Cyber Report #1111

E-dition No. 1,111 • Friday, May 29, 2020

Editor: Bob Johnson (bjibob@aol.com)

Mraz, Petrie, Krol, Bolt to Be Honored by IBPSIA

Lori Mraz has been selected as the 2020 recipient of the Bill Bunetta Lighthouse Award by the International Bowling Pro Shop and Instructors Association.

The Lighthouse Award can be given to a person or business that has made significant contributions to the pro shop industry.

Mraz has nearly three decades of success with a company that has grown from a small operation that served mostly local and regional bowlers with a few products, to a highly respected international brand with an extensive line of insert and accessory products, endorsed by both professional and amateur bowlers.

Turbo Bowling Accessories is known as an innovative company involved in all corners of the bowling business and sport. Its sponsorships include Team USA, the Professional Bowlers Association, and numerous tournaments on the local, regional, national and international levels.

High school and college bowling are priorities for Mraz. Since 2011, the Turbo Tech Collegiate Expo has helped more than 1,400 students make meaningful connections with college bowling programs, and today is regarded as one of the most comprehensive educational and recruiting events for high school bowlers in the sport. The Collegiate Expo attracts college bowling coaches from across the country, giving families a real opportunity to discuss scholarship opportunities and more.

IBPSIA’s 2020 Business Excellence Award will go to Christopher Petrie of Sandy Hill Lanes and Yucca Bowl in Joshua Tree, Calif.

The award is given to a pro shop that has a certified technician on staff, plays a key role in the retention and development of bowlers, and is member of the association.

Petrie was chosen for his significant contributions to America’s wounded warriors, helping to get them back into bowling. He has an M.A. in Sports and Exercise Psychology, and is a USBC Silver-certified coach and an IBPSIA Master Technician. He has completed all BPAA Online Training and Management Certification Courses for all four certifications, as well as online training management courses for 12 additional certifications for industry standards.

Petrie is known for his passion in working with clients who are disabled or have suffered a traumatic injury, helping them find the best grip fit for their personal needs. He is currently working on his PhD dissertation, focused on bowlers with mental health issues and minimization of symptoms with proper implementation of breathing techniques. Once he has his PhD, he says he will work on obtaining his USBC Gold-level coaching certification.

The Friends of IBPSIA Award is given to an individual or company that has made significant contributions to benefit the association and its members. The 2020 award will go to Bowltech, which was established in Made, the Netherlands, in 1986 by Hans Krol, now CEO of the Bowltech Group.

In its early years, Bowltech was active primarily in the construction and maintenance of wooden bowling lanes. When the wall fell in Germany in 1989, Bowltech took the first steps across the border, with unprecedented success.

In 1991, Bowltech Germany was founded, and shortly thereafter the company opened a factory that remanufactured used machines, stressing extremely high standards.

Between 1996 and 2004, Bowltech opened offices in the U.K., Sweden, Denmark and France. In 2012, it became an exclusive distributor of QubicaAMF. And in recent years, Bowltech introduced offices in Belgium and Norway, giving it a total of eight European offices and making the company Europe’s largest bowling distributor.

Finally, the IBPSIA President’s Award for 2020 will go to David Bolt, the owner-operator of Western Bowl and Arrowhead Lanes in Champaign, Ill, where he also runs DB’s Pro Shop and Instruction.

The President’s Award is given to a member of the association who has contributed to the development and retention of bowlers. Bolt’s focus is on helping educate his bowlers and keeping them involved in leagues and tournaments.

Prolific on social media, Bolt is the administrator of the IBPSIA Pro Shop Friends group on Facebook, where he continually offers his expertise to educate and inform those who work in the pro shop business.

A past president of the association, Bolt was instrumental in helping create IBPSIA’s Master Technician program. He was one of the first Master Instructors and is a USBC Silver-certified coach.

RSCVA Forced to Implement Cost-Cutting Measures

The Reno-Sparks Convention and Visitors Authority — which owns the National Bowling Stadium, Reno Events Center, Reno-Sparks Convention Center and Reno-Sparks Livestock Events Center — has been forced to furlough employees, implement pay cuts and encourage early retirements as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

Twenty-five of 55 positions were furloughed, according to RSCVA Senior Communication Manager Ben McDonald.

This could have had a significant impact on National Bowling Stadium operations, except for the fact that the RSCVA is contracted with ASM Global to operate the stadium, downtown events center, convention center and livestock center.

ASM Global manages more than 300 stadiums, arenas, convention centers, entertainment districts, theaters, amphitheaters, equestrian centers and recreational centers worldwide. The RSCVA entered into a management agreement with SMG in April 2018, and ASM Global was formed late last year through a merger of SMG and AEG Facilities.

Proposal on Stadium, Downtown Redevelopment Tabled

Meanwhile, the RSCVA was scheduled to hear a formal proposal this week by P3 Partners, detailing its plans to redevelop the stadium and Reno Events Center as part of a major downtown redevelopment project that also would involve the construction of a non-casino hotel.

However, at the request of P3 Partners, that meeting was tabled.

As we reported in Cyber Report No. 1,058, P3 Partners, a public-private development firm, would invest money in the stadium to make it suitable for volleyball, basketball, indoor soccer and possibly other sports in addition to bowling. It also would replace a blighted area between Virginia Street — home to downtown Reno’s three major casinos known collectively as The Row — and the bowling stadium, formerly home to the downtown bus station.

The idea is to create a more vibrant downtown district that would attract large groups of people year-round and every year, not just when the United States Bowling Congress is in town with its Open or Women’s Championships.

As part of its “vision statement” presented to the Reno City Council, P3 Partners included this proposal: “P3 Partners and their team of experts is proposing to invest in the repurposing of the current public facilities, i.e., the National Bowling Stadium and Reno Events Center. The level of that investment to be determined through a comprehensive Strategic Development Plan that will analyze the sports demand and recommend the appropriate mix of sports, wellness, fitness and other amenities necessary to maximize the utilization of these existing facilities. Once the depth and breadth of market demand is completed, a concept plan will be prepared to include improvement cost estimates, preliminary financing, and implementation schedule to be presented to the City.”

That concept plan is what the company had been scheduled to present this week.

Could Betting Be the Next Step for the PBA?

“The PBA has been tracking the movement toward legalizing betting in America with great interest,” PBA COO Lev Ekster recently told BonusSeeker.com. “We have been speaking with experts on betting and educating our organization as to how to approach this coming opportunity effectively and responsibly.”

As Online Gambling reported, bowling lends itself to a wide range of wagering options, including traditional head-to-head matchups as well as in-game bets, tournament futures, and weekly tournament odds — similar to those posted for the PGA Tour and NASCAR races.

The new PBA Strike Derby, developed to fill air time while the sports world struggles to get back on track as pandemic restrictions begin to be relaxed, presents a natural betting opportunity.

“We are looking forward to how, over time, this can add to our fans’ engagement and enjoyment of this great sport,” Ekster told BonusSeeker.com. “We think, if done properly and with an emphasis on assuring the integrity of the sport, it has the potential to add a lot of value for our fans.”

Goergen’s Center Survives Devastating Regional Flooding

As we reported in Cyber Report No. 1,110, Bo Goergen, proprietor of Northern Lanes in Sanford, Mich., and Executive Director of the Bowling Centers Association of Michigan, was dealing with an historic flood threatening his center following a major rain event in the region.

This week, we have good news to report. On May 21, Goergen posted an update on Facebook. Here are excerpts:

“Family and house are safe, center was spared as well. I want to thank my relatives, friends and especially our bowling community from all across the country for your thoughts, prayers, texts and calls. This is exactly why I’m invested in the bowling industry, the thoughtful, caring and incredibly supportive group of people which I consider my extended family…

“It looks like the state of Michigan is providing financial support, and now, President Trump is providing federal help. This will go a long way in helping these communities to rebuild. With an estimated 50% of our clientele affected directly with this devastation, I am sure we will look for support from our local and regional bowling communities to help with whatever we can do.

“Again, I can’t tell you how grateful I am for all of your support. I’m proud to represent my BPAA brethren as well as my USBC members. Thank you so much. Thoughts and prayers are still needed for those that lost everything. I know of three families whose homes are no longer where they were. The pictures give you some inkling, but reality is even more devastating. God bless you all!”

Bowling Separated from Brothels in Nevada Reopening

Bowling centers have been moved into Phase 2 of business reopening in Nevada, Governor Steve Sisolak announced on Tuesday. That means centers may open their doors on Friday.

“Nevadans have done an incredible job helping to flatten the curve, and I want to again thank you for understanding the severity of this health care crisis and for taking the necessary precautionary measures, like making a face covering a part of everyday wear,” Sisolak said in a media release. “It’s because of your response that I am able to relax some of the restrictions as we enter Phase 2.”

There will be restrictions associated with Phase 2, however.

“During Phase 2, I cannot emphasize enough the importance of continuing to wear face coverings in public and maintaining at least six feet of social distancing when you are out in public and around people from other households,” Sisolak said.

That, presumably, will apply to bowling center customers, even though centers must adhere to their own subset of restrictions.

“Indoor venues, like movie theaters, bowling alleys and indoor malls, may reopen, again with occupancy restrictions, and they must allow for six feet of social distancing,” Sisolak said.

The governor did not quantify the occupancy restriction for bowling centers, but did announce a 50 percent maximum for businesses such as waterparks, museums, art galleries, zoos and aquariums.

In Las Vegas, where all commercial bowling centers are housed inside casinos, there is something of a gray area since casinos will not be allowed to reopen until June 4, under Sisolak’s current timeline. Some casino restaurants were allowed to reopen during Phase 1 as long as customers did not come in contact with gaming areas.

Wednesday night, Station Casinos confirmed that it would reopen six of its local properties with a rigorous health and safety plan in place. Read about the plan here: https://www.stationcasinosblog.com/2020/05/station-casinos-rolls-out-rigorous-health-and-safety-plan/. Three of the six resorts are home to large bowling centers: Red Rock, Sunset Station and Santa Fe Station.

Also on Wednesday night, Boyd Gaming announced the June 4 reopening of The Orleans, Gold Coast, Suncoast, Aliante, Cannery, Sam’s Town, Fremont, California Club and Jokers Wild. In a news release, the company said, “Bowling will be available at Gold Coast, Sam’s Town, Suncoast and The Orleans with varied hours.” Boyd Gaming also unveiled a new set of cleaning protocols called “Boyd Clean,” which you can read about here: https://www.boydgaming.com/boyd-clean.

A June 4 opening also is planned for the South Point Hotel, Casino & Spa, which hosts numerous major events at its South Point Bowling Plaza. That leaves Texas Station — home of the 60-lane Texas Star Lanes — as the only Las Vegas casino with a large bowling center to remain closed past June 4.

Prior to Tuesday’s announcement by the governor, bowling centers had been included in a business grouping that included adult entertainment establishments (i.e., strip clubs) and brothels. Those businesses remain closed, as do nightclubs, day clubs, live sporting event venues with spectators, and live performance venues.

White Paper and Safety Program from AMOA

The AMOA has released a white paper titled, “Safety of Currency-Activated Equipment in the COVID-19 Environment.” It was developed to better inform legislators and health officials about the AMOA and the safety of the business its members conduct during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“In recent days, we’ve seen guidance coming in from several states continuing to shut down our industry’s games and devices,” said AMOA’s Executive Vice President, Lori Schneider. “The AMOA white paper, along with our cleaning and sanitizing program, clearly addresses the safe use of our members’ equipment as venues begin to reopen. It also highlights our industry’s ability to adapt during these uncertain times.”

On May 22, the Center for Disease Control issued this statement: “The primary and most important mode of transmission for COVID-19 is through close contact from person-to-person. Based on data from lab studies on COVID-19 and what we know about similar respiratory diseases, it may be possible that a person can get COVID-19 by touching a surface or object that has the virus on it and then touching their own mouth, nose, or possibly their eyes, but this isn’t thought to be the main way the virus spreads.”

In addition, the AMOA white paper is supported with a multi-faceted “Cleaning and Sanitizing Best Practices Program,” also created by the AMOA. The program includes:

* Safety stickers for machines.

* Safety posters for venues.

* A best-practices safety brochure outlining cleaning and sanitizing guidelines.

“AMOA recognized early on we needed to create best practices specifically as it relates to high touch-point surfaces on machines,” said AMOA President Greg Trent. “Our cleaning and sanitizing program not only addresses safety for both customers and locations with our sticker and poster program, but also includes a safety brochure to present to legislators and health officials.

“AMOA is pleased to see industry manufacturers and distributors adopting our poster and sticker program for their customers. We also want to especially recognize AMOA member Chip O’Hara for allowing AMOA to use his company’s sticker and poster concept to develop and create an industry program to benefit everyone.”

For more information on the AMOA white paper and the AMOA safety program, visit amoa.com or email info@amoa.com.

More COVID-19 Updates from Our Bowling Family

* What are three things everyone is asking about, and the one thing that might not be top of mind to you but is important information to have during the reopening process? You’ll find the answer by visiting the BPAA’s Reopening Resource Center at http://bowlinguniversity.net/opening or emailing education@bpaa.com.

* Northside Lanes in Winston-Salem, N.C., is marking — rather than celebrating — its 60th anniversary this month. There’s really not much reason to celebrate, since bowling centers were moved out of North Carolina’s second phase of reopening businesses at the last minute by Governor Roy Cooper. The center had a Tournament of Champions, among other activities, planned. Now, it’s fighting for survival with regularly recurring bills to pay but no revenue coming in. Read more, including comments from proprietor Tabitha Golding, here: https://www.journalnow.com/news/local/northside-lanes-has-been-around-60-years-its-owners-fear-they-wont-make-61-if/article_9596fc7b-b9b3-5a16-a9d9-77ea391f406e.html. Northside Lanes is a rare alcohol-free bowling center that includes a full-service restaurant and a jukebox with “over a million clean song choices.”

* “I could not be prouder of Wisconsin’s bowling community,” wrote Bowling Centers Association of Wisconsin Executive Director Yvonne Bennett in a Facebook post on Wednesday. “While the Wisconsin State Supreme Court struck down our Governor’s ‘Safer at Home’ mandate two weeks ago today, our owners have responded responsibly to reopen as they are able to do so in a manner to voluntarily implement best practices, including social distancing, use of PPE and increased disinfecting protocols. Many have also used the time to do preventative maintenance, updates and deep cleaning.” Bennett added that as of Wednesday, the state had only “three communities with onerous local mandates: Dane County/Madison and the cities of Racine and Milwaukee. We hope to see some relaxing as these areas go through a phased-in approach as COVID-related issues improve locally.”

* Dorr Township, a community of 7,500 in southwest Michigan, is keeping its brewing company but losing its bowling center as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. Doug and Cindy Lameyer, along with partners Randy and Lisa Blain, opened Five Lakes Brewing Company in 2016, and later took over the bowling center on the other side of the building. But last week they made the difficult decision to keep the bowling operation closed, noting that it required substantial renovation to remain viable, and there was no revenue available to fund such a project. Nor was reopening with limited occupancy an option. “The community loves it so much,” Doug Lameyer said of the bowling center. “It was a tough decision to shut it down.”

* Texas Bowling Centers Association Executive Director Karen Miller helped craft a three-page set of guidelines to assist Lone Star State proprietors in reopening. Texas centers were allowed to open at 25 percent capacity over the Memorial Day weekend, joining bingo halls and skating rinks. David Kellerman of Mel’s Lone Star Lanes in Georgetown told CBS Austin that “tears of joy came to my eyes” upon hearing of Governor Greg Abbott’s decision. “You get to come out here, take a ball, throw it at some pins and release some stress,” said Kellerman while donning a facemask. Read more here: https://cbsaustin.com/news/local/bowling-alleys-change-operation-to-meet-new-safety-guidlines.

* Centers in Iowa have been given the green light to open on Monday, along with casinos and outdoor venues. Read more here: https://wgem.com/2020/05/26/iowa-governor-says-casinos-bowling-alleys-and-outdoor-venues-can-open-on-june-1/.

* Cliff Castle Casino in Camp Verde, Ariz., will reopen on Monday, but with limited capacity and not all gaming machines in use in order to promote social distancing. Representatives of the Yavapai-Apache Nation’s Tribal Council, which owns the casino, said the on-site nightclub, bowling center and arcade would remain closed for the time being. Cliff Castle’s 20-lane Shake, Rattle & Bowl was featured in the December 2019 issue of BCM. Read more here: https://www.verdenews.com/news/2020/may/20/cliff-castle-casino-hotel-reopen-june-1/.

* Fremont County in Colorado is seeking a variance that would allow its bowling centers, movie theaters, and tasting rooms for wineries, cider-makers and breweries to reopen. If approved, customers would be required to wear face coverings, bowling balls and shoes would be sanitized between each use, and theaters would schedule enough time between show times to allow for proper sanitization of the theaters, restrooms and concession areas. Bars, lounges and arcades within those facilities would remain closed for the time being. Tasting rooms would be allowed to open with 30 percent seating capacity, and tastings would be limited. Report: https://www.canoncitydailyrecord.com/2020/05/26/fremont-county-seeks-variance-to-reopen-bowling-alleys-movie-theaters-tasting-rooms/.

* Centers are reopening in other states across the country, with various restrictions in place. Almost every set of restrictions includes capacity limitations and social distancing mandates. We invite proprietors who have reopened to share their greatest challenges and how they have dealt with them. Just drop a line to bjibob@aol.com, and be sure to include your center’s name/city/state and a contact phone number. Thanks.

* Next up in QubicaAMF’s webinar series is “League Bowling, Part 2: Proprietor’s Perspective.” It’s set for Wednesday, June 3 at 3 p.m. Eastern. In Part 1, Lance Rasmussen, President of CDE Software, discussed how they were helping centers prepare for reopening leagues in accordance with social distancing and USBC changes. In Part 2, the participants will be Pat Ciniello, owner of HeadPinz and Bowland Entertainment Centers in South Florida; John Losito, owner of Sun Valley Lanes in Lincoln, Neb., and Brian Cain, owner of Cain’s Lanes in Manheim, Pa. Representing different business models, they will be able to provide perspective on both large and small league operations, and how to manage a league within an entertainment facility that includes other attractions. To register for this webinar, go to: https://bit.ly/LeagueReopeningPt2. To access past webinar recordings, visit the QubicaAMF Resource Center at: https://www.qubicaamf.com/support/beyond-the-frame.

Business Briefs…

* David Caldwell of GRAN PRIX Bowling Supply has announced that he expects the 2020 GRAN PRIX Bowling Panorama to proceed as scheduled July 23-24. “GRAN PRIX has not been forced to suspend normal operations at any time, and Missouri is well along toward opening up, so we expect to open the Panorama as scheduled,” Caldwell said. “The ball demo, tournament and trade show will be governed by any COVID-19 protocols which exist on July 23. Our plans include boxed lunches and sanitizing stations. It may be necessary to schedule multiple squads or sessions for the Panorama events. The normal showroom schedule may be expanded to include an unattended preview session on Wednesday, a seniors-only session, and/or a Friday afternoon session. To finalize these plans, we are surveying our potential attendee database. Advance registration for all events will be required. We are also asking all exhibitors to provide forms for all specials in advance to reduce the time exhibitors and attendees must spend on paperwork during the trade show and the close contact required.” If all goes as planned, the GRAN PRIX Bowling Panorama will be the first event of bowling’s annual trade show season.

* Sometime between 9:30 p.m. on Sunday and 6 a.m. on Monday, vandals broken into Bowl-O-Drome in Niagara Falls, N.Y. The proprietor of the center told local police that the bar area had been trashed, oil had been poured all over the lanes, glass panels on vending machines had been broken, a lottery machine was badly damaged, nine flat-screen televisions scheduled to be installed this week were stolen, and $1,500 was taken from an ATM that was “left in pieces.” Full story: https://buffalonews.com/2020/05/24/vandals-trash-falls-bowling-alley-closed-for-covid-19-outbreak/.

* There were no reports of damage to bowling centers during the riots that broke out in Minneapolis, Minn., Wednesday night.

Other News You Can Use…

* The May 12 edition of the Osprey Observer included a nice remembrance of Bill Bojé, the BPAA Hall of Fame member who passed away on April 12 at age 91. You can read it here: https://www.ospreyobserver.com/2020/05/mr-b-leaves-lasting-bowling-legacy/.

* The Nebraska School Activities Association has officially recognized bowling as a sanctioned high school sport, joining more than 30 other state high school associations. Read one man’s opinion about that here: https://www.omaha.com/sarpy/bellevue/making-the-grade-hooray-for-bowling-as-a-sanctioned-sport/article_64e80303-caa9-5eca-bd45-918f12eb7fa3.html. Bowling’s status as a varsity sport in Nebraska will begin with the 2020-21 school year, and it will be a winter sport. Details: https://www.1011now.com/content/sports/Excitement-over-bowling-beccoming-varsity-sport-570776621.html.

* Gail Torrens, CEO of the Tenpin Bowling Association of Queensland (Australia), has been appointed to the Board of Queensland’s pre-eminent body for organized, affiliated sport — QSport. Established in 1992, QSport is incorporated as an independent industry-based collective and is akin to the sports federations of other Australian states and territories. National and international highlights of Torrens’s career include roles as manager of the Australian team at the Commonwealth Youth Games in Bendigo in 2004, and manager/consulting coach for the 2008 Men’s World Championships team in Thailand. Torrens traveled to New York in 2004 at the invitation of American coaching icon Dick Ritger to conduct four five-day camps alongside 11 international-level coaches for more than 240 bowlers from all over the world. She maintains links with international branches of the sport as tournament director for bowling at the biennial Pan Pacific Games, and coordinator of TBAQ’s Talent ID international pathway for junior and youth bowlers.

* Jackie LeBlanc was known as the “First Lady of Bowling in Lafayette,” helping grow the sport in that Louisiana city in many ways dating back to the 1950s. LeBanc passed away on Sunday. She was 92. As Lafayette Lanes Manager Randy LeBlanc (no relation) told the Acadiana Advocate, “Jackie was on duty 24 hours a day,” whether it involved helping people bowl better, soliciting people to join leagues while visiting the local mall, or developing innovative programs such as a tournament open only to grandmothers. Read more here: https://www.theadvocate.com/acadiana/sports/article_0b8ab4a4-9fa3-11ea-b3e1-8f524ad12394.html.

* McKendree women’s bowling coach Shannon O’Keefe and her fellow PWBA Tour star, Stefanie Johnson, are two of the most inspiring figures in bowling, and as you listen to their special joint appearance on The Bowlers Journal Podcast, you’ll find out why. Listen to the way they think about and approach adversity. Listen to the candor with which they discuss challenges both personal and professional, and how they overcame them. Learn about their work ethic, and how powerful a role friendship and faith play in their lives. You are in for treat with this episode. Listen here: https://soundcloud.com/user-658733792/stefanie-johnson-and-shannon-okeefe-on-facing-adversity-friendship-and-faith

* Here’s the latest podcast schedule from the International Bowling Campus. All times shown are Eastern, and all shows are available on demand on all listed platforms.

– Inside the OC: Bo Goergen, May 28 at 2 p.m. on BowlTV, USBC Facebook and BowlTV on YouTube.
– Throwback Thursday Match: Stefanie Johnson vs. Kelly Kulick, May 28 at 4 p.m. on BowlTV.
– The Sport of Bowling Show with Brad Miller and Kyle Sherman, May 29 at 1 p.m. on BowlTV, USBC Facebook and BowlTV on YouTube.
– The Gauntlet with Jordan and Haley Richard, May 29 at 4 p.m. on BowlTV,

– The PWBA Podcast: Verity Crawley, June 1 at 2 p.m. on BowlTV, USBC Facebook and BowlTV on YouTube.

– Inside the OC: Jakob Butturff, June 2 at 2 p.m. on BowlTV, PWBA Facebook and BowlTV on YouTube.

– The PWBA Podcast: Daria Pajak, June 3 at 2 p.m. on BowlTV, USBC Facebook and BowlTV on YouTube.

– Inside the OC: Stuart Sheck and Dwayne Brossett, June 4 at 2 p.m. on BowlTV, PWBA Facebook and BowlTV on YouTube.

* The trivia contest continues on Phantom Radio with Rob Allen testing his tenpin knowledge. To listen in, go to: https://kegel.squarespace.com/phantomblog/2020/5/26/rob-allen-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, “Like” Bowling Center Management and Bowlers Journal International on Facebook, and follow BJI on Twitter (Twitter.com/BowlersJournal). 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.