E-dition No. 1,093 • Friday, January 24, 2020
Editor: Bob Johnson (bjibob@aol.com)
Special Made-for-TV Event Set for Bowl Expo
This summer in suburban Denver, International Bowl Expo will host a special made-for-TV event featuring top names from the sport’s professional tours.
Members of the PWBA and PBA will team for a mixed doubles event at the Gaylord Rockies Resort and Convention Center. The PWBA/PBA Mixed Doubles will be televised live on Sunday, July 5, at 8 p.m. Eastern on FS1.
The two-hour show will have four mixed doubles teams representing Brunswick, Hammer, Motiv and Storm, and Brunswick will build two lanes, featuring its new Spark technology, for the event.
“Bowl Expo is the biggest annual event for the bowling industry and what a great way to showcase the highest levels of competition in our sport,” said Randy Thompson, President of the BPAA, the host organization of Bowl Expo. “To have the best bowlers in the world on a nationally televised TV show, on a Sunday, allows the bowling community to celebrate the passion and commitment we all have for the sport.”
The PWBA/PBA Mixed Doubles teams for the event are:
* Brunswick — Dasha Kovalova and Dom Barrett.
* Hammer — Shannon O’Keefe and Bill O’Neill.
* Motiv — Maria José Rodriguez and EJ Tackett.
* Storm — Danielle McEwan and Jason Belmonte.
“This will be a fantastic event for Bowl Expo attendees, the national TV audience and for our sport,” said Colie Edison, CEO of the PBA. “The PBA Tour has seen tremendous viewership growth through our partnership with FOX Sports and this special event is a tremendous addition to the schedule. We appreciate the opportunity to partner with BPAA and the PWBA Tour on this.”
The PWBA/PBA Mixed Doubles will have two semifinal matches, with matchups determined by blind draw. The semifinals will be one-game matches using the Baker format, with the winning teams then bowling for the title.
College bowling and the scholarships offered in the sport also will be featured at Bowl Expo during the television show. A special roll-off featuring the 2020 Intercollegiate Singles Championships winners will be held between the semifinals and title match of the PWBA/PBA Mixed Doubles.
The ISC boys’ champion and ISC girls’ champion each will get one roll on the TV lanes. If the player rolls a strike on their one attempt, they will be awarded a $10,000 scholarship.
International Bowl Expo will take place July 2-6, with the TV show to be held immediately following the first day of the event’s trade show on July 5. All Bowl Expo attendees will be able to attend the event as part of their Bowl Expo registration.
Neil Hupfauer to Receive Victor Lerner Award
The BPAA announced the recipients of its 2020 industry service awards during the BPAA Bowling Summit in Charleston, S.C. The award winners will be honored during a special luncheon at Bowl Expo.
Here’s a look at the honorees:
* Neil Hupfauer has been selected as the 2020 BPAA Hall of Fame inductee and recipient of the Victor Lerner Memorial Medal, the highest honor awarded by the BPAA. It recognizes an individual for a lifetime of service to the bowling industry. Hupfauer is cited for his revolutionary family entertainment center concept, after recognizing the traditional bowling center model may not be the future of the bowling industry. After developing and selling the Main Event Entertainment chain, he did not find retirement suitable and became COO for Cinergy Entertainment, which incorporates bowling lanes with movie theatres. Even today, he continues to work hard and seek new avenues for bowling.
* Roger Philipi will receive the V.A. Wapensky Award, named after BPAA’s longtime chief executive officer, “Chief” Wapensky. Philipi is being recognized for years of service to the industry at the local, state and national levels. He has been instrumental in implementing numerous bowling programs, including the NFL Super Bowl Charity Bowling Event.
* Andy Bartholomy will be presented the President’s Award by BPAA President Randy Thompson. The President’s Award goes to an individual who has provided exceptional support and service to the association in the eyes of the president. Andy B’s decade-long leadership of the Member Benefits Committee and willingness to share his knowledge with fellow proprietors made him a clear choice for this year’s award.
* Tim Mack will be recognized with the Dick Weber Bowling Ambassador Award, named after the legendary bowling icon, recognizing his many contributions to the game and sport of bowling, both on and off the lanes. After years of bowling internationally, Mack became a player services representative and international ambassador for Storm, and continues to share his passion for bowling.
* Daroll and Dolores Frewing will be recognized with the Special Projects Award for setting up a generous scholarship fund that will provide an annual college scholarship for a child or grandchild of a BPAA-member proprietor. Having played an integral part in the bowling manufacturing and installation business since 1959, the Frewings are proud of their relationships with proprietors and to have the opportunity to give back.
* Tom Clark will receive the 2020 Media Award. As Commissioner of the PBA, Clark developed media products such as PBA Xtra Frame, but most significantly in the last year secured the PBA on FOX Sports television deal.
* The Sarasota Manatee USBC Association in Florida will be recognized at the USBC Convention with the BPAA USBC Association Award, presented to a local USBC association that has demonstrated a high degree of cooperation with its local BPAA proprietor group. The relationship between BPAA and local USBC associations is critical since local associations represent the consumer, and BPAA-member centers are the playing fields for bowling.
“The BPAA is pleased to honor these award recipients for their outstanding service to the industry, and hope they inspire others to share their passion for bowling,” said Thompson, who also chairs the BPAA Awards Committee.
The awards will be presented at the annual awards luncheon on Saturday, July 4. The Lerner Memorial Medal presentation will take place during the general session on Sunday morning, July 5.
Kegel Acquires Assets of Pinsetter Parts Plus
Kegel has acquired Pinsetter Parts Plus (PPP), a Wisconsin-based pinsetter parts manufacturing company. Kegel will receive the assets of PPP, and the line of products will be available under the Kegel brand.
“Pinsetter Parts Plus has long been a respected parts provider,” said Don Agent, head of the Pinsetter Parts Division of Kegel. “They’ve created a line of innovative products designed by mechanics that solve problems, save money and make machines run more smoothly. I’m excited to expand our Kegel Pinsetter Parts line by incorporating these great products.”
Kegel will maintain headquarters in Lake Wales, Fla., for manufacturing and shipping of all products. Existing PPP and Kegel distributors should expect a more comprehensive letter from Kegel explaining all details regarding the acquisition.
Steve Nadolny, PPP partner, said, “We started our company simply hoping to provide mechanics with products that would aid in the performance and maintenance of their equipment. We are proud of what we have built and cannot wait to watch this line grow with the team at Kegel.”
Added Chris Chartrand, CEO of Kegel: “For years, our team considered that diversification outside of bowling was necessary for our company’s future. But this acquisition is a testament to our new confidence and our approach to double-down on the bowling industry. With these additions to our product line, we are excited to continue solving more problems for our customers.”
Major BVL Donation by Bowland and HeadPinz
Six Bowland and HeadPinz Entertainment Centers in southwest Florida, led by owners Pat and Lisa Ciniello, are once again writing an impressive check to BVL to benefit veterans in southern Florida.
The $46,000 donation to BVL will be designated for Florida-based veterans’ services. BVL funds recreation therapy programs that address the emotional and physical needs of veterans and active-duty military, including sports, music, crafts, technology, and adaptive equipment for rehabilitation activities.
The funds were raised across multiple events at the Bowland and HeadPinz bowling centers during November, which is BVL Month in America. The total also included a personal donation from the Ciniellos.
Rich Albright, owner of Bowland Port Charlotte, also made a significant personal contribution to the total.
The Bowland and HeadPinz donation will be designated for programs at the Veteran’s Administration clinic in Cape Coral, Fla., as well as other Florida-based veterans’ services. Last year, Bowland and HeadPinz funded a wheelchair-accessible transportation cart for the VA Clinic.
“The dedication of the Ciniello family and their staff and bowlers to BVL and our veterans is extraordinary,” said BVL Board Chair John LaSpina. “Their donation highlights the powerful community partnership that can happen when local businesses and their customers come together to positively impact the lives of so many veterans.”
“We are very pleased to have our Bowland and HeadPinz centers participate in giving to our veterans through the BVL,” said Lisa Ciniello, Vice President of Operations for the company. “We are so appreciative of our military men and women who have served or are in service to our nation, and feel this is one way we can give back. Our bowlers are incredibly generous and know that freedom isn’t free, and we are all very fortunate to live in the greatest country on the planet.”
The six HeadPinz and Bowland centers teamed up for several events over the past few months to spur donations for BVL, including a Race to the Bar promotion with local radio station 93X in Fort Myers, in-center donations in all six centers, and two Veterans Day tournaments. Pat and Lisa Ciniello personally matched funds raised during a one-week stretch in November.
Bowland centers are located throughout southwest Florida: Beacon Bowl in Naples, Coral Lanes in Cape Coral and Bowland Port Charlotte. HeadPinz Entertainment Centers are in Cape Coral, Fort Myers and Naples.
Strikeforce Inks Product Registration Deal With PBA
Strikeforce Bowling LLC has signed a three-year product registration agreement with the PBA. Through the agreement, members of all PBA tours may use the extensive line of Strikeforce Bowling bags and accessories in competition.
“Supporting the Professional Bowlers Tour is a natural fit for KR Strikeforce,” said Brad Handelman, President of the company. “Given the exciting FOX Sports television deal, recent acquisition of the Tour by Bowlero Corp, an expanded schedule, and increased prize funds, the timing was perfect to commit to a multi-year agreement and support the exciting future of our sport at the highest level.”
15-Tournament PBA50 Schedule Unveiled
The PBA has announced a 15-tournament schedule for the 2020 PBA50 Tour season.
New for 2020, 13 events on the schedule conducted by PBA will include a special “bracket” side event competition for both the PBA50 and PBA60 divisions that will pay additional prize money for the first three bracket finishers within each tournament. The bracket program, which requires no additional entry fee, will also have its own year-long points list that will determine the top 24 players from each division for an end-of-season bracket championship.
All PBA50/60 events will be covered from start to finish by PBA’s online streaming partner, FloBowling.
The schedule:
* April 19-22 — PBA50 Johnny Petraglia BVL Open Presented by Lucas Magazine & Brunswick, Maple Countryside Lanes, Clearwater, Fla.
* April 26-30 — Florida Blue Medicare PBA50 National Championship, Spanish Springs Lanes, The Villages, Fla.
* May 3-6 — PBA50 Mooresville Open Presented by Mooresville CVB & Storm, Victory Lanes Family Entertainment Center, Mooresville, N.C.
* May 16-19 — PBA50 Lubbock Sports Cup Presented by South Plains Lanes, Lubbock, Texas
* May 23-26 — PBA50 Northern California Classic, Harvest Park Bowl, Brentwood, Calif.
* May 27-31 — USBC Super Senior Classic, Sam’s Town, Las Vegas
* May 31-June 7 — USBC Senior Masters, Sam’s Town, Las Vegas
* June 7-12 — Suncoast PBA Senior U.S. Open, Suncoast Bowling Center, Las Vegas
* June 14-17 — PBA50 Fountain Valley Open, Fountain Bowl, Fountain Valley, Calif.
* July 27-30 — PBA50 River City Extreme Open, River City Extreme, Monticello, Minn.
* Aug. 3-6 — PBA50 South Shore Open, Olympia Lanes, Hammond, Ind.
* Aug. 8-11 — PBA50 David Small’s Championship Lanes Classic, Anderson, Ind.
* Aug. 14-17 — PBA50 Spectrum Lanes Open, Spectrum Lanes, Wyoming, Mich.
* Aug. 19-22 — PBA50 David Small’s Jax 60 Lanes Open, Jackson, Mich.
* Aug. 23-25 — PBA60 Dick Weber Classic, Jackson, Mich.
Pedersen Marks 20th Anniversary With Storm Bowling
Randy Pedersen has more than 40 years of experience in the bowling industry, and he’s celebrating a monumental anniversary with Storm Products in 2020.
Pedersen was officially invited to represent Storm Products as a full-time touring player in 2001, and quickly found success with the company’s equipment. In 2002, he earned his first title on national television as a member of Team Storm with the X-Factor, and from there the relationship continued to flourish.
Pedersen continued to represent Storm on the lanes throughout his career. When he decided to stop bowling full-time, he was able to continue to represent the company in appearances at Storm-sponsored events around the world as a member of the P.R. team.
“Being with Storm for 20 years has been an incredible run and I feel blessed to be part of the family,” Pedersen said. “After my bowling career ended on the lanes, they still saw value in me, which is an incredible honor. The management at Storm cares about their people. The loyalty that they show to those who stay loyal to them is invaluable. Storm is the most loyal company I’ve ever been part of.”
“Randy makes bowling a better place,” said Dave Symes, President of Storm Bowling. “I appreciate what he’s done and continues to do for bowling. He’s a lot of fun to be around and the fans really like him. I think he brings a lot of positive feelings and goodwill to the bowling industry as a whole. I’ve really enjoyed working with Randy and look forward to continuing our relationship with him into the next decade.”
TV Time for Hendersonville Strike and Spare
The “World’s Greatest” television program has selected Hendersonville Strike and Spare as the “world’s best family entertainment center.”
The program, now in its 14th season, provides viewers with behind-the-scenes looks at the companies, people and places that are making a difference throughout the world. The team at “World’s Greatest” goes through a stringent, multi-layered process, to find the right subjects for the program, and felt Strike and Spare was a perfect fit based on the excitement it brings to their guests.
The program will air in the Nashville area on Comcast Xfinity channel 17 on Monday, Feb 3. Check your local listings for channel and air times. You can also watch the program online at worldsgreatesttelevision.com.
Hendersonville Strike and Spare serves as the corporate headquarters of L&S Family Entertainment, and is one of 14 centers owned by former baseball executive and Nashville Sounds founder, Larry Schmittou.
Schmittou said that credit should go to General Manager Crystal Moore, along with Tracy Lambert, Chris Law; Michael Fish and the rest of the dedicated employees of the center.
Hendersonville Strike and Spare differs from most bowling-based FECs as it emphasizes bowling and all-day wristbands. It is home to more than 1,200 league bowlers.
The facility also has seven other activities, including laser tag, Lazer Frenzy, roller skating, bumper cars; a four-station bungee trampoline, Time Freak, and a virtual-reality rollercoaster. Hendersonville Strike and Spare also is home to Conway’s Bar and Grill, which features more than 80 selections including the Twitty Burger.
In addition to the 340,000-plus games bowled and the 86,000 wristbands sold yearly, Hendersonville Strike and Spare hosts more than 1,500 birthday parties; more than 100 school field trips; numerous activities for special-needs individuals, and dozens of corporate parties ranging from 25 to more than 1,000 people.
Brose Exits Industry With Sale of Sabre Lanes
BCA of Wisconsin Executive Director tells the BJI Cyber Report that longtime BCAW member and BPAA past President Kurt Brose has sold Sabre Lanes in Menasha, Wis., marking his exit from the industry.
The center was built in 1964 with 16 lanes, but over time lanes were added, bringing it to the 48-lane total when Brose bought it in 1984.
The new owners are Dan Patterson and Marcus Wise.
Originally from Arizona, Patterson arrived in Milwaukee from Western New York as AMF Bowlero was regrouping after the departure of key center management in the Milwaukee market a few years ago. An accomplished bowler, he won the 2006 U.S. Amateur Championship and was a member of Team USA from 2005-07. In 2011, he was elected to serve on the USBC Board of Directors as an athletes’ representative, a position he held until 2018.
“With the sale of his flagship center, Black Bridge Bowl, back in July 2016, Kurt began to realize it was time to move on,” Bennett said. “He tells us he is looking forward to enjoying life, as he turns over the reins to the next generation.”
Court Says It’s Okay to Advertise Alcohol Specials
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit ruled last week that laws banning restaurants from advertising their specific alcohol specials violate the First Amendment.
The laws at issue allowed retailers to use generic advertisements for discounted alcohol sales, such as advertising a happy hour. However, the laws prohibited retailers from advertising actual prices of alcoholic drinks outside of their own business.
The court found that the law was not “narrowly tailored to further its interest,” which was to decrease “overconsumption or underage drinking.” Because the law was not narrowly tailored to achieving this interest, the court found that the law violated the First Amendment.
Business Briefs…
* The National Bowling Stadium kicked off its 25th anniversary year with free bowling, hot dogs and popcorn for local residents on Jan. 15. Through the years, the stadium has generated nearly 2 million room nights for local hotels, with an estimated economic impact of $1.7 billion. More: https://www.rgj.com/story/news/money/business/2020/01/14/national-bowling-stadium-renovations-bowling-reno/4460401002/
* Steve Sempeck, owner of Bowl Co., has purchased the former Orange Bowl in Beatrice, Neb., and rebranded it as Family Bowl and Social of Beatrice. Sempeck said that although there will be some leagues, the center would place more emphasis on marketing to families, schools and groups. New carpeting and paint await those attending the grand opening on Saturday.
* Two people broke into The Alley in Wichita, Kan., early Tuesday morning, attempting to steal cash from a bowling ball cleaning machine. They caused approximately $7,000 in damage.
* Snowtown USA, an annual event in Watertown, N.Y., is under way and continues through the weekend. This year, organizers arranged for residents to enjoy a free game of bowling at Seaway Lanes. The center also hosted face painting and other activities. More: https://www.wwnytv.com/2020/01/20/snowtown-usa-offers-free-bowling/
* Storm Bowling and entered into a unique partnership with Utah State Parks to introduce visitors to Storm’s headquarters to the array of recreational opportunities available in the state. Each month this year, a photo of one of the 44 parks operated and maintained by the state will be featured along with an embedded photo of a Storm bowling ball. Those who can identify the bowling ball will receive a prize. Read more about communications director Blair Blumenscheid’s initiative here: https://www.upr.org/post/utah-rocks-campaign-encourages-bowlers-visit-utah-parks
* La Riva Del Lago Mall in Dillon, Colo., is home to a bowling center that has had a challenging history, with multiple owners and remodeling projects over the past 20 years. Now it has yet another owner, Trailmark Capital, which purchased the entire mall, including the bowling center. The center was closed at the time of the purchase, but the new owners plan to re-open it after extensive remodeling and with a new name: Elevation Bowl. Dillon is 9,111 feet above sea level, and Elevation Bowl claims to be the highest-elevation bowling center in the world.
Other News You Can Use…
* Tommy Jones, Mike Slade and Rob Glaser were inducted into the PBA Hall of Fame during ceremonies at the Arlington (Texas) Hilton Saturday as part of the PBA Hall of Fame Classic tournament week. Story: http://www.bowlersjournal.com/tommy-jones-former-ownership-partners-mike-slade-rob-glaser-inducted-into-pba-hall-of-fame/
* It’s hard to find words that do justice to what Jones achieved this past weekend. He was inducted into the PBA Hall of Fame Saturday night, made the show the following day, then won that show for his 20th PBA Tour title and, oh yeah, shot 300 in the title match to boot. And he did all this on the heels of winning $100,000 in the Bowlero Elite Series on Dec. 29. In fact, Tommy Jones made $135,000 throwing a bowling ball over a span of 22 days between the Bowlero Elite Series and the PBA Hall of Fame Classic. A classic it truly was, and as you will hear on this interview, Jones is by no means satisfied. He’s got his sights set on much more. Listen to this episode of The Bowlers Journal Podcast here:
https://soundcloud.com/user-658733792/podcast-tommy-jones-on-his-fairy-ale-weekend-in-arlington
* Nick Pate of Inver Grove Heights, Minn., has been elected as an athlete representative to the USBC Board of Directors. Pate takes over the position held by former Team USA member Rhino Page, who stepped down to focus on new business opportunities within the industry. Page had served on the USBC Board for five years.
* The guest this week on Phantom Radio is PBA and ABC/USBC Hall of Famer Barry Asher, who shares personal memories of southpaws Skee Foremsky, Mike McGrath, Bill Allen, Dave Davis, Bobby Jacks, Butch Gearhart and Don Glover. To listen to the interview, click here: https://kegel.squarespace.com/phantomblog/2020/1/22/barry-asher-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. Please remember that the Cyber Report is a B-to-B publication and not intended for consumers.
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