As he referenced during his presentation at International Bowl Expo in Nashville, Professional Bowlers Association CEO Pete Murray has confirmed that changes are afoot for the PBA and its various competition levels. In early August, the PBA informed several bowling proprietors that the late-year PBA Regional tournaments they were scheduled to host had been canceled.
In their place, the PBA this month is rolling out the PBA ELITE Regional Tour, spanning 21 events across seven regions and featuring “the largest regional tournament prize fund in PBA history, creating more opportunities than ever for the nation’s top regional players.” Here is the text of a letter Murray directed to PBA members and partners:
“Today, the Professional Bowlers Association is excited to share the next chapter of the PBA Regional Tour. The PBA has taken a comprehensive look at player development, and the role the PBA Regional Tour plays in shaping the next generation of professional bowlers and growth of the sport. As part of our mission, it is paramount the PBA National Tour remains the number one pro bowling organization in the world with the very best players, unparalleled competition, and expanded opportunities for membership on the largest stage. To achieve this the PBA Regional Tour will be reconfigured to create a more rewarding journey and clearer pathway for top players to make it to the PBA National Tour. “With these goals in mind, we are excited to announce the launch of the PBA ELITE Regional Tour. This new invitational program, starting in September of 2026, will provide regional players: elevated tournaments, increased prize funds, and enhanced experience. The PBA will invest in these premiere events with dedicated marketing campaigns, expanded storytelling and broader media coverage, creating new opportunities for our valued host center proprietors, sponsors, and product registration partners. In tandem with this direction, each region’s remaining 2026 schedule will center on three elevated tournaments this Fall reflecting our new strategy, focusing on bigger events and quality of competition. As a result, all previously scheduled regional tournaments starting September 1st will be canceled. Members currently entered in those tournaments will receive a full refund from the PBA and have the opportunity to participate in the upcoming PBA ELITE events…“In addition, the PBA ELITE Regional Tour will tie into the PBA’s annual Regional Player Invitational (RPI) in December. Alongside the RPI, the PBA will launch the first-ever PBA Combine, designed to measure, identify and recognize top regional players who will be selected for the PBA National Tour.“Finally, as PBA members plan for 2027, please note the PBA Regional Tour will include our new PBA ELITE Regional events plus an expanded tier of exciting new regional tournaments, which will be announced later this year. The PBA Senior Tour as well as PBA Juniors will also return in 2027 with a renewed focus on innovation and creating new opportunities for players.”
Through its history, the PBA has altered its national tour structure several times, ranging from wide-open fields for members with rabbit squads to a limited-player exempt field based on season performance points in tandem with a Tour Trials competition. History has shown that a limited-field structure has helped develop high-profile stars while limiting the opportunities for Cinderella stories to emerge.
As one former PBA executive put it, “There wasn’t any right or wrong — just different ways of doing things.”
Now, things are about to change again.
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