E-dition No. 965 • Thursday, August 17, 2017
Editor: Bob Johnson (bjibob@aol.com)
‘Queen of Hearts’ Promotion Ready for Another Run
Remember the bowling center that gave away $3 million last year in a game called “Queen of Hearts”? That center is Skylane Bowling in Garrettsville, Ohio, and a new game will begin there on Sept. 17 with a starting jackpot of $13,000.
Proprietor Aaron King said last year’s game was a boon for business, with ticket-buying customers typically purchasing a cheeseburger or a beer even if they didn’t shoe up to bowl.
How long the game will be allowed to continue without regulation remains to be seen. A spokesman for Ohio’s Attorney General said the game exists in a gray area that’s “kind of like gambling but not necessarily prohibited by state law.”
King said he wouldn’t be surprised if some sort of regulations were enacted in the future.
A feature on the promotion, written by Dennis Bergendorf, ran in the October 2016 issue of BJI’s sister publication, Bowling Center Management.
Kings Marks Anniversary With New Branding
As it celebrates its 15th anniversary and prepares to open a new flagship location in Boston’s Seaport District, Kings Bowl America is being re-branded as Kings Dining & Entertainment.
The idea is to communicate that quality dining is a big part of the Kings experience, and that bowling is not the only entertainment offered at the various venues.
The company is describing its new venue as an “adult playground.” It will be the company’s 11th facility, and an October opening is planned.
BCA of Ohio Executive Director Marazzi Passes Away
Pat Marazzi, Executive Director of the Bowling Centers Association of Ohio, passed away on July 15 following a brief illness. She was 62.
Marazzi had big shoes to fill when she succeeded Mike Hennessy in 1998, but eight years of working alongside Hennessy as the tournament director for a quartet of large tournaments — Pins Over Average, Miller Doubles, Dayton Champions City Challenge and Pot of Gold — made her more than ready.
“Pat was a respected leader in the Dayton and Ohio bowling communities,” former BCAO co-worker Jenny Martin told the Dayton Daily News. “Although most bowlers wouldn’t recognize Pat, they were certainly familiar with her work.”
To read remembrances from Diana Moorman of Beaver-Vu Bowl, Dave Flemming of Bowl 10 Fairborn, Rick Borns of Century Lanes, Scott Shreve of Ace Mitchell and Rosie Taulbee of the Greater Cincinnati Women’s Bowling Association, go to: http://www.mydaytondailynews.com/sports/bowling-community-mourns-loss-pat-marazzi/X2zRhBd0zOmWIjrdw2y4yH/.
Nebraska Proprietor Hoppe Calls It a Career
Bill Hoppe, a long-time part owner of Parkway Lanes and Hollywood Bowl in Lincoln, Neb., has retired after a 35-year career managing and owning centers.
Before becoming a proprietor, Hoppe managed centers in Cleveland, Akron, Minneapolis and Tucson for Brunswick.
His stake in the two Nebraska centers has been purchased by Bobby Blessington.
Hoppe said he plans to spend more time with his family and on the golf links.
Kelly Osborn Memorial Fundraiser Nears
The 20th annual Kelly Osborn Memorial Fundraiser will be held on Saturday, Sept. 2 at Fountain Bowl in Fountain Valley, Calif.
Kelly, the daughter of Dave Osborn, Fountain Bowl’s co-owner, was killed in an automobile accident in July of 1996. Her father developed the fundraiser to perpetuate her memory and provide college scholarships to deserving local students.
In 2016, more than $25,000 was raised, and since the event’s inception, more than $275,000 has been distributed to help further the education of students.
A morning golf tournament, an evening bowling event and a silent auction are among the activities. For more information, or to donate prizes for the auction, call Gary Forman at 714-963-7888, ext. 102.
Business Briefs…
* For the seventh consecutive year, the Bowling Combine for College Prospects has welcomed student-athletes and collegiate coaches to the International Training and Research Center for a week of education and evaluation. Nearly 100 student-athletes and more than two dozen collegiate coaches traveled to the ITRC to take advantage of the state-of-the-art facility, where student-athletes were tested through a variety of on- and off-lane drills. Read more here: http://www.bowlersjournal.com/bowling-combine-rolls-on-for-seventh-edition-in-2017/.
* Also for the seventh straight year, Turbo Bowling Accessories hosted a successful edition of its Turbo Tech Collegiate Expo. Once again, the Expo provided an ideal venue for college coaches to scout talent. The event also gave high school bowlers an opportunity to explore scholarship possibilities and to learn from top bowlers and instructors. Game of Wickliffe in Wickliffe, Ohio, played host from July 11-13, as nearly 200 students from 32 states, Mexico and Finland participated in the educational and competitive gathering. The event also welcomed more than 40 college coaches, the most ever to attend the Collegiate Expo. “We can’t say enough how awesome it is to host an event like this for youth bowlers, parents and coaches,” said Lori Mraz, President of Turbo Bowling Accessories. “They inspire and invigorate us each summer with their enthusiasm and eagerness to learn about the sport.” For a full event summary, go to: http://www.turbogrips.com/making-waves-in-cleveland/.
Other News You Can Use…
* The World Bowling Tour Malmo, also known as the “Storm Lucky Larsen Masters,” began Sunday in Malmo, Sweden, and concludes on Aug. 27, as bowlers from around the world descend on Malmo for Sweden’s first PBA International/World Bowling Tour event. The tournament had a preliminary entry of 465 players from 25 countries, including a number of PBA stars, prompting Competition Manager Daniel Rönnbäck to note, “Judging by the huge number of entries and that the tickets to the finals are completely sold out well before the start date, this is obviously a competition that Sweden has been waiting for.” According to a World Bowling news release, the tournament was co-founded by Swedish Bowling proprietors Rönnbäck and Hampus Torstensson, who were inspired by Jesper Svensson’s Swedish Rookie Sportsman of the Year award, which they hope will encourage young Swedes to become more active in the sport. Rönnbäck also recruited Swedish national star Martin Larsen to join the organizing committee.
* USBC Hall of Famer Lynda Barnes had a memorable debut on the senior scene, claiming the women’s singles gold medal Wednesday at the 2017 World Bowling Senior Championships. Barnes shared the top spot on the medal stand with Ron Mohr, who completed the sweep for the United States at Dream-Bowl Palace near Munich by earning the men’s title for his fourth overall gold medal in three trips to the World Senior Championships. Full report: http://www.bowlersjournal.com/united-states-sweeps-singles-gold-medals-at-2017-world-bowling-senior-championships/.
* Darryl Bower threw the last six strikes in the championship match to win the PBA60 Dick Weber Championship Presented by Hammer at Pro Bowl West in Fort Wayne, Ind., for his first PBA60 national title. Bower defeated the stepladder finals’ top qualifier, Dave Axon, 255-208, to win the last of three PBA60 events for players 60 and older during the season. Full report: http://www.bowlersjournal.com/darryl-bower-throws-last-six-strikes-in-title-match-to-win-pba60-dick-weber-championship/.
* PBA Hall of Famer Pete Weber has learned he will be inducted into the St. Louis Sports Hall of Fame during ceremonies on Sept. 15 at the Hilton St. Louis Frontenac Hotel. The Hall of Fame’s 2017 class also includes Randy Albrecht (basketball), Karen Davis (volleyball), Roy Green (football), Bill Greenblatt (media), Robert Hyland (media), Mike Martz (coach), Bill McDermott (media), Becky Sauerbrunn (soccer), Charlie Share (basketball), and Jayne Watson (golf). To view a flyer for the event, click here: http://www.stlshof.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/2017-enshrinement-flyer-003.jpg.
* Despite a 10th-place finish in the PBA Xtra Frame Chesapeake Open on Sunday, which earned him 11 points in the Xtra Frame Storm Cup points race, E.J. Tackett held on to a slim two-point lead in the 2017 points race over Marshall Kent heading into the final two events in the series. Tackett, who finished second in the Xtra Frame Tour points race in 2016 to Tommy Jones, has yet to win an Xtra Frame Tour event this year, but has three top-five finishes in the last four events. However, Kent has closed the gap with a win in the Lubbock Sports Open in June (worth 25 Storm Cup series points) and a fifth-place finish in Chesapeake (worth 16 points). Right behind the two leaders are England’s Dom Barrett with 60 points and Chesapeake Open winner Dick Allen with 59. Holding down fifth place on the points list is Josh Blanchard with 47. Full standings: http://www.bowlersjournal.com/with-two-events-to-go-e-j-tackett-holds-on-to-slim-xf-storm-cup-points-lead/. For a report on Allen’s Chesapeake Open victory, go to: http://www.bowlersjournal.com/dick-allen-wins-pba-xtra-frame-chesapeake-open-for-fourth-pba-tour-title/.
* The guest this week on Phantom Radio is Larry Suhrbier, former laneman at the legendary Showboat Bowling Center in Las Vegas. To listen to the conversation, go to: http://www.kegel.net/phantomblog/2017/8/16/larry-suhrbier-phantom-radio.
* CONTACT: Please send business news, event information, etc. to Bob Johnson at bjibob@aol.com. For breaking business news, visit bcmmag.com or bowlersjournal.com, and “Like” Bowling Center Management and Bowlers Journal International on Facebook. BJI Cyber Reports are now archived at bcmmag.com.
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