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Author Topic: AMF-Bowlmor merger question  (Read 23090 times)

thedjs

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AMF-Bowlmor merger question
« on: August 08, 2013, 11:05:04 AM »
Now that AMF and Bowlmor have merged, do you think we will see any improvements in their bowling centers? 

 

dR3w

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Re: AMF-Bowlmor merger question
« Reply #1 on: August 08, 2013, 11:25:06 AM »
This is a good question.  We just had our season opening meeting.  We are finally getting a new lane machine.  Something AMF would never do because our center did not have enough bowlers or make enough money.  AMF's philosophy in the past was to ignore the less profitable centers and put all the updates into the more profitable centers.  I think even the average person can find some fault in that strategy.

Anyway, we were told that we "should" get new scoring in the future.  Under AMF management that typically meant "no chance", but who knows, maybe the new management will live up to their promises.

Now the philosophical changes that were told to us:

1. Reduced staff ... less management.
2. Snack bar discounts only viable during league bowling.
3. New hours.   No more mornings, and will open at 4: pm 3 days a week.
4. No more free bowling for league members on weekends.

Our lineage went up again.   There are two centers in town.  The other charges less than $10 for league lineage.  AMF just went up to $11.60 for our league.

So I think BowlMor appears to be putting money into the centers, but are cutting all the small discounts out.

My 2 cents.


bowl400

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Re: AMF-Bowlmor merger question
« Reply #2 on: August 08, 2013, 11:25:52 AM »
So far, only change is a lineage increase  :(

drew999

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Re: AMF-Bowlmor merger question
« Reply #3 on: August 08, 2013, 12:46:35 PM »
I don't bowl leagues at AMFs, but all these changes I'm hearing about all seem negative. I believe the non-AMFs in my area will benefit from Bowlmor's stupidity.

spmcgivern

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Re: AMF-Bowlmor merger question
« Reply #4 on: August 08, 2013, 01:20:42 PM »
My center is a new BowlMor center also.  Open at 4 pm 4 days a week and are open only 56 hours a week now.  Center will close at 10 pm Sunday thru Thursday with last call in the bar and snack bar occuring at 9:30 pm.  This sucks because our league ends around 9:15-9:30 and this means no more hanging out after league.  No more drinks, no more bowling and no more pre/post bowling.  In fact, you can pre/post bowl only on the weekends now and they won't oil. 

As was said before, smaller workforce including no more desk personnel during league.  If your lane breaks down or have a deadwood or ball return, you call the front desk and wait for an employee doing something else to come up to the desk and answer your call.  We were told it could take up to 10-15 minutes until the employees get the hang of it.

However, in defense of BowlMor, they supposedly grossed more in the six centers they owned before the merger than all of AMF centers (200+) combined.  Find it hard to believe, but who knows.

BallReviews-Removed0385

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Re: AMF-Bowlmor merger question
« Reply #5 on: August 08, 2013, 02:36:33 PM »

The (former) AMF center here in Salt Lake City couldn't possibly get any worse.  AMF didn't want to spend any money on the place.  League bowlers have left that place in droves over the past 10 years or so.

There is no possible direction but up, but I don't think anyone around here cares anymore simply because most of us quit bowling there years ago.


Jimmy Fields

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Re: AMF-Bowlmor merger question
« Reply #6 on: August 08, 2013, 03:20:33 PM »
My center is a new BowlMor center also.  Open at 4 pm 4 days a week and are open only 56 hours a week now.  Center will close at 10 pm Sunday thru Thursday with last call in the bar and snack bar occuring at 9:30 pm.  This sucks because our league ends around 9:15-9:30 and this means no more hanging out after league.  No more drinks, no more bowling and no more pre/post bowling.  In fact, you can pre/post bowl only on the weekends now and they won't oil. 

As was said before, smaller workforce including no more desk personnel during league.  If your lane breaks down or have a deadwood or ball return, you call the front desk and wait for an employee doing something else to come up to the desk and answer your call.  We were told it could take up to 10-15 minutes until the employees get the hang of it.

However, in defense of BowlMor, they supposedly grossed more in the six centers they owned before the merger than all of AMF centers (200+) combined.  Find it hard to believe, but who knows.

Sean how can there not be a desk person during league? Is it going to be mandatory for all bowlers to have correct change to pay their league dues? What if you want to buy a candy bar out of the machine and you only have a $5 bill oh well guess you're out of luck? Need a set up for a fallen pin waiting for someone to get there to call the back. Since i work at Armadilla 2 right up the freeway i invite you and all your fellow bowlers to come to Armadilla 2 and will guarantee you won't have to wait!!  Call Randy Ray ASAP
                                                                                                               Jimmy Fields

Zanatos1914

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Re: AMF-Bowlmor merger question
« Reply #7 on: August 08, 2013, 03:32:27 PM »
This is what I noticed....

Hanging out drinking and having a good time is over...
Family atmosphere that we had will be gone soon also...

Had some great times...  O well...

robertbrowder

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Re: AMF-Bowlmor merger question
« Reply #8 on: August 08, 2013, 06:56:16 PM »
My center is a new BowlMor center also.  Open at 4 pm 4 days a week and are open only 56 hours a week now.  Center will close at 10 pm Sunday thru Thursday with last call in the bar and snack bar occuring at 9:30 pm.  This sucks because our league ends around 9:15-9:30 and this means no more hanging out after league.  No more drinks, no more bowling and no more pre/post bowling.  In fact, you can pre/post bowl only on the weekends now and they won't oil. 

As was said before, smaller workforce including no more desk personnel during league.  If your lane breaks down or have a deadwood or ball return, you call the front desk and wait for an employee doing something else to come up to the desk and answer your call.  We were told it could take up to 10-15 minutes until the employees get the hang of it.

However, in defense of BowlMor, they supposedly grossed more in the six centers they owned before the merger than all of AMF centers (200+) combined.  Find it hard to believe, but who knows.
We invite any bowlers looking for a new home center come down to Armadilla 1 in Pasadena, TX. We have openings on most nights, more on some and less on others.
Call Danna @ 713-941-2343 to reserve a spot.
P.S. She'll keep the bar open after league
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Zanatos1914

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Re: AMF-Bowlmor merger question
« Reply #9 on: August 12, 2013, 09:53:32 AM »
Dont think our center is going to make -- We dropping allot of leagues because of the time they are opening and prices are going up... 

spmcgivern

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Re: AMF-Bowlmor merger question
« Reply #10 on: August 12, 2013, 10:34:36 AM »
Jimmy and Robert, trust me, I bowled at both Armadillas and like both centers.  I see the writing on the wall for Alpha as far as competitive bowling.  However, Alpha is still bidding on tournaments.  They are getting a new GM and the hope is they will be able to adjust the hours a little bit.  I bowl there for a different reason than most so I will probably be there till the end of the league. 

But if I had to look into my crystal ball and predict what next year will look like, I don't see Alpha being what it is today.  That is my personal opinion.  I do like the increased competitiveness at the Armadillas so we will see about next year.  Hope to sub some on Monday's at Arm II this year.  Good luck to y'all and we may see you soon.

bowl400

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Re: AMF-Bowlmor merger question
« Reply #11 on: August 12, 2013, 10:54:59 AM »
Starting this Fall, our AMF center will also be cutting hours to go along with the lineage increase.

9orbetter

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Re: AMF-Bowlmor merger question
« Reply #12 on: August 12, 2013, 05:56:50 PM »
Here's whats happening at one of the AMF centers near me:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/144738222369526/

Bowlmor should be renamed as BowLESS. Not a clue, they could have waited a season to make such changes. This will be my last year bowling leagues at AMF/Bowlmor
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Tex

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Re: AMF-Bowlmor merger question
« Reply #13 on: August 12, 2013, 09:04:26 PM »
They are kicking kids out of several of the DFW centers. Told big leagues to go somewhere else and making other kids leagues start after 12, so it makes it tough to do high school bowling programs. In most cases they are dropping those anyway. Not sure what these guys think is going to fill the centers in the future. One of the centers wants corporate parties only and the entertainment junk and it was one of the big league houses. Not anymore. They kicked a scheduled regional out as well.

Armourboy

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Re: AMF-Bowlmor merger question
« Reply #14 on: August 13, 2013, 06:25:52 AM »
How in the hell do they plan on making money with this approach o.O