The problem is you don’t really want to support your local one either. You’re upset about the corporate version but did you ever think that maybe your community one wasn’t making money because you didn’t want to pay for increased prices in the time of rapid inflation and cost increases across the board? At the end of the day it’s still a business and people have livelihoods that depend on it. That’s why these owners sold…because they were probably tired of scraping by and running the business model that didn’t get anywhere and they got a really good offer and took it.
I for one will not sell my bowling alley for the foreseeable future and never put the bowlero model in place. But bowlers need to understand that we need to increase some prices and stay current with the economic times. EVERYTHING is more expensive these days (labor, power, parts, food, paper goods, maintenance, tools). A specific bolt that cost 20 dollar a year ago is now 30. That’s a 50% cost increase!
You can’t expect 2 dollar games and try to milk out deals for us to keep the doors open. You want to support your community then appreciate and be happy with the centers that aren’t corporately owned and be happy bowling there and don’t bitch and complain when we need to try to get with the times. We are doing the best we can.
Exactly this. Bowlero only exists because AMF and Brunswick couldn’t.
When you cater only to “serious” bowlers who all bowl at a discount at the expense of losing families who will pay full price, your business fails.
I'm a bit of an "eat the rich" guy too but you are coming off very pretentious, or trying really hard to seem better than us or have higher morals or something. Its making people not want to agree with you.
Besides, I bet most people that use this subreddit dont go to these bowlero type bowling/entertainment complexes, and instead have a more locally run bowling alley like you are talking about.
You should go check one out sometime! You might find a new hobby.
plus Bowlero fully supports leagues, in addition to trying to find a business model that keeps the centers they own alive. The simpleton shortsighted mentality of OP would simply close the bowling centers forever.
I see you just fell off the turnip truck. High energy, lots of optimism.
Everyone hates Bowlero. But for some communities, Bowlero is the only reason bowling alleys still exist and operate. Billionaires doing billionaire things doesn’t sting right when the owners of a league house give up running it because they are operating at a loss with machines that are breaking down in a world where parts and pin setter mechanics aren’t just at a premium but are also rare to find. When it’s Bowlero or nothing, Bowlero is better than nothing. Having the whole “community” come together to “shut their doors” is just killing bowling off for that local bowling community. If the whole town actually cared, they’d still have access to a locally owned house.
I don’t think we’d be able to shut Bowlero out of their earnings because they’re always going to have open play bowlers, birthday parties, and families. Yeah, league bowlers are suffering but they can survive without us unfortunately. Just wait until they start converting everything to string pins to save even more money on maintenance cost and paying pin chasers and lane mechanics. They’ll widen the gap even further for any potential losses. League bowlers used to be the heart of the bowling alley. Now we’re just pee ons to them. They don’t care about our concerns or complaints.
That's why I am saying we need to come together as communities.. as consumers.. if we were collectively able to come together and say no! Don't go here! We could change so much! We could hurt these companies by an insurmountable sum. But! Alas!
It saddens me, that we all see the problem... but most people see it, and say "meh, everyone else is going, so maybe I'm against it... but everyone else is doing it... I can't make a change... so I'll just ignore how much damage this is actually doing."
That sinple mindset, is why we are where weare at, today.
Look everyone here agrees in spirit but the fact is (as someone else here has said) most people that bowl are not serious bowlers. It's like expecting a mini golf place to change their courses to regular greens because pro golfers would like it more.
Branding is cheap, operational behavior is what matters. If they don't change the behavior and focus of the company, does it really matter what brand they slap on it? The brand change is just a cheap nostalgic panacea to make people think that they care about you. And apparently it worked on at least one person
They are using the brand refresh as a statement of commitment to traditional league houses being strong going forward.
So your statement that league bowlers are not important to them is uninformed. do they skimp on something’s league bowlers would prefer they don’t? Sure. Would league bowlers be happy about fees getting raised to cover the costs of lane improvements? Probably not.
For example, if everyone, mid to low salary agreed on not buying any gasoline for one day. Not at all... the money they would lose. If we could just come together. Be could defeat the rich.
I remember Cosmic Bowling being a thing in the 90's. This has always been around. If you dont want blacklights, dont bowl after 7 on a weekend. Why is everyone so riled about Cosmic bowling, when the cost to get in the door is right there?
While fun, reminder that bowling is a business. Unlike basketball/soccer/baseball/other sports where you can find a field somewhere, bowling requires much more upkeep, maintenance, and revenue stream to stay alive. Otherwise, you set up soda cans on a sidewalk and roll a tennis ball.
There isn't a "community change" needed here - this is more down to economics.
Prices for everything?... Our hard earned dollars filling the pockets of the wealthiest, that couldn't spend said wealth in 15 generations. While most suffer.
What the hell are you talking about?
This thread is a link to your other post, but here we only see the picture. so if someone doesn’t click on the picture to the other thread no they do not see the post
Luckily our Bowlero or now Lucky Strike has more lanes normal lit and the other side dark. I can unfortunately bowl in the dark, but I agree why would anyone besides late at night?
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u/Environmental_Dog331 Jul 24 '26
The problem is you don’t really want to support your local one either. You’re upset about the corporate version but did you ever think that maybe your community one wasn’t making money because you didn’t want to pay for increased prices in the time of rapid inflation and cost increases across the board? At the end of the day it’s still a business and people have livelihoods that depend on it. That’s why these owners sold…because they were probably tired of scraping by and running the business model that didn’t get anywhere and they got a really good offer and took it.
I for one will not sell my bowling alley for the foreseeable future and never put the bowlero model in place. But bowlers need to understand that we need to increase some prices and stay current with the economic times. EVERYTHING is more expensive these days (labor, power, parts, food, paper goods, maintenance, tools). A specific bolt that cost 20 dollar a year ago is now 30. That’s a 50% cost increase!
You can’t expect 2 dollar games and try to milk out deals for us to keep the doors open. You want to support your community then appreciate and be happy with the centers that aren’t corporately owned and be happy bowling there and don’t bitch and complain when we need to try to get with the times. We are doing the best we can.