Im not sure if anyone else has seen this but here it goes. I just got this in an email update from bowlersparadise.

A Case For Change.
By Brian Voss

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I recently started a thread in the PBA.com forum about the need for change in the sport of bowling. The topic generated quite a bit of interest from other forum members, so I thought it might be a good idea to write my first column for this series about the topic of changing the sport.

In my PBA.com thread, I focused primarily on changes that I believe could help revitalize the competitive aspect of the sport (versus the recreational side), but for this column I'd like to widen the scope of that a bit. Before going into my argument, I'd like to ask that you consider my perspective as a player who has dedicated 25 years of his life to pursuing excellence on the bowling lanes and trying to help promote the sport not only here in the United States, but throughout the world. I would, of course, love for things to change for the better in the sport because it ultimately benefits me, but more importantly, given where I am in the context of my competitive career, more so for future generations of people interested in pursuing bowling as a competitive outlet or as a business career.

First off, let me start by saying that it is abundantly obvious that nearly every indicator of healthiness in the industry is on a trend of decline in the U.S. League bowling membership is down over 70% from its heyday back in the late 1970's. The number of certified bowling centers has decreased over 25% during the same period. Profit margins for bowling equipment manufacturers are decreasing and the equipment market is stagnant. Tournament participation is down at the local level and PBA prize funds are about the same as they were back in the 1980's, without even adjusting for inflation. But at least the men have a Tour. The ladies' Tour has been defunct for a few years now.

Yet to blame any one group of people or any specific industry organization for all of these problems, which has been the approach I've seen in public and private forums for as long as I can remember, is a really myopic view of how I feel we need to change. We've also heard all of the pleas for the industry to "work together" and become a unified force that can conquer these problems as one. That would be nice, but I don't feel that all of the different groups in the industry with all of their divergent goals and objectives are necessarily the end all be all answer either (besides also being an overly idealistic notion).

Instead, it's really the responsibility of everyone in the industry to redefine what we want to see the industry become and then make those changes a reality. Right now, I'm not sure I've heard any particular individual or group lay out what that vision might be for the future for the rest of us to follow. To me, the most obvious goal for all of us is to stop the declines and get the trends moving in a positive direction. Every person, group and company in the industry needs to look at the particular trends most relevant to themselves and figure out a logical plan for how to turn them around. Once they have success, it will inspire everyone around them, including their competitors and groups in other areas of the sport, to change for the better.

That's really the main reason I'm with Elite Bowling now. I see it is an opportunity for me to help change things for the better in the industry. Everything I have in my life I owe to the sport of bowling, and at this point in my career it is time for me to do everything I can to ensure that the next generation of bowlers has it better than I did. Hopefully, before I'm through, I can be one of those individuals who will help inspire others to make this sport great once again.

Brian Voss

If you would like to keep up with Brian and his quest to make our game great once again log onto www.elitebowling.com for the latest updates.
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Mike Zadler
Using the best brand in the nation, BRUNSWICK!!!
Below, my stats from previous seasons:
http://members.bowl.com/FindAMember/memberView.aspx?ms=12886&mp=552&s=2005-2006
Winter season averages at Sunset Lanes in Waukegan IL.
Wed. Nite Ave: 198
Thur. Nite Ave: 218
http://www.BrunsNick.com

We need to redefine bowling as we know it.  The usbc and the pba have dug a hole they can't get out of.  Everybody needs to work together to dig them out of this rut.  Bowling ball manufacturers keep making better equipment to make bowling easier thinking they will make more money, but in the end the hook in the box bowling balls and the blocked off lane conditions are pushing more bowlers away.

I feel that if the PBA would increase the exposer of there players and up the prize fund big time then it would attract the younger crowd.  At that point the game would see an increase in players across the country.

If there was a prize fund of 200,000 grand per tourney then you would see a lot of young players taking this game very serious!  This would also bring TV ratings up.

One thing the PBA should do is change the day of the TV finals.  Sunday is a horrible day to do this.  Sat would be a lot better.  You wouldn't have to compete with the NFL.
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GO BEARS!  Super Bowl bound!

Why are you people so harsh to Brian? He is speaking the truth about the state of our industry. We don't really know what Elite is up to so how can you comment on that?

I feel Brian is stuck between a rock and a hard place. He wants things to change but in order to be competitive he needs to use the cheater balls to do so.

I say give it some time and lets see what happens. I think Elite is making adjustments just like any other start up company. While I don't agree on their $300 price point they did lower the price of the PBA balls.