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Author Topic: Bowling Centre Suggestions  (Read 2544 times)

Reality Check

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Bowling Centre Suggestions
« on: July 29, 2003, 04:28:59 PM »
As I am sat here on my day off, and looking for a little inspiration. . . . Having just returned to my local centre as assistant general manager, I want to try bring in some new ideas, tournaments and offers. This is an open call out to all bowlers, what would make your centre better? As a league bowler, what could a centre do for you to encourage and help you? What offers and incentives have you seen that have made you want to bowl somewhere? Any opinions are welcome and encouraged!
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Reality Is.......Working out how to carry the 10, only to start leaving the 7.
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Rock77

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Re: Bowling Centre Suggestions
« Reply #1 on: July 30, 2003, 09:54:20 AM »
Well, as a bowler, I would like to see a bar in my center. But to make matters even worse, my center doenst even allow us to bring drinks in with us!! Every other house I have been to has a bar. Although, my bowling suffers when I drink, its still a nice comodity to have!!
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MichiganBowling

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Re: Bowling Centre Suggestions
« Reply #2 on: July 30, 2003, 10:02:23 AM »
That's an easier answer than you think it is.  Simply maintain a very clean bowling center (mainly the bowler's area and approaches), treat the customers with respect, and update your bowling center to keep up with the Jones's.

That's all!

Keep your bowlers happy, but don't give the place away.
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Debina

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Re: Bowling Centre Suggestions
« Reply #3 on: July 30, 2003, 10:22:12 AM »
Ah, if there was time to write a book ... Since there isn't, here are my top three ...

1. If for economic reasons the lanes are only dressed once a day, please dress them just prior to league instead of first thing in the morning. The daytime Cosmic kids don't care about the pattern, but the 6:30 p.m. league does.

2. Please check the approaches and settee areas after those daytime Cosmic bowlers. You might accept that your rental shoes are going to be sticky, but I paid a lot for my SSTs and would like to use them for at least a year.

3. Your league bowlers commit to bowling in your center every week for a given period of time. It's guaranteed income. Please consider giving them a break on lineage rather than charging them the top open-play rate. Even a quarter less per game would be appreciated.

Yep, those would be my three. Of course, equipment maintenance isn't an issue yet, since the center where I bowl is only 18 months old. Down the road, I may have to add a fourth to my list.

Deb
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Magic Carpet

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Re: Bowling Centre Suggestions
« Reply #4 on: July 30, 2003, 11:35:47 AM »
Debina,
Are you telling me there are centers that charge their league bowlers full price for open bowling? I honestly did not know that any did that.
Ron Clifton
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brimar

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Re: Bowling Centre Suggestions
« Reply #5 on: July 30, 2003, 11:42:17 AM »
no bar? wow ive never seen that. most centers in WNY are older and all have bars  and most have decent restaurants too.
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Ishmael

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Re: Bowling Centre Suggestions
« Reply #6 on: July 30, 2003, 11:56:53 AM »
quote:
Are you telling me there are centers that charge their league bowlers full price for open bowling? I honestly did not know that any did that.
 


There sure are.  Mine is one.  They are much more interested in birthday parties and cosmic bowling than taking care of the league bowlers.

Here are few ideas:

1.  Keep the place clean, especially the approaches and settee area.
2.  Condition the lanes on a regular schedule.
3.  Do the routine maintenance on the ball returns, pin setters, lanes, and oil
machine.  Do not put it off.

Sounds simple, but none of this gets done at my local house like it should.
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Debina

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Re: Bowling Centre Suggestions
« Reply #7 on: July 30, 2003, 12:14:24 PM »
Ron --

Yep, our center charges the max open play rate for evening leagues. For a daytime league, they charge the max daytime open play rate. Our lineage went from $8.25 to $9.00 between the winter and summer leagues this year. Why? Because max open play rate went to $3.00 a game. While granted, it's still quite a deal for cheap entertainment, that extra $0.75 caused a couple of teams to rethink joining a league at the shiny new house. Over the course of a season, it does add up, and yes, we had to increase our weekly league fees or accept a prize fund that was going to be next to nothing.

Deb
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mumzie

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Re: Bowling Centre Suggestions
« Reply #8 on: July 30, 2003, 01:01:33 PM »
I would add -
Have some food available that isn't just "snack bar".
When I was a kid, some of the centers had EXTREMELY good restaurants. My family would head there for a meal even if no one was bowling!
Now, the best I can get are deep fried cheese sticks and hot dogs.
I spend a lot of time in centers - and would like to eat reasonably healthy.

Also -spend some time on the restrooms. Make sure they're clean, well stocked, and that there is some place for bowlers to dry their hands without having to walk in water to do so.

Keep the approaches and settee areas clean. this also means free from powder and other stuff that open play bowlers put on the floor.

Clean the underground - even if the lanes are spanking clean, my equipment ends up filthy if those underground ball returns aren't cleaned.

Replace the pins more often than once every two years. Yes - I know it's expensive.

Train the desk personnel to be courteous. Manners are free. BAD manners are very expensive.

Make sure that the pro shop is accessible during league hours, and that accessories are available any time.

If it's open play, and you have music playing, make sure that
a) it's not totally obnoxious stuff - make it elevator type stuff, and
2) TURN IT DOWN! Bowling centers are loud enough as it is.

When open play bowlers are on the lanes, please reign them in.

For birthday parties - tell them the rules IN ADVANCE regarding flash photography. I understand the need for picture taking during birthday parties - but if the person with the camera can point it AWAY from the scratch league, it would be greatly appreciated.

Put water coolers behind every 3-4 pairs - ala the National Bowling Stadium. Although I know a lot of people don't drink water while bowling, a lot do. Having it convenient would be helpful.

That's all I have now - but I'm sure I'll add to it as time goes on. :-)

Just thought of one more - should have been obvious - NO SMOKING. Designate a smoking area or something - BUT NO SMOKING IN THE BOWLING AREA. PERIOD.
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Edited on 7/30/2003 1:11 PM
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9andaWiggle

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Re: Bowling Centre Suggestions
« Reply #9 on: July 30, 2003, 01:18:52 PM »
Most people have stated what I'm going to reiterate.

1) keep the place clean

2) personally I do not care how old the equipment is as long as it's well maintained and does not damage my equipment.  Computer scoring is not necessary for me.

3) open a grill!  I love greasy cheeseburgers and fries while bowling!  However, DO NOT sell that crap in a bag that you microwave - that is NOT a cheeseburger!

4) I know people will smoke in a bowling alley.  Put in a top quality ventilation/air purification system for the comfort of ALL of your bowlers.

5) while a pro shop is not necessary in all centers, at least keep a good selection of tape, ball cleaner, resin bags and other misc. accessories in case I run out or lose something.

Those are the main points for me.

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Magic Carpet

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Re: Bowling Centre Suggestions
« Reply #10 on: July 30, 2003, 03:40:55 PM »
Debina
I understand now that you were talking about league lineage. I thought you were talking about charging a league bowler the full open play price when they come in to practice.
Just so you will know when centers go up on lineage it's because they have to in order to stay in business. Bowling centers always labor over having to raise lineage because they know they could loose a few bowlers. You would not belive how much things like property tax and insurance has gone up in the past 3 years in some places. Insurance companies are trying to DOUBLE their rates and blaming it on Sept. 11th.
I personally would be willing to sign a waver reducing the insurance company's liability in the event that terrorist flew an airplane into my center.

Bowl great!!!
Ron Clifton
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The Ratpack

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Re: Bowling Centre Suggestions
« Reply #11 on: July 30, 2003, 04:15:47 PM »
So much of what Ive read on this post is true over here to,along with my Fiancee I run the leagues in our local centre.Problems like lack of maintainance of equipment,loud music etc but the worst is probably cleaning up before the leagues bowl sometimes it looks like there was a chimps tea party on the lanes with food and drink spilt on the approaches.
On the plus side the centre gives all league bowlers dicount on both league nights and on private practice sessions.
I also think chewing gum should be banned from centres cleaning it up is gross!!!
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CB

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Re: Bowling Centre Suggestions
« Reply #12 on: July 31, 2003, 03:36:30 AM »
After reading this post, I guess I bowlin a bowler's paradise.  The approaches and lanes are well maintained.  The center, including bathrooms are clean.  Lineage does go up, generally $0.50 every year or two.  Desk personell are friendly and respectful.  The lanes are oiled just around 5:30 PM for the night leagues and no open play is allowed except on lanes not being used by league.  

The lane man does like to play with the shot, but then that is a plus if you are interested in becoming a better bowler.  My only complaint is the A/C is not always functioning properly.  Though I will say it has been working well this year, so far.

One thing that has really boosted bowling in my center is QuarterMania.  There is no 9PM league on either Sunday or Monday, so they started QuarterMania.  A $6.00 fee is charged, then shoe rental is $0.50, sodas are $0.50, and each game bowled is $0.50.  They have a waiting list and people call in around 5PM to reserve a lane or more for 9PM.  Many of our new league bowlers came from QuarterMania regulars.
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Debina

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Re: Bowling Centre Suggestions
« Reply #13 on: July 31, 2003, 11:12:46 AM »
Ron,

I understand the need to raise prices to stay profitable, and I certainly want our center to stay in business. My point was just that since leagues do commit to anywhere from 28 to 36 weeks of bowling, perhaps a break on the lineage could be offered.

As for league bowlers and open play, in our center, it rather depends on "who you know" at the front desk. My husband and I practice anywhere from three to five times a week in addition to bowling leagues. The majority of the front desk personnel will give us a break on open play rates. One guy ... we think of him as the "wanna-be manager" ... charges us full open play price every time even though he sees us there on an almost daily basis. Then, one of his buddies will walk in (a buddy who doesn't even bowl league in our center), and the buddy will be bowling his practice session for FREE. Sometimes it makes us wonder exactly how valued our patronage is.

I suppose, in a perfect world, a center would offer some sort of league card that could be shown by the player when they come in to practice, and that would give them a set discount.

Deb
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JOE FALCO

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Re: Bowling Centre Suggestions
« Reply #14 on: July 31, 2003, 11:38:54 AM »
After reading the initial question I was ready to RIP INTO this subject .. THEN I read the responses .. people did an excellent job .. I agree WITH EVERYTHING THEY ASKED FOR and most isn't outrageous and is very definitely NEEDED in a LOT OF CENTERS!
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