Triple Holiday E-dition • Nos. 1,035-1,036-1,037
Thursday, December 20, 2018
Editor: Bob Johnson (bjibob@aol.com)
Welcome to the final BJI Cyber Report of 2018 — a special Triple E-dition to take us through the holidays. Look for your next regular edition during the second week of January, and visit bowlersjournal.com and bcmmag.com for breaking news. Meanwhile, from all of us at Luby Publishing, Happy Holidays!
PBA Debuts on FOX This Sunday With ‘Clash’
The long-awaited premiere of the PBA of FOX is just days away. The PBA Clash will air this Sunday (Dec. 23). Check your television set’s Guide listings for the time in your market.
The PBA Clash is a 90-minute special showcase event featuring eight of the 2018 Go Bowling! PBA Tour’s top stars, a preview of the 2019 PBA on FOX series, and the debut of the unique SPECTO StrikeTrack ball-tracking analysis, which becomes a mainstay of FOX Sports’s coverage of PBA competition in 2019.
FOX and the PBA have entered into a multi-year contract with Kegel for the use of its SPECTO technology to provide real-time ball tracking during all events. Using SPECTO’s technology, StrikeTrack provides a completely new experience to the viewer with visual examples to support the action on screen.
Viewers will see a live trace of the ball as it rolls down the lane, as well as ball speed, location and RPM, to name a few of the features. Watch an example here: https://foxgroup.app.box.com/s/5laspmny2tc4e00ugp18kxvw3s0pn0xw.
“We are extremely excited about this new technology to debut on our PBA events,” said Zac Fields, FOX Sports Senior Vice President, Graphic Technology & Integration. “StrikeTrack is able to give insight into a match like never before to tell the story of exactly what’s happening. We believe this will take bowling coverage to another level. Designed specifically for bowling, StrikeTrack compares to FlightTrack for golf, which FOX introduced in 2015, and it’s now a standard in golf broadcasts.”
FOX PBA analyst Randy Pedersen is impressed by the StrikeTrack technology.
“I’ve never seen anything like it,” he said. “This lets the viewers see where the ball is going down the lane, the speed, power, and how it impacts the pins and why that resulted in a strike or not. It really helps quantify my analysis.”
Held at the Kegel Training Center in Lake Wales, Fla., the PBA Clash is hosted by Rob Stone, with longtime PBA analyst Pedersen and reporter Kimberly Pressler. The telecast includes a $25,000 winner-take-all single-elimination competition with eight of the 2018 season’s leading money winners, including Jason Belmonte, Anthony Simonsen, Dom Barrett, Andrew Anderson, E.J. Tackett, Marshall Kent, Stuart Williams and Jakob Butturff.
The telecast also features profiles of the eight players, the announcement of the 2018 Chris Schenkel PBA Player of the Year and the Harry Golden PBA Rookie of the Year winners, and a preview of the 2019 Go Bowling! PBA Tour schedule of FOX and FS1 telecasts.
The PBA on FOX makes its 2019 debut on FS1 on Sunday, Jan. 6 at 11 a.m. Eastern with live coverage of the PBA Hall of Fame Classic finals from the International Training and Research Center in Arlington, Texas.
During the 2019 season, viewers can live stream the PBA shows on the FOX Sports app, through the FOX and FS1 streams. The shows will be available on desktop at FOXSports.com and through the app store or on connected devices, including Apple TV, Android TV, Fire TV, Xbox One and Roku.
In addition, all programs will be available on FOX Sports on SiriusXM channel 83 on satellite radios, and on the SiriusXM app.
Spigner-Led Company Buys 10 Minnesota Centers
Triple Shift Entertainment, LLC has acquired 10 bowling centers in the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area from the Anderson Companies. The company will remain headquartered in Woodbury, Minn. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
Founded in 1980, the Anderson Companies’ bowling centers have a decades-long history of engaging with their communities by providing dynamic family entertainment, with offerings that include bowling lanes, arcades, laser tag and more.
The purchase includes Andover Lanes in Andover, Minn., with 24 lanes; Classic Bowl, Coon Rapids, 24; Colonial Lanes, Rochester, 20; Concord Lanes, South St. Paul, 32; The Mermaid, Mounds View, 32; Park Grove Bowl, Park Grove, 24; PINZ, Oakdale, 34; River City Extreme, Monticello, 32; Sun Ray Lanes, St. Paul, 24; and Super Bowl, Ramsey, 24.
“After evaluating investment opportunities in the bowling center space for several years, we are delighted to be entering the industry with an extraordinarily strong group of centers, which have been built through the integrity, dedication and expertise of the Anderson family,” said Robby Spigner, President of Triple Shift Entertainment. “We hope to build on the centers’ existing success by continuing the Anderson family’s unparalleled focus on an outstanding customer experience and by exploring new opportunities to deepen the centers’ integration into the larger bowling community through junior programming and professional tournaments.”
Mike Anderson, who represents the second generation of the Anderson Companies’ founding family, said, “Triple Shift Entertainment shares my family’s commitment to premier bowling center operations, and they have a deep understanding of the industry. I am confident that they will do a wonderful job carrying on my family’s legacy. This is an exciting, positive development for the business and for its employees.”
Mike Fagan, who holds five PBA Tour titles as well as an MBA from the University of California at Berkeley, will be joining Triple Shift Entertainment as its Director of Business Development.
“This is an incredible opportunity to combine my love of the sport with my passion for business, and I’m looking forward to working with the Triple Shift Entertainment team to implement our ideas for improving and growing the business and the sport,” Fagan said.
Greyrock Capital Group, a provider of mezzanine debt and equity to finance buyouts, recapitalizations and internal growth needs of middle-market companies, assisted in providing financing for the transaction.
“Greyrock is pleased to invest with Mr. Spigner for the second time, given his extensive industry-specific background, track record for hands-on operational improvement, and partnership-oriented approach,” said Sam Snyder, Principal of Greyrock Capital Group.
Sandy Hansell & Associates, Inc. served as financial advisor to the Anderson Companies. J.C. Anderson, Alyssa Hirschfeld and Kelsey Swagger of Grant Plant Mooty served as legal advisors to the Anderson Companies. Stephanie McCann of McDermott Will & Emery LLP and Tarun Chandran of FisherBroyles LLP served as legal advisors to Triple Shift Entertainment, LLC. David McLean, Brian Coughlan and Jennifer Brooks of McGuireWoods served as legal advisors to Greyrock Capital Group.
Schedules Set for 2019 PBA50/60 Tours
The Professional Bowlers Association has released its 2019 PBA50/60 Tour schedule, which includes three majors and three new events. All 15 of the tournaments are expected to be streamed live from start to finish by PBA Xtra Frame on FloBowling.
New events in 2019 will include the PBA50 Hamilton Lanes & Entertainment Center Open in Trenton, N.J., and two stops at Jax 60 in Jackson, Mich.
The full schedule:
* April 14-17 — PBA50 Johnny Petraglia BVL Open Presented by Brunswick, Maple Countryside Lanes, Clearwater, Fla.
* April 22-26 — PBA50 National Championship Presented by Spanish Springs Lanes and Radical, Spanish Springs Lanes, The Villages, Fla.
* April 28-May 1 — PBA50 Mooresville Ford Open Presented by Columbia 300, Victory Lanes Family Entertainment Center, Mooresville, N.C.
* May 3-5 — PBA50 Hamilton Lanes & Entertainment Center Open, Trenton, N.J.
* May 25-28 — PBA50 Northern California Classic Presented by Motiv, Harvest Park Bowl, Brentwood, Calif.
* May 29-June 2 — USBC Super Senior Classic, Sam’s Town Bowling Center, Las Vegas, Nev.
* June 2-9 — USBC Senior Masters, Sam’s Town Bowling Center, Las Vegas, Nev.
* June 9-14 — Suncoast PBA Senior U.S. Open Presented by Storm, Suncoast Bowling Center, Las Vegas, Nev.
* July 9-12 — PBA50 River City Extreme Open Presented by Hammer, River City Extreme, Monticello, Minn.
* July 15-18 — PBA50 South Shore Open Presented by Ebonite, Olympia Lanes, Hammond, Ind.
* July 20-23 — PBA50 Dave Small’s Championship Lanes Classic Presented by Roto Grip, Anderson, Ind.
* July 25-28 — PBA50 Spectrum Lanes Open, Wyoming, Mich.
* July 30-Aug. 2 — PBA50 Dave Small’s Jax 60 Open, Jax 60, Jackson, Mich.
* Aug. 3-5 — PBA60 Dave Small’s Jax 60 Open, Jax 60, Jackson, Mich.
* Aug. 7-9 — PBA60 Dick Weber Championship Presented by 900 Global, Pro Bowl West, Fort Wayne, Ind.
* Aug. 7-9 — PBA60 Dick Weber Championship presented by 900 Global, Pro Bowl West, Fort Wayne, Ind.
Ocean5 Earns LEED Silver Certification
Ocean5 and its Table 47 restaurant have received Silver LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) for its green building design that is energy and environmentally friendly.
The 57,000-sq.-ft. center is located in Gig Harbor, Wash., in the South Puget Sound area.
The venue, which describes itself as the “world’s first eatertainment project,” is the first with laser tag to earn LEED certification, as well as the first project with bowling lanes to receive Silver certification. When Ocean5 was featured in the July 2018 issue of Bowling Center Management, it was in the process of seeking LEED certification.
“At the core of Ocean5 is our deep focus on sustainability in general, and the health of our oceans and seas specifically,” proprietor Troy Alstead told BCM. “That purpose originates from my own passions and experiences, and also increasingly resonates with a population that places greater value than in years past on taking care of the planet.”
Moreover, growing up around Puget Sound, the greater Salish Sea and the Pacific Ocean, his interests began with a love and sense of adventure of the oceans and seas.
“As time has progressed, that passion has expanded into awareness and concern of the plight facing our oceans and seas,” Alstead said. “I’m excited now to have created a business that is recognized within the community as a great place to connect with friends and family, and also is a platform to drive awareness and action to help the oceans.”
Recycled and reclaimed materials were used throughout construction. The building was designed with environmental sustainability in mind, and the daily operations and the stories Ocean5 tells help define its values, making the venue a unique concept in the industry.
Among the Earth-friendly details are solar-powered soap dispensers, water bottle filling stations, low-flow toilets, and receptacles for glass, paper and plastic recycling. Additionally, there’s 3.6 miles of geothermal wells under the parking lot that provide year-round heating and cooling of the whole building, including heating the outdoor patios and cooling the large walk-in food-and-beverage coolers.
As a result of all its sustainability features, the building is 40 percent more efficient than a typical building. The energy saved is equivalent to what 36 typical homes use.
Other Washington proprietors will have the opportunity to learn more about Ocean5 when the Washington State Bowling Proprietors Association meets there Feb. 10-11.
HeadPinz, Bowland Customers Step Up for Veterans
Bowlers from six HeadPinz and Bowland centers in Florida reached deep in their wallets to help support the efforts of the Bowlers to Veterans Link organization during the month of November.
The final tally for donations from the HeadPinz and Bowland Centers was $42,345.
“This just solidifies that our bowlers are huge supporters of our nation’s military veterans,” said Pat Ciniello, CEO of Bowling Management Associates, operator of the centers. “We couldn’t be prouder of the men and women who serve our country and, likewise, we can’t say thank you enough to the bowlers for their contributions to an outstanding organization like BVL. We should never forget the sacrifice our veterans made for us to make America great.”
The donation will be used by the Veterans Administration clinic in Cape Coral, Fla., and a portion of the donation will be used to fund services at other Florida-based veterans’ clinics.
“The wonderful generosity toward BVL and the veterans we serve from the HeadPinz/Bowland Centers ‘family’ is so overwhelming,” said BVL Executive Director Mary Harrar. “Because of this amazing contribution, the days will be brighter for so many of Southwest Florida’s veteran heroes.”
Bowland Centers include Beacon Bowl in Naples, Coral Lanes in Cape Coral, and Bowland Port Charlotte. HeadPinz Entertainment Centers are in Cape Coral, Ft. Myers and Naples.
New England Proprietor/Brewer’s IPA Is a Hit
Charlie Lanza, proprietor of Lakewood Lanes in Waterbury, Conn., has created his own New England IPA beer. It’s called “Life in the Gutter.”
As a long-time bowler and veteran operator of several bowling centers, Lanza said he set out to create an exclusive brew for his Waterbury-based establishment. The name “Life in the Gutter” is not a metaphor for his personal life, but more so his life running bowling centers, and living and breathing all things bowling.
“Life in the Gutter” is a New England India Pale Ale created in collaboration with Brass Works Brewing Company and Lanza’s sons, Cory and C.J. Brass Works Brewing is a local Connecticut brewery, known for creating many well-reviewed brews.
On Nov. 10, with more than 100 of his closest friends, family members and customers on hand, Lanza hosted a launch party for “Life in the Gutter,” which generated great feedback.
Attendees were given a first taste of the beer and left the event with complimentary “Life in the Gutter” beer glasses, showcasing a whimsical bobblehead version of Lanza’s own likeness. “Life in the Gutter” shirts also were sold, with all profits to benefit the Youth Campership fund in Connecticut, supporting local summer camp programs for children.
After many sleepless nights worrying if his beer would be a hit, Lanza’s release of “Life in the Gutter” became a huge success in his bowling center. With the rising popularity of craft beers and brewery visits, Lanza said he takes pride in his price point for the beer. In an industry flooded with $10-and-up brews, “Life in the Gutter” is a high-quality IPA that sells for just $5.
League bowlers and open bowlers alike have been enjoying “Life in the Gutter” since its introduction. The beer has earned high praise on many beer review websites, including UNTAPPD, and on other social-media platforms.
“It pairs perfectly with bowling,” said Matt Frenis, a league bowler at Lakewood Lanes. “We take New England IPAs seriously here in Connecticut, and he’s got a home run on his hands if you ask me. Delicious taste, great aroma, and great mouth feel. I won’t buy another beer while I bowl again.”
At least for now, Lanza’s “Life In the Gutter” is available exclusively at Lakewood Lanes and Sports Rock, which is the bowling center’s connected bar and lounge.
Bowlero to Take Over Splitsville Space in Texas
Another Splitsville location has split the scene, this one at the Fairview Town Center in Fairview, Texas.
But bowling will remain in the space, as it’s being taken over by a new Bowlero venue that will include 17 blacklight lanes, lane-side lounge seating and large high-definition video walls. The retro-inspired design will feature vintage Edison light fixtures and Herringbone-patterned floors.
According to this report (https://www.dallasnews.com/business/real-estate/2018/11/08/bowled-move-fairview-will-home-new-bowleronot-far-main-event), the facility also will feature an arcade with more than 25 games (including an oversized Pac-Man, Mario Kart GP DX and old-school favorites), plus billiards and beer pong.
USBC Gathers Lane Data, Will Allow Locals to Up Fee
Data collected during the lane certification process shows approximately 91 percent of all centers inspected had less than 10 percent of the items measured out of specification, and approximately 72 percent of the centers have less than 5 percent of items out of spec.
The 2018-19 season marks the first time the United States Bowling Congress is analyzing all data received from lane certifications, and is developing a database to examine all measurements. Between the lane and pin deck, lane inspectors make 29 measurements on each synthetic lane and 21 measurements on each wood lane during the inspection process.
As of Dec. 1, more than 3,300 centers and 72,800 lanes had been inspected. The final data is expected to encompass more than 4,200 centers.
“The annual lane inspection process is always a major task and we greatly appreciate the work of the local association volunteers and the assistance of the bowling centers,” USBC Equipment Specifications Committee chair Andrew Cain said. “The data from these reports will provide more valuable insight into the playing fields of our sport.”
After reviewing the data, the Equipment Specifications and Certifications Committee has determined it will extend the data collection for another season. To get additional center certification data, all centers that have a proper inspection with the three required signatures and supply the data to USBC Headquarters will be certified for the 2019-20 season.
Also starting with inspections for the 2019-2020 season, USBC will increase the certification fee to allow local associations to charge up to $10 per lane bed. The fee increase is the first in more than two decades, when the certification fee went from $3 to $5 per lane for the 1995-96 season.
The data from inspections for the 2018-19 season show about 85 percent of all lanes measured were synthetic lanes or had synthetic overlays. Lane topography measurements, which include crosswise tilts, are taken on each of the five panels for synthetic lanes and three locations for wood lanes.
The first, or head, panel was found to have the most out-of-specification measurements, though approximately 93% of the crowns and depressions are within specification and about 94% of the cross-tilt measurements also are within specification.
The backend of the lane showed the highest specification compliance with about 98% of the results for crowns/depressions and cross tilts on the last three panels meeting the specifications.
USBC also looked at the lanes on each end of bowling centers, as there is a common perception that lanes on either the high end or low end of a bowling center tend to play different from the rest of a center’s lanes. Data showed the topography variance was not significant, meaning if the lanes do not play the same, lane topography is not the reason.
Last year, USBC announced new requirements for lane inspections and adjusted specifications for new installations starting with the 2019-20 season. The new requirements were based on research conducted by the USBC Equipment Specifications and Certifications team that included analysis of the lane certification paperwork submitted by 323 centers, an examination of more than 1,000 lanes throughout the country, a study of the pin deck specifications, and an examination of lane topography.
USBC has since been educating both associations and bowling centers about the changes, which included a new application for center certification for the 2018-19 season. To ensure it would receive data from all center inspections, USBC allowed a one-year grace period for centers that receive an inspection and supplied USBC Headquarters with the inspection data and the three required signatures.
USBC also has worked to educate all stakeholders about the center certification process, conducting 30 Lane Inspection Workshops during the 2017-18 season, including two workshops at the 2018 USBC Convention.
USBC had 966 people from more than 300 associations attend Lane Inspection Workshops in the field, and 450 association volunteers attend the workshops held at the convention.
The work of the lane inspectors this season and next season will provide data that will help the USBC Equipment Specifications Committee better understand the true landscape of bowling center topography and other key measurements within the field of play and to set a clear path in this area.
Business Briefs…
* Miller Lanes took part in the Honeoye Falls (N.Y.) Fire Department’s Christmas Parade on Dec. 9, and came away with the first-place award. Proprietor Brad Miller got to ride alongside Santa Claus in the parade, which ran through the village to the fire department, where Christmas cookies, hot apple cider and hot cocoa were served — and where Santa took “requests” from the little ones.
* The Iowa Bowling Proprietors Association has rolled out a statewide middle-school bowling program. The eight-week program will begin after the high school bowling season ends in February. Bowling centers have been holding organizational meetings in different areas of the state. The program consists of a weekly practice and a match against another participating school.
* All-new eight-week Jackpot Classic leagues can be created in Washington centers beginning in January. More than 350 people are expected to bowl in Jackpot Classic XXIV June 4-6 at The Orleans Bowling Center in Las Vegas, where more than $95,000 in prize money will be awarded. Storm Bowling is now involved with the tournament, and a very special celebrity will be announced soon as keynote speaker in Vegas.
* Look for a special preview of the BPAA Bowling Summit in the January issue of BCM. The bonus coverage includes a handy schedule of events as well as a look at products and services of many of the exhibiting companies. For registration information, go to: https://bpaa.com/bowlingsummit.
Other News You Can Use…
* MOTIV staff member Dylan Burns broke the nine-game scoring record Sunday with a total of 2470, the company reported. Throwing the Jackal Ghost, Burns began the day with back-to-back 300 games, then continued the strike spree with games of 238, 264, 279, 275, 278, 278 and 258. “It was absolutely ridiculous to be able to string those games together and turn on auto pilot,” Burns said. “It still hasn’t quite hit me yet, but it will be something that I will never forget.” Burns and his partner finished fourth after match play in the tournament in which they were competing. Fellow MOTIV staff member Chad Roberts went on to win the event with his partner.
* The guest this week on Phantom Radio is frequent BJI and BCM contributor Johnny Campos, who shares stories of the men after whom the PBA’s major awards are named. To listen to the interview, click here: https://kegel.squarespace.com/phantomblog/2018/12/19/johnny-campos-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.
Bowling Center Management Online 
Leave a Reply