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Author Topic: The Future of Bowling  (Read 724 times)

Duke of Earl

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The Future of Bowling
« on: October 11, 2006, 05:50:54 AM »
In the event you did not read my post from a few days ago on why bowling is dying, you must go listen to this week's conference call on Phantom Radio between Roger Dalkin and Chuck Pezzano. There is a link from SP on the Youth site. I'm begging all of you, bowlers, pro shop owners, proprietors, ball reps, manufacturers....your livlihood is at stake unless you do something to help with the state of bowling and youth bowling in particular.

Pay particular attention to the leaders last comments....."awards and scholarships have done nothing to increase youth participation in bowling". "It needs to be more of the recreational fabric". As I said in my message under youth bowling, I guess he wants more glow bowling and birthday parties.

For those of you who do not know about the high school bowling they are trying to spread, did you know that in some of those states who have it officially, that kids who participate on high school teams are not allowed to bowl in leagues or tournaments during their season? How ridiculous is that? Is this how Mr. Dalkin intends to increase youth participation?

Time to get someone out of Wisconsin and into the bowling alleys where the kids, families and people like Chuck are every week so they can get a dose of reality.

 

BOWL119

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Re: The Future of Bowling
« Reply #1 on: October 11, 2006, 08:11:58 PM »
quote:
I agree with you all the way!!!!!! Bowling will never grow with that thinking.


Problem is to get them thinking this way. Almost like they sit in offices and have titles and they know everything. I have said this about numerous companies that I have worked for and will say it again on this matter. The powers that be need to talk to the people that are actually out there bowling. And I do nto mean those big centers. They need to go out and talk to the common bowler and ask them how they can make it better for them. On thing I would tell them is the awards are not really worth it. A 600 series gets you a deck of cards and a 700 you get a coaster. How about a little plaque for each. Does not have to be anything spectacular, but something. Or, a KeyChain would be better then a deck of cards. I can buy those for 99cents at the corner store. And after a season, they are thrown away anyway.

Well, this is just my little input on this. Who we we write to with suggestions? Anyone got an idea, maybe that is what we need to do and then see what happens.
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T.J.

BOWLING IS FUN NO MATTER WHAT YOU SCORE. BUT A 300 IS ALWAYS NICE.

STRIKE ZONE & PYRO. STAND 15 AND THROW 10 OUT TO 5 AND SMASH THE POCKET. AT LEAST THAT IS THE PLAN OF THE NIGHT...

Juggernaut

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Re: The Future of Bowling
« Reply #2 on: October 11, 2006, 08:36:16 PM »
As bad as I hate to say it, it is beginning to look like bowling has turned into nothing more than a cottage industry left over from the 1940's and 50's.

 I started bowling in 1981. Since then I have seen bowling do nothing but decline. There are so many other options out there competing for the public time and dollar.

  Think about it.  In 1950, there wasn't all that much to compete with.  You could go to the movies or stay home and watch t.v., but not a lot else was going on.  It became sort of a thing to go bowling with the boys ( or girls) once a week, just to get out of the house.

  Now, it seems like people work longer hours. And, with all the creature comforts available, home has turned into the escape from work.  Home has turned into an entertainment center of it's own.  Families go their seperate ways and come back toether for a few hours at home.

 To make a long story shorter, bowling is dying due to a fundamental change in the American societal way of thinking and living. Unless you can change life on a socio-economic basis for the entire American public, I am afraid bowlings days may be numbered.  It's not a lack of interest, it's the total apathy of consumers to the plight of bowling in general.
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"The difference between stupidity and genius is that genius has its limits."
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