The 11th Frame: Changes for PBA Tour's 2012-13 season don't alter tough bottom line for players

http://11thframe.com/page/blog_id_5192

DON is correct that this didn't happen over night. Bowling as a whole (especially in my area) has been dropping the ball when it comes to youth bowling over the last 10yrs. It is really starting to significantly hurt the adult leagues in the area now because there is no one to replace bowlers who are retiring from the leagues. When I was young, roughly 25yrs ago, my parents ran the youth bowling leagues at AMF Dundalk(back then it was Fair Lanes Dundalk and its nickname was "the Old Colt Lanes" because of the Baltimore Colt players would frequent there) and there was two shifts for the kids, a 9:00am and 12:00pm. It was necessary because the both shifts filled all 48 lanes with teams of 3-5 bowlers depending on age. I recently inquired about the youth leagues for my children and it just so happen the youth leagues were going on while we were there. I didn't recognize it because the league was on 2 pair of lanes with all ages together. Very depressing to see!!!

Bowling as a whole, the PBA, and the USBC needs to invest more time, energy, and money into youth bowling instead of all the technology that the majority of regular league bowlers are not that in to. Let the ball manufacturers do that.

This will never happen I know but I have an idea that I think would bring costs down across the sport and also generate more revenue for the centers and bring more people in. Bowling centers should be separated into 2 categories, Sport bowling and Recreational Bowling. Leagues would carry one of these labels and their would be a separate rules pertaining to equipment. In Recreational Leagues, the low volume oil patterns that were used in the 80's would be put down to save the centers expense allowing linage to be lowered. However in these leagues only non-tech equipment could be used like polyester, rubber, and maybe urethane. In the Sport Leagues, a sport oil pattern would be selected in the initial league meeting to be used all season allowing bowlers to select the difficulty level. In this league any kind of equipment is allowed.

For open play the center could set up some of the lanes for Sport and the rest for Recreational. This would again save the center money on laying oil down and could bring the price of open play down, at least for those bowling on the Recreational lanes.

I am curious of the feedback I am going to get on the last part of this post and will be creating a seperate topic for it so if you are curious about it as I am look for it.

Riggs
nice post and some very interesting opinions.
At a quick glance just basing off of public interest, possible advertising dollars and incomes. Most Pro's that bowled outside the US in 2011-2012 didn't most make as much or more in those events than inside the US? Japan has been very good to the winners each year as it is generally among the highest paying events associated with the PBA Tour. It's not like the PBA is the first "Professional Sports Organization" to move events outside the US. The Corporate Sponsors have not found the PBA to be a good investment. The TV Networks have had a similar opinion. I just like most have complained and might see some attempts made by the PBA Ownership to gimmicks. But they have not been satisfied with the status quo and are working to grow their brand. While expanding tournaments outside the US vs. inside the US may not be convenient it may be necessary.

(These are my opinions and do not represent the opinions of Lord Field)

Thanks, cc.  Of course they don't hear.  They don't care.  Like everybody else does in the world, they just bitch about the predicament they don't like but do nothing to change it. 

Long gone daddy,
Great post. Unfortunately,  I don't think anybody that matters hears you.

I also have heard a lot of complaints about tour players not wanting to take the time to do extra. Like visit with the fans, visit with proshops, do a meet and greet or things along those lines when out on tour to promote them, or their manufactures.

If you don't have PBA bowlers that want to go the extra mile to get more fans then why do we as fans want to go the extra mile for the PBA?

It isn't all pros, but I've heard it is several that act this way.

This was second hand from bowl expo last year. Not saying all pros are this way but that many have this mind set that they don't have to promote themselves or their sport. Anyone that says otherwise based on their personal experiences the past few years I'm sure will come forward. How about you name all of the players you don't think this applies to and then we can go from there.

Anyone been to any of the select PBA Tour stops can probably chip in there experiences.

Name calling is useless. The point is that the players need to take an aggressive active role in promoting their livelihood. They are loosing more and more each season and stand to loose the most.

On the other hand, maybe they will be better off if forced to go get a nine to five.

If I say it or not doesn't make it true or untrue, but do you see them promoting their sport at events like bowl expo or other tournaments by talking to the proshops, bowlers ect?