Author Topic: Has Bowling Priced Itself Out Of The Middle Class? (Read 7881 times)

Also Sprach Zaruthstra · « **on:** May 11, 2011, 05:39:23 AM »

Much discussion lately has been about the evolution and demise of bowling. There is not much mention of cost. I remember when bowling was $7.50 a week and the one ball you used was $59. So here are some basic numbers based on where I live:

1) Three ball arsenal including spare ball $500 (per year average)

2) League fee for one league $20 @ 35 weeks $700

3) Gasoline for the 45-60 minute drive $300 a year (estimate)

4) Food and Beverage $300 a year (estimate)

5) Practice before league $10 @ 35 weeks $350

6) Sanction fee $14

7) Misc items like tape,rosin, sure slide, ball polish, etc...$50

Total for bowling once a week for $35 weeks $2214 a year!

Additional league double that number excluding equipment! Add a tournament or two and you are looking at $4000 a year to bowl.

Is it worth it?

ASZ

JessN16 · « **Reply #31 on:** May 30, 2011, 11:47:24 PM »

That calculator may already be compounding, but if it isn't, don't forget to manually do it.

When you compound $1 at 7 percent annually, in 10 years you have $1.97, for instance. At 20 years and (I believe) it's around $3.85. I'm guessing at the latter number because I don't have a calc in front of me.

If you divide that number in half it should come in roughly at $1.90 over the 20 years. Inflation doesn't always move up at a level 3.5 percent, though.

Jess

r534me wrote on 5/26/2011 3:48 PM:Good post. I found a calculator and I have not verified it by hand but it claims to use the cpi up until 2010.

http://www.westegg.com/inflation/

If the calculator is correct, $11.00 in 1991 will cost someone $17.38 in 2010. Adjusting for 3.5% for 2010-2011 should yield a very small increase to the $17.38 number.

r534me · « **Reply #32 on:** May 31, 2011, 01:54:13 AM »

I haven't tried this but what about using the future value of 1? I think the formula is (1+x) exponential. If we have an average of 3% a year and calculated it 20 years we should get a ballpark number. (1+..03) 20th power, and if I did it right in my scientific calc that comes out to 1.806. If we take 10 bucks and multiply it by that it comes out to 18.06. If we use 1.035 it comes out to 1.99 and that comes out to 19.99. Close either way. With the CPI calculator I assume that that they use the real numbers for inflation and not a generalized number as we did.

JessN16 · « **Reply #33 on:** May 31, 2011, 09:57:39 PM »

Before we bore everyone else in the thread to death -- yes, you did it correctly.

And they probably are using real numbers, which if they included 2008 would include basically a completely flat year.

Jess

r534me wrote on 5/31/2011 1:54 AM:I haven't tried this but what about using the future value of 1? I think the formula is (1+x) exponential. If we have an average of 3% a year and calculated it 20 years we should get a ballpark number. (1+..03) 20th power, and if I did it right in my scientific calc that comes out to 1.806. If we take 10 bucks and multiply it by that it comes out to 18.06. If we use 1.035 it comes out to 1.99 and that comes out to 19.99. Close either way. With the CPI calculator I assume that that they use the real numbers for inflation and not a generalized number as we did.

9andaWiggle · « **Reply #34 on:** June 01, 2011, 07:31:08 AM »

Your point is right on. Bowling alleys are massive, usually not well insulated buildings and it costs a lot to run AC in summer and Heat in winter. I've never seen any that had windows adequate for ventilation, so you're running one or the other every day the place is open. Then there is the huge lighting requirement, and if memory serves me pinsetters run off of 220V electric feed. Toss in water for the toilet flushings/hand washings, insurance to cover any accidental injury, and taxes on the building/equipment. That's a ton of money and we haven't even touched any payments on everything inside the building. Nor are we including labor for the help. It's a very expensive, tough business, especially when half your clientele thinks all you do is open the doors and rake in the money.

Smash49 wrote on 5/30/2011 10:35 AM:
It is very expensive to operate a bowling center. The cost are enormous.

24 lane center electric bill: $4800 a month.

24 lanes new synthetic lanes: $150,000

24 lanes new scoring: $150,000

Kegel lane machine nothing fancy: $15,000

Don't for get the supplies

Labor

new pins $150 a box X 2 per machine X 24 + 4 extra just to replace old stuff.

Average league 88 bowlers at $10 a night lineage = $880 if you are lucky that may happen 3 times a week.

Almost no rental shoes

$2700 a week. multiply this by 42 weeks = $113,400 figure summer is dead.

Now go back to just the electric bill at $4800 a month. Be conservative and call it $4000 a month times 52. You will be open 52 weeks a year! Cost = $208,000 so you spend almost double your major league lineage intake to just turn on the lights!

So bowling its self has not priced itself out of the market.

Smash49

Slick, tacky, wood or synthetic it does not matter your slide is correct with SLSM Designs Bowlers Slide Sock. The Finest Slide Sock on the Planet!!!
www.bowlersslidesock.com
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Smash49 · « **Reply #35 on:** June 01, 2011, 08:05:34 AM »

Man is my math fouled up! lol $4800 x 12 = $57,600 That is still half the league lineage on electric alone. Glad

I'm not the accountant! But still the cost are out and out crazy. People wonder why you can't give them a dollar a game anymore. That is way below the cost of the game.

I remember buy new bowling balls for $25 including drilling. Even with balls being made in China which I think is a bad thing you can't make them for that.

Here is what really stings. Husband and wife bowl a mixed league. Cost $18 a night plus $20 sanction. Within the first month of bowling they normally have to cough up $256 and that does not include any drinks or food. 4 weeks of bowling each and 2 weeks each for last two weeks. Then they have the sanction fees. if it is a 5 week month tack another $36 on top of that..

At nearly $300 for that month in just bowling that is equal to a lawn mower or a TV set or a dryer.

At the same time this is going on school is starting. Hope you don't have kids! And just when things are getting better Christmas is around the corner.

I can watch just about every new movie that hits netflix still have my new lawn mower and cloth my kids for school if I give up bowling!

Sad but true

Smash49

Slick, tacky, wood or synthetic it does not matter your slide is correct with SLSM Designs Bowlers Slide Sock. The Finest Slide Sock on the Planet!!!
www.bowlersslidesock.com
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JOE FALCO · « **Reply #36 on:** June 01, 2011, 10:15:15 AM »

I don't feel that owners of Centers are making PLENTY of money but I think the income talked about is a little short. Most Centers run two sessions of leagues (6:30 and 9:30) and occasionally most have Senior leagues in afternoons. Then there is the bar and food concession that also brings in money. They are not getting rich but I doubt if the most are starving!

Smash49 · « **Reply #37 on:** June 01, 2011, 01:09:03 PM »

True there are some centers that do run double shifts. The center I owned actually had 3 good nights with 16 out of 24 lanes going with league but it was single shifts. We did have 2 days with seniors but that is a reduced lineage league. Fridays and Saturdays we had good evening business until the economy went in the hamper. Our game room on the weekends made as much money as the leagues did. Hard to believe but our jukebox made more money than a league. My suggestion is to anyone: If you think you can run a bowling center go for it. You will learn a lot in a big hurry. Been there done that have the t-shirt.

Smash49

Slick, tacky, wood or synthetic it does not matter your slide is correct with SLSM Designs Bowlers Slide Sock. The Finest Slide Sock on the Planet!!!
www.bowlersslidesock.com
IBPSIA Certified Technician
Bowlers Journal International's Top 100 Coaches!!! 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010(73)
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JustRico · « **Reply #38 on:** June 01, 2011, 02:18:07 PM »

Come to Cali...a second shift league is 7pm....no such thing as a 9 or 930 league anymore.

If you think bowling has priced itself out....look at golf. You basically can't win money at golf similar to bowling...golf is finally starting to show a decline after about 10+ years of growth. Everything is on a decline...

The views and opinions expressed by myself are solely those of mine and NO one else, nor are they affiliated with anyone else.

Smash49 · « **Reply #39 on:** June 01, 2011, 05:38:32 PM »

At one time I played golf twice a week. After many years I played a round and the cost was crazy. The place we played was cheap by most standards. Even once a month hurts the pocket book.

Smash49

Slick, tacky, wood or synthetic it does not matter your slide is correct with SLSM Designs Bowlers Slide Sock. The Finest Slide Sock on the Planet!!!
www.bowlersslidesock.com
IBPSIA Certified Technician
Bowlers Journal International's Top 100 Coaches!!! 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010(73)
USBC Register Volunteer

Juggernaut · « **Reply #40 on:** June 01, 2011, 05:47:26 PM »

I don't think it has yet, but the cost of bowling is a cumulative thing. The cost of electricity goes up, bowling goes up. The cost of supplies goes up, bowling goes up. The cost of having your needs delivered to your business goes up, your prices go up. It is just economics 101.

If everything you do goes up just .05, it doesn't sound like much, but what if you do 1000 things a day? That's going to be an increase of $50 in your expenses. Multiply that by 7 days a week, and your expenses just went up $350 a week.

You say that nobody does 1000 things a day? What about the 250 hamburger patties that they had to buy? Then add in the 250 buns for those burgers. And what about the veggies, cheese, and condiments? That would almost cover the 1000 things, and that's just the snackbar stuff.

With the price of OIL rising as fast as it does, it may not be long before bowling gets to the breaking point.

JessN16 · « **Reply #41 on:** June 01, 2011, 08:28:00 PM »

Couple of things, Joe...

1) "Most centers" do not run two shifts. We have one house here that runs a second shift in the summer (out of four houses), and the second shift is a grand total of 6 teams. A different house runs a second shift in the fall and they get about 12 teams. The last time I saw a majority of houses running second shifts was back in the early 90s before manufacturing jobs had really started to leave for overseas. If the majority of the centers in your area are running multiple shifts, you're in the minority.

2) If a bowling alley is making "plenty of money," more power to them. If it were my business, I'd take care of my league bowlers but I would also try to make as much money as I could to give my family the best future they could have, take care of my employees and retire with a big 401(k) balance. They're not running a charity, after all. Ever since the 2008 market crash, it seems the more I hear people speaking ill of banks, bowling alleys, stores, etc., that are successful.

Jess

JOE FALCO wrote on 6/1/2011 10:15 AM:I don't feel that owners of Centers are making PLENTY of money but I think the income talked about is a little short. Most Centers run two sessions of leagues (6:30 and 9:30) and occasionally most have Senior leagues in afternoons. Then there is the bar and food concession that also brings in money. They are not getting rich but I doubt if the most are starving!

r534me · « **Reply #42 on:** June 01, 2011, 11:40:24 PM »

League bowlers are guaranteed revenue for the centers. They should be treated well. However, they are diminishing each year for whatever reason and proprietors have to think of new ways to keep themselves in business.

JOE FALCO · « **Reply #43 on:** June 02, 2011, 04:51:07 AM »

So deeply do we cherish our own opinions, convictions, prejudices that we tend to identify these with truth. If I really, really believe my opinions is the truth, that makes it so.

Smash49 · « **Reply #44 on:** June 02, 2011, 05:51:00 AM »

Jess

Your area of the country must be doing well. There are a couple centers in the Dallas area running 2 shifts a night but that is not the norm. Many are running 1 shift and even that shift is not full. I know of some centers that do not open until 5PM. In fact there are some centers in the country that close all summer.

Smash49

Slick, tacky, wood or synthetic it does not matter your slide is correct with SLSM Designs Bowlers Slide Sock. The Finest Slide Sock on the Planet!!!
www.bowlersslidesock.com
IBPSIA Certified Technician
Bowlers Journal International's Top 100 Coaches!!! 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010(73)
USBC Register Volunteer

storm making it rain · « **Reply #45 on:** June 02, 2011, 06:57:04 AM »

It's always funny how people like JOE FALCO make assumptions on all of these proprietors rolling in the dough from owning the bowling center. All I can say is look at your personal bills and the amount things in general have risen in price. Now think of that from a much larger scale. I don't know about everyone else's centers in this discussion but my family comes to work almost everyday of the week at our center, and we have a full staff around us. Our job is to make sure we're getting people in the door and the staff's job is to ensure our customers are being treated at the highest level to assure retention.

It used to be you could just open the doors and fill the house with leagues (guaranteed money each week) now with leagues declining we have to push for other programs to just pay our bills. People are spending their money very differently now a days, not just here but everywhere. If centers want to stay at the top of their game they have to remodel every few years and add or maintain things every year. Do you have any idea what it cost for new lanes, new scoring, new pins, etc. No JOE FALCO you probably don't.