PREVIEW: BOWL EXPO, A-TO-Z

BY BOB JOHNSON

Networking? Check. Education? Check. Entertainment? Check. The 2025 edition of BPAA’s International Bowl Expo, to be held a stone’s throw from our nation’s capital, has it all.

To help attendees prepare, here is BCM’s annual Expo preview, presented in alphabetical order…

Arcade Optimization. That’s the topic of Pinnacle Entertainment Group’s Howard McAuliffe for a seminar that will offer tips and tricks for maximizing a bowling center arcade’s profits.

Breakfast and Networking. The first big social event of Expo Week will take place on Monday morning when attendees gather for breakfast, immediately followed by the BPAA Annual Membership Meeting. That evening, from 7 to 9, the annual Welcome Reception will take place, offering another chance to mingle with friends, renew acquaintances and make new contacts.

Chicken Breast. One of the entrees available at the Old Hickory restaurant (see: O) at the host Gaylord National Resort. But this isn’t just any chicken breast. The chefs serve it with whole grain farro, rainbow carrots and pan jus. The chicken comes from Freebird Farms, which is not owned by a member of Lynyrd Skynyrd. Note: “Freebird” also is not likely to be on the set list of the Club Xpo band, Yacht Rock Revue (see: Y). 

Downtime. We’ve all heard the old saying that dark lanes don’t make money. Sheryl Bindelglass of Sheryl Golf will present a seminar on 10 ways to fill a center by utilizing special events, community partnerships and more.

Exhibitors. Companies that serve bowling center owners make the Bowl Expo Trade Show the largest annual gathering in our industry. This year, they’ll be showing their wares for a total of 10 hours — five on Tuesday and five on Wednesday. The trade show will take place at the Gaylord National Resort’s Convention Center — no buses required.

Fireworks. Wednesday of Bowl Expo Week will conclude with a 2nd of July Fireworks Spectacular. Attendees will gather on the resort’s Orchard Terrace at 8 p.m. for drinks, games and fun, culminating in a pyrotechnics program worthy of the nation’s capital.

Google Ads. Many centers are using them, but are the centers maximizing their effectiveness? Story Arc Consulting’s Steve Lerch will present a “Google Ads Amplifier” seminar focused on advanced strategies and custom reports.

Harbor Social. Any proprietor who comes down with a case of home sickness during Bowl Expo can head over to this interactive sports bar at the Gaylord for a game of duckpin bowling or bocce.

Industry Awards Brunch. Kicking off the day on Wednesday and leading into day two of the trade show (see: E), attendees can carb up while they honor this year’s BPAA Industry Service Award recipients, including Proprietor of the Year Larry Nowak (see: page 87).

Jon Lakefish. Artificial intelligence continues to be a hot topic, and Lakefish will present a pair of bowling center-focused AI seminars, one on improving marketing and the other on decreasing costs.

Keynote Speakers. That’s right, “speakers” with an “S.” The first will be Navy Admiral William McRaven (retired), who was deeply involved with missions focused on Saddam Hussein and Osama bin Laden. He’ll be appearing on Tuesday morning. The second will be former White House Chief of Staff Reince Priebus, scheduled to appear at the lunch gathering on Thursday. (See: page 113.)

Leagues. A full-day Boot Camp, led by BPAA’s Robin Marshall, will take a deep dive into the tools and techniques that can help a bowling center — with any business model — grow its league programming.

Megan Burtch. This representative of Redemption Plus will lead a Boot Camp on redemption merchandising. She promises a hand-on workshop focused on building merchandise and crane displays for maximum effectiveness and profitability.

Non-alcoholic Beverages. The fastest-growing segment in adult drinks — a segment that has skyrocketed by 300% since 2019 and now tops half-a-billion dollars annually — will be explored by Kurt Moody of Patrick Henry Creative Promotions.

Old Hickory. The Gaylord National’s signature restaurant serves breakfast, lunch and dinner with a focus on quality beef (Wagyu steak and eggs) and fresh Maryland seafood (crab chowder, crab claws, jumbo lump crab salad).

Potomac River. Provides a stunning backdrop for Flight Deck, a covered, open-air lounge and bar that’s nestled next to the Capital Wheel (see: V). While sipping a cocktail on Flight Deck, amaze your friends by sharing this information: The Potomac is known as the “Nation’s River” and is 405 miles long. 

Quick Hit. Before the term was appropriated for an online slots game, it simply referred to someone or something that does things with great speed. That’s the inspiration for Bowl Expo’s “Edu-Talks,” which will wrap up this year’s education program with eight fast-paced, 25-minute sessions on Thursday before Club Xpo (see: Y).

Rangpur Summer. One of the featured drinks at the Gaylord National’s Belvedere Lobby Bar, which figures to be a popular gathering place for Expo attendees once each day’s official schedule is completed. This drink is made with Triple Sec and lemonade.

Sponsor Pavilion. Attendees can learn about the latest products and services from QubicaAMF and Brunswick Bowling in back-to-back 90-minute sessions.

Tournament Oil Patterns. Nicholas Hoagland of H2M Management, one of today’s lane conditioning gurus, will present a seminar on matching oil patterns to specific types of tournaments, and share why utilizing a “modified house pattern” may be the worst idea.

United States Capitol. Tours are available daily except Sunday and are free of charge. Reservations are not required but are recommended. The tour does not include the Senate and House Galleries but does include the Crypt, Rotunda and National Statuary Hall. Allow some time at the Capitol Visitor Center, which features its own Exhibition Hall.

VIP Gondola. The Capital Wheel, a short walk from the Gaylord National, provides a 12- to 15-minute viewing experience of the National Harbor area. Regular gondolas seat between four and six people and cost $18 to ride. The National Harbor One gondola, known at the VIP gondola, seats four in leather bucket seats, has a glass floor and includes a photo package. Tickets for that experience are $50 per person.

William Pike. Presenter of a full-day Boot Camp called, “Enhancing Your Brunswick A2 Pinsetter Operations.” Pike, of Pinsetter Performance Plus, will touch on a range of topics, from preventative maintenance to troubleshooting, and from best practices to safety. 

Xiquet. Chef Danny Lledo shares his take on modern Spanish cuisine at this multi-year Michelin-star restaurant. A 40-minute drive from the Gaylord National, Xiquet offers a multi-course dining experience and has earned a Sommelier of the Year award, so bring your Platinum Card. (For more, less-pricey, closer-in dining options, see “Dishing on D.C.” in the April issue of BCM.)

Yacht Rock Revue. The band that will provide the entertainment at the Expo-ending Club Xpo. The group is named after the genre of music it plays. Think: soft rock of the 1970s with jazz and R&B influences. A typical Yacht Rock Revue set includes tunes made famous by Steely Dan, Kenny Loggins, Boz Scaggs, America, Commodores and the inevitable Christopher Cross (he of “Sailing” fame). One recent concert included a two-song encore of Phil Collins’ “Take Me Home” and Gerry Rafferty’s sax-heavy “Baker Street.”

Z-Burger. Many regions of the country have their go-to burger joints — In-N-Out Burger in the West, Burgerville in the Northwest, Whataburger in Texas and the southern tier, and so on. In and around our nation’s capital, Z-Burger is where locals go for burgers, chicken sandwiches, hot dogs and cheesesteaks. And let’s not forget the shakes, made with Wisconsin frozen custard and available in 75 flavors — from amaretto to watermelon.