international bowling industry magazine 09/14

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

PUBLISHER & EDITORScott Frager

[email protected]: scottfrager

ASSOCIATE PUBLISHERDavid Garber

[email protected]

OFFICE MANAGERPatty Heath

[email protected]

CONTRIBUTORSFred Groh

Patty HeathAnna M. Littles

EDITORIAL DIRECTORJackie Fisher

[email protected]

ART DIRECTION & PRODUCTIONDesignworks

www.dzynwrx.com(818) 735-9424

INTERNRachel Gale

FOUNDERAllen Crown (1933-2002)

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

Fax (818) [email protected]

www.BowlingIndustry.com

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

MEMBER AND/OR SUPPORTER OF:

6ISSUE AT HAND

Proprietors HelpingProprietors

By Scott Frager

8SHORTS

• Seniors takebowling seriously

at Pinz inStudio City, CA.

• Lucky Strike hostsConquer Cancer

Campaign.• KBF shows TV’s

Today how tothrow a strike.

• David Garberis new IBI

Associate Publisher.By Patty Heath

18COVER STORY

Branding IronsAMF attempts bringing

bowling back into popularculture with three distinct

brands under one banner.By Fred Groh

CONTENTS VOL 22.9

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IBI September 20144

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32CENTER STAGESouthern Charm MeetsBritish StyleIn Atlanta, The Painted Pinmixes warm SouthernHospitality with a decidedlyBritish sensibility to create aunique experience.By Anna M. Littles

38PROFILEA Flash of Silver on theKansas PrairieBrent Bowers is the Kansasstate official BPA coach andtravels to any membercenter that asks.By Fred Groh

52REMEMBER WHENAMF1952By Patty Heath

44 Showcase

45 Classifieds

51 Datebook

6 IBI September 2014

THE ISSUE AT HAND

4THIS MONTH AT www.BowlingIndustry.com

It’s heartbreaking being told that apinsetter chassis or something equally vitalis suddenly on the fritz and the center isn’tstocked with a spare.

Murphy’s Law states that such disastershappen early on a Friday night just before afull-buyout corporate event or when leaguesare taking up every lane in the place.

That’s also exactly the time whenthe manufacturer is about to closefor the day and the shipping dockcrew is waving good-bye to Ned,their friendly FedEx truck driver.

Which means the repair is atleast three days away, and you’llbe down some lanes at the worstpossible time.

What do you do?In Southern California we’ll probably get

on the horn and call around to bowlingproprietors in town with similar equipmentand ask for help.

This scenario really happened to us acouple of times in the past few months, andwe’ve heard similar stories from other bowlingowners in our vicinity. And in every case, theproprietors called on for help gave it withouthesitation and without reservation. We all didwhat we could to get the center in trouble upand running. There are similar tales to be toldabout Southern Cal proprietors helping each

other when it comes to staffing and vendor referrals, too.This goodwill is heartwarming, especially when so many

people think of this as an age of “cutthroat” competition and a“what’s in it for me” unscrupulousness among businesspeople.Bowling proprietors are showing the world that fellowship isperfectly consistent with business competition.

On a separate note, we are always looking for ways to improvethe magazine and its service to you. This month, I’m proud to

introduce David Garber asour new Associate Publisher.As you’ll read David has veryimpressive credentials—onthe consumer side of bowlingand on the business side.I’m positive David is going todo an amazing job for you.(You can reach him, by the

way, at [email protected] or 818-789-2695.)While I doubt that proprietors in Southern California will be

so generous as to share league bowlers with each other (althoughI did get a referral for two league bowlers when they moved intomy neighborhood), we should all feelproud when our industry rises to theoccasion and shows true characterand fellowship.

– SCOTT FRAGER, PUBLISHERAND [email protected]

Proprietors Helping Proprietors

Remember the Chinese curse, “May you live in interesting times”? Currently, bowling is goingthrough interesting times. Brunswick and Bowlmor AMF have given the industry a lot to thinkabout. Take a look at the thoughts of fellow proprietors, pro shop operators and industrysuppliers on this issue in our Forum section. Weigh in yourself.

More and more, people in the industry are turning to IBI to find out what is happening, howothers are reacting and commenting themselves. Onsite membership is on the rise with over 2,300members and counting. Be a part of it. Go to www.bowlingindustry.com and sign up now.


SHORTS

Liberty Lanes, in East Grand Forks, MN, has been purchased. The saleclosed in April, Beata Dalmi, the registered agent for the property, disclosed. Theplan is to keep it as a bowling center and make gradual capital improvementsover time. Built in 1976, the center has 16 lanes as well as a lounge. It was namedin tribute to the country’s bicentennial year.

Red Ventures, a Fort Mill, SC-based Internet marketing and sales firm, recentlycompleted a new 180,000-square-foot building complete with bowling lanes, beergarden, spin and yoga studios and a coffee bar. The new, five-story building has

60 meeting rooms built around themes: garages, bars,attics, and even a backyard theme. The company drawscustomers via online marketing and direct sales for clientsincluding DirecTV and ADT Security.

Of course, the key interest factor is the bowling lanes!

Champion bowler Gary Daroszewski has partnered in the complete renovatingof 46-year-old Fox Valley Lanes in Neenah, WI. Besides Fox Valley, Daroszewskiowns and renovated Classic Lanes in Oak Creek and Class Lanes MenomoneeFalls. The 36-lane facility will sport new lanes, gutters and bumpers, newscoring system, a remodeled banquet hall, plus a second banquet hall, and acompletely new kitchen. The estimated tab is $1 million. Daroszewski feels,“When you create a nice environment, people come to have fun. If you run it welland keep it clean, people will come.”

EXPANSIONS,OPENINGS & NEW

BEGINNINGS Expansions, openings and new beginnings are not isolated toU.S. cities. The Pakistani government will build a 30-lane bowlingcenter in Karachi, Tiaz Hussain Pirzada, Federal Minister for Inter-Provincial Coordination, said. Pirzada, speaking at the presentationceremony of the All Pakistan Bowling Tournament at the RoyalRodale Club, was impressed with the exciting sport of bowling.He said that the federal government will patronize and supportbowling in all provinces of the country.

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In the province of Ontario, Canada, Westside Bowl will reopenwith new owners, who happen to be the old owners from sevenyears ago, who have taken the business back. Michelle and ClarkJames will be doing some renovations on the space and equipmentand hope to open in September for the league season.

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Moving across the pond, Roxy Lanes is the latest venture byJones Bar Group, Ltd., Leeds, West Yorkshire, UK. A 5,300-square-foot unit, Roxy Lanes will feature four full-size bowlinglanes imported from the U.S. and will create seven new full-time,and 20 part-time, jobs. Insider Media Limited said that theventure is the second new leisure concept launched by brothersMatthew and Ben Jones, managing and finance directorrespectively. “We spotted a gap in the market with Roxy Lanesby giving a quality lift to the old-style concept of bowling alleysand linking it to good food and a cocktail bar in a comfortable,up-market setting designed so people can stay as long as theywish and have fun,” said Matthew.

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The Original Bowling Company, UK’s biggest ten-pin bowlingoperator, runs 44 bowling centers known as AMF and HollywoodBowl. Ashley Armstrong of Telegraph UK reported that thecompany has been working with bankers at Rothschild to exploreits options for either a float or sale. Neither the bank nor OriginalBowling Company chose to comment.

WORLDWIDE ACTIVITY

Red Ventures employee enjoys one of theperks of the company’s new building.Photo credit: Isabella Bartolucci

On July 8, Bowlmor Lanes in GreenwichVillage closed its doors, ending a 76-year run.While there are two newer Bowlmor centers inthe city, “this is the one that started it all. Youcan’t replace it,” said owner Tom Shannon.

The 44-lane center opened in 1938. Whiletoday the lanes have been a glamorous hauntfor A-listers such as The Strokes, Sarah Jessica

Parker, Jimmy Fallon and Al Pacino, backin the not-so-good days, managerAnthony Sorrentino was murdered insidethe center. Andres Restrepo, theBowlmor district manager, shared storiesof families with four generations ofbowlers coming to hang out on a Sunday.

Once gutted, the building is reportedly to be transformed into luxury condos.

A NOSTALGIC LOOK BACK


SHORTS

KBF on the Today ShowNBC’s Today Show welcomed Kids Bowl Free on July 4th. The topic was

“How to throw a strike.”Bruce Davis (left) and Darin Spindler (right)

did their best to give Hoda and Kathie Leepointers to rolling a strike. A good time was hadby all and word is that there might be futuresegments. Although not a lot of time to promoteKids Bowl Free, that’s show biz. Nationaltelevision exposure is never a bad thing.

US Bowling Corp. partners with IdealSoftware Systems

Bowling center designer and supplier US Bowling Corp. and Ideal SoftwareSystems, an amusement management systems firm, have partnered up.The aim is to integrate Ideal’s state-of-the-art business management systemwith US Bowling’s scoring, creating a turnkey system.

Holiday Lanes Rocks OutRobin Williams of Holiday Lanes in Bossier City, LA, is

not one to shy away from mixing it up. In August, thecenter hosted the School of Rock Summer Tour in HolidayLanes’ “Back to School Music Fest.” School of Rock is anational music program for school-aged kids who, withmusic instructors, tour and give live performances whilelearning their craft. The movie, School of Rock, starring JackBlack, was based on the first school, started in 1998.

Lucky Strike Rolls Out New Menu ItemsLucky Strike, the nationally-acclaimed boutique bowling and entertainment brand,

has introduced new menu options including revamped recipes and handcraftedsignature cocktails. Some enticements are chipotle short rib and beef burgers withcaramelized onions, Momma’s Mac N Cheese with added ingredients such as truffleoil, roasted chilis, bacon or avocado, and Esteban’s Nachos Grande. A temptinglibation might be Milagro Spice, with tequila, pomegranate liqueur, lime juice andfresh strawberries. Hungry? Visit a Lucky Strike and bowl and eat!

Million Laughs at Clayton Valley Bowl Paul Thompson, general manager of Clayton Valley Bowl in Concord, CA, has

found that the combination of laughter and bowling work well together. The firstWednesday of every month, the center offers comedy showcases in the lounge.The show features a different lineup of talented local and touring comedians eachmonth. The funny is free but the bowling is extra.

SHORT SHORTS

Joe Kelly, proprietor of Acme Bowl, Alton, IL, andlater, Riverboat Lanes, Godfrey, passed away June 15. Hewas 87. Until Riverboat Lanes closed in July 2011, thecenter was the longest continuous member of BPAA at79 years. Kelly was a Life Member of Illinois State andSouthern Illinois BPAs.

Memorials may be made to: Marquette Catholic HighSchool or St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Alton, IL.

IN REMEMBRANCE

There are septuagenarians, octogenarians andnonagenarians competing no-holds-barred at Pinz BowlingCenter in Studio City, CA. A rarity? No. One can findcompetitive seniors all over the country assembling every weekto bowl their best. Dennis McCarthy of the Los Angeles DailyNews spent a Thursday morning with Pinz’ senior league.

McCarthy’s description of Teri Bonato, 90 years old andlegally blind, captures the romance of seeing seniors livingthe life. She “stalks the foul line cradling her 10-pound ballin the crook of her right arm… She drops the ball from hiphigh, and it crashes onto thesynthetic wood alley with aloud bang that sends acouple of people ducking.”

Further in MCarthy’sarticle, Barbara Lee, directorof the senior leagues at Pinz,helps round out the picture.“’Watch,’ Barbara says. ‘Ifshe misses she gets reallymad. This league is verycompetitive. They’re hereto win, not talk about thegreat grandkids.’“

Lee points out thatseniors tend to be moreresilient than youngerbowlers. If kids get aninjury, they’re gone for amonth. Her seniors have been through cancer, brokenbones, hip replacements, and a plethora of other ailmentsand yet they keep coming back to bowl.

With age comes wisdom and bowling. Any centenariansin this league? Not yet.

THROWING AGETO THE WIND

Joel Margolis, 74, the baby of the seniorgroup, watches the outcome of his throwin the top photo.


SHORTS

While most people slow down during summer,centers keep busy with events aimed at supportingtheir communities in an air-conditioned environment.

The annual Battle Buddy Bowling fundraiser tobenefit the Puppy Rescue Mission was held at FoxBowl, Wheaton, IL. Besides a good time bowling,there were sports memorabilia autographed byBrandon Marshall and Dan Hampton of the ChicagoBears and Bobby Hull and Denis Savard of hockey’sBlackhawks.

A fundraising night of family, friends, fun, foodand bowling was held for 8-year-old Matt Dugas atIndian Lanes in Wyandotte, MI. Matt hasmitochondrial disease, which saps the body of theenergy needed to sustain life and support growth.All proceeds go to the youngster’s medicalexpenses.

His mother Erica said, “We have not lost hope.We don’t feel like we have exhausted all options yet,and we know Matt still has some tricks up hissleeve.”

A fundraiser for Court Appointed SpecialAdvocates (CASA) for children in Arkansas County,was held at Rice Bowling Lanes in Stuttgart, AR.CASA volunteers are appointed by judges toadvocate in court and other settings for the bestinterests of abused and neglected children.

A bowling party was held at Strike Zone BowlingCenter to benefit Cabell-Wayne Animal Shelter inHuntington, WV. The event hopes to fostervolunteers and donations such as dog food, cat litter,and cleaning supplies.

Dream of Hopes Ranch held its 14th annualCandlelight Family Bowl Benefit at Westgate Lanesin Austin, TX.

The group offers programs for children andadults with special needs. A raffle, silent auction anddoor prizes were set up to help the organizationraise money for uniforms, computers and ranchmaterials.

Stars-n-Strikes for Military Heroes held its 4thannual Operation Welcome You Home at Town &Country Lanes in Joliet, IL. All proceeds go tobenefit local veterans in need.

Bowling for the Animals, the 13th annualfundraiser for Spay/Neuter Action Project (SNAP)was held at Poway Fun Bowl in Poway, CA.

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

GO

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‘DMC’ AND LUCKY STRIKETAKE A STRIKE AT CANCER

Lucky Strike hosted a three-month campaign, May 1through July 31, in support of the Conquer Cancer Coalition,whose mission is to conquer all forms of cancer by workingtogether to build stronger communities around the country.

On July 15, Lucky Strike SanFrancisco was the host for aConquer Cancer Coalitionevent. Campaign AmbassadorDarryl “DMC” McDaniels ofRUN-DMC was present to rollthe first strike and meet andsign autographs for fans. LuckyStrike presented a check for allthe proceeds raised during thecampaign to date whichtotaled $42,000. All LuckyStrike locations nationwidedonated a portion of the salesof its Burger of the Month,specialty beverage items and alimited-edition blue charitybracelet to the cause.

MIXED DOUBLES FORCANCER RESEARCHBill Lillard, Sr.’s Palace

Lanes in Houston, TX, wasthe venue. Luci Bunneau‘Striking against BreastCancer’ Mixed DoublesTournament was the event.The goal was, as it hasbeen for 15 years, to raisefunds for breast cancerresearch. The three-day event garnered $69,000, addingto the $500,000 received overall.

Donna Conners, a Texas Hall of Fame bowler, is the forcebehind this tournament which honors the memory of LuciBunneau, also a Texas Hall of Famer who succumbed tothe disease. With the help of Barbara Chrisman and StormProducts, the corporate sponsor, this event draws thebest professional and amateur bowling talent from allover the world.

Darryl “DMC” McDaniels of RUN-DMC bowled and performed forConquer Cancer Coalition.

PARTNERSHIPS EXPAND


SHORTS

Glenn Hartshorn and New Center Consulting, Inc. announced that David Meunierwill head up the company’s expanded tech support department for the TouchDeskIIIand Touchscore3 product lines. Meunier is a veteran of the industry, having workedat Purrfect Score, QubicaAMF and BMA.

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Bay Tek Games of Pulaski, WI, a designer and manufacturer of coin-operatedgames, specializing in ticket and prize redemption, has introduced role changes for

three of its employees.Holly Meidl, formerDirector of Marketing,was newly named theDirector of Innovation,Matt Connell of sistercompany MCL Industries,Inc. was also added tothe Bay Tek side as

Director of Finance; and Rob Ozarowicz, formally Inside Sales, was named Directorof Operations. All three have served the company over the years and each promotionis a natural outgrowth of participation in the overall well-being of the company.

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Roger Lindblad, president of ZOT Pinsetter Parts,has announced the appointment of PJ Rosendahl asgeneral manager. With this, Lindblad will turn overthe day-to-day operations to Rosendahl and focushis attention on special projects.

Rosendahl first came to ZOT in 1998 as sales andservice manager for a six-year term. He returned in2012 as a project manager. His entrepreneurialexpertise, product management skills and his abilityin sales prompted the new position.

PEOPLEWATCHING

Holly Meidl Matt Connell Rob Ozarowicz

Roger Lindblad (L) with PJ Rosendahl (R)

Kegel has announced its partnershipwith Cambol México as a new distributorfor its lane maintenance products inMexico. Cambol is a company that isrecognized in Mexico and Latin America,with large trade relations built over its 34years I business. “Cambol México is awelcome addition for Kegel,” said ChrisChartrand, president. Manuel Blandez,CEO of Cambol, shared, “It has beena long time dream to belong to theKegel family, and I am very happy toform this partnership.”

In Europe, Kegel has recently inkedan agreement with Adriano Santi andSM.IT Bowling Distribution as Kegel’snew distributor in Italy. Santi has beena national bowling team player since1982 and has been involved in variousaspects of the business and entereddistribution in 2013. “Mr. Santi isextremely passionate and involved inthe world of bowling. It was a naturalstep for Kegel to partner with hiscompany,” said Chartrand.

Davis Garber, past director of corporate bowling sales for Station Casino Hotels in Las Vegas, has joined B2BMedia, Inc. as Associate Publisher of International Bowling Industry magazine.

Before his two years at Station Casinos, Garber bowled for Team USA for four years, then spent four years asdirector of Team USA and two years as USBC director of coaching. He has also been a food and beverage consultantfor a restaurant in Sarasota, FL.

“David has exactly the kind of expertise we need at IBI to maintain our outstanding service to advertisers,” saidScott Frager, B2B Media, Inc. President and CEO and IBI Publisher, in making the announcement.

“His expertise on both the business and consumer sides of bowling is going to be a major asset in developingand launching even better programs for advertisers. I’m very happy to welcome him aboard.”

Said Garber, “Scott and I have done business before, so this is very unique. I’m really looking forward to my newposition.” He and Frager met in the course of activities for the Bowling Centers of Southern California (BCSC), whereFrager is Executive Director.

Garber can be reached at [email protected] or 818-789-2695.

DAVID GARBER IS NEW IBI ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER

COVER STORY


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COVER STORY

21IBI September 2014

he bigger the project, the cleareryou need to be about the nameof your game.

Rebuilding and positioning achain of 265 bowling centers is not a smallproject. “What we’re doing as a companyis bringing bowling back into popularculture,” says vice president of marketingColie Edison.

A lofty ambition, but fitting for TomShannon, who traded ownership of sixBowlmor party centers for a portfoliocomprising those six plus the AMF chain—250 traditional centers branded ‘AMF’ andnine upscale houses wearing the ‘300’ name.

T

By Fred Groh

1. Bowlero2. Bowlero3. Bowlero4. Bowlmor5. AMF

2

3

COVER STORY


The merger and legal entity that came out of it—Bowlmor AMF—were announced July 1, 2013.

“I thought Bowlmor did the recreational and partything really well and AMF did the league thing verywell,” Shannon told writer Fred Eisenhammer in May IBI.“Put it together and there was plenty of upside. I thinkI was right,” he said.

In July this year, with the remaking of the AMF housesstill underway, Shannon announced his purchase of all theBrunswick centers. He had no immediate plans to changetheir operation, he told us in the August issue. His Brunswickdivision would “run as it has run. We didn’t buy Brunswickto change it. We bought it to maintain it” and to learn from

it. “They run bowling centers with the same disciplines and processyou would run a manufacturing plant,” Shannon related. “As we gotthrough [due] diligence, we found ‘here’s a lot of stuff we can learnfrom Brunswick.’ I want to learn [that].”

The AMF centers were a different story. They were “a businessthat needed addressing in every way, from training and hiring ofstaff—the way that impacted the customer—marketing messages,sales, the facilities, loss-prevention technology—everything neededto be re-done,” Shannon said.

Now, as the second year of Bowlmor AMF gets underway, theAMF 300s have been converted to the Bowlmor brand. AMF-branded centers continue under the AMF name.

And Shannon has launched a new brand of center in his AMFdivision, Bowlero. The first unit opened inMay at The Woodlands, a master-plannedcommunity of 107,000 about 30 miles northof Houston.

TACTICS

The Woodlands location is auspicious,marketing VP Edison indicates. Nine corporatecampuses sited there include McKesson andMaersk (transoceanic container shipping). Byyear’s end 2015, Exxon will have built-out itsown 385-acre tract with housing and amenitiesfor 10,000 employees.

Explaining the tactics in choosing TheWoodlands for the first Bowlero, Edisonsays, “We look at, first and foremost, thecorporate business in the area, because thismodel relies heavily on private events, andcorporate events supply a lot of that. Then welook at schools within the area so we can getthe kids’ birthday parties. Bowling at its core

AMF DIVISIONAt Acquisition

250 AMF9 ‘300’

6 BowlmorAfter Re-Branding

240 AMF14 Bowlmor2 Bowlero

~10 Closures

BRUNSWICK DIVISION

66 Brunswick Zone

15 Brunswick Zone XL

3 Brunswick’s

BOWLMOR AMF: THE INVENTORY*

At Acquisition

*At press time.

Added attractions include nostalgia. As in foosball, air hockey, video games like Buck Hunter, billiards, and a classic Airstream trailer where ice cream delights areserved (by Colie Edison on opening day). “What Bowlero is all about: industrial-vintage-retro meets a modern bowling alley.” — Colie Edison.Bowlero design by StudioLEMONADE of Denver.

COVER STORY


is a family-friendly activity, so the environmentthat we’re going in needs to mirror that.

“We’re going to see a lot of corporatebusiness,” a confident Edison adds. “We’resuper-excited about that of course. But thenduring the day, we’re very family-friendly soyou’ll see kids’ birthday parties and familyreunions and anniversaries. At night wecater to 21-and-over or 18-and-over,depending on the night.”

Comparing models, Bowlero is “verysimilar to Bowlmor, in that events will be thebulk of our revenue. We think the [Bowlero]aesthetic is more casual, edgy, industrial. Ifyou were going to compare Bowlmor andBowlero, Bowlmor would be a Westin andBowlero would be a W: you can have a lotmore fun with the [Bowlero] brand, a lotmore tongue-in-cheek.”

Neither model fits comfortably into atraditional, league-dominated bowlingcenter, however, the profile of AMFWoodlands before a complete renovationturned it into Bowlero. So leagues weremoved to the nearest AMF center, with twoexceptions. A Special Olympics league anda YMCA league for adults and kids withdevelopmental disabilities remain.

Also not the best fit in most marketswould be a 20-lane house wearing theBowlero brand. Corporate events need“something a little bigger”—more on theorder of the Houston site’s 40 lanes, Edisonsays. “They also need to have a privateevent space, like a meeting room, andusually if a house doesn’t have 30 lanes,they don’t have a room like that.”

That’s not to say that one-off locationscould not become a boutique element of theBowlero brand, Edison offers. “One of oursmall L.A. area properties could easilybecome a Bowlero.”

FEC additions to the model are an option“we’ll always keep in the picture. There aresome centers where we think there is anopportunity to do an FEC concept.”

The company is also eyeing a music-venue concept along the lines of BrooklynBowl, combining bowling and rockperformances. “And we’ve taken some

AMF DIVISION: THE OTHER BRANDS

AMF (240 locations)“...the ultimate league experience”

Bowlmor (14 locations)“...the ultimate private-event experience”

Continued on page 26

COVER STORY


The shunting of leagues at AMF Woodlands(Houston) to another center when their bowlinghome was turned into Bowlero was the kind ofincident that has fueled bitter feelings aboutBowlmor AMF for months.

Acquiring the AMF chain in 2013, BowlmorAMF chairman, CEO and president Tom Shannonproceeded to make changes for the newcompany’s better financial health. Some priceswent up and some operating hours went down,especially daytime hours when senior leagueswere bowling.

More than a few bowlers were angry and othersworried whether their leagues would have a homemuch longer at AMF-branded centers. Someobservers took it as slap in the face of leagues.

A Bowlers Appreciation Week in January(players got a free beverage during their leaguesession) wasn’t enough to up-end a perception thatBowlmor AMF just doesn’t care about leagues. It’sa perception in which a lot is at stake. The majorityof Bowlmor AMF properties—now includingBrunswick centers—are slated to remain league-emphatic, and league players across the BowlmorAMF total about 230,000.

In one move to counter the perception—andto say in action what he stoutly insists in words:“I love leagues and we are completelycommitted to that business”—Shannon recentlycreated a new position, vice president ofleagues. To fill it, he selected AMF’s formerdirector of operations, Jay Lietman.

Breaking into the industry by buying andrunning an Arizona center for several years,Lietman was then recruited as a general managerfirst by Brunswick, then by ARC. ARC waseventually gobbled up by Goldman Sachs, whichturned Lietman into an AMF manager. Then AMFmoved him to Texas HQ to start a school forAMF center managers.

Over time, operations-related programs thatdidn’t fall into anybody else’s territory at HQwound up in Lietman’s lap. And AMF having nooperations group, he was made AMF’s director ofoperations. That was three years ago. He setabout combining best practices from all the

Goldman-acquired centers and created operating standards for the company.Last spring, about a year after Shannon acquired the AMF chain, director

of operations Lietman found himself “passionately pleading to someone, I can’tremember exactly who, about the state of the leagues and how importantcompetitive play might be.” Shannon took him aside, Lietman remembers, andsaid, “I can’t believe we don’t have this role currently, but I’d like to make youthe VP of leagues.”

Today Lietman leads a staff of six, including one staffer specializing in leaguedevelopment, another in league retention, and the rest attending to variousoperations responsibilities so that Lietman can devote most of his energy toleagues. He reports directly to Shannon.

wwwHis brief, Lietman explains, is to be “a spokesperson, a voice, a champion”

for leagues who “can speak the language.” “Wherever we’re making some moves within the organization that could be

damaging from a league perspective, I’m the guy that can speak up on behalfof leagues. [I] was to be that person, that go-to, when people are calling thecorporate offices, sending letters in, asking specific questions about what we’redoing with leagues or how any current decision is going to affect their leagues.”

The second page of his brief is “of course to try to heal [the bad] perception—[where] actions are going to speak louder than words—and to grow league bowlingcompetitively throughout the future.”

Lietman’s first thoughts were to build bridges with league bowlingconstituencies and to get involved with proprietor associations.

In early May he sent letters to all Bowlmor AMF’s 230,000 league bowlers.He followed in July with a letter to 300 local associations who serve thecompany’s centers and one to all the pro shop operators. The letters introducedhim and invited “partner[ing] together for league bowling.”

Response was “overwhelmingly positive” from all groups, he states. “We’venever had anybody talk to us—thanks for reaching out.” That, for instance, fromthe pro shop operators. “My plan going forward, I want to loop them in on a regularbasis, probably every couple of months, and let them know what’s going on.

“That may not sound like much,” Lietman says, summing up his activitieswith the constituencies to date, “but they’ve never had a person at thecorporate level for AMF—or Bowlmor AMF, for that matter—to speak to. Ithought that was a great start.”

On the association side, Lietman attended his first meeting as a BPAAdirector (in AMF’s seat) at Expo in June. He found it “completely interesting.Just an amazing resource. ”

Lietman’s influence inside the company is also spreading. A radio campaigntouted summer leagues, for example. “We’re still a growing company, our wholemarketing wing is re-strategizing. How leagues interact with that marketing, that’sa first-time thing, so we’re figuring out what we can do.”

And where group sales are traditionally focused on corporate business,“perhaps we can help educate group sales that events are a great audience forthe idea of competitive play. That connection’s never been made.”

SPEAKING THE LANGUAGE:

The Future of Leagues at Bowlmor AMF

COVER STORY


meetings with Live Nation,” a major live-events company andconcert promoter.

DECISIONS

As these speculations suggest, Bowlmor AMF is in no rush tofreeze models, says Edison.

“As we’re still [early in] this merger, we’re keeping an open mindand listening to our consumers and trying to give them what they want.We’re realizing it’s not a cookie-cutter solution for everybody. That’swhy we’re doing this very carefully. How we renovate and how weconvert centers—we’re doing it on a property-by-property basisand understanding the individual markets that we’re in, and letting

the market helpdrive the decision.”

But some decisions on re-investing are already definite.$35 million in Bowlmor AMF’sfirst year for chain-widerenovation is being followed inthe current, second year by $45million—all of it part of a three-or four-year turnaround of AMFcenters that Shannon envisions.The money will mean “some levelof renovation” for each AMF-branded center that will continue

under that name, Edison says. Soft seating, new carpet, fresh paint or the like will beincluded. “I don’t think we want to continue using bucket seating when we see thatno one actually sits in them. Even the most professional sort of bowler wants a

comfortable seat,” Edison observes.Other AMF-branded venues have been

identified as “high-potential targetlocations.” They will become Bowlerosor Bowlmors, the latter in sophisticatedmetro markets.

For Bowlero, a “soft” version of theconcept has opened in Midland, TX—branded Bowlero but without the fullconversion as of press time. San Antoniois next up for the full concept, to befollowed by Mar Vista in California. ThenBowleros should start popping up on theEast Coast.

The number of units in the AMFdivision will probably stay where it is,Edison indicates. “Our plan is to convertexisting AMF locations to our Bowleroand Bowlmor concepts; we do notintend to purchase additional centers.”

And over the long haul, the companywould be delighted to see industry regardfor Bowlero remain as high as it is so far.

“I just took a meeting with thecommissioner of the PBA. ‘We’re so happyto see a brand stepping up their game andreally doing a service for the entirecategory,’” says a pleased Edison quotingTom Clark. “That’s what we’re here todo. We’re here to bring bowling back.” ❖

BOWLERO LANESTOLEDO, OH (32 LANES)

Bowling’s Only Full-Service Brokers,Appraisers & Financial Advisors

28200 Southfield Rd., Southfield, MI 48076

(800) 222 • 9131

We congratulate Mike Hefez on hispurchase of this fine center and thankhim for working with us to complete

the transaction. We wish Mike all thebest in the future.

Check out our current listings at:www.SandyHansell.com

Reclaimed metal fronts the bar. “From a 30,000-foot view, AMF is bowling in an alley,Bowlmor is bowling in a nightclub, Bowlero is bowling in a bar.” — Colie Edison.

Fred Groh is a regular contributor

to IBI and former managing

editor of the magazine.

40 lanes. “Modern dirty” is the company’s name for the settee colors.

Continued from page 23

CENTER STAGE


Southern Charm

Meets British St yle

William Stallworth (sitting)and Justin Amick, partnersin The Painted Pin.

CENTER STAGE


ocated on Moores Mill Road, a dead-end street, is Atlanta's hottestnew secret. You drive up to a warehouse that beckons you with a largemetal door. Complementary valet parking is at your service. Two gaslanterns on the door light the way. You enter and behold, on gorgeous

wood floors, a painted crest of a roaring lion greets you. The words ‘VeniteLudere’ (Latin for ‘Come Play’) are spelled out on the crest. And you wonderto yourself, is this really a bowling alley?

You have just entered The Painted Pin, a one-of-a kind bowling centerlocated in the heart of Atlanta, GA. This stunning establishment is thebrainchild of Justin Amick, a young sommelier who is taking the food andbeverage industry places it's never been before.

It is said that the fruit does not fall far from the tree. In this case, Justinis following in the footsteps of his famous father, Bob Amick of

Concentrics Restaurants, who is known for his expertise inthe nightlife sector as well as the restaurant business.

Recently, Justin branched out on his own andafter a two-and-a half-year labor of love,

The Painted Pin opened its doors on

L

At The Painted Pinin Atlanta, bowling

goes upscale.

By Anna M. Littles

June 9 and the whole town is talking. Justin took a moment to chatwith IBI about his journey and how The Painted Pin was conceived.

A true child of the South, Justin grew up in Atlanta, andwent to Tulane University in New Orleans on a basketballscholarship. After graduation in 2007, Justin spent three yearsin Craft Restaurants’ management training program in NewYork City under the tutelage of founder and chef Tom Colicchio.Then it was off to California’s Napa Valley to work for TrincheroFamily Estates’ winemaking team for a year and a half towardbecoming a sommelier (wine steward). He returned to Atlantaand the family business, but it was not long before Justin set hissights on a new level of education and skill.

In 2011, he received a Rudd Scholarship, one of three givenyearly for advanced sommelier training by the Guild of Sommeliers,an international organization of wine service professionals. Justin’sultimate goal: to be a master wine steward. Currently he isstudying for certification by the Court of Master Sommeliers, aninternational examining body, where the highest certificationlevel has been reached by only 215 worldwide.

Justin has combined his skills, education and experience andhas broken new ground with his own spin on the food andbeverage business. He and his business partner, WilliamStallworth, have been collaborating with executive chef ThomasCollins. The end result is 24,000 square feet of British prepmeeting speakeasy, very upscale bowling and full conciergeservice including valet parking.

According to Justin, “People don't give Atlanta credit. Wehave one of the best restaurant industries in the country. Witha growing film industry, Atlanta has become the hub of the Southand does not get the attention and the praise it deserves.” ThePainted Pin has already established itself as a game-changer;


CENTER STAGE


by design, The Painted Pin is found viaword of mouth.

About that name, in each rack of pins,one is painted bright red. When the red pinmakes its way to the front, and the player

gets a strike or a split hitting that red pin, the guest will win a prize. So how is it that a man who wants to become a sommelier sets

his sights on bowling? Justin feels the industry is driven by food andbeverage and the time is perfect for a bowling center done at thesame level of artistry as fine dining.

What’s distinctive about The Painted Pin? Vintage lanes dating fromthe 1960s create a giant dance floor. Leather chesterfields adorn eachlane. Club chairs in classic upholstered patterns, Persian rugs, a bartopped with dark walnut, and elaborate chandeliers—it all announces“British private club.”

Except for bowling, all the games are complementary. There areshuffleboard tables, Skee-ball, pop-a-shots, a ping-pong room, Southernskittles along with two full-size bocce courts. There's an indoor courtyardwith whitewashed walls and more gas lanterns and topiary plants.

All 20 lanes are equipped with QubicaAMF Conqueror Pro scoring,but two of them are special. The Painted Pin is “the only bowling-drivenvenue in the country where you can PYOB laneside,” Justin says. Hemeans ‘pull your own beer.’ The two special lanes, exclusively for privateevents, are equipped with four draft-beer lines that measure beer bythe ounce (which is how customers are charged).

As for the menu, it features wood-fire pizzas from two Neapolitanovens, tacos, salads, sliders and more. Beverages include artisan winesand cocktails.

The space accommodates 300-350 people. Groups of six cancomfortably bowl per lane.

Upon entering, there is a vintage desk with vintage bowling trophies.There, the staff takes your information. A bowling concierge brings yourshoes to the lane, along with anything else you need while bowling. Whatdoes all that concierge service cost? $25 per lane per hour Mondaythrough Thursday, $35 per lane per hour Friday through Sunday.

A blossoming film industry, exquisite night life and now, ThePainted Pin. And you can find it all in Atlanta. ❖


CENTER STAGE

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


t may sound odd to hear a coach say, “Idon’t believe there’s a wrong or rightway to play the game,” but BrentBowers says that, and he’s a coach.

Bowers entered the circle ofchampions with first place at the

Las Vegas Main Event in 2006. Two years later, he had a

standout year: collegiatenational champ with

Wichita State, JuniorTeam USA member,

and four golds ininternational competition

at the PABCON YouthChampionships in El Salvador.

The next year, 2009, he was backwith Junior Team USA and champ atthe Junior World Team Challenge,repeated his win at the Las VegasMain Event, and triumphed at the

By Fred Groh

That’ll be Brent Bowers, who’s beenhired by the state BPA to coach at

any member center that asks.

Brent Bowers brings coaching tothe 40-member Kansas BPA centers on a

regular basis. He offers coaching on hisown dime and as time permits to centers that

are not members of the association.

I

PROFILE


USBC Youth Open Team Championships. He also copped the David Dahmsaward for sportsmanship. In 2010, he took home a $10,000 check as runner-up at the True Amateur tourney in Vegas.

The 2011 USBC Chuck Hall Star of Tomorrow honor seems almost anti-climactic.

And did we mention that he passed his Silver Level certification with USBC?Or that Bowers is all of 26 years old?These days he’s given up international travel and confines himself mostly

to Kansas, hitting the road to centers all over the state as an employee ofthe Kansas BPA. His title is KSBPA Head Teaching Professional and Directorof Youth Development.

“It’s proven that for every three new bowlers we gain each year, we losetwo,” Bowers will tell you. “The proprietors were confident here in Kansaswhen they hired me that a lot of that has to do with people not getting better.”

That was in October 2011. Bowers has been calling on centers aroundthe state since then, offering his coaching expertise to members in theassociation and, on his own dime and as time permits, to centers that arenot members of the association.

Of 80 centers in Kansas, 20 or so are small and “just kind of goingthrough the motions,” says Bowers. “It’s sad. [They] don’t offer anything.

The proprietors aren’t good bowlers or goodcoaches themselves. They don’t have any well-established players in the facility that are interestedin coaching.” They’re not really interested in hiscoaching services.

Another 20 have quite a bit of coaching talentin-house. “They do a pretty good job coachingalready.”

That leaves 40—half the houses in Kansas—where Bowers does most of his business.

“Often it’s cold-calling,” he explains. “When Ifirst signed on I would call and introduce myselfand essentially tell them, ‘The dues you pay to theKansas State Bowling Proprietors pay my salary,so I’m an employee of yours. If there’s anythingI can do to help you grow your business, pleaselet me know.’ I’m available if they don’t have a lotof coaching structure in their center.”

If Bowers is paying his first calls on a center, heusually offers a two-hour group clinic to start.Limited to 15 students, the clinic costs $15 perperson. He also offers individual instruction at$25 for a half-hour, $40 an hour, or $150 for fiveone-hour sessions.

He does teach rank beginners. “Two hours ofbowling for $15 is already a pretty good deal anda lot of people see [the group clinic] as just that. Iget a lot of kids that are still throwing house ballsand house shoes. One of our first encouragementsis to get them into a ball that is drilled and fittedfor them because there’s a lot more [in the way ofcoaching] we can do with that.”

A heavy part of Bowers’ customer base isseniors. “I think senior bowlers bowl just as muchif not more than anybody else on earth. They’vegot nothing but time, although we’re typicallylimited with the seniors [physically]. We still try tobroaden their knowledge and help themunderstand why new equipment is better than oldequipment, why rotation is beneficial. I get a lotof repeat customers from seniors. They’re enjoyingit enough to want to keep investing in it.”

Bowers tries to maintain the program soproprietors don’t have to. He posts his own promomaterial, for instance, including laminates over theurinals announcing the date of the next clinic.

He also collects email addresses from hisstudents. Planning to pay a call in a particular city,he’ll email his customers there to announce hisappearance. “I’ll be back on July 3. Check at thefront counter if you’re interested in signing up.”

Bowers concentrates on a bowler.

PROFILE


Fred Groh is a regular contributor to IBI and

former managing editor of the magazine.

“The only thing I require of proprietors is that the lineage is donated. Buthopefully those [bowlers] come in and buy a drink or some food, and almost alwaysafter one of those clinics, their pro shop gets hit with a ball or two. It’s not thathard to [encourage] someone that’s throwing a Black Beauty that technologymatters and if you want to raise your average 10 pins overnight, we’ve just gotto get you into a new bowling ball.

“There’s lots of [revenue] benefits,” Bowers has learned, “but they’re kind ofoff-the-book. It’s hard to prove them until after the fact.”

Two problems go with the territory, occasionally. “Sometimes you run intosome struggle with the local proprietor [being] the best bowler in town, so theydon’t want somebody else coming in looking better.”

But most centers that ask for Bowers understand the value of having coachingtalent that is not just a local player. “When people watch [a local] bowl in a league,they say, ‘Who are you to be coaching people?”—[whereas] I’ve got a bit of arésumé”—to say the least.

Other times Bowers can run up against bona fide coaches. To maintain goodrelations with them, “I work really hard,” he says. “I don’t want to step on theirtoes.” And here he returns to his philosophy of coaching.

“I think there’s some general basic fundamental things that have to happen.[But] as long as you can align the ball with the target the same way every time,I’m not too concerned. What’s going to work for Jimmy is not necessarily goingto work for Bobby.”

Bowers’ answer to these fairly rare problems with locals and other coachesis “communications and relationships and making sure that I don’t frustrateanybody.” Ninety percent of his job is communication, he says.

That imposes different requirements on him in different situations. He givesan example: Hard Rock Lanes in Garden City.

“Their proprietor is a USBC Bronze Level certified coach and he does a lot ofcoaching on his own. So when I go in there, [he] and I typically tag-team a clinic.

That way we don’t step on each other’s toes.”Bowers is evaluated twice a year by a state

BPA task force that sets the guidelines for theteaching professional position. The task forceconsiders word-of-mouth from individualproprietors for whom Bowers has coached.

They include Jim Mayberry, owner ofWalnut Bowl in Great Bend, who is also amember of the task force and a Bronze Levelcertified coach. Mayberry reports that of“well over 100” bowlers Bowers has coachedat Walnut Bowl, “probably half of those havejust started in a league or are fairly new tobowling. Half have bowled in multipleleagues because he’s made them morecompetitive. Probably 35 or 40 are repeatcustomers. He’s an exceptional teacher.”

“He gets lots of glowing reports,” taskforce chair Bob Johannes concurs. “Thecustomers he’s done clinics for really like him.”

In between coaching calls, Bowers runsfour major youth tournaments under acontract by which the state BPA managesthe state USBC youth program. He alsomanages the Kansas BPA/USBC website(bowlkansas.com) and his own coaching site(bowlbetterkansas.com).

He got the urge to start coaching when hewas diagnosed with early-onset rheumatoidarthritis while he was at Wichita State.

“I figured if I wanted to stay in this gamelong term, I probably shouldn’t bank on theability to throw balls. I thought if I startcoaching at this stage, I’ll be a step ahead ofa lot of people because most people don’tstart coaching until their bowling careerscome to a conclusion.”

He still bowls “a little bit on the side,”though. And for the foreseeable future, hisname will continue on the game side. Hestarted a bowling tour in Wichita in 2011before he signed on as a coach for the BPA.His brother, Brian, maintains it. It’s calledthe Bowers Bowling Tour. ❖

After studying a bowler’s form, Bowers gives personalized coaching instruction.


SHOWCASE

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BARSTOOLSGKM International, Inc. is your first step tochosing the right bar stool for your centeror lounge. The popular, laser-cut, ten pindesign is available is a variety of seat padcolors and fabric and also frame colorswhich allow you to integrate these chairsinto your center’s overall color scheme.Want a custom laser–cut logo? That’s avail-able too. Comfortable, durable and stylish, call today formore info at 310-791-7092 or go to www.gkmintl.com.

LED ILLUMINATEDARENASLasertron, designer of indoorlaser tag experiences, has intro-duced its NEW LED-illuminatedarenas. Operators no longer needto install and replace black light bulbs. LED-illuminated arenasare more cost-effective and look amazing. Clients reportcomplete satisfaction and high praise. LED is definitely theway to go for the future of laser tag. For more information callAnn at 305-257-3930 or visit www.laser-tron.com.

MARKETINGMANAGERNeed professional market-ing help, but can’t affordit? The Virtual Marketing Manager program from QubicaAMFprovides a customized solution based on the unique businessneeds of your center. They will work with your company tohelp execute both strategic and tactical plans, with help allalong the way. Go to www.QubicaAMF.com/VMM to get yourFREE marketing assessment. Hurry, space is limited!

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MASCOTSSigns & Shapes International’s air-inflatedWalkAround mascots are a great investmentfor promotions, entertainment, education andfun. An internal air blower keeps the costumeinflated with fresh, circulating air. They accom-modate a wide range of wearers and allow forwalking, shaking hands and animating a larger-than-life character. Visit www.WalkAround.comfor more information.

NEW GAMINGTECHNOLOGYIntercard offers the latest,most advanced technologyto create a positive customer experience. The iWave cardreader features the fastest RFID and NFC technology on themarket. Simply wave the playcard to check balances andplay instantly. Increase gaming time and your bottom line.More than 1,500 facilities are benefitting from the iWave.Call 800-732-3770 or email [email protected] for moreinformation.

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

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NEEDING A NEW VENUE? Nightclubentertainment bowling is HOT. COMPLETE4, 6, 8, (+) bowling packages with install.Complete 10-lane package just removed andready to reinstall. Affordable. Seetenpinartisans.com for custom ideas or call(970) 946-9933.

GOING OUT OF BUSINESS after 43 years!AMF autoscore packages + completepackages. CHEAP + shipping. Call CraigDoren (712) 253-8730.

REDUCED FOR QUICK SALE. PowerliftsAMF/Brunswick, AMF-SPL head sections,A2 pinsetters complete or buy for parts,Brunswick 2000 hood/racks, BrunswickSwing and Swivel, AMF Excel scoring,Steltronic automatic scoring w/ flatscreens, and reconditioned Gloss Boss.Installations available. (970) 946-9933 [email protected].

RETIRING! Selling all scoring parts &exchange units for Accu-Score Plus, XL &BOSS systems. Also, electronic testequipment for all components, plusinstallation equipment & full set of lanesanding equipment. NEEDS TO GO. CraigDoren (712) 253-8730.

(818) 789-2695SELL YOUR CENTER


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MANAGER WANTED

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

Experienced, self-motivated manager neededfor med-sized center in So.California.Competitive salary & benefits. Respond [email protected].

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

EQUIPMENT FOR SALE

Get Redline Foul Lights atwww.joystickscoring.com or callWerner at (888) 569-7845. Home ofBowlingtrader.com, your FREE buy andsell site.

EQUIPMENT WANTED

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

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CENTERS FOR SALE

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

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

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

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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.

16-lane center in Southern Coloradomountains. Great condition. 18,000 s/fbuilding w/ restaurant & lounge. Pavedparking 100+ vehicles. Establishedleagues & tournaments. $950,000 ormake offer. Kipp (719) 852-0155.

OKLAHOMA: 16-lane center w/ large lasertag, only arcade in area and thriving lounge.Steltronics SuperElex w/ 42” flat screens andrefurbished A2s. Completely upgraded andremodeled. Owner financing and option topurchase shopping center for viable buyers.Business for sale apart from real estate.(719) 251-1616.

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to place your Classified Ad in

International Bowling Industry Magazine

DATEBOOK


CLASSIFIEDS

SEPTEMBER16–17TBCA Educational Tour3 Texas center venues: Houston, New Braunfels & [email protected]

29Illinois State BPA BOD MeetingHoliday Inn & Suites, BloomingtonBill Duff, [email protected]

30BCA of FloridaAnnual Town Hall MeetingVillas of Grand CypressOrlando407-239-4700

OCTOBER2BCA of OhioExecutive Board MeetingCrowne Plaza, DublinPat Marazzi937-433-8363

6-8East Coast Bowling CentersConventionGolden Nugget, Atlantic Citywww.eastcoastbowl.com

13Alabama/Mississippi BPAAnnual MeetingRobinsonville MSChris Gallas817-385-8471

13-17Brunswick TrainingGS-Series Pinsetter Maintenance Muskegon, MI800-937-2695, Option [email protected]

19-21West Coast Bowling ConventionSilver Legacy Resort & CasinoRenoSandi [email protected]

20-14Brunswick TrainingVector Scoring MaintenanceMuskegon, MI800-937-2695, Option 2

27 – November 7A-2 Pinsetter Training Program Moline, ILFrank Miroballi 540-325-7684;[email protected]

28BPA of PennsylvaniaAnnual MeetingSite TBDChris [email protected], 817-385-8471

NOVEMBER2-3Illinois State BPA Annual FallMeetingBOD & General MembershipTimber Creek Inn & Suites Convention Center, Sandwich, ILBill Duff, 847-982-1305

WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/BOWLINGFAN

IBI September 2014

REMEMBER WHEN

52

MODERNMIRACLE

his 1952 ad, which appeared in U.S. News & World Report, is more business-like than socially and graphically pleasing. Fun and family, printed in vibrantcolors, were the focal points for most bowling advertising found in Life, Look,etc. However, ‘business’ in this news-related magazine was the focus for

American Machine and Foundry Company (AMF), the first to place these new automaticmachines in bowling centers.

Pinspotters were the springboard for the popularity of the sport and for the upsurgeof business for bowling proprietors. Ad placement was not on whimsy. The term‘automatic’ would be the spin and definitely on its way to changing everything. ❖

T1952

international bowling industry magazine 09/14

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