BallReviews
General Category => Miscellaneous => Topic started by: qstick777 on November 15, 2012, 11:10:23 AM
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http://newsandinsight.thomsonreuters.com/Bankruptcy/News/2012/11_-_November/AMF_Bowling_files_for_bankruptcy_again/
Nov 13 (Reuters) - AMF Bowling Worldwide Inc, the world's largest bowling alley operator, on Tuesday filed for bankruptcy protection for the second time in 12 years, saying recent economic weakness has cost it business and left it with an unmanageable debt burden.
The Mechanicsville, Virginia-based company said it has agreed on a plan to significantly reduce its debt and turn over control to its lenders, enabling it to emerge from Chapter 11 before the end of April 2013.
AMF and 15 affiliates sought protection from creditors in the U.S. bankruptcy court in Richmond, Virginia. It said it had between $100 million and $500 million of both assets and liabilities.
The company said it operates 270 bowling centers in the United States and Mexico - more than three times as many as its nearest rival. It also said it has more than 20 million customers a year and employs about 7,000 people.
AMF Chief Financial Officer Stephen Satterwhite said in a court filing the company has been unable to sufficiently reduce costs to combat falling revenue, amid a 36 percent decline in large U.S. bowling league memberships since 1998.
"Unfortunately for AMF, the lasting effects of the recession and economic downturn have proven too difficult to overcome," he said.
Satterwhite said AMF had hired Moelis & Co to help sell its assets, but that the efforts proved unsuccessful as purchasers expressed concern about restrictions under lease agreements with iStar Financial Inc, AMF's main landlord.
The restructuring calls for Credit Suisse AG and other first-lien lenders to convert their claims into all the equity in a reorganized company, and for modifications to be made to the iStar leases, court papers show.
Lenders would also provide $150 million of financing to help AMF operate after emerging from Chapter 11.
AMF said it has lined up $50 million of financing to keep operating now, and that customers should see no difference.
The company also said its restructuring is subject to better offers from third parties in a court-supervised sales process.
AMF's roots date to 1900, when it was known as American Machine & Foundry Co and made equipment for the tobacco industry.
The company in 1946 introduced the automated pinspotter, which allowed the bowling pins to be reset automatically rather than by hand. For many years, AMF also sold recreational products such as Ben Hogan golf clubs and Harley-Davidson motorcycles.
AMF had previously filed for protection from creditors in July 2001 and emerged from bankruptcy the following year.
The case is In re: AMF Bowling Worldwide Inc, U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Eastern District of Virginia, No. 12-36495.
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With pricing at $5+ per game, is anybody surprised?
I can take my family to a 3D movie with popcorn and drinks for less than it costs to bowl......and at least the movie will kill 2 hours!
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Their are no AMF houses around me locally but i have heard of the prices and i can say i would never open bowl or bowl league in a AMF center if i could help it.
Maybe they could get someone in the door if they didn't charge outrageous prices per game.
Will this affect their bowling ball production? Or just the portion of the company that runs the centers
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Their are no AMF houses around me locally but i have heard of the prices and i can say i would never open bowl or bowl league in a AMF center if i could help it.
Maybe they could get someone in the door if they didn't charge outrageous prices per game.
Will this affect their bowling ball production? Or just the portion of the company that runs the centers
I bowl in an AMF house. I signed up for their email club. I get 2 free games a week for each league I bowl in. If I use those 4 free games up, I can bowl a practice league session for $8.00. Fri this I get 3 games to bowl and a card for 5 more free games. The continuously have specials like $10.00 for 2 hours of bowling. Plus, if you can get off work during one afternoon a week, then you can bowl for 2 hours for free. If you only bowl open bowling on Sat nite, then you will pay a premium. If you are a serious league bowler, then you get lots of free/reduced price bowling.
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My home house is AMF as well. Many discounts for league bowlers to practice. The decline in league bowling is what hurts our house. 15 years ago there were multiple men's leagues and an early and late shift most nights. Now only 6:00 leagues
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Mainzer,
From what I understand, AMF Bowling and AMF300 and separate entities, with 900 Global having no ties to AMF Bowling.
And yeah, AMF centers aren't exactly the bastion of hospitality.
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Mainzer,
From what I understand, AMF Bowling and AMF300 and separate entities, with 900 Global having no ties to AMF Bowling.
And yeah, AMF centers aren't exactly the bastion of hospitality.
So which AMF corporate entity contracted with 900Global to do the design, marketing and distribution of AMF300 balls??
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Mainzer,
From what I understand, AMF Bowling and AMF300 and separate entities, with 900 Global having no ties to AMF Bowling.
And yeah, AMF centers aren't exactly the bastion of hospitality.
So which AMF corporate entity contracted with 900Global to do the design, marketing and distribution of AMF300 balls??
I read that in 2007 900 Global purchased the rights to sell bowling balls with the AMF logo.
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I am 99% sure that is correct. AMF300 is to Global what Hammer/Columbia/Track is to Ebonite. Same company, same products, different stamp.
3835
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I am 99% sure that is correct. AMF300 is to Global what Hammer/Columbia/Track is to Ebonite. Same company, same products, different stamp.
3835
You would be correct. AMF300 is owned by 900 Global, similar to the EBI brands or Storm, Roto Grip, Azo and Master. AMF Bowling Worldwide is part of QubicaAMF. There had been talks about QubicaAMF merging with Bowltech, but haven't heard much of anything lately on that.
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As DonMonroe states above, AMF centers give lots of great opportunities to their league bowlers and juniors who want to get going in the game.
Frankly I have never had more fun in bowling than this year thanks to their policies and policies for my kids. Also nice bowling conditions though I sometimes find a way to make them look difficult!
I see tons of parties on weekends and even though they cut a little in to my fun, obviously they bring in the cash.
I hope many of their centers make it!
Regards,
Luckylefty
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Maybe they will get a bail out, or maybe they will likely close a lot of centers. If you can't survive, then your no longer needed.
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Here is what I notice in my area. AMF Centers are old and rundown. They really had not bothered to do too much renovating to make it more inviting to people to come bowl. So, since they dont have any money to do that, they are making up for it by losing more revenue by offering free stuff to league bowlers; only league bowlers prefer to go to centers that are more modernized (who doesnt like watching a game on a flat screen while they are bowling). Even Brunswick, who 5 years ago was supposedly going through some financial difficulties themselves, have put money into their centers to get people to want to return there to bowl. They renovated their seating, changed out the carpet, repainted, new signs outside, etc... Add to all that, the independent run centers that are going up that have the ginormous game rooms, lazer tag, and other things that can keep the families as a whole "entertained" while leagues are going on. AMF is going backwards in terms of getting people to want to walk through their doors. I am wondering how much longer they are going to last.
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I am 99% sure that is correct. AMF300 is to Global what Hammer/Columbia/Track is to Ebonite. Same company, same products, different stamp.
3835
You would be correct. AMF300 is owned by 900 Global, similar to the EBI brands or Storm, Roto Grip, Azo and Master. AMF Bowling Worldwide is part of QubicaAMF. There had been talks about QubicaAMF merging with Bowltech, but haven't heard much of anything lately on that.
While "AMF300" may be the trademarked name under which 900Global design, markets and distributes the bowling ball and its supplies, "purchasing the rights" is or says to me that there is an ongoing business contract between AMF and 900Global. I don't know that this contract PERMANENTLY gave the rights to any AMF named bowling ball to 900Global in perpetuity.
Is that what you are saying - the main AMF company (which owns the bowling centers) can no longer, ever again make bowling balls and call them "AMF bowling balls"????
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My understanding of the deal was Global purchased the AMF300 name to make and distribute balls and in theory, could be sold to Ebonite, Brunswick, Storm, etc. Now, is there a deal in the contract stating AMF can no longer make bowling balls under a different name? Don't know, but considering they handed over the right to do everything for bowling balls to Columbia many years ago and sold the right to Global a few years back, I do not see AMF starting a new bowling ball brand for the sake of making bowling balls again.
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My understanding of the deal was Global purchased the AMF300 name to make and distribute balls and in theory, could be sold to Ebonite, Brunswick, Storm, etc. Now, is there a deal in the contract stating AMF can no longer make bowling balls under a different name? Don't know, but considering they handed over the right to do everything for bowling balls to Columbia many years ago and sold the right to Global a few years back, I do not see AMF starting a new bowling ball brand for the sake of making bowling balls again.
I wasn't so much interested in that, but in the fact, that once a company goes bankrupt, all its contracts are null and void (as far as I know). If people on the other side of the contract are owed money, they become creditors on the bankruptcy and get in line with the others. At the point of bankruptcy, 900G's contract to make (design & distribute) balls for AMF in no longer in effect. I assume 900G can use another name, but whoever buys the corporate AMF name, then owns that name. I believe the fact that there's a "300" at the end of 900G's name for their ball brand does not mean a lot. I could be wrong. Corporations do tend to hide a lot of information about themselves.
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This also makes me wonder about leagues, like one of mine in an AMF center, that uses the house as the league's bank. That is, all the money for each night is turned over to the house and they put it into their account. At the end of the season, they give the league president and treasurer the money.
What happens to that money, if AMF goes bankrupt before the end of the season. I'm inclined to believe it becomes part of their assets and our league becomes just another creditor.
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I would think that would be a case for USBC to step in and resolve the situation. Security of the league money is the main selling point of a sectioned league, right?
This also makes me wonder about leagues, like one of mine in an AMF center, that uses the house as the league's bank. That is, all the money for each night is turned over to the house and they put it into their account. At the end of the season, they give the league president and treasurer the money.
What happens to that money, if AMF goes bankrupt before the end of the season. I'm inclined to believe it becomes part of their assets and our league becomes just another creditor.
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Charlest
I Think you are missing one point we tried to make. A few years back, from what I was told, Global bought the AMF300 name from AMF from my understanding. No more deals, the name is Global's to make balls under for however long and Global in theory could sell the name to another company to make balls under...so in that sense, Global would be free and clear because they already own the AMF300 name..
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Charlest
I Think you are missing one point we tried to make. A few years back, from what I was told, Global bought the AMF300 name from AMF from my understanding. No more deals, the name is Global's to make balls under for however long and Global in theory could sell the name to another company to make balls under...so in that sense, Global would be free and clear because they already own the AMF300 name..
Yep, I missed that. Was sure there was a contract involved. Guess not. Thanks for your patience!!
Edited (11/20/12):
Not that it makes much difference, but I was right. Just got it from the "horse's mouth". 900G has a contract with AMF to design, market and distribute AMF bowling balls.
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I would think that would be a case for USBC to step in and resolve the situation. Security of the league money is the main selling point of a sectioned league, right?
For me, it (bonding the money or the people) and the writing of the rules are the only reasons to sanction a league, these days.
So you think the USBC would then reimburse the league?
(As if the treasurer or president had stolen the money?)
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For me, it (bonding the money or the people) and the writing of the rules are the only reasons to sanction a league, these days.
So you think the USBC would then reimburse the league?
(As if the treasurer or president had stolen the money?)
I agree that's probably the ONLY reason BUT truth be known if the league officers do NOT follow exact officer responsibilities bonding is ONLY paid back per league following USBC rules. If they do NOT follow the USBC rules 100% then everything is pro rationed.
ie. If the league president does NOT check bank statement on a monthly basis then the league has NOT followed USBC rules and it's ALL pro rated.
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For me, it (bonding the money or the people) and the writing of the rules are the only reasons to sanction a league, these days.
So you think the USBC would then reimburse the league?
(As if the treasurer or president had stolen the money?)
I agree that's probably the ONLY reason BUT truth be known if the league officers do NOT follow exact officer responsibilities bonding is ONLY paid back per league following USBC rules. If they do NOT follow the USBC rules 100% then everything is pro rationed.
ie. If the league president does NOT check bank statement on a monthly basis then the league has NOT followed USBC rules and it's ALL pro rated.
I was aware of that and considered stating it originally.
It's good that you put that out there for everyone to be reminded. The USBC bonds the money but only when the officers follow the rules.
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CharlesT you bring up a great point that I would really love to know the answer to. Since so many leagues seem to take advantage of in-house banking systems that most centers provide, is it really "bankruptcy' proof?
Most people are honest, but some bankruptcies can get ugly. If you got someone who thought the "system screwed them", who is to say they wouldn't list league banking as a creditor?
This also makes me wonder about leagues, like one of mine in an AMF center, that uses the house as the league's bank. That is, all the money for each night is turned over to the house and they put it into their account. At the end of the season, they give the league president and treasurer the money.
What happens to that money, if AMF goes bankrupt before the end of the season. I'm inclined to believe it becomes part of their assets and our league becomes just another creditor.
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Mike,
This is a potentially very serious concern. As far as I know, no leagues have lawyers which can determine what may happen in this bad scenario. I intend to bring this situation to the attention of the league when I get back in a few weeks (out right now, injured).
I think you and anyone in a league, that uses an AMF house for its league banker, should do the same.
Larger 5 person leagues can have anywhere from $25k to $75 or more in that account by the end of the year. If several leagues bank with the house, that's a lot of money with which they can payoff creditors.
CharlesT you bring up a great point that I would really love to know the answer to. Since so many leagues seem to take advantage of in-house banking systems that most centers provide, is it really "bankruptcy' proof?
Most people are honest, but some bankruptcies can get ugly. If you got someone who thought the "system screwed them", who is to say they wouldn't list league banking as a creditor?
This also makes me wonder about leagues, like one of mine in an AMF center, that uses the house as the league's bank. That is, all the money for each night is turned over to the house and they put it into their account. At the end of the season, they give the league president and treasurer the money.
What happens to that money, if AMF goes bankrupt before the end of the season. I'm inclined to believe it becomes part of their assets and our league becomes just another creditor.
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I would think that would be a case for USBC to step in and resolve the situation. Security of the league money is the main selling point of a sectioned league, right?
For me, it (bonding the money or the people) and the writing of the rules are the only reasons to sanction a league, these days.
So you think the USBC would then reimburse the league?
(As if the treasurer or president had stolen the money?)
I have always thought that was one of their main selling points. In this case, I really don't know what would happen. If all the AMF centers went down, does USBC even have the resources to replace those funds??
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That money, if held in an AMF bank account, would be considered assets in theory. Interesting to see what happens.
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I think in the AMF case, they filed for Chapter 11. If I recall this is a restructuring of their debts. I would think that any funds for league banking would be safe, but who knows these days.
I was thinking more of the Mom and Pop type center. We had one go out of business right at the end of the season last year here locally. The family that was trying to make a go of it have always been bowlers so they waited until the season ended to shut the doors.
What is to stop someone who could care less about the people in there center from listing the league banking account as a creditor. If I recall in that case, the secured creditors get there claims met first as they usually have UCC filing or lein on financed equipment. The unsecured creditors then get the crumbs left over if there are any.
Interesting times these days
Mike,
This is a potentially very serious concern. As far as I know, no leagues have lawyers which can determine what may happen in this bad scenario. I intend to bring this situation to the attention of the league when I get back in a few weeks (out right now, injured).
I think you and anyone in a league, that uses an AMF house for its league banker, should do the same.
Larger 5 person leagues can have anywhere from $25k to $75 or more in that account by the end of the year. If several leagues bank with the house, that's a lot of money with which they can payoff creditors.
CharlesT you bring up a great point that I would really love to know the answer to. Since so many leagues seem to take advantage of in-house banking systems that most centers provide, is it really "bankruptcy' proof?
Most people are honest, but some bankruptcies can get ugly. If you got someone who thought the "system screwed them", who is to say they wouldn't list league banking as a creditor?
This also makes me wonder about leagues, like one of mine in an AMF center, that uses the house as the league's bank. That is, all the money for each night is turned over to the house and they put it into their account. At the end of the season, they give the league president and treasurer the money.
What happens to that money, if AMF goes bankrupt before the end of the season. I'm inclined to believe it becomes part of their assets and our league becomes just another creditor.
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Seriously use a real bank over the centers, in situations like this why would you want to depend on the USBC to step in when all else fails and a center goes under when you can prevent it.
At this point I'm more concerned that Hostess gets their situation fixed over AMF. Those chocolate cupcakes are worth saving.
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Seriously use a real bank over the centers, in situations like this why would you want to depend on the USBC to step in when all else fails and a center goes under when you can prevent it.
At this point I'm more concerned that Hostess gets their situation fixed over AMF. Those chocolate cupcakes are worth saving.
+1 Yes the tradition of great baked good must survive! Namely the Twinkie, Wonder Bread, Drake's apple fruit pies, Yodels...the list goes on. The Hostess company is as American as apple pie! pun intended.
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Whether AMF does or not go bankrupt and in-house banking is used IF the league does NOT follow all rules pertaining to league funds ie. league president checking on funds per USBC rules the league is ONLY bonded for the portion of league rules that are followed. It's all pro-rated.
This is why league officers need to follow USBC rules as far as bonding is concerned.
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The prices are honestly not way outrageous if you're just an open play bowler. They're a little expensive, but Nike shoes are a little pricey and people continue to buy them.
My point is - the brand has an issue, not the product. They don't do what's best for the bowlers to get people in the door like they used to, especially not in these economic conditions. If they can't lower their prices, they need to up their product. For example: better staff, more well maintained centers and lanes, and more bowlers on the staff who know what their customer needs/wants.
For those who don't know, AMF has a policy that their centers cannot oil the first 18-24" of the lane because open bowlers go past the foul line and slip. This is a stupid policy, has drastically dropped scores in my house (and I'm sure others) and made a lot of people mad.
If a giant, thick black line wasn't enough to stop the average moron, then what good is an invisible line that most people can't see going to do? Magically stop them? No. They're going to continue to slip. This is just one example. AMF needs to cater to bowlers and stop catering to people who only bowl occasionally - especially in states where the "casual" bowler has options outdoors such as baseball/frisbee/golf year round in Florida, California, Texas, and similar states.
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Seriously use a real bank over the centers, in situations like this why would you want to depend on the USBC to step in when all else fails and a center goes under when you can prevent it.
That's exactly what I intend to propose to my league's officers.
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"For those who don't know, AMF has a policy that their centers cannot oil the first 18-24" of the lane because open bowlers go past the foul line and slip. This is a stupid policy, has drastically dropped scores in my house (and I'm sure others) and made a lot of people mad."
How long has this been in place because I've never experienced this in any AMF centers I've bowled in. I'd imagine you'd want to throw the ball straight or loft it in order to play that kind of condition.
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I've never seen anyone slip or fall in an AMF house. And my driller is based at an AMF house, so I'm in there quite a bit. Don't forget they have the warnings stuck on the lane at the foul line too.
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The problem with bowling is automatic scoring. To replace old automatic scoring with new is $135,000 for 24 lanes. In the days of CRT monitors they never shut off even when not in use. Electric bills for a 48 lane center can range from $10,000 to $12,000 a month. Most of the energy is going toward scoring. How many lines of bowling have to be played to cover the electric bill alone? Thus we have the high priced games. Cases of pins are around $120. It takes at least 2 cases per setter to run correctly. Multiply that by however many lanes and figure replacing at least once a year. Resurfacing 24 lanes and approaches for wood is around $15,000 to $20,000 replacing with synthetics $135,000. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out it is expensive to own a bowling center. If you could get rid of automatic scoring you wouldn't need 48 computers at 350 watts and 48 monitors at 100 watts usage. You might actually be able to put money into air conditioning and fixing a roof.
Smash49
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There is a lot of ways to save money, power consumption on CRTs isn't as much an issue for most centers these days using LCD panels with half or less the power draw. Typically I don't hear the manager of the local center complaining about the electric bill. Lane maintenance, yes.
You want to change automatic scoring not replace it. It would be easy for every center to have the large scoring system similar to nationals at the cost of one projector per two lanes. You only need the software that sends the scoring signal to the projector in split screen mode like when playing video games on your home systems and it divides the screen for two player mode.
That simple little change in software would allow you to get rid of all your monitors and have just the projector hitting the wall/backdrop down lane. It would have a very new and cool look that league and open bowlers would like. Automatic scoring is what your open bowlers these days want/need.
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With a Virtual Machine set up, there would be no need for the 48 computers either. One would do the job, maybe have a second on standby just in case but that would be all.
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"For those who don't know, AMF has a policy that their centers cannot oil the first 18-24" of the lane because open bowlers go past the foul line and slip. This is a stupid policy, has drastically dropped scores in my house (and I'm sure others) and made a lot of people mad."
How long has this been in place because I've never experienced this in any AMF centers I've bowled in. I'd imagine you'd want to throw the ball straight or loft it in order to play that kind of condition.
I didn't bowl for almost 2 years beginning in October 2010, and when I came back the rule was already in effect.
I noticed there was never any oil in the heads, and when I went to tell them something was wrong with the machine, the manager told me that was intentional and it was AMF policy. I really wish they had just gone with the stickers like it sounds some houses back east have done, but out here in California, I was told the first 18-24 inches couldn't be oiled for safety reasons.
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"18-24 inches couldn't be oiled for safety reasons."
The country is always trying to protect stupid instead of letting them die or seriously be injured as intended by nature.
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Even though the AMF houses where I live have the warning stickers on the actual lane saying "do not cross foul line", they still have the stupid dry spot for the first 24 inches from the lane.
At least that house I bowl at (not an AMF house), you will slip if you go past the foul line. Just as nature intended it.
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There is a lot of ways to save money, power consumption on CRTs isn't as much an issue for most centers these days using LCD panels with half or less the power draw. Typically I don't hear the manager of the local center complaining about the electric bill. Lane maintenance, yes.
You want to change automatic scoring not replace it. It would be easy for every center to have the large scoring system similar to nationals at the cost of one projector per two lanes. You only need the software that sends the scoring signal to the projector in split screen mode like when playing video games on your home systems and it divides the screen for two player mode.
That simple little change in software would allow you to get rid of all your monitors and have just the projector hitting the wall/backdrop down lane. It would have a very new and cool look that league and open bowlers would like. Automatic scoring is what your open bowlers these days want/need.
actually the cost of a projector and screen is way more expensive in the short and long term. Center do have an option to upgrade older scoring with completely replacing it but the old scoring systems don't' have the functions that center need today. Also it's not a good idea just to have one slave cpu running a center bad things can and will happen when that is the case and it's not a simple little change. Good thoughts though....
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The problem with bowling is automatic scoring. To replace old automatic scoring with new is $135,000 for 24 lanes. In the days of CRT monitors they never shut off even when not in use. Electric bills for a 48 lane center can range from $10,000 to $12,000 a month. Most of the energy is going toward scoring. How many lines of bowling have to be played to cover the electric bill alone? Thus we have the high priced games. Cases of pins are around $120. It takes at least 2 cases per setter to run correctly. Multiply that by however many lanes and figure replacing at least once a year. Resurfacing 24 lanes and approaches for wood is around $15,000 to $20,000 replacing with synthetics $135,000. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out it is expensive to own a bowling center. If you could get rid of automatic scoring you wouldn't need 48 computers at 350 watts and 48 monitors at 100 watts usage. You might actually be able to put money into air conditioning and fixing a roof.
Smash49
You can't run today's business with yesterday's technology...so YES centers need to update their scoring systems first. Pins are the a cost of doing business.
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That's the problem. The cost are way to high to maintain a center to make a profit. I shut off my upper monitors and my electric bill went from $4800 a month to $2400. How many games have to be played to support a $4800 electric bill at $4 a game. 1200 games. For a 24 lane center with a full league of 4 members times $9 league rate you get $864 a league. If you are lucky to make that 3 nights a week better hope you sell a lot of beer. AMF's problem is open bowling doesn't work and is not something they can depend on. It's hard to fill a center every night without a great league base and they killed that. The cost of owning a bowling center is truly amazing. Until you have done it you can't even imagine.
Smash49
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I know that this is a unique situation, but I live in Las Vegas. I believe that bowling
situations are almost ideal here and bowling is still struggling to get new league bowlers. All bowling centers here are in casinos and the philosophy has always been
get people in the front door and we will get their money. Prices are relatively low==
probably averaging about $1.50 per game. All centers are well maintained and run
specials and tournaments for locals and it still difficult to turn a profit--and don't forget the great equalizers--slot machines. The oil always begins about four inches from the foul line.
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For those who don't know, AMF has a policy that their centers cannot oil the first 18-24" of the lane because open bowlers go past the foul line and slip. This is a stupid policy, has drastically dropped scores in my house (and I'm sure others) and made a lot of people mad.
Are you sure that's a corporate policy, or just one that is used in the center you bowl in (or possibly in your city)? I don't currently bowl in an AMF house, but that certainly didn't used to be a rule where I bowled. I read about horror stories about bad AMF houses in the past and may people blamed AMF corporate when it was the individual manager(s) who were to blame. I bowled in two of them. One by a bean counter who cut tons of corners and let things go because he didn't want to spend money and the other by a true bowler who asked for (and received) money for improvements. If you only bowled in the first house you might assume that AMF sucked. AMF hasn't been overly supportive or willing to (easily) provide money for improvements in quite a few years, but your story sounds hard to believe. Even though we all like a certain amount of oil to help our scores, the main reason for oiling is to protect the lane surface.
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My wife bowls in one here. It's about 1 - 2 feet, and they claim it's corporate policy.
Having said that, the first foot or so really shouldn't affect scoring conditions as much as the ANCIENT WICK MACHINE they are still using to lay down their "pattern", or their mechanics, who are "put out" if/when a pinsetter stops. I'm beginning to wonder just how long this one can stay afloat.
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Is this 18-24" rule something new? I mean the last 2 - 3 weeks.
I last bowled Oct. 21st or so in a big East coast AMF house here in NJ, and the oil started just over the foul line, as it always has been. Our manager (a non-bowler) is VERY cheap. He won't even oil empty lanes between 2 leagues. So if this rule is in effect for all AMF US houses, he'd jump on it with both feet.
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The no oil deal sounds right. At least around here they added a sticker at the foul line warning bowlers not to cross the foul line. USBC told them to stop putting these on, since it was a violation of rules. AMF appealed the ruling and won. USBC gave into their demands. It was my understanding at that time that this was a direct response to a large lawsuit where a bowler fell and was injured. Stupidity was rewarded by the courts, even though messages and signs were present in the center and they came up with the sticker so you could not say you did not know.
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This is not the most critical aspect as far as their bottom line but every bowling center in my area does this unless it's run a really old out of the mainstream bowling alley that should be shut down but a rich guy likes to keep losing money. AMF executives do not care whether you have a score board or a monitor to show the highest scores in the bowling center for the season. AMF also doesn't care if you shoot a 700 series or higher, or a 298 game or higher that the score gets into the local bowling newspaper or even the local general news paper if they still do that. This isn't the most critical aspect, but it's a very simple fundamental part of running a bowling center. Even a new bowling center opened in 2009 which is way more geared toward entertainment than AMF is understands this. I just shot 300 and my name is up on the monitors that sits right above the front desk. Last month I had a 758 and my name got into the local bowling news paper.
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That's the problem. The cost are way to high to maintain a center to make a profit. I shut off my upper monitors and my electric bill went from $4800 a month to $2400. How many games have to be played to support a $4800 electric bill at $4 a game. 1200 games. For a 24 lane center with a full league of 4 members times $9 league rate you get $864 a league. If you are lucky to make that 3 nights a week better hope you sell a lot of beer. AMF's problem is open bowling doesn't work and is not something they can depend on. It's hard to fill a center every night without a great league base and they killed that. The cost of owning a bowling center is truly amazing. Until you have done it you can't even imagine.
Smash49
the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again expecting a different result.
The business has changed and so has the customer. If owners don't step up and make change the business will die a slow death. That is why we see new people coming into our industry and building all these new FEC type places and spending millions to do so. Why would they do that when bowling is dying? I will tell you why...it's because the old school owner doesn't adapt to change and there fore there is a business opportunity to be had. It's happening all over the place east to west coast and everywhere in between.
Old equipment only allows you to charge 1990 prices. With 1990 prices we can afford to stay open and make a profit. Open bowling is the key today with the decline in league play. League play has been on a downward fall for the last 12 plus years. Open bowlers want a "lucky strike" type place to have a good time they certainly don't want to pay a premium for a place that looks like it hasn't been updated in 20 plus years.
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The other thing you have to consider is AMF's synthetic lanes vs Brunswick synthetic lanes. The current Brunswick lanes are much harder. The harder lanes allows the bowling centers to put down less oil which leads to less machines problems in the back. The lanes break down much slower than do AMF lanes. I bowl at a 3 year old bowling center that put in Brunswick. The older AMF center I bowled at for a decade and a half has the same exact oiling machine as the brand new center with Brunswick. Both centers have a very good shot. However the AMF lanes break down about 6-8 boards where the Brunswick change about 3 boards.
That also makes a huge difference on your operating cost.
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I do think we should all just blame former president, George W. Bush.
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The other thing you have to consider is AMF's synthetic lanes vs Brunswick synthetic lanes. The current Brunswick lanes are much harder. The harder lanes allows the bowling centers to put down less oil which leads to less machines problems in the back. The lanes break down much slower than do AMF lanes. I bowl at a 3 year old bowling center that put in Brunswick. The older AMF center I bowled at for a decade and a half has the same exact oiling machine as the brand new center with Brunswick. Both centers have a very good shot. However the AMF lanes break down about 6-8 boards where the Brunswick change about 3 boards.
That also makes a huge difference on your operating cost.
Depending on what lane..but yes the older HPL lanes are much softer and the two lanes play much different. When you look at the cost it's not that much more...good point but not enough to make a difference.
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For those who don't know, AMF has a policy that their centers cannot oil the first 18-24" of the lane because open bowlers go past the foul line and slip. This is a stupid policy, has drastically dropped scores in my house (and I'm sure others) and made a lot of people mad.
Are you sure that's a corporate policy, or just one that is used in the center you bowl in (or possibly in your city)? I don't currently bowl in an AMF house, but that certainly didn't used to be a rule where I bowled. I read about horror stories about bad AMF houses in the past and may people blamed AMF corporate when it was the individual manager(s) who were to blame. I bowled in two of them. One by a bean counter who cut tons of corners and let things go because he didn't want to spend money and the other by a true bowler who asked for (and received) money for improvements. If you only bowled in the first house you might assume that AMF sucked. AMF hasn't been overly supportive or willing to (easily) provide money for improvements in quite a few years, but your story sounds hard to believe. Even though we all like a certain amount of oil to help our scores, the main reason for oiling is to protect the lane surface.
I can vouch for this policy being adhered to in the Chicagoland area.