E-dition No. 993 • Thursday, March 15, 2018
Editor: Bob Johnson (bjibob@aol.com)
AAMA Honors Pinstack With First FEC Award
Pinstack, a premier entertainment and dining destination in North Texas, has been recognized as the first recipient of the Family Entertainment Center Owner/Operator of the Year award from the American Amusement Machine Association.
The AAMA, an international nonprofit organization representing manufacturers, distributors and suppliers of the coin-operated amusement industry, had previously exclusively offered awards for those groups. In 2017, the organization created the Owner/Operator the Year award to acknowledge excellence in FEC execution.
“Entertainment Properties Group prides itself on innovation in the industry, and we are honored to be first in the country to receive this national recognition from the AAMA,” said Mark Moore, President and CEO of Entertainment Properties Group, Inc.
The award was presented to Pinstack during AAMA’s Presidents Reception at the 2018 Amusement Expo International, held in Las Vegas.
The Owner/Operator of the Year award is based on several criteria, including games and attractions, food service, marketing, social media, charitable activity, safety and security, staff engagement, design of interior and exterior spaces, and the review of AAMA’s secret shopper visit.
From VIP bowling experiences to two-story laser tag, bumper cars, LED-lit six-lane rock climbing walls, hundreds of interactive games and simulator technology, Pinstack provides fun for everyone. A chef-inspired restaurant offers an upscale dining experience before or after gaming with modern American classics, a stacked bar and craft cocktails. The “Bowl Bar,” located right next to the bowling lanes, has 24 beers and 12 wines on tap, top-shelf craft cocktails and a full-service gelato bar.
Based in Dallas, Entertainment Properties Group operates six entertainment and dining destinations in Texas. The company is planning a national expansion for Pinstack and is currently in negotiations for multiple locations.
9-Event PBA/World Bowling Tour Schedule Unveiled
World Bowling, the international governing body for tenpin bowling, and the Professional Bowlers Association have announced a nine-tournament PBA International-World Bowling Tour schedule for 2018.
The schedule began this week as England’s Dom Barrett is trying to defend his title in the Brunswick Euro Challenge at Dream-Bowl Palace in Munich, Germany.
The PBA International-WBT schedule awards PBA Tour titles if the winner is a PBA member and, if a woman, she does not accept handicap pins as part of her score. The PBA-WBT series awards points which are used to qualify players for the end-of-season WBT Men’s and Women’s Finals.
The Brunswick Euro Challenge also could play a role in the 2018 PBA Tour Finals, set for early May in Allen Park, Mich. Composite PBA and WBT earnings for 2016 through the PBA Xtra Frame Maine Shootout at Bayside Bowl in Portland, Maine, April 17-18, will determine the eight players who will compete at Thunderbowl Lanes in May.
Additional tournaments that comply with World Bowling and PBA International rules are under consideration and may be added to the schedule. At present, these are the PBA/WBT events:
* March 10-18 — PBA-WBT Brunswick Euro Challenge, Dream-Bowl Palace, Munich, Germany.
* April 8-15 — USBC Masters, Oncenter Convention Center, Syracuse, N.Y.
* May 20-26 — PBA-WBT Busan Cup, Rainbow Square Bowling Center, Busan, Korea.
* July 26-29 — Storm PBA/PWBA Striking Against Breast Cancer Mixed Doubles, Copperfield Bowl, Houston, Texas (PBA title to male partner, PWBA title to female partner if a member of his/her respective organization).
* Aug. 25-Sept. 9 — PBA-WBT Storm Lucky Larsen Masters, Baltiska Bowlinghallen, Malmo, Sweden.
* Sept. 22-28 — PBA-WBT Thailand, Blu-O Rhythm and Bowl Siam Paragon, Bangkok, Thailand.
* Oct. 24-31 — U.S. Open, Northrock Lanes, Wichita, Kan.
* November/December — PBA World Championship (dates TBD).
* Nov. 24-Dec. 5 — World Bowling Men’s World Championships, SCAA Bowling Centre, Hong Kong.
Fortney Retires, Rosendahl Joins ZOT
After almost a decade of service, ZOT Pinsetter Parts’ Customer Service Manager, Linda Fortney, retired at the end of February.
“Linda has been ZOT’s primary contact and voice for domestic and international customers and distributors for almost 10 years,” said P.J. Rosendahl, the President and owner of ZOT. “Her contribution to the company has been invaluable and appreciated by all of us. We wish her a long and happy retirement.”
ZOT also announced that Debbie Rosendahl has assumed the role of Customer Relations and Systems Analyst. Her background includes a 15-year career in banking, education in computer programming and an 11-year career in retail sales, mostly within the golf industry.
She also runs a route business with ZOT GlossBoss Ball Conditioners that are placed in bowling centers in Colorado. She is a bowler of note and former member of the PWBA.
Business News…
* Attention, Bruce Springsteen! New Jersey’s Asbury Lanes is being revitalized by a new operator, Salt Hotels. “Emotions ran higher with this project than with anything we’ve undertaken,” Salt Hotels’ David Bowd told Timeout New York. “What mattered to them matters to us: keeping the soul of this incredible venue while making changes necessary to guarantee its future.” Asbury Lanes began as a traditional bowling center, then was transformed into an alternative music and arts venue, and now being reimagined as a state-of-the-art music venue that will once again include bowling. The new Asbury Lanes is expected to open over the Memorial Day weekend. Read more here: https://www.timeout.com/newyork/news/a-cool-new-bowling-alley-and-concert-venue-is-coming-to-new-jerseys-asbury-park-031518.
* BPAA members are invited to view a webinar about “On-Demand Online Training.” It’s set for Friday at 11 a.m. Eastern. To register, click here: https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/6612339073447775233.
* The Pennant, a new entertainment center with an old-school feel, has announced its grand opening for Friday in Topeka, Kan. The owners promise “killer burgers, scrumptious salads, mouth-watering milkshakes and more — all with a focus on using local ingredients and supporting the local Topeka community.” The facility includes 50 vintage arcade games, four bowling lanes and a beer garden. Visit The Pennant’s website to view the vintage lanes: https://thepennanttopeka.com.
* The new Splitsville Luxury Lanes at the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, Calif. — featured in the March issue of BJI — is now fully operational. The occasion was marked with a ribbon-cutting ceremony earlier today. Check out photos from the event, featuring an appearance by none other than Goofy, here: https://www.facebook.com/SplitsvilleAnaheim/?hc_ref=ARRehWEJ0NhUdnK2Y2CMwF8nIvelkwUKj1vZZaLO5Lthka1xGsKO8Xt4vqMpsaU7jrE&fref=nf.
Other News You Can Use…
* Jeanne Naccarato defeated Lucy Sandelin, 203-190, to win the $2,300 first prize in the 28th annual Golden Ladies Classic, sponsored by Storm, at The Orleans Bowling Center in Las Vegas. Naccarato got to the title match with a 279-249 victory over Tish Johnson. Rounding out the top five were Debbie Essary in fourth and Michelle Carter in fifth. Sharon Powers won the Super Senior division. The tournament attracted 115 entries.
* More than 80 women are ready to roll in the 2018 USBC Senior Queens, which begins Friday at the Gold Coast Bowling Center in Las Vegas. For a preview, click here: http://www.bowlersjournal.com/sandelin-looks-to-make-history-at-2018-senior-queens/.
* The guest this week on Phantom Radio is Matt O’Grady, winner of the 2018 PBA Tournament of Champions. To listen to the interview, click here: https://kegel.squarespace.com/phantomblog/2018/3/14/matt-ogrady-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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