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Author Topic: My home center has become an AMF center this week, should I be concerned?  (Read 2545 times)

bcw1969

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My home center has become an AMF center this week, should I be concerned?
« on: February 05, 2019, 05:43:57 PM »
My home center has changed ownership this week and will now be an AMF center. Never having bowled league in an AMF house(only have practiced here and there over the years at a few), I wonder what's in store? I have read some dismal posts over the years on here about AMF Centers, and I am a bit concerned.  I bowl league Thursday nite....the center was to be closed to the public from Feb 5th thru feb 7th(only open for leagues). Don't know much about the change yet, but from what I understand(read on facebook)  the new owners have "ruined" another house(AMF) in my area. To bad too, because our center had been run pretty well and the center was good to the league bowlers.

Brad
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Steven

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Re: My home center has become an AMF center this week, should I be concerned?
« Reply #1 on: February 05, 2019, 07:51:20 PM »
You knew the answer before you asked the question........
 
Yes, you should be concerned. In general, AMF centers are not league bowling friendly. They exist to maximize profits through open bowling.
 
It's going to be more about how much your league experience will be impacted -- not if.
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thedjs

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Re: My home center has become an AMF center this week, should I be concerned?
« Reply #2 on: February 05, 2019, 08:18:41 PM »
Well lets see.  Little or no oil, constant machine breakdowns, having to move to other lanes half way thru a game, over-head scorers not working, broken chairs, pins not replaced and so on.  So be concerned, very concerned. 
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six pack

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Re: My home center has become an AMF center this week, should I be concerned?
« Reply #3 on: February 06, 2019, 07:25:13 AM »
I bowl in a AMF center. Poor wait staff,High drink and food  prices, High linage fee,crappy lite oil shot and they put something on the approaches that make them very slick in the beginning of the set but wears off and you end up sticking by the second game. We wont be bowling there next season.
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milorafferty

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Re: My home center has become an AMF center this week, should I be concerned?
« Reply #4 on: February 06, 2019, 09:40:47 AM »
Does Bowlmor have a different model for Bowlero houses than AMF?

The Manteca Strikes house was bought a few months ago and is being changed into a Bowlero. The previous owners were terrible. They were scavenging lanes for parts to repair other lanes, the oil machine left visible dry streaks down the lane, the score monitors worked maybe half the time and there was a hole in the outside wall for two years where a car had jumped the curb and ran into the building.

Bowlmor bought the house and have spent a ton of money on the place. All new furniture for the seating area, new lanes(including lane beds underneath), a new oil machine and all the pin setters are being rebuilt and/or replaced. The building has been repaired and repainted, including the entire interior.

League seem to have been unchanged so far. The snack bar is probably more expensive, but that's not why I bowl at a location anyway.

For what it's worth, the new ownership of Bowlmor probably saved this house from eventually closing.
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BowlingForDonuts

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Re: My home center has become an AMF center this week, should I be concerned?
« Reply #5 on: February 06, 2019, 10:25:34 AM »
Quote from: bcw1969 on February 05, 2019, 05:43:57 PM
My home center has changed ownership this week and will now be an AMF center. Never having bowled league in an AMF house(only have practiced here and there over the years at a few), I wonder what's in store? I have read some dismal posts over the years on here about AMF Centers, and I am a bit concerned.  I bowl league Thursday nite....the center was to be closed to the public from Feb 5th thru feb 7th(only open for leagues). Don't know much about the change yet, but from what I understand(read on facebook)  the new owners have "ruined" another house(AMF) in my area. To bad too, because our center had been run pretty well and the center was good to the league bowlers.

Brad

I understand why Bowlmor gets a bad rap and yes they are soulless and corporate as hell but honestly at least in my area I don't mind them even though they dominate.  Being able to get $2 open games in nearly every house in my area by bowling a single cheap just for fun unsanctioned league rocks (plus 2 free games a week).  The AMFs do tend to be more run down than the Brunswicks or Bowleros though.  Local Bowlero isn't league friendly (more expensive and all about open bowling but nicer too with more oil) but the Brunswick and AMFs are.
« Last Edit: February 06, 2019, 10:31:05 AM by BowlingForDonuts »
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spmcgivern

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Re: My home center has become an AMF center this week, should I be concerned?
« Reply #6 on: February 06, 2019, 11:18:16 AM »
My experience has been AMF centers go the way of the General Manager.  If you are lucky you will have a GM with some kind of bowling experience.

It will most likely be different.  AMF has been able to keep some centers open while some centers have become more open play centered.  Communication will be key.
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djgook

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Re: My home center has become an AMF center this week, should I be concerned?
« Reply #7 on: February 06, 2019, 01:11:53 PM »
Around my area (Maryland). They are changing all Brunswick zones to Bowlero and AMF houses strictly League and no open play unless you are a league bowler. To me that is what it sounds like what is happening in your area. The AmF here are great accept the one in Pikesville. 
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bcw1969

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Re: My home center has become an AMF center this week, should I be concerned?
« Reply #8 on: May 03, 2019, 09:31:56 PM »
It has been 3 months now, and those that said expect little to no oil weren't kidding. The first week it was slightly oiler than it was before they took over, but it has gotten progressively drier as the weeks go on.---quite noticeably.  Seems as if amf centers have a "set menu" in their concessions, taste and quality is a bit better than we used to have(only ordered food a few times), but the prices are quite a bit more. So far the overall experience hasn't been too diminished since amf took over--but the lack of oil is annoying, but one you have to deal with and make the best of it. Our house is a big league house---many many league bowlers and thriving leagues, and when they took over I was talking with the pro shop guys and they told me that they understand what this center is, so hopefully it won't go sour.....but more oil please.......

Brad
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BowlingForDonuts

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Re: My home center has become an AMF center this week, should I be concerned?
« Reply #9 on: May 03, 2019, 09:45:09 PM »
Quote from: bcw1969 on May 03, 2019, 09:31:56 PM
It has been 3 months now, and those that said expect little to no oil weren't kidding. The first week it was slightly oiler than it was before they took over, but it has gotten progressively drier as the weeks go on.---quite noticeably.  Seems as if amf centers have a "set menu" in their concessions, taste and quality is a bit better than we used to have(only ordered food a few times), but the prices are quite a bit more. So far the overall experience hasn't been too diminished since amf took over--but the lack of oil is annoying, but one you have to deal with and make the best of it. Our house is a big league house---many many league bowlers and thriving leagues, and when they took over I was talking with the pro shop guys and they told me that they understand what this center is, so hopefully it won't go sour.....but more oil please.......

Brad

Might have to wait until fall.  Not likely to get more oil until then.
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Bowl_Freak

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Re: My home center has become an AMF center this week, should I be concerned?
« Reply #10 on: May 04, 2019, 08:40:59 AM »
RUN....DONT WALK....RUN AWAY, FAR FAR AWAY!!!!
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Track_Fanatic

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Re: My home center has become an AMF center this week, should I be concerned?
« Reply #11 on: May 04, 2019, 11:32:05 AM »
It was a very sad day when finding out that Brunswick sold their centers to Bowlmor. Then after the changes started, it was for the worse.  The company doesnt care about league bowlers.  They would rather have open bowling and parties.  Prices shot up at the bar and snack bars.  The price for a game increased.  Quality went down.  Management changed too.  They placed people who don't know the bowling industry and could care less about league bowlers. Most leagues left if they could find a center not owned by them.  Oh, i forgot to mention, expect changes of when the center is open.  They cut the hours and usually during the week they don't open until 3pm if not later.  I knew people that worked at a Brunswick center who were able to work while their kids went to school during the day.  With the hour changes they had to look for employment elsewere. 
« Last Edit: May 04, 2019, 11:37:38 AM by Track_Fanatic »
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BowlingForDonuts

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Re: My home center has become an AMF center this week, should I be concerned?
« Reply #12 on: May 04, 2019, 12:27:28 PM »
Bowlmor in 2019 seems like they have committed a bit more to leagues from what I have seen here locally (Bowlero elite series, etc).   They did switch over my favorite alley from Brunswick to Bowlero and did raise the open bowling price but they usually give me league price even if my league is over because they know me.  Summer pass starts in a few weeks as well (fairly low set fee gets you 3 free games a day all summer).  Usually not in the business of defending corporations but since Bowlmor is all I have know since coming back to bowling in my area can't complain too much.  Alternative is failing lanes  that are shabby and falling apart or closing for good like in rest of country.  I can see how disruptive they would be though if had a good thing going with your home center though.
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St. Croix

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Re: My home center has become an AMF center this week, should I be concerned?
« Reply #13 on: May 04, 2019, 01:27:15 PM »
Quote from: thedjs on February 05, 2019, 08:18:41 PM
Well lets see.  Little or no oil, constant machine breakdowns, having to move to other lanes half way thru a game, over-head scorers not working, broken chairs, pins not replaced and so on.  So be concerned, very concerned.

A pretty accurate list of problems. I would add a couple: ball returns that gash bowling balls and filthy approaches. The AMF center here removed the pro shop and even the vending machines where you could purchase accessories like tape.

Fortunately, there are other houses in my area which are well maintained. I stopped bowling league at the AMF center for all of the above reasons.
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