when he installed those firstgeneration synthetic lanes. Playing cards had been used as shims for those ever-so-slight irregularities in the sanded wood lanes. That practice may have been state-of-the-art then, but certainly not acceptable now. But even after 23 years under the synthetics, the original wood lanes still looked great. Many of our guests, young and old alike, were drawn to them. There was something mystical, even sacred, about seeing the bowling lanes “how they used to be.” All our bowlers are excited watching the installation progress. They have been overwhelmingly positive, as they know we are investing heavily in “their” bowling center. I can’t wait for our installation to be finished. It will be nice knowing that the patient survived the surgery.
– SCOTT FRAGER, PUBLISHER AND EDITOR frager@bowlingindustry.com
4Your Bowler of the Month
Howard Larsen celebrates at Clearview Lanes with daughter Kristine Lowman. Photo by Barry Decker, LNP correspondent.
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The March 2015 issue spotlighted our first Bowler of the Month segment. The idea was that bowling and a long life go hand in hand. Little did we know how many nonagenarians would be found. Many! However, this month must highlight a centenarian—Howard Larsen. 1915 was the year, February 28 the month and day. Howard has bowled recreationally through much of his life. He even worked as a pinchaser during his youth in Queens, NY. He entered league competition when he moved to the Lancaster, PA, area. His center home is Clearview Lanes in Mt. Joy, where he averages 139. So, the secret to longevity? Howard believes in staying active. As for bowling, “You always have to hit the head pin.”
Do you have a special bowler at your center we can highlight? Email Patty at heath@bowlingindustry.com.
SHORTS
EXPANSIONS, OPENINGS & NEW BEGINNINGS HeadPinz Fort Myers in Cape Coral, FL, opens its doors this month. The 50,000-square-foot center is more of a multi-use entertainment attraction than centers of the past. Included is a two-story laser tag arena, a suspended aerial ropes section and an area featuring more than 40 top arcade games. Yes, bowling is there too. 28 lanes to be exact—16 in a traditional setting, eight in a boutique area with its own bar, and four with pin setting by hand and a vintage look.
Bowlmor’s Bowlero Mar Vista, tucked away in trendy Mar Vista, CA, opened with music, klieg lights and a dancing bowling pin. Once known as Mar Vista Lanes, it now includes an expanded menu, club lighting and a permanent DJ booth. The interior called “Road trip to Baja” looks back on the entire 20th century, from Dogtown and Z-Boys surf to Lava Lamps to Ms. Pac-Man. It’s all mixed up and wildly fun.
Wichita-based JOMA Bowling is a breath away from opening The Alley of Hutchinson in Hutchinson, KS. The center will have 20 traditional lanes for league bowling plus eight more boutique lanes that can be used by casual, drop-in bowlers or reserved for private parties. In addition, there will be a game area with dozens of electronic games, laser tag, a billiard room, air-cushioned bumper cars and AJ’s Sports Grill with 16 80-inch televisions to watch games. For the hungry, a 29-inch pizza is offered.
Chattanooga, TN, now boasts a new bowling center and restaurant complex, Southside Social. The center offers billiards and ping-pong rooms and a variety of outdoor activities such as bocce ball and horseshoes. Of course, there is bowling—10 lanes and a private room and bar for parties.
Once known as Plamor Lanes in Muscatin, IA, the Roseman brothers—Rob, Mike, Joe and Dusty—as new owners have dubbed the center Rose Bowl. The brothers are owners of Leisure Lanes in Davenport and have now added this sister center. A makeover is in the works plus plans to bring a pro shop back into the center. Down the road, it’s possible the center will see additions such as a laser maze, go-karts, and batting cages. 10
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Media
WATCH
MODERN FAMILY BOWLING TWIST Love it when shows wrap a story around bowling, and that is just what ABC’s Modern Family did on April 22, using Pinz Entertainment Center in Studio City, CA, as their venue. For those of you who are not familiar with it, the show revolves around three families interrelated through patriarch Jay Pritchett (Ed O’Neill) and his children Mitchell (Jesse Tyler Ferguson) and Claire Dunphy (Julie Bowen). A quick synopsis: Mitchell’s partner, Cameron (Eric Stonestreet), plays on a gay bowling team that is going head-to-head with another team for bragging rights. For the last and pivotal game, Cameron’s bowling partner cannot play, and Cameron is frantic to find a replacement. Of course, being gay is a prerequisite. Jay is a good bowler and thus Cameron comes up with a “plan.” Pretending “gayness,” Jay fills in and, voila!, they win. The other team, led by actor Oliver Platt, smells a rat and gets Jay drunk and Jay inadvertently gives up the ploy. Thus the other team wins and, as happens in most of these shows, there is always a thoughtful and relevant tag. Jay shares with the others that “coming out” was such a relief. “You have no idea,” he said. Really?
‘STAY THIRSTY, MY FRIENDS’ Actor Jonathan Goldsmith, looking younger than usual, has definitely become the most interesting man in the world. The latest commercial coming from Dos Equis shows our man for every moment bowling and even painting abstract art. Of course, IBI will stop at the bowling. It goes without saying that he will always knock down all ten pins, and, best of all, he’ll do it while drinking Dos Equis. “Stay Thirsty, My Friends”
TRIPPED UP In “No Refuge,” an episode of the Brit TV copper series A Touch of Frost, our hero gets the drop on a suspect at Super-Bowl, an actual bowling emporium in the UK. Bad Guy pushes Hero, who slips The bowling ball was his downfall. on the oiled approach. Bad Guy sprints down the approaches. Hero grabs house ball, bowls at Bad Guy, who is tripped up by the ball. Taking Bad Guy into custody, Hero remarks, “Sorry, son. Slipped out of my hand.” A Touch of Frost is currently streaming on hulu.com.
SHORTS
BILL CHRISMAN AND MARK VOIGHT RECEIVE
PRESTIGIOUS AWARDS
The BPAA announced the recipients of the 2015 V.A. Wapensky Award and the Victor Lerner Memorial Medal. Bill Chrisman, owner of Storm Products, Brigham City, UT, was tapped for the coveted V.A. Wapensky Award, named after BPAA’s long-time chief executive officer, “Chief” Wapensky. Chrisman is recognized for his leadership in developing tournaments and his enthusiasm for the sport of bowling as well as his support and service to the International Bowling Museum and Hall of Fame. Bill Chrisman Mark Voight, owner of Community Bowling Centers, headquartered in Livonia, MI, has been selected as the 2015 BPAA Hall of Fame Inductee and recipient of the Victor Lerner Memorial Medal. The Lerner Medal is the highest honor awarded by the BPAA and recognizes an individual for a lifetime of service to the industry. Voight is cited for his many years of bowling center management, service to the BPAA and BPAA programs, events and tournaments on local, state and national levels. He has also been active in Mark Voight MUBIG and the BPAA audit committee.
WORLD BOWLING TOUR TAPS TOKYO The World Bowling Tour has added Tokyo as a host city for one of its major events for 2015. The event is set to take place July 9 – 12 at two locations: Minamisuma Bowling Arena in the Shinagaawa Prince Hotel; and Makuhari Messe, which will have a temporary lane construction built into the convention center. World Bowling president Kevin Dornberger said, “We are very happy to add Tokyo to our list of events in 2015. Japan has a strong and competitive bowling community and they have the skills to deliver a world-class event.”
MILLERCOORS FOCUSES ON BOWLING According to ChicagoBusiness.com, MillerCoors, in a move to boost onpremises sales, announced an expanded two-year partnership with bowling that will give it access to around 70% of centers in the U.S. The deal, which was announced by Strike Ten Entertainment, makes MillerCoors “The Official Beer of Bowling” and involves approximately 3,500 BPAAmember bowling centers. The focus will be on best practices to help proprietors grow their beer sales. “Drinking beer and bowling are synonymous,” said John Harbuck, president of Strike Ten Entertainment. “We’re focusing on building better profits with beer, building better menu programs and also facilitating seasonal brand promotions throughout the year.” The estimated 67 million people who bowl every year are an attractive target to grow business, according to the BPAA.
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GOODWILL CENTRAL
SHORTS There are very few places that can compete with the activities at a bowling center. Birthday parties, nights out with friends, and, most important of all, events that support and help others in their communities. Here’s a quick view of just a few activities. Corporal Kyle R. Schneider was killed in action in 2011 in Afghanistan. His family created the Corporal Kyle R. Schneider Foundation, which provides support and assistance to families of fallen service members. The third Bowling for Troops was held at Green Acres Lanes in Central Square, NY. As posted in PostStar.com, the first day of Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Southern Adirondacks’ Bowl for Kids’ Sake held at Kingpin’s Alley Fun Center, South Glens Falls, NY, went into the record books as a strike, with a total of $27,849 raised by 148 bowlers and event sponsors. Another big check, $26,500, was presented to the Hormel Institute for a newly-created fund that works to support research to prevent, diagnose and control prostate cancer. Bowling for the Battle was held at Echo Lanes in Austin, MN. A bowling fundraiser to benefit the Grosse Ile Historical Society was sponsored by the Grosse Ile Girl Scouts and held at 10 Pins of Trenton in Trenton, MI. The proceeds will go toward purchasing picnic tables for the Depot grounds. On a personal note, Buddie Blackwelll, owner and GM for The All American Fun Park in Albany, GA, made a $500 donation to the Bowlers to Veterans Link through the USBC Albany Association. Blackwell said, “I feel fortunate as a business owner just to be able to give back.”
The Annual Awards Luncheon will be held during Bowl Expo 2015 at the Paris Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. One of the highlights will be the introduction of state proprietors nominated by their state associations for contributions, accomplishments and excellent entrepreneurial efforts. Congratulations to each and every one! • James Wangeman, Harvest Park Bowl, Northern California • Ron Plander, Harley’s Camarillo Bowl, Southern California • Bob Wentworth, Oviedo Bowling Center, Florida • BJ Trickey, Westdale Bowling Center, Iowa • Jeff Johnson, 4 Seasons Bowling Center, Illinois • Scott Devers, Mike Aulby’s Arrowhead Bowl, Indiana • Jim Mayberry, Walnut Bowl, Kansas • Susan Collier, Lord Calvert Bowl, Maryland • Terry Signaigo, Imperial Bowl, Missouri • Scott Koecheler, Midway Pro Bowl, Minnesota • Dale Klaumann, Blue Valley Bowl, Nebraska • Dominic Rebman, Rebman Rec., Ohio (posthumous) • Terry Price and Ken Paton, Super Play, Oregon • Mary Harrar, Thunderbird Lanes, Warminster, Pennsylvania • Dick Atkinson, Hallmark Lanes, Texas • Reggie and Nancy Frederick, Chalet Bowl & 26th Street Café, Washington • Diane Mallow, Watertown Bowl, Wisconsin
HEAVY METAL AND CANCER RESEARCH ARE IN CONCERT Ronnie James Dio was the voice of the heavy metal groups Rainbow, Black Sabbath and Dio. The singer/songwriter passed away from gastric cancer on May 16, 2010. In celebration of his life and talent, the Ronnie James Dio Stand Up and Shout Cancer Fund hosted a celebrity-filled weekend, May 15-17. The 5th Year Remembrance included a free, public memorial service at Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills (CA); a Bowl for Ronnie celebrity bowling tournament held at Pinz Bowling Center in Studio City, CA, hosted by Eddie Trunk of VH1’s That Metal Show; and rounded out with a Ride for Ronnie motorcycle ride followed by a BBQ and live music at Los Encinos State Historic Park in Encino, CA. The Ronnie James Dio Stand Up and Shout Cancer Fund is a privately-funded 501 charity organization
dedicated to cancer prevention, research and education. It has already raised close to $1 million in its short history. Money raised has been committed to the cancer research work of the T. J. Martell Foundation for Cancer, AIDS and Leukemia Research, the gastric cancer research unit of the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, where Ronnie was treated during the last six months of his life, and other cancer research projects. To sum up the spirit of the annual event, Jack Black and Kyle Gass of the band Tenacious D stated, “Let’s roll some balls in honor of the greatest heavy metal singer of all time!” IBI
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EXPO EXTRA
PUTTING ON A
HAPPY FACE Expo’s biggest raffle ever is still paying off for winner John Russell two years later. By Fred Groh
W
hen John Russell’s company starts a paving job from scratch, the first thing he does is to re-grade the stone bed. He did not have to do any prep work when he won $100,000 for making over his Maryland center. He only had to be on the trade show floor at Expo in 2013. Well, he did have to put his ticket in the drum while security looked on. “They wanted to make sure nobody was sneaking a ticket in,” Russell says. Gold coins were going to be given away, too, worth about $1,500 each. Russell told his wife he’d like to win one. No luck. He thought he’d stick around and see who won the big prize anyway. Cathy DeSocio, then BPAA president, reached into the drum. “The winner is John Russell,” she said. In “shock,” Russell started toward the stage. DeSocio said: “Cambridge”—“this is all like slow motion,” Russell remembers— “Massachusetts.” He stopped. He thought, “Oh, my gosh, there must be another Choptank Bowling Center with a John Russell in Cambridge, Massachusetts.” And then she said, “Oh, oh, correction—that’s Maryland.” cøa The $100,000 prize was Russell’s to spend with BPAA-member vendors of his choice. As it turned out, he won considerably more than that. Brunswick and QubicaAMF each offered to double the dollars Russell spent with them. That alone netted him $100,000 in products. Included were masking for the current 24 lanes from Brunswick and from QubicaAMF three flat-screens over each lane, hangers and conversion boxes. Next came BPAA. They gave the Russells two seats at a three-day “lite” version of the BPAA management school at the East Coast show; online management training for all their staff; a mystery shopper evaluation of their center; a demographic study of their market; and a week-long consultancy at their center. All told in excess of $25,000 in value “to help John improve the profitability of his center” as per the BPAA mission, noted director of membership and educational services, Bart Burger. 16
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Then Pepsi and Bowling Music Network stepped up. The soft-drink maker donated flat-screen TVs for two menu boards together with a computer system to run them. Bowling Music Network donated installation and a oneyear subscription to the service. Among the Russells’ purchases totaling $50,000: an air conditioning unit that covers half the house; flat gutters to enhance pin action; computer for the front desk and POS at the snack bar; two computer printers; two commercial carpet vacuums; complete lighting and fog for glow; coin-op bulk-vending machines; awards carved from pins and whole birthday pins; in-school bowling kits; and miscellaneous pro shop, lane and bowling supplies. Soon to come via matching funds from QubicaAMF and Brunswick: new pins and re-surfaced approaches from the former, and around $25,000 in purchases TBD from the latter. cøa “I was too shocked to talk or anything,” Russell remembers about accepting the prize at Expo. “Kind of emotional. My wife said a few things. “It was all history after that.” For the Russells and for BPAA. ❖
Fred Groh is a regular contributor to IBI and former managing editor of the magazine.
Visit us at
Bowl Expo Booth #116
CENTER STAGE
By Anna M. Littles
A FAMILY THAT BOWLS TOGETHER, STAYS TOGETHER, ACCORDING TO REV. RUNS. teve Hickerson’s company, Infinity Bol, specializes in one thing: taking bowling into locations where a standard bowling center will not fit. In other words, Steve has perfected the mini lane. He has installed them in neighborhood bars and private homes. He can modify a bowling lane to fit the tightest of spaces. With such a stellar record, it’s no wonder that when one of the
S
Steve Hickerson, owner of Infinity Bol, poses with the Rev during the installation of the lane.
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Rev. Run and hi s wife, Justine, in the ad for their reality TV show, Rev. Ru ns Renovation .
founding fathers of hip-hop, Rev. Run—aka Joseph Ward Simmons, co-founder of New York hip-hop group Run-DMC—had a vision of a bowling lane in his home, Steve heard the call. And before you know it, there was a TV show on the DIY network built around the renovation of Rev. Run’s basement. Who is Steve Hickerson, and how did he lay down the mini-lane market? In 1979, right out of college, he did what all new grads do: sent out résumés looking for an open door to a career. He knew he wanted to be in sporting goods sales, and after sending out 100 résumés, garnered an interview with Brunswick. Six months after joining Brunswick, he was assigned a territory in Minneapolis for five years, then transferred to Pennsylvania and the East Coast for another five. With a decade under his belt, Hickerson moved to Mendes, a Canadian company credited with introducing miniature bowling. Mendes called its game “Bowlingo.” In succession, Mendes was bought by a French venture capital company, went bankrupt within 18 months, and was acquired by Qubica, which changed the ‘Mendes’ name to ‘Phoenix.’ It was 1993, and Hickerson had decided to leave Qubica and launch his own miniature bowling company. But he was not in business for himself for
CENTER STAGE long before Qubica won him back by offering him an opportunity to develop and run its mini bowling product. Steve renamed it Highway 66, and ran the sales and service department while establishing a distribution network. A few years later, Qubica merged with AMF. It was during that transition that Steve relocated to south Florida, where he is today. Knowing the potential of the mini lane market, he re-launched his company in 2008, targeting private Delivery of the bowling equipment to Rev. Run’s home.
homes. It’s a market that he sees as having the means to keep his business afloat during difficult economic times. He states, “Bowling is still popular; it’s very much Americana. These mini lanes are the real thing—real lanes, real pins and real balling balls. The action is there, the sound is there and it’s bigger than life. It’s very much an ‘Oh yeah!’ moment.”
Let the installation begin!
Rev. Run and wife Justine’s home is 9,000 square feet but the basement is narrow and tight—a “rabbit hole,” according to Steve Kantor, director of DIY’s Rev. Run’s Renovation. “There were four [or] five interconnected storage spaces including a movie theatre and Rev. Run’s recording studio.” The movie theater was moved 26
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CENTER STAGE
upstairs in order to create space for the bowling lane, but “there still was not a lot of room to spare,” Kantor said. The dimensions of the space were sent to Hickerson, who came back with several options that would fit both the space and the owners’ style. “Hickerson had seen previous episodes of the show and had a sense of Rev. Run and Justine’s color palette,” said Kantor. “He knew what they liked and came up with a concept that matched it, including the lights. When he showed the plans to Rev. Run and Justine, they went for it.” The shoot for the TV show took about four days. “It’s unique to film people in their homes while [the home] is under construction,” Kantor observed. “Rev. Run, Justine and their family are a lot of fun to work with
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and they enjoyed themselves during the filming. Hopefully it carries through the viewing of the show.” The show chronicles other renovation at Rev. Run’s and usually, “he likes to be far away from home during the renovations,” Kantor reported. “But with the bowling alley, he’s down there all the time.” Kantor said he had never seen Rev. Run more excited about a renovation. “If they’re not sure where Rev. Run [is] in the house, chances are he’s downstairs bowling. It brings back great memories of when Rev. Run and Justine bowled regularly in Queens, NY, and loved it.” Today, the family’s mini lane has been a big success on and off the screen, with the family using the mini lane all the time. As Justine proudly declares, “The family that bowls together, rolls together.” Amen to that! ❖
Anna M. Littles, a screenplay and freelance writer and producer originally from the Bronx, NY, now resides in Santa Monica, CA. You can see her work on YouTube, IMDB, or on her website at www.alittleLA.com.
PROFILE
From the Bullpen to Tenpin Former baseball player John Burkett fulfills his PBA dream. By Mark Miller or as long as he can recall, John Burkett wanted to be a bowler. Not just a high-average league or local tournament competitor, mind you, but a card-carrying member of the Professional Bowlers Association Tour. “I just always loved the game and bowled leagues since I was eight years old,” he said. “I couldn’t wait to bowl in a league. I remember a few years later that league was at 1 o’clock on Sunday and I would tell my parents to drop me off at noon and I’ll call when to pick me up.” He continued that quest until he discovered he could throw a baseball at least as well as a bowling ball. It was as a high school pitcher in Beaver, PA, when he realized that sport would move bowling to the background for a while. After 21 years as a professional ballplayer, including parts of 15 in the majors, Burkett retired in 2003 but never gave up on his bowling dreams. Thanks to turning age 50 in November and the growth of the PBA50 Tour, he’s now in the midst of taking on his true heroes. “I’ve been waiting until I’m 50,” he said before a league session last summer at Brunswick Watauga Lanes near Fort Worth, TX. “It’s been on my mind for two or three years. “I watch [PBA] Xtra Frame all the time, especially after Pete Weber and the other guys I watched [like Walter Ray Williams Jr., Norm Duke, Brian Voss, Amleto Monacelli and Parker Bohn III] turned 50. It made it really interesting to watch. I said, ‘Man, I could go out and bowl with those guys.’ I figured it would be a pretty good time.” Though he’s been competing against many of his bowling idols since April, he still wants to beat them. To prepare for the PBA50, Burkett worked with Chad Newman, manager of Ballard’s Bowling Solutions Pro Shop at Watauga and coach of the University of North Texas club team. Not only did Newman
F
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Former Texas traded in maj Rangers pitcher John Bur or league base ke ball for PBA50 tt has .
drill new equipment for Burkett, he also changed his hand span and approach. “We changed his grip entirely,” Newman said. “He wasn’t putting his thumb in enough. We made a span change.” That was in late April 2014, about three weeks before Burkett competed in the PBA Summer Swing in Shawnee, OK. While he didn’t come close to winning, he did hold his own, including a 48th-place finish in the Bear Open. Then in the opening week of a PBA Experience league last June, he shot 968 (242 average) for four games including a 278. He furthered tuned up in the World Series of Bowling last fall in Las Vegas. He placed 107th, 82nd, 180th (tie), 124th (tie) and 136th of 240 entrants in the five events. This is not Burkett’s first foray in professional bowling. He’s competed in several events dating back to January 1990 in Pinole, CA, thanks to a special invitation while with the San Francisco Giants. “One of the most exciting experiences in sports ever, even to this day, was the day I got the letter from PBA in the locker room in San Francisco,” he said. “It
PROFILE
ngers. pitching for the Ra Burkett at his peak
was my rookie year and I had a good year [14-7 record, 3.79 earned run average] and the word got out that I love to bowl. When they found out I had bowled a couple of 300s, they went nuts. “Word got out and I got a letter on my chair. I saw the PBA logo and wondered what it was about. They said, ‘We heard you like to bowl and we’d like you to come to this event.’ ” While competing at baseball’s highest level, Burkett continued to bowl extensively during the off-seasons and during spring trainings through 1993. That’s when he decided to worry more about getting hitters out than learning about bowling’s changing technology. “I noticed my fast ball velocity increased when I stopped bowling so I wasn’t going to change that,” he said. Burkett initially learned about bowling from a combination of watching his dad, Ken, the pros, and teaching himself. “When my Dad bowled if there were any open lanes he would take me,” he said, recalling an early 128 game. “I’d practice all the time he was bowling league, 10-15 games a session. I’m kind of like that, though. I get obsessed with things. “I loved my childhood because in summers we’d play pick-up baseball games, Little League and all that, and in the winter time bowling was all I cared about. People didn’t want to use their air conditioners in the summer so nobody bowled around there.” 32
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He soon joined his first youth league and fell under the mentoring of Tom Sposaro, who took him to tournaments in his teens. They continue bowling events including the USBC Championships. After averaging 202 in his final youth league at age 17, he moved into adult competition with his father and soon bowled the first of his dozen 300 games as part of a 774 series. But no matter how he scored on the bowling lanes, he also continued to improve on the baseball diamond. “When I really turned the corner was my junior year,” he said. “Scouts started coming out, which was really weird because I wanted to be a professional bowler. I never thought about being in the big leagues in baseball. I was just a guy from Beaver, PA. I don’t know if even anyone traveled down there. It’s a small school.” Scouts heard about Burkett in his sophomore year when he had a 6-2 record and watched when he improved to 9-2 as a junior. They actually visited Beaver during his senior year when his team lost in the state championship game and he finished at 12-0. His reward was being drafted in the sixth round (148th overall pick) by the Giants in 1983. He spent most of the next seven years in the minor leagues in Great Falls, MT; Clinton, IA; Shreveport, LA (where he met wife Laura); and Phoenix. Burkett made his major league debut with the Giants on Sept. 15, 1987 at age 23. He pitched three times that season before spending 1988 and 1989 in Phoenix, San Francisco’s highest minor league affiliate. But he was on the opening day roster in 1990 and never looked back. “I was healthy. I took the rubber every fifth day,” he said. “That was probably my biggest asset even in the major leagues. Only missed four starts entire career.” He spent five years in San Francisco, nearly two with the Florida Marlins, more than three with the Texas Rangers and two each with the Atlanta Braves and Boston Red Sox. He was selected for the National League All-Star team in 1993 (22-7 record, 3.65 earned run average with the Giants) and 2001 (12-12 and a career-low 3.04 ERA with the Braves). Burkett’s final game came on Sept. 26, 2003 with the Red Sox. Overall, he pitched in 445 games, starting 423 of them with a 166-136 record and respectable 4.31 ERA. With a wife and young kids at home, Burkett no longer wanted the nomadic baseball life so Burkett with his expert bowling equipment he never returned to the consultant in Texas, Chad Newman.
PROFILE sport other than to attend an occasional game. “I love baseball and baseball’s what gave me my whole lifestyle and enabled me to put my kids through college and do a lot of nice things,” he said. “When I retired, I did it for my family. “Baseball is like a lifetime ago. Even though I appreciate everything, my kids were like nine years old and were in the locker room but it’s not a real big conversation in our lives. I’ve taken the kids to the ballpark on occasion but nothing like you would think.” Baseball brought Burkett enough fortune for he and his family to comfortably settle into “retirement.” He’s lived in Southlake, TX, since first joining the Rangers in 1996 and since 2001, in his current home where he plans to install a bowling lane or two. He follows boy/girl twins Maxwell and Avery, who will be juniors at the University of Oklahoma, and daughter Reid, who will be a sophomore and member of the cheer team at Southern Methodist University. He’s also spent the past seven years as part of groups that buy, refurbish and sell homes in both Pennsylvania and Texas. Make no mistake, Burkett’s competitive drive remains strong. One way he’s rekindled that fire is through poker at places like Winstar Casino in nearby Thackerville, OK. “Poker is very comparable to pitching, at least the mental part of it is,” he said. “Once you take chips from somebody or see somebody go out one way, you better figure out another way the next time. You have to adapt to your surroundings.” His attempt at the PBA50 Tour also is part of staying close to games. “I just love competing and bowling has been my favorite sport from the get-go, so to now be able to do it at a level with the greatest bowlers in that age bracket in the world would be a lot of
m the PBA50 for Taking a break fro a photo op.
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In action at Bowling in 2the World Series of 014.
fun,” he said. “I love challenges. I love challenging myself and seeing what I can do with situations, so going against those guys will be fun.” Burkett made his PBA50 debut April 12 in the Pasco County Florida Open in New Port Richey, FL, where he finished 73rd of 116 entries. He made the cut to match play the following week in the United Health Care Sun Bowl in The Villages, ending 24th to collect $1,130. He skipped the next two events—the Miller High Life Classic presented by Columbia 300 in Mooresville, NC, and Johnny Petraglia BVL Open presented by Brunswick in Farmingdale, NY—the last of the initial part of the 2015 schedule. He was expected to rejoin the tour May 31-June 5 at the Suncoast PBA Senior U.S. Open presented by Storm in Las Vegas with the hopes of continuing his improvement. “I don’t expect to win anything but wouldn’t be surprised if I did,” he said. “I have confidence in myself. Sometimes you are good at something but don’t know until you try. I’m ready to take some bumps and bruises along the way and hopefully I can sneak one in.” ❖
Mark Miller is a freelance writer, editor, and public relations specialist from Flower Mound, TX. He's the author of Bowling: America's Greatest Indoor Pastime available at Amazon.com or directly from him at markmywordstexas@gmail.com.
COVER STORY
A MilEStonE foR thE LittlE REd dot on thE Map IN SINGAPORE, JESSIE PHUA LEADS THE SINGAPORE BOWLING FEDERATION TO GREATNESS WITH A MIGHTY PLAN. AND IT COULD BE A MODEL FOR THE REST OF THE BOWLING WORLD. On the cover: Singapore flag reveals artist rendition of Singapore Bowling. 36
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By Paul Lane
COVER STORY
essie Phua, the president of the Singapore Bowling Federation, former president of FIQ, chairman of the Singapore Bowling Youth Development Program, chair for the Singapore Sports Awards Program, and a former Nominated Member of the Singapore Parliament, is not just a lady with a dream but a lady who has the ability to make her dreams come true—a true mover and shaker in the development of bowling in Singapore. Singapore is an island country sitting off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula in Southeast Asia and comprising a main diamond-shaped island known as Singapore Island and more than 60 significantly smaller islets. Located just 85 miles north of the equator,
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COVER STORY Singapore has a tropical rainforest climate with no distinctive seasons, uniform temperature and pressure, high humidity, and abundant rainfall. With a population about 5.5 million (61% of whom are citizens and 31% permanent residents), Singapore has long been established as a nation that promotes and hosts myriad sports including football (soccer), basketball, cricket, swimming, Formula One auto racing, tennis and table tennis, and especially tenpin bowling which, as an indoor sport in air-conditioned facilities, is ideal given the local climate and humidity. The very first bowling center in Singapore, Jackie’s Bowl Orchard, Jessie Phua, president of the Singapore opened its doors on Christmas Eve Bowling Federation. in 1965. Since then the industry has grown and today there are 31 centers housing 538 lanes. Singapore proprietors and the Singapore Bowling Federation (formerly the Singapore Tenpin Bowling Congress) are renowned for their progressive approach to every aspect of promoting the sport, from building and upgrading centers with the latest in
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technology and design, to dynamite customer service and a worldwide reputation for being one of the best hosts for international tournaments, including two QubicaAMF
From Left: Wendy Kuan, general manager of SBF; Alain Winterhalter, CEO of Switch; Amas Tan, executive director of Singapore Bowling; Helena Kastovka and Ralf Gaber, installation supervisors.
Bowling World Cups (1973 and 2004), the 1983 SEA Games, and the 1991 FIQ World Championships, to name but a few.
COVER STORY
Left to right, Fong Chun Cheong, honorary treasurer of SBF; Stephen Chu, council member of SBF; Amas Tan, executive director of SBPL; Robin Yap, vice president of SBF and director/chairman of SBPL; Jessie Phua, president of SBF and director of SBPL; Winston Toh , independent director of SBPL.
In August 2015 a new bowling center will open its doors in Singapore, and this will be a center with a difference—a big difference. The center, a 38-lane facility named Singapore Bowling, is being built and operated by the Singapore Bowling Federation (SBF), possibly the first to be owned and operated as a commercial enterprise by a bowling federation anywhere in the world. This writer is familiar with facilities housing lanes for the exclusive use of bowling federations for training their national teams, etc., but none that are also run as a commercial center, at least not on the scale of Singapore Bowling. The concept for the SBF Singapore bowling center came out of a brainstorming session during a retreat at which the executive committee of the SBF analyzed and discussed where they were on- and off-track as an organization. Ideas were tossed around with the goal of developing a plan to give the SBF the ability to become financially independent. Presently the SBF is largely funded by the Singapore government, Led by SBF president Jessie Phua, and vice president Dr. Robin Yap, the council
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members soon conceived the idea that building a bowling center and managing it as a revenue-producing commercial enterprise could well be the answer to achieving their goal of financial independence. While the project is spearheaded by Jessie Phua, she is not slow to give full credit to the support she enjoys from the high-powered team of SBF council members, each of whom has contributed in no small way towards the success of the federation. ¨¨¨¨¨ Singapore Bowling at Temasek Country Club will be equipped with Switch International 38 ST-1 machines, Switch Matrix synthetic lanes and 2/3 scoring system and mask units, along with front-end equipment by Pinfarina, plus bumper and glow bowling and extra-large video screens throughout. Other amenities in the facility include a snack bar, restaurant, a full-service pro shop, a child-care center, sports bar, gymnasium and a swimming pool, all housed in a new twostory, ground-up facility that’s presently under construction. Jessie said their relationship with Switch developed when company CEO Alain Winterhalter learned SBF were looking for a unique venue to stage the finals of their 40th anniversary national championships in 2009. Switch installed two lanes and machines in the Velocity shopping mall to help celebrate the event, to provide a finals venue that could accommodate more bowling fans (spectators) than a typical bowling center can, and to introduce and promote bowling to a new audience, namely
COVER STORY
they have already made great inroads and have an outstanding reputation both locally and around the world. Singapore Bowling will be open to the general public and members of the SBF. The cost of bowling at Singapore Bowling will be similar to other commercial centers SINGAPORE MARKET HISTORY AND DATA in the marketplace, with a special price for SBF members. Compared to the cost of other forms of 1. Number of centers: 31 recreation such as movies, golf, tennis, basketball, 2. Number of lanes: 538 billiards, etc., bowling is, in fact, better than 3. First center: Jackie’s Bowl Orchard, opened Christmas Eve, 1965 competitive. 4. Percentage of centers with automatic scoring: 100% “The center will provide so much more than just 5. Average price per game bowling for the general public and a training/practice a. Open play (adults): $3.75 (all prices current U.S. dollars) facility for members,” says Jessie. “For example, we b. League play (adults): $2.75 will work closely with the government to promote c. Party bowling: $30 (hour) community events, providing an opportunity for 6. Comparison between bowling and other forms of entertainment local residents to let their hair down, socialize, and a. Movies: $6 to $7.75 enjoy the various amenities the center has to offer.” b. Golf: $75 to $90 Bowling has been an approved in-school sport in c. Tennis: $7 Singapore for at least the past 15 years, a program d. Basketball: $8.75 that offers credits for outstanding athletes. And 7. National lane use Singapore Bowling will certainly be a primary venue a. Open play: 50% for the program in the future, as youth development b. League play: 35% has always been a major program for the SBF and c. Party bowling: 15% is considered to be the key to the future of the 8. Bowling proprietors’ association: No sport. 9. Number of centers sanctioned by the Singapore Bowling Federation: 23 We asked Jessie if the school teachers coach 10. Singapore Bowling Federation membership their own students. For the most part, Jessie takes a. Women: 193 the viewpoint that having only a little knowledge can b. Men: 776 do more harm than good, and leans more toward c. Juniors/youth: 770 coaching by accredited SBF coaches who are more 11. Number of qualified SBF coaches/instructors: 299 experienced and have more expertise. The SBF 12. Media support for bowling: does offer workshops where teachers can learn the a. Newspapers/periodicals: Yes, average 3 to 4 times a week basics; however, this is an activity which Jessie b. Radio: Yes, about once a month approaches with caution. c. Television: Yes, about 600 minutes a year For sure, Singapore is at the forefront in terms of 13. Forecast for new centers over the next 5 years: 3 to 4 youth development through sport, and Jessie’s
shoppers at the mall. Jessie and the SBF are dedicated to making Singapore a “top of mind” country associated with tenpin bowling, to which end
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COVER STORY former role as chairman of the Singapore Bowling Youth Development Program and the SBF ensures that bowling is playing a major role in the ongoing success in this important program. In terms of instruction, Singapore Bowling will have Qualified Level 1-3 SBF-certified coaches available for members and the general public. There will be a fee for coaching. Additionally, at least half of the center employees, those who interact with customers, will be able to teach beginners. The center will also have an ongoing learn-to-bowl program available to the community, local corporations and schools. The program will comprise eight lessons in as many weeks, and will be conducted every six months. In terms of practice and training for members, the center is equipped with all the latest technology for teaching, such as Kegel’s Computer-Aided Tracking System (CATS), video cameras and monitors, and a top-of-the-line lane machine from Kegel, enabling them to lay down virtually unlimited lane dressing patterns for open play, sport bowling, and for preparing their national team members for conditions they can anticipate at international tournaments. ¨¨¨¨¨ As you can see, Jessie and the team at SBF are leaving no stone unturned at Singapore Bowling to provide a venue and service to their members and the community to truly advance bowling and achieve their goal of financial independence. In fact, Singapore Bowling is just a start, as Jessie tells us the long-range plan for the Singapore Bowling Federation is to build at least two more centers on the island. Here’s what Alain Winterhalter, CEO of Switch International, had to say about Jessie Phua and the team at SBF: ”The SBF is most probably one of the best organized sports federations in the world. Our collaboration with SBF started when Switch installed two lanes at the Singapore Velocity
shopping mall for SBF’s 40th anniversary celebration tournament. I found that contrary to what I was used to from other areas, SBF was run by prominent and respected business people and personalities, such as president Mrs. Jessie Phua and vice president Dr. Robin Yap. “The work that SBF does for not only the bowling community but also for the development of youth is extraordinary. I am not only proud to be involved with such an organization but also to be able to say that we have forged a sincere friendship over the years. Switch has been chosen as the preferred supplier of bowling equipment for SBF’s first owned and operated 38-lane bowling center, which is scheduled to open during third quarter of 2015. “Singapore will host the 2015 SEA Games in June 2015, but I am sure that it will not stop there; Jessie has plans and ambitions to bring bowling to the forefront of Singapore, Asia and world attention.” We asked Jessie about her plans for the grand opening, scheduled for August 2015. She chuckled when she heard the question and said, “This will be the grand opening of all grand openings, a national event in its own right. But that’s all I’m saying at this time.” We will be running a follow-up pictorial on Singapore Bowling at a later date, with coverage of the grand opening and the photos of the center. As we said at the beginning of this story, Jessie Phua is not just a lady with a dream, but a lady who has the ability to make her dreams come true. Along with vice president Dr. Robin Yap and the council members of the Singapore Bowling Federation, her progressive and imaginative approach to establishing Singapore as a leading bowling nation will benefit the community, the members of the Singapore Bowling Federation, the nation’s youth, and the sport as a whole. ❖
Paul Lane is former Director of Marketing and Marketing Services for AMF Bowling, Inc. He has been the director of 18 AMF World Cups, an officer in national and international trade associations, and a pro bowler during a career that spans more than 60 countries and 50 years.
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FEATURE
All’s well with “segmentation” as the chain opens number 20. By Fred Groh “
E
verybody wants to be upgraded, right?” said Charlie Keegan. “Whether it’s movie theaters offering upscale seating or improved food and beverage offerings, whether you have Topgolf, which presents a driving range in an upscale environment, everybody wants to ride first-class.” The CEO of Main Event Entertainment was talking about his 19 locations where bowling has undergone, as he says about the industry, “a re-positioning, a representation.” At press time, number 20 had just opened in Tulsa. The Main Event concept has also morphed since Keegan took the reins in 2006. In that year, the chain of six Texas-based FECs was bought by Macquarie Leisure Trust Group, a real estate investment trust division of Australia-based Macquarie Bank. Leisure Trust also owned health clubs, marinas, theme parks and, with two bowling chains, was the world’s third biggest proprietor following AMF (in the US) and Brunswick. In 2009, an employee buy-out made Leisure Trust an independent entity and gave it a new name, Ardent Leisure. Today it owns 50 bowling properties in Australia and New Zealand—traditional centers called AMF, with no connection to the US brand except the name, and hip, upscale Kingpin centers for social bowlers. With the folding of AMF (US) and Brunswick centers into Bowlmor, Ardent Leisure’s portfolio emerged as the second largest in the industry. “League bowling membership has been on a predictable decline,” Keegan offered. “The founders of Main Event recognized that although bowling as a special business model is in decline, bowling as an activity-generator for a broader business is an interesting concept. That was the big idea. The founders recognized 15, 20 years ago what a lot of people have come to realize today, what’s happening with the industry.” Main Event’s part in what Keegan calls the “segmentation” of bowling occupies about 50,000 square feet in the current model. Anchored by bowling, it also offers, with some store-by-store variation, two-story laser tag, billiards, 100 or so video games, rock climbing, mini golf, karaoke and bocce ball. A recent addition is an elevated ropes course, called Gravity Ropes, over the games room. The current-build model is slimmed down from the 65,000-square-foot original Main Event. Furniture, fixtures, and equipment, kept upgraded, have changed through the years. But a big alteration has come with F&B, said Keegan, whose background includes 20-plus years in casual dining, among them more than a decade with Applebee’s before joining Main Event. 46
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Charlie Keegen, president and CEO of Main Event.
Inheriting “the quintessential bowling snack bars,” Keegan proceeded to create three options for customers. A fast-casual pizza operation called La Bella’s is for those who want “quick and convenient and value.” Full-service casual dining is available in a sitdown section or on the lanes. Group events have their own catering menu. The three together, F&B is the fastestgrowing portion of the business, with its promotion making a special pitch for adult parties. Young, urban-fringed adults are one of the top four customer profiles the company works from, Keegan reported. (The other three comprise high-income families.) “They don’t have any kids to spend money on and they like to go out and play. We do
FEATURE
The lanes pop with color and excitement.
very well with young adults. “You can do gaming at home, you can do gaming online. You can’t do the social experience that way. Food is sort of the magic elixir that brings it all together.”
The bar area is ready for guests.
outstrip our ability to manage [them]—and we want to go to growing trade areas where the people and the affluence are, and those are largely the major metropolitan areas. There’s no question the South Sun Belt has a better-cost operating environment than the expensive West Coast and Northeast.” Wherever the build, if it’s ground-up the current model goes in without significant regional variation. Principal departures occur in building-out to accommodate an existing structure. “The original fleet was purpose-built,” Keegan observed. “We’re trying to be opportunistic with a lot of second-generation space that has become available in the last five years.” Two-thirds of the Main Events that have opened since he came aboard have been build-outs—no wonder, since a build-out costs Keegan about half of what a groundup does. Closer to site, “Typically you’re going to find us in trade areas of 800,000 and up. Our track record is to get super-regional-highway locations rather than regional or neighborhood locations to support the volumes we do.” Sometimes that brings a delightful surprise. Case in point, Pharr, TX, which opened in 2014. The market area is 95% Hispanic. Main Event is doing “quite well,” said a pleased Keegan, above expectations. “We didn’t know until we got there.”
That’s not to say F&B is more important to Keegan than the bowling or the amusements. “It’s definitely a three-legged stool for us,” he said. g
gg
With 14 of the 20 Main Events sited in Texas, its two properties in the Atlanta area and its one location near Chicago seem anomalous. “We have targeted trade areas for our development,” Keegan replied. “We think we know how many domestic trade areas there are that would support a Main Event, and we have focused on the Sun Belt, the Midwest and the Southeast.” What makes the areas outstanding is “a combination of being able to manage them—we want to grow organically from Texas so we don’t 48
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The food options at Main Event are fresh and plentiful.
But Keegan doesn’t think so much in terms of ideal customers as in terms of trade areas. “Because we have broad-based appeal, we are
FEATURE
A view down the concourse.
companies. Several locations were built soon after Keegan’s arrival, then expansion was put on hold when the economic downturn began in 2007-08. “But we got really good at operating our
The game area is a big winner for Main Event.
very much who the people are in our trade areas. It’s all about finding the right real estate location to be accessible by the 800,000 people that you need to reach.” He does think in terms of relevance. He wants to keep it. “We’re mindful of our competitors. There are some great concepts, some great emerging variations of bowling out there. We try to stay connected to the laser tag, the gaming industry, the food and beverage industry, the bar industry, and the bowling industry to make sure we’re relevant. ‘Eatertainment’-type places have been around for decades. The trend for high-quality, bundled, leisure-time food-and-beverage-type activities is very much on-trend. We think that’s a relevant space to be in and we happen to be there.” g
gg
If Main Event meets its projections, by July 2016 it will have opened 14 FECs in two fiscal years—an expansion rate equaled by few bowling The crew at Tulsa Main Event cut the ceremonial opening ribbon.
Patrons enjoying the food and beverage offerings.
business” during the recession, and when we talked, Keegan said, “We’re coming off our 21st consecutive quarter of positive comp sales. “Our base business, our original fleet of stores, are doing very well and our new centers are coming on at much higher average unit volumes than our original fleet. So between the two stories that are working well together, we’ve got a good story to tell. I don’t know that anybody’s developing the amount of bowling centers that we are, right now, anywhere.” ❖
Fred Groh is a regular contributor to IBI and former managing editor of the magazine.
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BUSINESS
By Pamela Kleibrink Thompson lorida’s 2013 ban on Internet cafés severely limited entertainment choices for family arcade centers. Tampa-based attorney Debra L. Boje worked with the Bowling Centers Association of Florida (BCAF) to make legislators aware of the unintended consequences of the new regulations. She helped BCAF retain a lobby firm to address issues of concern with the state legislature. Boje knew they needed to become proactive quickly “to pave the way for our own destiny.” In summer 2013, two restaurant chains with family amusement centers were sued in South Florida by representatives of an adult gaming establishment. The threat of lawsuits loomed over family arcade centers throughout Florida. Local law enforcement entered a bowling center, “red-tagged” some of the games and forced them to be removed. “This was an opportunity to form a coalition of family entertainment venues to introduce legislation that would achieve the state's goal of controlling adult gaming and at the same time ensuring the continued operation of family amusement games and updating the existing law. The coalition was known as Family Arcade Coalition,” relates Boje. Key members of the FAC included BCAF, the Florida Attractions Association, the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association, and Dave & Buster’s. Boje worked with members to get “The Family Amusement Games Act” passed in 2015. “This comprehensive legislation not only ensures the continued operation of the games and machines in bowling centers and other venues but also updates the laws pertaining to amusement games,” notes Boje. “This never would have happened if she did not throw her entire self behind it on behalf of not only us, but all of the bowling centers in the state,” states Jeff Bojé, Debra’s brother and BPAA treasurer. “She is a bulldog when it comes to doing something right and she was all over this like white on rice. I love her for that passion and I believe that I am lucky to have her in 52
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my life, as well as the bowling centers in our state. I hate to say it, but I am thankful and very proud of her.” Debra L. Boje has worked as a private wealth, health care and tax lawyer in Florida since 1993. She received her law degree from Stetson University College of Law in 1992 and her master of tax laws from the University of Florida in 1993. Boje shared what she is doing to help protect bowling center operators in Florida and how readers of IBI can become proactive in other states. IBI: Why do you feel it is important to change the gaming/redemption legislation? An unintended consequence of the 2013 Internet café ban was to place in question the ability of bowling centers and other family venues to legally operate amusement games and machines. Meanwhile, the gaming compact between the Seminole Tribe and the State of Florida expires this year. A new compact will most likely provide that only gaming machines legal at the time the new compact is signed will be authorized to be operated in the state. Although one generally would not envision that amusement games found in bowling centers, Chuck E. Cheese or similar facilities are “gaming” devices, the current law authorizing the operation of such games is found in the gaming laws of the state. Thus, the law pertaining to family arcade games needed to be clarified and modified before a new compact was entered into with the Seminole Tribe.
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BUSINESS IBI: What do you want readers of IBI to know about your efforts to lobby for gaming/redemption legislation?
Debra and Jeff Boje make a strong sister and brother team.
IBI: What is it now? The current statute was written many years ago before many places had redemption games. Under the current law, only bowling centers with 50 or more games in the center could have redemption games. In addition, the values of the prizes awarded were arguably limited to 75 cents. When the statutes were enacted decades ago, 75 cents went a lot further than it does now. Games also had to be operated by coins or tokens. The statute never contemplated modern technology of card-activated machines. Perhaps the most significant and difficult issue was that without the 2015 legislation, only games based on 100% skill were authorized as being legal. Further, the debate over games and gaming always placed bowling centers and their allies in the same “pot” with the casinos, the tribes, and pari-mutuel permit holders, and bowling centers and their allies faced the same enforcement threats as adult arcades and Internet cafés. More than likely, within a year or two, there would not have been a family redemption arcade operation left in the state. IBI: What do you want it to be? We wanted to update the antiquated law to clarify what are considered family-type arcade machines and provide that those amusement games or machines are specifically allowed in bowling centers. We wanted to increase the dollar value of the prizes, allow for the games to be activated by an electronic card, and remove the requirement for at least 50 games or machines in bowling centers. IBI: What major changes have been made in the law? Bowling centers in Florida that have at least 12 bowling lanes and are licensed to sell food will be able to have family amusement games. There is no longer a 50-game requirement for bowling centers. For each game played, tickets can be awarded having a value up to $5.25 in any given single play. Those tickets can be accumulated for prizes worth as much as $525. Merchandisers are allowed, provided that no single prize is worth more than $52.50. It is no longer necessary for a game or machine to be 100% skilled-based. 54
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It is important to know what is happening with legislation in your state and to be ready to mobilize forces when needed. If you wait until you learn about legislation, it may be too late to prevent it. Your best ally is your own local senator [or] representative. Get to know them. Let them know everything your center is doing for the community in which they serve. Most bowling centers are the heart of their communities and politicians on the local level understand their importance to the community. Be proactive and make a habit of attending a few political fundraisers and, yes, you should provide financial support to the candidates who represent your interests. The fact that you are visible and you demonstrate that you support them at any dollar level is a big deal. Far bigger than you may ever imagine. IBI: Can you describe how the change will impact the bowling industry in Florida? If the governor signs the 2015 legislation, there are several changes that will positively impact the bowling industry in Florida, including: (1) it changes the skill standard; (2) it takes bowling centers and [their] allies out of the annual fights between the other “big” players; (3) it creates the opportunity for further refinements in the law on an even playing field; and (4) it segregates bowling centers and their allies from the “bad” actors that started all of this new round of regulation. It is very important to note that the benefits in the bill apply only to certain venues, including, by specific reference, bowling centers. There were others that wanted the benefits, but only those named in the legislation can receive them. IBI: What will it take to change the law? The bill now awaits signature by Governor Rick Scott. All indications are that the governor will sign the bill and the act will become law effective July 1, 2015. The BCAF will likely be asked to provide input to the governor as to whether or not it supports the act as passed. IBI: How did you first become interested in changing these laws? I received a call from a fellow attorney who told me legislation was pending that might affect the ability of bowling centers to have redemption games. I called my brother and told him what was happening and he asked if I would help stop the law from being passed. IBI: Why did you become interested in changing them? There was no intent by the government to harm us, they simply passed a law in haste and now needed solutions. I knew that the solution would eventually end up venue-specific, so it was imperative that bowling centers be one of the major players in drafting a new law that would shut down the “bad” guys and allow redemption arcade centers. It was going to be very important to have bowling be named specifically with the law, because with league-based bowling decreasing, game rooms are a vital part of the survival of bowling centers.
BUSINESS IBI: Why do you think it's important to change the health care laws in Florida?
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) has greatly impacted small business throughout the [country]. Federal law will hopefully be changed to increase the number of full-time employees required before a company has to comply with the ACA from 50 to over 100 employees. The ability for small businesses to understand the law, let alone comply with it, is bewildering. But when you have representatives who believe you have to pass a law before you can read it, I guess it is understandable why there is so much confusion. IBI: Plans for the future? In June of this year I will become the probate division director, Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section (RPPTL). Assuming all goes well, I will become the chair of the RPPTL Section in 2018. A large portion of my time will be devoted to continued service to the RPPTL Section. As division director and chair, I will continue to advocate for section issues and legislative proposals. I also plan on continuing to monitor new legislation for any possible impact on the bowling industry. It may be necessary to tweak the law in the future as we see how it is applied in the real world. But for the time being, I hope to have a few minutes to relax. IBI: What inspires you? Who inspires you? My parents are my inspiration. Neither of them went to college. They worked hard to put all three of their kids through college and then some. They live by the golden rule and have taught all of us to leave this world a little better than you found it. IBI: What are your hobbies? Bowling, of course, and doing things with my brother’s kids. He has triplets [Kaleb, Kollin and Kearsten] who are age 16, an older daughter [Kindle] who is 22 and a senior at Florida State University, and an older son [Kelson] who is 24 and works in Tampa as a logistics manager. They are all great kids and I enjoy seeing them grow into fine people. I should mention that since Kindle is in college in Tallahassee, she has taken the initiative to become very active in the state capitol. I believe that every year, since her freshman year, she has been a volunteer legislative aide to a number of state senators. The staff are often the key to getting things accomplished. It was nice that much of the staff within the capitol know and like her very much. That certainly did not hurt our efforts a bit. IBI: What are your passions? My family and friends would tell you I am the great enforcer. If I see something is wrong or someone is being taken advantage [of], I step in to make it right. I don’t like to lose. If I undertake a project I am going to give it my all. So I guess my passion is achieving success in whatever I set out to do.
IBI: Do you want to share anything else with readers of IBI ? Get to know your fellow proprietors. If it were not for the BCAF supporting the efforts for lobbying, the prospects for our future would not have been as good. Grassroots efforts can work but they require commitment and dedication. You cannot simply become active in a moment of crisis, you must maintain a constant and steady presence in your local and state government.
Debra L. Boje is a shareholder of Gunster, a legal firm with over 170 attorneys and 11 offices across the state of Florida. For more information, go to http://www.gunster.com/attorney/debra-l-Boje. ❖ Pamela Kleibrink Thompson lives in Idaho. In addition to writing, she is a career coach and scenario role player for peace officer training. Pamela worked as a production manager on the Emmy Awardwinning animated series The Simpsons, where she bowled regularly with members of the crew. She speaks on career issues at conferences all over the world. You can reach Pamela at PamRecruit@q.com.
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MILESTONE
USBC
CELEBRATES
DECADE Smallest delegation ever honors past, keeps associations the same; board elects proprietors as future leaders. By Mark Miller
“
elebrate the past, be mindful of the present, and ensure bowling’s future.” If anyone attending the 2015 United States Bowling Congress Convention didn’t leave Omaha, NE, without knowing that phrase, they really weren’t there. In seminars large and small, and during the awards that
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Roseann Kuhn, Kevin Dornberger, Roger Dalkin and Jim Zebehazy cut the cake celebrating the 10th anniversary of the creation of the USBC.
populated the first official day and in speeches during the business meeting, USBC officials did everything they could to make that mantra resonate with their delegates and other attendees. There were many opportunities to celebrate the past, courtesy of honoring USBC’s launch 10 years ago. Various video montages showed scenes past and present. The biggest celebration came right before lunch on the final day when USBC brought back Roseann Kuhn, Roger Dalkin, Kevin Dornberger and Jim Zebehazy, the last leaders of the former Women’s International Bowling Congress, American Bowling Congress, USA 2014-2015 USBC Board of Directors
MILESTONE Bowling and Young American Bowling Alliance, respectively. Standing over a 10-year birthday cake, they re-enacted a scene from the lobby of the old Bowling Headquarters in Greendale, WI, on Dec. 31, 2004, the final official day of their organizations before the merger that created USBC went into effect the next day. Then in another surprise nod to the past, USBC held a tribute to Zebehazy who recently retired after 32 years working for ABC, YABA and USBC. That was followed by assorted birthday cupcakes heading into lunch. Kevin Dornberger, World Bowling One other blast from the president, addresses the USBC past came the night before convention delegates. when USBC inducted five new members to its hall of fame. Receiving honors were Sam Lantto, Gus Yannaras, Larry Laub, Liz Johnson and the late Fritzie Rahn. In a negative reminder to many of those present, an amendment that would have required all USBC local associations to be merged by Aug. 1, 2018, failed by just three votes from the smallest delegation in USBC history. While just 761 delegates registered onsite, only 730 voted on the key Bylaws Proposal No. B1. Though 483 approved it (against 247 who rejected it), it required 486 votes for a true two-thirds majority. Similar Frank Wilkinson, the incoming legislation for states also came president of the USBC. up short, 468-259. Two legislative proposals were accepted—allowing youth state delegates to vote on adult dues and adult directors on the board, and allowing youth local representatives to vote on adult dues, adult directors on the board and adult delegates/alternates for state meetings. The USBC board previously approved two legislative proposals allowing everyone on the local and state level to vote on youth-related items. Delegate actions and the USBC board allow everyone to vote on all issues. The delegates did approve Karen Jost of Olympia, WA, and Steven O'Brien of Mount
Pleasant, SC, to serve again on the USBC board of directors and for Jay Daryman of York, PA, as a new candidate. Jost and O'Brien were elected on the first ballot but it took another two ballots for Daryman to earn a spot. The next day, the board took a step toward the future by electing Frank Wilkinson of Staten Island, NY, as USBC’s youngest president ever. The 28-year-old proprietor of Rab’s Country Lanes is the organization’s second proprietor to serve as president after Jeff Bojé in 2007-2010. Another proprietor, Cathy DeSocio of Wichita, KS, was elected vice president for the 2015-16 season. DeSocio was the first female president of the Bowling Proprietors’ Association of America, 2012-2014. “This is an exciting time for USBC and the bowling industry,” said Wilkinson, who served as vice president the past two years. He takes over Aug. 1 from Andrew Cain, who will be finishing his third and final term as president. “I look forward to serving and working with our
New hall of famers, left to right, Liz Johnson, Larry Laub, Gus Yannaras, and Sam Lantto.
stakeholders as we continue toward achieving our goals of building a future for our sport for generations to come.” ❖
Mark Miller is a freelance writer, editor, and public relations specialist from Flower Mound, TX. He's the author of Bowling: America's Greatest Indoor Pastime available at Amazon.com or directly from him at markmywordstexas@gmail.com.
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SPOTLIGHT Steltronic was a big winner at the 2010 USBC Women’s Championships.
The partnership between USBC and Steltronic continues for the seventh year at the Women’s Championships. By Mark Miller
F
or the first 90 years of the USBC Women’s Championships, there was no need for an independent scoring system, as the event utilized whatever the host centers provided. So when USBC decided to move the former Women’s International Bowling Congress Championships Tournament into arena settings like its Open Championships, the timing was ripe for something new. Since USBC had never before used commercial-grade systems, it needed to do some homework. Led by the since-retired Vice President of Membership of Tournament Services Jack Mordini, USBC talked to several companies with automatic scoring systems at International Bowl Expo 2007. In 2008, it chose Italy-based Steltronic and the Focus/Vision scoring system. Seven years later, the partnership remains strong. “They had the flip dots and the flip dots technology didn’t have what they were looking for,” said Jim Osdale, operations manager of Steltronic’s USA division. “They needed to display more information on the board so they had to get something new and those flip dots needed updating because they were so old. “That was one reason they did this. The other is they wanted to go with a commercial scoring system, and put out a bid saying, ‘This is what we want from you guys and we’re 58
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wondering what it’s going to cost.’ “ Once Steltronic won the bid, the next task was designing the system. Osdale said it took about two months of programming time to develop, after which USBC tested it and sought several minor changes that took only about two additional days to complete. The system combines the scoring displays of the famous Daktronics, Inc. with the scoring programs created by Jim Osdale, operations manager of Steltronic’s Steltronic. After a successful test, the USA division. system made its event debut at the 2009 USBC Masters in the Cashman Convention Center in Las Vegas and soon after at the World Tenpin Bowling Association Championships. Osdale said the system worked tremendously at both events. “We could tell how many strikes were rolled and how many fouls there were, how many score corrections,” Osdale said. “We could tell them exactly which pins were knocked over on every single ball. We gave them all kinds of information. They were just amazed at the amount of information we were giving them.” Passing that hurdle, the Focus/Vision system was installed for the 2010 Women’s Championships in El Paso, the first USBC women’s event in a convention center setting. It followed the women to
VISIT US AT
BOW EXPO BOOTH #211
SPOTLIGHT
Steltronic was a big hit again for the 2014 USBC Women’s Championships in Reno.
Syracuse, NY, in 2011 and to the Reno-Sparks Convention Center in 2013 and 2014. A non-Daktronics version was used at the National Bowling Stadium in Reno in 2012 and again this year.
ww w
Once designed and approved, Steltronic turns the project over to USBC’s on-site construction crew and information technology staff to actually install the system. Typically this takes place about 2-3 weeks before the tournament’s opening with Osdale coming in for a one-week refresher course to help any new USBC employees learn the system. “The basic training [is] to show them the system, how to use it, and ‘what-if’ scenarios,” Osdale said. “Usually the training day only takes about four hours, but the best thing we do for the USBC is to stay with them during the grand opening of each tournament. Usually the tournament starts on Friday afternoon, but we spend the entire weekend with them all the way through Sunday night, just to help them in case something they forgot is easily handled.” When not at the Stadium, the overall package creates the world’s largest portable video displays, which also were used at the 2010 USBC Intercollegiate Team and Singles Championships, and Queens and Senior Queens tournaments in El Paso. Like the Masters, these events feature plenty of lane switches that have posed no problem. “We had no challenges,” Osdale said. “Our scoring system actually has built-in templates to do all kinds of lane movements that are industry standards such as Petersen, round robin and a couple of others that are in our pre-defined templates.” Osdale said if a format doesn’t initially fit one of the templates, the system can be manually overridden and changed to meet such needs. Another option is importing a spreadsheet format. “USBC loves the Steltronic system because of all the information it gives them,” Osdale said “And their IT guys tell me of all the different computer systems used at the tournament, the Steltronic system gives them the fewest headaches. It just seems to work perfectly for them.” USBC agrees. “We appreciate Steltronic’s support as a quality partner,” said USBC executive director Chad Murphy. “They have provided a strong product for our bowlers and great customer service to our team." 60
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Besides the success at the Women’s Championships, the Steltronic-USBC partnership has dramatically helped Steltronic away from the arenas. Osdale estimates his company has received a 20% boost in commercial center purchases of the scoring system because of the partnership. “It’s wonderful to go into bowling centers that are looking for automatic scoring and they’ll say, ‘Why should I go with Steltronic?’ Well, if the USBC can trust Steltronic with 100,000-plus bowlers that run through their events every year, why not go with Steltronic?” he said. “Some will say they read an article about Steltronic doing this at the women’s tournament and figure, ‘You must know what you are doing to run the tournament for the USBC; it must be a good system.’” Osdale said the system has stood the time test well enough that only USBC-requested changes have been made at the Women’s Championships. “The only thing we’ve had to change for the USBC is when USBC wanted to put up extra information on the screens,” he said. “For example, last year at the RenoSparks Convention Center they wanted to start putting up information such as city and state for each player in doubles and singles, city and state for the team, and they wanted to put up a logo that recognizes past champions. All that information prior to 2013 they didn’t have on their screens. “They said, ‘Can you do that?’ We said yes we can, and we made all the software changes on the displays to show that information.” Adjustments also needed to be made at the National Bowling Stadium in 2012 and this year because of that venue’s digital LED rear projectors that shine on white screens. Again, no problem. “That’s a completely different technology so we had to re-write our display system to show lane 1 and lane 2 on the bottom of a single projector,” Osdale said. One last benefit of the Steltronic system is its portability. Once one USBC Women’s Championships is complete, the system goes back to USBC for use the following year. “They just basically unplug our lane computer, box it up and ship it to the next stop,” Osdale said. “They don’t have to re-buy Steltronic equipment. You buy it once, it lasts forever.” ❖
Mark Miller is a freelance writer, editor, and public relations specialist from Flower Mound, TX. He's the author of Bowling: America's Greatest Indoor Pastime available at Amazon.com or directly from him at markmywordstexas@gmail.com.
Visit us at BOWL EXPO Booth #536
SHOWCASE LEAGUE TECHNOLOGY
LeaguePals is the first allinclusive, cloud-based system for the bowling industry. It enables league bowlers to pay their weekly league dues with a credit card and join leagues with a click of a button. LeaguePals automates and streamlines the manual processes involved with running bowling leagues: bookkeeping, tracking overdue bowlers, league standings and more. All major benefits are accessible from any device, any time with one simple online dashboard. For more information, go to www.leaguepals.com.
FULL PRODUCT LINE ON DISPLAY
QubicaAMF will present a full demo of its BES X Bowler Entertainment System at Bowl Expo 2015. Attendees can bowl on the new Highway66 mini bowling system and compete in the Match My Monster contest. In addition, the Harmony furniture line will show how a center can be transformed to accommodate large groups and parties. Also, see QubicaAMF is complete line of pins, replacement parts, lane car, center supplies, house balls and rental shoes. Visit Bowl Expo Booth #137 or go to www.quibicaamf.com for a closer look.
SOCKS AND MORE SOCKS
Visit Expert Hosiery/Funtime Footwear at Bowl Expo, Booth #232. Centers are turning socks into profits. See the new glow design for midnight bowling, in crews and knee highs for girls and guys. Funtime Footwear is the athletic footwear supplier for bowling, skating and FECs. Mix and match athletic and Bowlopolis socks by the dozen. Call 919-799-7707 or visit funtimefootwear.com.
LOYALTY PROGRAM
Embed has worked diligently to support its products for well over a decade. Part of that support includes the setup and implementation of an on-board loyalty program. This feature is under-utilized in the entertainment industry as a whole, but it is absolutely essential to achieve peak revenues. Please stop by Bowl Expo Booth #655 or contact a representative to ask how Embed can help you ensure that your guests feel like VIPs and are loyal only to you!
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LANE CONDITIONER
With Kegel’s Fire and Ice lane conditioners, there is no longer a need to compromise. In the past, one would have to decide between a durable conditioner that would withstand aggressive high tech balls and a conditioner that was pinsetter- and house ball-friendly. Fire and Ice are both. After more than a year in the field, these lane conditioners have proven themselves in centers and tournaments worldwide. For more information or to request a free sample, please visit www.kegel.net.
HIGH-SCORING CONDITIONER SPECIALIST
Happier bowlers = Bigger revenues. Struggling to maintain a consistent, high-scoring lane condition that keeps bowlers happy? Brunswick’s Great Shot service is the perfect solution. Let Brunswick send its Product Specialist, at no charge, to evaluate your lane conditions, including pulling tapes, to get the shot your center needs. It doesn’t matter what type of lane machine, supplies or lanes you currently use. For more information, go to www.brunswickbowling.com/products/lane-maintenance/.
SHOOTING GALLERY FUN
Shooting Mania is LAI Games’ carnival-style shooting gallery. This exciting video redemption game challenges players to collect toy targets to win tickets and earn chances at the bonus round. If you fail to collect a target, your fellow players will have a better chance at it. Great competitive action with threeplayer stations. Easy and intuitive and fun for the whole family. See the game in person at Bowl Expo Booth #131 or go to www.helixleisure.com.
GOT FRUIT FLIES?
EBN Services’ Fruit Fly BarPro is becoming a celebrity by completely eliminating nasty infestations including cockroaches, spiders and moths for up to four months. It has been tested and proven to be 100% effective across the country and is now approved by the EPA for sale in every state. A do-ityouself product which is safe and odorless. Watch it work at YouTube/Fruit Fly BarPro or, for more information, contact EBN at 888-435-6289.
CLASSIFIEDS
WWW.TEXTBOWLING.COM
PROPRIETORS WITH AMF 82-70 S.S. & M.P. MACHINES Save $$ on Chassis & P.C. Board Exchange & Repair! A reasonable alternative for Chassis and P.C. Board Exchanges MIKE BARRETT Call for Price List
Tel: (714) 871-7843 • Fax: (714) 522-0576 IBI
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CLASSIFIEDS EQUIPMENT FOR SALE FOR SALE: 40 lanes of Frameworx Touch Screen system. System can be split up. Competitive pricing. Available mid-July. Call 586-293-0880 or email david@shorelanesbowling.com. REPAIR & EXCHANGE. Call for details (248) 375-2751. NEW & USED Pro Shop Equipment. Jayhawk Bowling Supply. (800) 255-6436 or jayhawkbowling.com. FOR SALE: 28 lanes HPL, full lane; Route 66 Small Ball coin-operated; Brunswick & AMF power lifts; ball returns; factory A2 pinsetters; A2 machines for parts; vent–free fryer; Impenger Conveyor Oven; Bakers Pride Pizza Oven; 16’ vent hood stainless steel; bowling lane lumber for foundation or used wood bowling lanes; A2 cushions & moving decks; pinwheels; 27” monitors for Steltronic scoring; 42” Steltronic flatscreens; AMF Excel Automatic Scoring System; Swing-n-Swivel seating. Complete lane packages. INSTALLATIONS AVAILABLE. (719) 251-1616.
WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/BOWLINGFAN
Visit us at Bowl Expo Booth #116 64
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CLASSIFIEDS
LOCKER KEYS FAST! All Keys done by code # Locks and Master Keys E-mail: huff@inreach.com TOLL FREE
1-800-700-4539
AMF • BRUNSWICK EQUIPMENT COMPLETE PACKAGES WORLDʼS LARGEST NEW – USED SPARE PARTS INVENTORY ALL AMF BUMPER PARTS, XS Q-BUMP, DURABOWL AND GEN II IN STOCK
SEL L
BUY
Danny & Daryl Tucker Tucker Bowling Equipment Co. 609 N.E. 3rd St. Tulia, Texas 79088 Call (806) 995-4018 Fax (806) 995-4767
Bowling Parts, Inc. P.O. Box 801 Tulia, Texas 79088 Call (806) 995-3635 Email - daryl@tuckerbowling.com
www.tuckerbowling.com
WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/BOWLINGFAN
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CLASSIFIEDS EQUIPMENT WANTED LANE MACHINES WANTED. We will purchase your KEGEL-built machine, any age or condition. Call (608) 764-1464.
NEW ITEM AMF Chassis Plug Access Door. Easy access to work on chassis plugs. $9.99 ea. Nationwide AMF service. Visit TheBowlDoctor.com or call (608) 3819276.
MANAGER WANTED MANGER wanted for one of our northern New Jersey locations. Some management experience preferred. Email resume to sgroce@nationwidebowlingcom.
SELL YOUR CENTER
(818) 789-2695
SERVICE CALLS WORLDWIDE • PRE-SHIPS • WE SELL
AS80/90 • BOARD REPAIR • Frameworx NEW KEYPADS • FRONT DESK LCD MONITORS
Michael P. Davies (321) 254-7849
291 Sandy Run, Melbourne, FL 32940
on the web: bowlingscorer.com email: mike@bowlingscorer.com
WWW.TEXTBOWLING.COM
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POSITION WANTED Certified Brunswick mechanic well-versed on all serial machines both American & Japanese. Seeking 20-24 hours per week employment in Denver, CO, area. 45 years experience. Has own tools. Excellent references. Call Steven @ (303) 870-5860 or email cstaylor1993@gmail.com.
SERVICES AVAILABLE Drill Bit Sharpening and Measuring Ball Repair. Jayhawk Bowling Supply. (800) 255-6436 or jayhawkbowling.com. AMF 5850 & 6525 CHASSIS. Exchange your tired or damaged chassis for an upgraded, rewired, cleaned, painted and ready-to-run chassis. Fast turnaround. Lifetime guarantee. References available. CHASSIS DOCTOR (330) 314-8951.
CENTERS FOR SALE CENTRAL OHIO: 16-lane profitable Brunswick center with nightly leagues, lounge and snack bar. In fastest-growing and highest-income county in Ohio. Call Debra (740) 369-3451.
CLASSIFIEDS
DINUBA LANES For Sale in California: City population of 21,000, and trade population of 129,000, 16-lane center with auto scoring. 15,000 s/f building. Family business with great potential. Owner retiring; will carry small 1st @ 6%. Full appraisal available for serious buyer. Call Armen (559) 250-3502.
Felix Erickson Co., Inc. Strike Zone © Family of Lane Products Strike Zone© Next Generation LC 5 gal case $105 Envi-Cide II Disinfectant Shoe sparay 12/15 oz $87.95 Solve-It © Orange Foam Cleaner 12/18 oz $69.95 FESI Solve-IT © Ball Wheel Liner 22’ $90 NEW RM 107 Rubber/Cork Wheel Liner $29.95/Roll 070-006-757S Smooth Dist. Belt w/ lacing $35 ea. 000-024-604 Gray Ball Lift Belt $195 ea. Exclusive Phenolic Kickback Plates Front 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.com Resurfacing - Repairs - Supplies - Synthetics
WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/BOWLINGFAN
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CLASSIFIEDS
FIELD TRAINERS NEEDED QubicaAMF is seeking multiple Field Trainers to deliver face-toface onsite training to our customers. Qualified candidates must have experience in bowling center operations. Working knowledge and proficiency in our Management (Conqueror Pro) and Scoring Systems is a plus. Field Trainers will use prepared training materials issued by QubicaAMF and will focus on delivery of training program. Additional responsibilities include supporting the comprehensive training process as needed (preparation of training agenda, completing training reports after each event, answering customer questions, participation in internal training, etc.) Training is conducted onsite at customer center location, travel is required. Send Resume to (954) 416-6590 or email rkatz@qubicaamf.us for more information.
CENTERS FOR SALE APPRAISALS: LARRY DOBBS MAI, ASA. (214) 674-8187. Bowlingvaluations@yahoo.com. SOUTHWEST KANSAS: Well-maintained 8lane center, A-2s, full-service restaurant. Includes business and real estate. Nice, smaller community. Owner retiring. $212,000. Leave message (620) 397-5828. NORTHERN CALIFORNIA: 32-LANE CENTER. Owner retiring. Priced to sell. $1.8 mil annual revenues. Broker: Harry Sidhu, cell (510) 490-9705 or office (510) 366-6130. GEORGIA: Busy 32-lane center, real estate included. Great location in one of fastest–growing counties in metro Atlanta. 5 years new with all the amenities. Excellent numbers. Call (770) 356-8751.
Merchant Coupon RESULTS "One of the best promotions we have ever had." - Bryan Senker, Flamingo Bowl (TX) "I should have re-ordered your coupon program sooner…you can quote me on that.” - Max Cook, North Bowl Lanes (WA) "BMA goes above and beyond any other marketing service.” - Patrick Kline, Shelby Lanes (MI) "Top notch from start to finish. I love the results!" - Doug Cottom, Ross Cottom Lanes (IL)
MINIATURE GOLF COURSES Indoor/Outdoor. Portable/Pre-Fab. Black Light/Traditional/Pro Putter.
202 Bridge Street Jessup, PA 18434 570-489-8623 www.minigolfinc.com
"A glowing recommendation. I took a chance, it paid off. ROI was over 800%. Been using it ever since!" - Chuck Linn, Daffodil Bowl (WA)
Try a free Market Test... Call Chris at 888-930-4039 or visit ibi.BMAmkt.com
CENTERS FOR SALE OHIO, Archbold: 12-lane Brunswick center on 1.81 acres w/ 13,440 s/f commercial bldg. Plus QubicaAMF scoring system, pro shop with eqpt. & restaurant/bar area with eqpt. & fixtures. Asking 189,900.00. Contact lshirkey@fmbank.com or (800) 451-7843 x 15290. OKLAHOMA: Lease to Own or Owner Carry for Viable Investor. 16 lanes—fully remodeled with so much potential, A2s, Steltronic w/42” flatscreens, synthetic panels, 11th Frame Grill, laser tag, largest game room in the area & thriving lounge w/ room to expand. (719) 251-1616. 16-lane center in Southern Colorado mountains. Great condition. 18,000 s/f building w/ restaurant & lounge. Paved parking 100+ vehicles. Established leagues & tournaments. $950,000 or make offer. Kipp (719) 852-0155. NE MINNESOTA: Food, Liquor & Bowling. Established 8 lanes between Mpls & Duluth w/ large bar, dining room, banquet area. Two large State employment facilities nearby. High six-figure gross. Call Bryan (218) 380-8089. www.majesticpine.com. CENTRAL ILLINOIS: PRICED TO SELL!! 8-lane center with AMF 82-70s, full-service restaurant, pro shop. Plus pool tables, karaoke machine & DJ system. Asking $125,000.00 with RE. (217) 351-5152 or toms-uvl@sbcglobal.net. WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA: One of the top five places to move! Remodeled 32lane center. Good numbers. $3.1m gets it all. Fax qualified inquiries to (828) 253-0362. EASTERN NORTH DAKOTA: 6-lane Brunswick center, bar & grill, drive-thru liquor store in small college town. Also, 3 apartment buildings with 40 units, good rental history. Call (701) 330-7757 or (701) 430-1490. NW KANSAS: 12-lane center, AS-80s, Lane Shield, snack bar, pro shop, game & pool rooms. See pics and info @ www.visitcolby.com or contact Charles (785) 443-3477.
SELL YOUR CENTER OR EQUIPMENT
(818) 789-2695
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DATEBOOK
JUNE
10-11 Birthday University Raleigh, NC Frank Price (919) 387-1966 fprice@birthdayuniversity.com 11 NSBPA Annual Meeting Holiday Inn Lincoln, NE Chris Gallas (800) 343-1349 ext. 8471 www.bowlnebraska.net
15 BCAF Board of Directors Pink Shell Beach Resort Fort Myers Beach, FL Chris Gallas (800) 343-1349 ext. 8471 www.bcaf.us 15-16 Iowa BPA Summer Education & Trade Show Adventureland @ Prairie Meadows Casino Altoona, IA (515) 255-0808
15-19 Brunswick GS-Series Pinsetter Maintenance School Muskegon, MI www.brunswickbowling.com/servicesupport/training
20-21 BCA–Michigan Convention & Trade Show Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort Mount Pleasant, MI Ken Prokopec (630) 235-7794
16-19 Asian Attractions Expo Hong Kong Convention & Exhibit Center Hong Kong (703) 836-4801 www.iaapa.org/expos
20-22 IBECA Show Park Place Hotel Traverse City, MI Scott Bennett (888) 484-2322 scott@bowlmail.com
22-26 International Bowl Expo Paris Hotel Las Vegas, NV www.bpaa.com
21-23 Foundations Entertainment University Chicago, IL Randy White (816) 931-1040
JULY 11-17 Junior Gold Championships Dupage, IL (800) 514-2695, ext. 8426 USBCjuniorgold@bowl.com 14-16 BPAA Management School Jack McCarthy (502) 558-3450 www.kentuckybpa.com
22-23 Colorado State BPA Annual Meeting Chris Gallas (817) 385-8471 chris@bpaa.com 23 Classic Products Regional Trade Show Fort Wayne, IN (800) 444-0123
23-25 BPA of the Carolinas/Georgia Summer Convention Sea Trail Resort Sunset Beach, NC (910) 484-5178 28-30 Custom Content Management Program Michele Colangelo (502) 968-2695 www.kentuckybpa.com 29-30 Ace Mitchell Bowling Regional Trade Show Akron, OH (800) 262-2695
AUGUST 11-13 Custom Content Management Program Chris Gallas (800) 343-1349 ext. 8471 www.bcaf.us 14 Classic Products & Hudson Bowling Supply Regional Trade Show Kegel Training Center Lake Wales, FL (800) 444-0123 14-16 New Mexico Open Tenpins & More Rio Rancho, NM (505) 892-7117
SEPTEMBER
27 – October 2 Entertainment Center Manager (ECM) School International Bowling Campus Arlington, TX Kelly Bednar (817) 385-8462
IBI
June 2015
69
REMEMBER WHEN
1950s Product: Hunter, fine blended whiskey
“
t’s a matter of choice.” Hunter-Wilson distilling company narrows it down in this 1950s magazine ad campaign: bowling or billiards? They knew life is full of choices, and while presenting two popular activities, their main focus was definitely on sharing either or both with Hunter whiskey. During this time, ABC membership rose from 1,417,000 in 1950 to 3,500,000 in 1959. WIBC numbers climbed from 542,723 at the beginning of the decade to 1,534,362 at the end. Choices were definitely being made, and bowling was shining brightly. ❖
I
– Patty Heath
70
IBI
June 2015