High school and college bowling is hot right now. All sorts of schools are adding it to their list of varsity sports. However, this is a boom that is going to end up a bust if something doesn't change. That change has to be the stopping of the continuous cycle of bowling center closures. Eventually, there won't be anywhere for these high school and college teams to play. Another center in Michigan is closing that houses 3 high school teams. Now these 3 teams must find a new home. That new home will be farther away and probably already houses 1 or more high school or college bowling teams. Who gets practice time in this situation?

I've seen this consolidation of teams into the same bowling center many times here in Michigan. It is stretching the bowling centers thin on available practice time for the schools. If teams can't practice that school may drop the sport. If the practice center is too far away, the school may drop the sport.

I don't know the answer, but I am interested in your opinions.

The bigger problem is this. With this becoming so hot now, how much longer can the colleges and universities keep this as a club sport before the NCAA has to revisit the sport's Title IX status? It's big for the girls because of Title IX, but with the men coming on hot, it is surely going to outgrow being just a simple club sport for them, to where the colleges and universities will have to bring it to the NCAA's attention.

Personally, this should have been done 30-40 years ago. but with it being as big as it is now, it's more than time.

BL.

I'm pretty sure when a proprietor has to make the difficult decision to close their business the least of their worries are high school teams that practice for a significantly discounted price or free. 

Way back when all of this high school bowling and such was sold to proprietors as an investment into their future.  If that investment was paying off they wouldn't be in the situation they are in having to shut the door.

Quote from: Kegler300800 on February 19, 2019, 10:57:47 AM

High school and college bowling is hot right now. All sorts of schools are adding it to their list of varsity sports. However, this is a boom that is going to end up a bust if something doesn't change. That change has to be the stopping of the continuous cycle of bowling center closures. Eventually, there won't be anywhere for these high school and college teams to play. Another center in Michigan is closing that houses 3 high school teams. Now these 3 teams must find a new home. That new home will be farther away and probably already houses 1 or more high school or college bowling teams. Who gets practice time in this situation?

I've seen this consolidation of teams into the same bowling center many times here in Michigan. It is stretching the bowling centers thin on available practice time for the schools. If teams can't practice that school may drop the sport. If the practice center is too far away, the school may drop the sport.

I don't know the answer, but I am interested in your opinions.

Which center is closing?

Candelite. That will be two in somewhat close proximity within a year after State Lanes closed last summer.

Quote from: psycaz on February 19, 2019, 04:15:36 PM

Quote from: Kegler300800 on February 19, 2019, 10:57:47 AM

High school and college bowling is hot right now. All sorts of schools are adding it to their list of varsity sports. However, this is a boom that is going to end up a bust if something doesn't change. That change has to be the stopping of the continuous cycle of bowling center closures. Eventually, there won't be anywhere for these high school and college teams to play. Another center in Michigan is closing that houses 3 high school teams. Now these 3 teams must find a new home. That new home will be farther away and probably already houses 1 or more high school or college bowling teams. Who gets practice time in this situation?

I've seen this consolidation of teams into the same bowling center many times here in Michigan. It is stretching the bowling centers thin on available practice time for the schools. If teams can't practice that school may drop the sport. If the practice center is too far away, the school may drop the sport.

I don't know the answer, but I am interested in your opinions.

Which center is closing?

Candelite. That will be two in somewhat close proximity within a year after State Lanes closed last summer.

Thanks.  That sucks to hear.