E-dition No. 1,034 • Friday, December 14, 2018
Editor: Bob Johnson (bjibob@aol.com)
USBC Open Heading to Houston — But Not the Astrodome
After some speculation on social networks that Houston’s Astrodome might host the 2022 United States Bowling Congress Open Championships, the USBC announced this week that Houston indeed would host the tournament — but in a facility other than the Astrodome.
When a May 25 post on the Greater Houston USBC Association’s Facebook page by user Bobby Ray Maulding noted “speculation on other Facebook groups about making the Astrodome a potential site for the 2022 USBC Open Championships,” the association confirmed in a reply that, “The Sports Authority has been working with USBC but we do not have any details yet.”
Per USBC’s announcement, those details now are known: The USBC Open Championships will be held in Houston for the first time in 2022, but the venue will be a new mixed-use, state-of-the-art sports facility currently under development in North Houston.
The USBC Open Championships attracts approximately 50,000 bowlers from around the world to compete for titles in three average-based divisions. The event typically runs from March into July with competition held daily, and generates an expected economic impact between $75 million and $100 million during its run.
“We’re excited to bring the Open Championships to a new host city in Houston, which has proven itself to be among the nation’s elite and top-tier sports destinations,” USBC President Karl Kielich said. “The opportunity to be the first major event in a new sports complex demonstrates the success and strength of the USBC Open Championships.”
Initial plans for the 2022 event include enough lanes for the Open Championships, the tournament’s premier side event, the Bowlers Journal Championships Presented by USBC, and team practice sessions.
“What an amazing opportunity for Houston and Harris County,” said Chris Massey, Harris County/Houston Sports Authority Director of Events. “When you combine ingredients like a world-class sports town, an amazing new venue, and a top-notch event such as the USBC Open Championships, you really can’t help but get excited.”
Since its inception in 1901, the event has been held all across the United States. This will mark the tournament’s fifth trip to Texas, joining Fort Worth (1957), Corpus Christi (1992 and 2006) and El Paso (2015) as hosts.
The 2019 Open Championships begins March 9 at the South Point Bowling Plaza in Las Vegas, where organizers expect up to 55,000 bowlers.
Elliott Joins Sales Team at Global Manufacturing
Global Manufacturing has announced the addition of Craig Elliott to the company’s sales team.
In his new role, Elliott will be responsible for the sales and business development activities of Global’s brands — 900 Global, 3G Bowling Shoes and AMF 300 — in the Western United States.
“Having the opportunity to join and represent a great staff, as well as being part of an amazing team to build the brand bigger and better, is something I’ve been looking forward to for quite a while,” Elliott said. “Being able to build on the relationships I have built in this sport over years should be beneficial to our successful growth strategies here at Global Manufacturing.”
Noted Wes Pye, Global Manufacturing’s Vice President of Sales: “Craig brings a great deal of industry experience and knowledge of the bowling business to our team. He will be a welcome addition to increase and build the awareness of our brands in his region.”
Elliott’s career in bowling has included every role in a bowling center, league management, tournament director work and ultimately the creation of the MichiganBowlerTV live-streaming service. That evolved into BowlStreamTV.com and the opportunity to work with XtraFrame, PBA, PBA50, PWBA, Junior Gold, Wisconsin High School, Collegiate Club Championships, NAIA Championships, FloBowling and many of the leading scratch tournaments in the United States.
He described all that work as “great career development opportunities” that should help him to be successful in his new role with Global Manufacturing.
“I have always had the passion to (be a bowler), but have recognized my real strengths are to help grow the sport in as many ways as possible,” Elliott said.
Along with Pye, Elliott joins David Hickman and Ron Adkins on the sales team at Global Manufacturing. He told Bowlers Journal that he will “continue to operate BowlstreamTV.”
Business Briefs…
• Nortel Lanes in Monroe, Mich., was destroyed in an early-morning fire last week. The center opened in 1961 with 24 lanes, and during bowling’s boom years in metropolitan Detroit expanded to 42 lanes in 1968 and then to 66 lanes in 1977. On the center’s home page, the owners have posted this three-word message in all-capital letters: “THANK YOU, MONROE.” Report: https://www.clickondetroit.com/news/nortel-lanes-bowling-alley-in-monroe-destroyed-by-fire.
* The deadline to submit applications for the American Amusement Machine Association’s FEC Location of the Year Award has been extended to Friday (Dec. 14). You can access an application form here: https://survey.zohopublic.com/zs/HnB3vS.
* The Des Moines area has a new entertainment venue with the Thursday (Dec. 13) opening of B&B Theatres’ Ankeny 12 & B-Roll Bowling. The facility features 12 movie screens and 12 bowling lanes, along with an arcade and full-service bar. Check out the venue’s Facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/bbankeny/photos/pb.296725777453470.-2207520000.1529752574./458224284636951/?type=3.
Other News You Can Use…
* Lots of bowlers have threatened to throw their bowling ball in the river after a particularly poor outing, and we can report that it actually happened in Indianapolis. Actually, we’re not sure where this particular ball was discarded, but it ended up in the downtown canal, discovered during a bridge-cleaning project. Along with the ball, workers also discovered a drone. More: https://www.wishtv.com/news/local-news/canal-cleaning-turns-up-scooters-bowling-ball-drone-and-wallet/1651577167.
* Eight West and East High School students in West Bend, Wis., were injured when the bus carrying them home from a bowling match was involved in an accident. Report: https://wkow.com/news/top-stories/2018/12/10/breaking-school-bus-crashes-with-bowling-team-onboard/.
* Next week, if all goes as planned, the Cyber Report will come to you on Wednesday. It will be the final Report of 2018, as we prepare for our annual holiday “bye.” If there’s breaking news during the holidays, it will be posted on bowlersjournal.com and/or bcmmag.com.
* The guest this week on Phantom Radio is pro bowler Joe Salvemini. To listen to the conversation, go to: https://kegel.squarespace.com/phantomblog/2018/12/12/joe-salvemini-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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