E-dition No. 1,072 • Friday, August 23, 2019
Editor: Bob Johnson (bjibob@aol.com)
Go Bowling Pin Car Spreading Word About Bowling
The Go Bowling Pin Car has been cruising to numerous high-profile events during its summer tour across the country.
From Illinois at the Chicagoland BPA’s Bowlers Day with the White Sox, to New York for National Bowling Day, the car has been garnering attention for bowling wherever it goes.
Plans call for the car to continue making appearances all over the U.S. at major sporting events, music festivals, auto shows, state fairs and local parades. Anywhere consumers gather is a potential location for a visit by the Pin Car to help bring awareness to bowling as a fun family activity.
Most recently, the car was on hand for the Woodward Dream Cruise in Detroit, where auto enthusiasts flocked to experience the world’s largest one-day automotive event.
This year, 1.5 million people and 40,000 classic cars from around the globe — including some from as far away as New Zealand, Australia, Japan and the former Soviet Union — were on hand.
North American cruisers from California, Georgia, Canada and all points in between caravanned to Metro Detroit to participate in what has become, for many, an annual rite of summer. One visitor commented, “I come to the show every year to see something new. This year, [the Go Bowling Pin Car] made my trip worthwhile.”
Prior to the Woodward Dream Cruise appearance, the car was featured on FNC’s “FOX & Friends” program to promote National Bowling Day (Aug. 10). It was on display for those passing by the FOX Plaza, and also spotlighted on the program throughout the morning during each bowling segment.
Adding to the exposure, the program’s weatherman, Rick Reichmuth, decided to give his reports with the Go Bowling Pin Car as the backdrop.
Next up, the bowling-themed hot rod will be on hand for the PWBA Tour Championship and the Go Bowling 250 race next month in Richmond, Va. For a look at that event’s schedule, click here: https://pwba.com/Tournaments/Schedule/Details?TID=33.
Interested in reserving the car for an upcoming event or promotion? Go to: https://www.stemarketing.com/Pincar.
Another National Bowling Day Success Story
As we know, the primary purpose of National Bowling Day is to generate exposure for and excitement about the sport in the lead-up to the fall league season. Getting more customers through bowling center doors gives proprietors a greater opportunity to promote their league and other programs face-to-face, one-on-one.
At Derby Bowl in Derby, Kan., south of Wichita, National Bowling Day was commemorated with a “zorb” bowling event for kids, conducted on land adjacent to the bowling center.
“The pins are 7-feet tall and the zorb is 9-and-a-half-feet tall,” said Derby Bowl’s Derek Frazier. “We had ring toss and other games, too. For $20, the kids received a two-hour Cosmic Bowling session, a USBC membership card, a Derby Bowl t-shirt, and a turn in the zorb to knock down the pins.”
Added Frazier: “We had a great turnout and good times.”
Better still, the event generated great exposure for bowling in the local newspaper: http://www.derbyinformer.com/news/derby_news/zorbing-for-fun/article_b0bea356-bfaa-11e9-b73c-0f53b3863512.html.
It’s a Third Straight 7-Figure Fundraising Year for BVL
For the third consecutive fiscal year, the Bowlers To Veterans Link has raised more than $1.1 million to support recreation therapy grants to VA hospitals and clinics for America’s veterans and active-duty service members.
As bowling’s own and oldest charity, BVL has raised more than $50 million since 1942 to provide support services to veterans.
Fundraising events and personal donations are generated primarily by the bowling community through a wide range of events, many specifically targeted around Veterans Day in November. Other programs are year-round, such as “Shoes for Freedom” which asks bowling centers to set aside at least one shoe rental daily for a month, quarter or year as a donation to BVL.
“We are very grateful to the bowling community as they have once again stepped up to show veterans how much we all value their service and sacrifice,” said BVL Board Chair John LaSpina. “These funds will have a direct impact on veterans’ lives by funding much-needed recreation therapy programs and services.”
BVL Executive Director Mary Harrar noted that donations from bowling centers were up $65,000 over the previous year, and encouraged centers and associations to participate in BVL Month in America fundraising events this November in recognition of Veterans Day.
“The bowling family — from proprietors to local associations to individual bowlers — includes some of the most loyal and ardent supporters of veterans,” said Harrar. “We are asking all bowling centers and associations to spread the word about BVL, and encourage their local community to step forward and support our work with veterans.”
Harrar added that bowling centers and associations could request that funds raised be designated for qualifying veterans’ programs in their local area.
Bowling tournaments, in-center fundraisers and league and bowling association donations generate most of the funds raised. However, some BVL supporters have taken their charity efforts outside the bowling center.
One unique BVL fundraising effort is that of Georgetown, Texas, proprietor David “Kilroy” Kellerman, who will soon complete his 2,190-mile, five-month hike through the Appalachian Trail in support of BVL. Kellerman surpassed his original $50,000 goal while International Bowl Expo was under way, and has presently raised more than $56,000 with fewer than than 500 miles to go.
Multiple fellow proprietors have offered support for his efforts, making a dollar-per-mile pledge. Kellerman is expected to complete his 14-state hike by mid-September at Mount Katahdin in Maine. Donations to support BVL or “Kilroy’s Appalachian Trail Hike for Veterans” can be made at BVL.org. You also can follow the final weeks of the hike on Kilroy’s Facebook page.
Another fundraising highlight of the past year was the PBA50 Johnny Petraglia BVL Open, an annual highlight of the PBA50 Tour which this year was hosted at LaSpina’s Maple Lanes Countryside in Clearwater, Fla. Petraglia, a Vietnam War veteran, was among the 160 bowlers who competed in the tournament, which was won by PBA Hall of Famer Walter Ray Williams Jr.
The tournament’s pro-am in Florida, along with a BVL Tournament of Champions special event supported by league bowlers from the four New York area-based Maple Family Centers, raised nearly $70,000 to support BVL.
To learn more about BVL and fundraising opportunities, visit BVL.org or email Mary@BVL.org.
New Viewing Platform for World Bowling Events
Ahead of the World Bowling Women’s Championships in Las Vegas, World Bowling has selected Dailymotion’s video player as the platform for all live content from the tournament’s qualifying rounds, as well as all remaining 2019 events of its owned-and-operated properties.
Through this partnership, World Bowling will make all live action, highlights, athlete interviews and extra features available through the official World Bowling channel on Dailymotion (dailymotion.com/World_Bowling) as well as through the Dailymotion video player directly on the worldbowling.sport website.
Dailymotion was selected by World Bowling to distribute its digital content because of the platform’s accessibility and commercial structure. In a new strategy aimed to provide increasing opportunities to directly link the consumer to World Bowling products, World Bowling is providing more bowling content to its global following than ever before.
Through the partnership with Dailymotion, World Bowling will provide the same solution to all its member federations to showcase their domestic events through the Dailymotion player in any territories for which broadcast rights have not been secured. This initiative aims to bring greater exposure to events hosted and organized by the member federations through the power of the bowling community.
“We envision that worldbowling.sport can become a major destination for global consumers seeking original bowling content,” said World Bowling President HRH Sheikh Talal Mohammed Al-Sabah. “We are further pleased that we can extend this offer to our member federations and provide enhanced viewing opportunities and a source of extra income to their home events.”
World Bowling events that will appear on the worldbowling.sport platform in 2019:
* Aug. 22-30 — World Bowling Women’s Championships, Las Vegas, Nev.
* Sept. 2-10 — World Bowling Senior Championships, Las Vegas, Nev.
* Sept. 22-28 — World Bowling Tour Thailand Open, Bangkok.
* Oct. 20-30 — 25th Asian Bowling Championships, Kuwait.
* Oct. 31-Nov. 6 — World Bowling Tour Kuwait Open, Kuwait.
* Nov. 7 — World Bowling Tour Finals, Kuwait.
QubicaAMF Extends Relationship With Main Event
Main Event Entertainment and QubicaAMF Worldwide have announced that QubicaAMF has been selected as the exclusive bowling equipment and related services provider for Main Event.
“Qubica has been a longstanding strategic partner for Main Event, and we look forward to continuing to build on this successful partnership,” said Chris Morris, CEO of Main Event.
QubicaAMF has been the exclusive scoring provider for Main Event since the company’s inception. In more recent years, Main Event has adopted the BES X Bowler Entertainment System and Conqueror Pro Center Management System as its platform across 43 locations spanning more than 1,000 lanes. In the new agreement, QubicaAMF will supply its complete suite of new and future products and services to support Main Event’s future growth.
Founded in 1998, the Plano, Texas- based company presently serves more than 20 million guests annually.
“We are excited to continue our partnership with Main Event as their exclusive provider of bowling equipment hardware and software,” said Pat Ciniello, Chairman of the Board of QubicaAMF. “Our relationship goes back over 20 years when they installed Qubica scoring in their first center in Lewisville [Texas]. Main Event is a leader in the industry, setting the standard for delivering an exceptional guest experience through service and innovation. We look forward to supporting their growth and building towards an even brighter future.”
Added Jay Buhl, Executive Vice President and General Manager of QubicaAMF: “Main Event has been a leader in the development of the multi-attraction family entertainment center concept, and continues to influence the industry by delivering beyond the expectations of its customers. We share a similar philosophy and passion for innovation and are looking forward to transforming the future of bowling entertainment.”
‘Bowling Virtual Vault’ Introduced by Hall/Museum
The International Bowling Museum and Hall of Fame is providing fans of bowling — and history — a way to experience the sport from anywhere in the world through an online collection of the many great items in the museum’s vast inventory.
BowlingHeritage.com is the gateway to the Bowling Virtual Vault, which features many of the historic items on display at the museum in Arlington, plus additional collections the museum is not able to display year-round because of space constraints.
“The Bowling Virtual Vault provides access to great memorabilia, and visitors also will learn about the greatest players, teams, moments and so much more about bowling’s history,” said Mike Aulby, President and Chairman of the IBMHOF Board of Trustees. “It’s a fantastic way for those who might not be able to visit the museum to see our outstanding collections. It is a fun and engaging look at bowling for even the most casual fans of the sport.”
Some of the collections include bowling fashion, featuring an assortment of vintage bowling balls, bags, shoes and shirts, plus bowling toys and games, bowling stars in the 20th century, and bowling collectables.
The “Celebrities Go Bowling” section showcases not only movie and television stars, but also presidents. A collection of bowling-themed beer steins also is part of the Bowling Virtual Vault’s vast mix of collections.
Sharing collections through online databases has become more popular among museums seeking to expand their reach, and the IBMHOF sees the Bowling Virtual Vault as another way to bring the sport’s history to a global audience.
The IBMHOF is a Blue Star Museum, a collaboration of the National Endowment for the Arts, Blue Star Families, the Department of Defense and museums throughout the United States. Visit BowlingMuseum.com to learn more about the IBMHOF and how you can become a member.
Visit BowlingHeritage.com to access the Bowling Virtual Vault.
2 More Ways to Support Bowling’s Hall of Fame
August is “Best Fans in Bowling” month for Hammer, and as a part of the campaign, Hammer is auctioning off several items from the bowling ball brand and its players.
All of the proceeds from the auction go to the International Bowling Museum and Hall of Fame. To make a bid, go to: https://www.ebay.com/usr/teamebi. The auction runs through Aug. 27.
Also, entries are now being accepted for the 2020 edition of the Xtravaganza, a fun fundraiser for the hall/museum. Download an entry form here: https://www.bowlingmuseum.com/Upcoming-Events/Xtravaganza.
PBA Summer Swing Events Begin Saturday
The PBA returns to Parkside Lanes in Aurora, Ill., for a week-long, three-event series. It’s the finale to the FloBowling PBA Summer Tour and will decide three important competition points races.
The FloBowling PBA Summer Swing, presented by the Brands of Ebonite International, will be live-streamed in its entirety by FloBowling, and the tournament program has again been orchestrated by 13-time PBA Tour champion Sean Rash, an Aurora-area resident.
Here is the schedule (all times Central):
* Saturday, Aug. 24 — 8 a.m., golf outing; 1 p.m., PTQ; 6 p.m., Pro-Am.
* Sunday, Aug. 25 — noon, free youth clinic; 5 p.m., official tournament practice session.
* Monday, Aug. 26 — 3:30 p.m., PBA Wolf Open qualifying.
* Tuesday, Aug. 27 — noon, PBA Wolf Open qualifying; 5 p.m.; Wolf Open cashers round; 8:30 p.m., Wolf Open stepladder finals.
* Wednesday, Aug. 28 — 3:30 p.m., PBA Bear Open qualifying.
* Thursday, Aug. 29 — noon, PBA Bear Open qualifying; 5 p.m., Bear Open cashers round; 8:30 p.m., Bear Open stepladder finals.
* Friday, Aug. 30 — 11 a.m., Illinois Open round-robin match play; 5 p.m., Illinois Open round-robin match play.
* Saturday, Aug. 31 — 11 a.m., Illinois Open round-robin match play; 3:30 p.m., Illinois Open stepladder finals; 6 p.m., champions dinner.
TNBA Brings Youth Bowlers to ITRC for 10th Year
For the 10th consecutive year, The National Bowling Association Youth Weekend took place at the International Training and Research Center, providing eight student-athletes with the opportunity to train under the watchful eyes of Team USA coaches.
Over the course of the three-day event, players received on-lane training and drills along with classroom sessions from the ITRC staff. Participants also had the opportunity to hear from guest speakers and tour the International Bowling Museum and Hall of Fame.
Kaia Gray of Chicago bowls in TNBA and USBC events, and said to see the organizations work together on the program for youth bowlers is amazing. She had previously visited the ITRC and learned about the state-of-the-art bowling technology used during training sessions.
“When I heard about this opportunity to train under [Team USA head coach] Rod Ross, it was just a phenomenal opportunity,” said Gray, who will bowl at Jackson State this fall.
When the Junior Gold Championships took place in the Dallas area in 2018, Adam Atkins of New Orleans visited the ITRC and had the chance to bowl on sport patterns. He was excited for the opportunity to return as part of the TNBA Youth Weekend.
“It has Specto and all kinds of technology that really help you out with your game,” said Atkins, who is starting his senior year of high school. “It’s a good experience. So few have the opportunity to come here… We have a lot of young kids back in our program and I’m going to help them out.”
Other participants in the TNBA Youth Weekend were Savanna Razor, Jailyn Rogers, Jordan Shipp, Alex Horton, Nykolas Walker and Purely Williams.
Veronica Green, the TNBA National Youth Program Director, along with coaches Donald Armstead and Charles Horton, also were part of this weekend’s program. Barbara Armstead, as the TNBA Youth Weekend Project Coordinator, oversees the program.
“I am so happy to say this is our 10th year — 10 years of working with this wonderful program,” Armstead said.
Armstead sent out applications to TNBA youth members, between the ages of 16-19, at the start of the year. As part of the application process, players were asked to submit a video, showing their bowling style from different angles, along with a resume of accomplishments.
She said they look for the top players — those participating in competitive events throughout the season — and pointed out that one of last year’s TNBA Youth Weekend attendees captured a national title this summer.
“We had a group of phenomenal players and one of them, Patricia Rosales, won the U20 Junior Gold Championship,” Armstead said of the2018 group. “She is a talented individual and she will credit some of her accomplishments to her trip here. It was a wonderful experience for her and for us.”
Visit TNBAInc.org to learn more about The National Bowling Association.
Business Briefs…
* Lucky Strike Entertainment has debuted its latest creation, Lucky Strike Social at Wrigleyville, in Chicago’s iconic neighborhood. The location brings together chef-driven food and craft beverages, along with eight Lucky Strike Lanes, more than 100 electronic gaming systems (including the exclusive Daytona Championship USA Motion SDLX), two private party rooms, and a “prize room” retail store. The venue spans 30,000 square feet of social space with unprecedented views of Wrigley Field. “Wrigleyville is one of Chicago’s most spirited neighborhoods, and we are excited to join the community,” said Lucky Strike Entertainment CFO Steven Foster. “You can feel the energy as you walk down Addison [Street], and we look forward to contributing to the growth of this already booming area surrounding Wrigley Field.”
* It looks like the final frame is looming for Yokayo Bowl in Ukiah, Calif., which has been operating on a month-to-month lease for much of the year. The building is owned by Erickson Brothers Properties and represented by Coldwell Banker, which reportedly has obtained a new tenant that is willing to pay a higher rent. “Even if we get another last-minute reprieve like last year, a month-to-month lease just won’t work again,” Mike Schutz, who has owned the business for the past 11 years, told the Ukiah Daily Journal. He noted that closing during the middle of the league season would not be fair to his league bowlers. As a result, plans now call for the center to close for good on Sept. 15.
* The entry deadline for the 35th annual BJI Bowling Center Architecture and Design Awards — the industry’s only awards program that recognizes and encourages the construction and modernization of bowling facilities worldwide — is Sept. 13. This year’s competition is open to projects that were completed after Aug. 1, 2018. Request an entry form by emailing barbp@lubypublishing.com or bjieditor@gmail.com.
Other News You Can Use…
* Shannon O’Keefe became the first player in nearly 20 years to claim four titles in a PWBA Tour season by winning the 2019 BowlerX.com PWBA Orlando Open at Boardwalk Bowl. O’Keefe, the reigning PWBA Player of the Year, edged Danielle McEwan in the championship match Saturday, 207-202, to record her 12th career PWBA Tour title and take home the $10,000 top prize. Report: http://www.bowlersjournal.com/shannon-okeefe-enters-rarefied-air-with-fourth-title-of-2019-after-orlando-open-win/.
* Ryan Ciminelli defeated top qualifier Tom Daugherty, 217-209, to win his eighth Go Bowling! PBA Tour title Sunday in the Gene Carter’s Pro Shop Classic at Mid-County Bowling and Entertainment Center in Middletown, Del. Report: http://www.bowlersjournal.com/ryan-ciminelli-wins-pba-gene-carters-pro-shop-classic-for-eighth-pba-tour-win/.
* Congratulations to BJI Editor Gianmarc Manzione, who welcomed new daughter, Blake, into the world on Wednesday. Baby, Mom Brittni, first daughter Ellianna and Dad all are doing fine, and trying to catch up on some sleep. (So leave Gianmarc alone for a few days!)
* The guest this week on Phantom Radio is Matt McNiel. To listen to the podcast, go to: https://kegel.squarespace.com/phantomblog/2019/8/21/matt-mcniel-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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