2022 November Issue

LOCATION-BASED ENTERTAINMENT

What drives people out of their homes to find fun and excitement they can’t get behind their front door? How about a popular term called ‘location-based entertainment’. Simply put, offering guests ways to be entertained beyond what they can do at home is location-based entertainment, and it’s what drives people into your building. After all, bowling is location-based, as are many other entertainment options you may not have considered yet.

Consumers have changed where, when, and how they recreate and how often they leave their driveway to grab some excitement. Keeping up with the changes and trends of finicky guests by being at the forefront of what’s moving and shaking is good business sense.

This month we’re highlighting some new recreation trends you may want to explore. These trends may seem a bit foreign to some of us who either don’t spend much time gaming or are over a certain age. It’s fascinating to absorb how younger, tech-forward consumers spend time and money. Our story by Bob Cooney, the VR guru, focuses on competitive gaming and the strong draw it can have for your center. Another article this month is from Mike Fernandez, who concentrates on how reworking a space in your facility can attract gamers for repeat visits. Mike showcases how Purdue University’s bowling center tweaked its space to bring in more guests and dollars for the business.

Many operators are already using online reservation systems to streamline bookings, take pressure off staff members, and create an easy way for guests to do business with them. However, there are still a lot of centers that haven’t jumped on the tech-friendly bandwagon. Read what other operators and the good folks at AlleyTrak and Semnox have to say about the benefits of online bookings.

This month, I had the pleasure of talking with Allison Timberlake from LAI Games as part of our “Inside Line” column. Learning about the growth of LAI from its start in 1958 to its focus heading into 2023 was very interesting. Pushing the boundaries of what is possible

has been a critical component of LAI’s success in bringing popular games to the market that draw guests in time and again. Allison and the LAI team are excited to unveil their new products this month at IAAPA; be sure to check them out if you go.

Speaking of IAAPA, if you haven’t been to this powerhouse of an entertainment show, you may want to check last-minute travel plans to hit the trade show. IAAPA runs the week of November 14-18 in Orlando, FL. IBI’s IAAPA preview begins on page 44 and will give you a sneak preview of companies going to the show.

Be sure to head over to www.bowlingindustry.com for IBI’s exclusive online-only content. Two articles to pay special attention to involve music and gaming; it sounds like a party to me!

And last but not least, there’s the topic of Hurricane Ian. Many of you probably watched this dangerous storm’s devastation on national news, affecting millions of people in multiple states. Living through the wrath of Ian in southwest Florida was not for the faint of heart; seeing the destruction afterward was even worse. As I put this issue to bed, I would like to thank the many industry friends and colleagues who reached out to our office and family to check on our safety and wellbeing. We even had folks offer to hop a flight and help us dig out of the storm surge that battered our home. A special shout out to Barb Pelz from BCM, who extended well wishes and offered to help us chase down ads from our advertisers; truly a class act! I’ve said it numerous times and continue to sing the praises of our industry. We’re all here for each other.

Signing off for this month feeling pretty exhausted but mostly very grateful. Prayers for those north of us who endured much more from that jerk, Ian, than we did.•

– Stephanie Davis, Publisher & Editor stephanie@bowlingindustry.com

YOU AREN’T FOCUSED ON THAT TERM, YOU MIGHT WANT TO BE!

Adding Axe Throwing to FECs

BY AXECITEMENT

Axe throwing is an activity that has quickly gained popularity over the past few years. FEC operators might not realize the benefits of adding a few axe throwing lanes to their facility. Axecitement explains how axe throwing can create revenue, bring customers into an FEC, and keep them there longer!

Gaming Has Gone Mainstream BY PIA PRODUCTS

It might be surprising to hear that 64% of the U.S. population age 13 and above plays some type of video game daily! There is a high chance that a lot of customers visiting FECs play videos and have interest in winning prizes related to gaming. PIA Products explains how to appeal to those gamers with redemption products.

6 Ways to Bring Nightlife to Your Center

BY BOWLING MUSIC NETWORK

Nightlife is probably not the first thing most people associate with their local bowling center. There is a lot of profit in the nightlife business, so don’t miss out! Bowling Music Network explains 6 essential ways to make sure your center is ready for the nightlife crowd.

Small Kitchen? No Problem!

BY QUIK N’ CRISPY

Many bowling centers and FECs have small kitchens, but that does not mean there is small revenue to be made. Working in a smaller space has its challenges, but with strategic thinking you can maximize that space to its full potential. Read 4 tips from Quik n’ Crispy about how to do the most with your small kitchen.

TRADITIONS NEWMaking

Holiday time means opportunities for more revenue

By Steve Sempeck

Holidays can be stressful, fun, and lucrative for those of us who make a living from entertaining others. This month I’m sharing some ideas and promotions that worked for me and others. I’m proud to say our industry is full of great ideas, promotions, and operators who are willing to share their successes. As they say, “Imitation is the best form of flattery.”

Thanksgiving is a recipe for success. No one works the next day except us morons in the bowling industry. Here are some things we have done to keep the bowlers around later on Thanksgiving Eve or bring them out after they’ve loaded up on food and fixins’ at home.

After the Wednesday night league, we ran a “Turkey Toss.” It’s a combination no-tap sweeper with the fun and oddity of tossing a real frozen turkey down the lane. We charged $20, and everyone bowled three games of quick 9-pin. But the twist was that $5 of the entry fee went into the “Turkey Toss Treasure Pot.” So if we had 40 entries, we’d have $200 in the pot.

Everyone had a chance at the end of the three games to slide a frozen turkey down the lane to see who could strike. We let them start at the arrow, had carpet out there, and if one tied, they all tied, and the competition started over.

We only kept $10 for lineage, $5 for the regular prize fund, and $5 for the turkey toss. If it came down to one person that struck, we handed over $100. Anyone who knocked down nine pins split the rest of the pot. Plus, we drew names for five frozen turkeys to give away. It was tremendously fun and easy to run.

“Chase the Cash” is another 9-pin event. We charged $2-$3 an entry. Bowlers started on

Lane 1 and threw one ball. If they got nine pins down or an actual strike, they moved to Lane 2 and continued that pattern. Whoever got the furthest, with the most nine pins down or strikes, before missing, won all the cash. We kept half for lineage, and the other half went to the prize fund. We also sold mulligans for $2, so if you missed some pins, you could use your mulligan and keep going.

In our 16-lane house, we had a “super jackpot” where if you went across the house twice, you won $1,000! We did this all year round following one of our better leagues, as guys liked to try and see how many times they could roll nine.

If you’ve ever driven around on Thanksgiving, you can see that places of entertainment are packed, especially in larger cities; movie theaters, stores, and some restaurants are busier than ever! After stuffing themselves with food, watching football, or napping, by 6 p.m. people start looking for something to do.

Thanksgiving morning — yes, morning! — we ran a simple, three-game, 9-pin, no-tap “Turkey Bowl” tourney. We charged $25-$30, had special prizes for men and women, and ran no-tap 300 jackpots. Six real strikes in a row got the bowler a shot of Wild Turkey (of course!) and paid a handicap prize list of 1 in 4. We marketed it to everyone and pushed the idea, “Hey, bowling starts at 9 a.m., then you’re home and in front of the TV by noon!” People loved it. We went from about 25 bowlers the first year, to 60 the next year, and then to over 100 entries after a few years. People ate and drank like crazy, knowing they could nap at home after. We would have a good prize list. We didn’t pay top heavy; we spread it out and had plenty of special prizes.

Thanksgiving night was big for us. As mentioned above, we pushed the idea of, “Get out of the house, be social,

and work off the turkey!” We would run a “Beat the Clock” special from 5 p.m.—7 p.m. with a discounted hourly special. After 7 p.m., Cosmic Bowling took over at full price per person. People gladly paid full price for the bowling. Our marketing consisted of flyers to our league players and in-house, open-play customers. We used our Kids Bowl Free database to email potential holiday customers.

Initially, we weren’t too whippy about working the holiday, but after time we ended up having fun. Someone always brought in extra turkey or pumpkin pie for us, and we started having the same crew yearly; we created a new tradition.

So don’t pass on the possibility of a few extra hundred or thousand dollars just because it’s a holiday. Every holiday you can capitalize on is additional revenue if you develop the right event, message, and marketing tools to get the word out to the right audience.

Happy Thanksgiving! Keep ‘em rolling!

Steve Sempeck, Bowl Co Marketing and Management•

Opportunity

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Success With...

SUCCESS WITH … New Adult League Bowlers

By Corrie Pelc

Like many bowling centers, Michael MacColeman, general manager of Sparetime Entertainment in Lansing, MI, was looking for a way to fill lanes on typically slow evenings. Coleman turned to the adult Fun Bowling Leagues program offered through Bowling Business Builders International (BBBI) and decided to try the Rum Bucket League format.

Launching his first fun league late last fall, MacColeman suddenly found himself with nearly 300 new bowlers coming in three nights a week.

“It brought new people into the center who had never been in before,” MacColeman says. “Many had bowled recreationally, but they never joined an organized effort. This is an easy way to get involved without a long commitment.”

Like MacColeman, Jerry Hudson also turned to BBBI’s Fun Bowling League program using the Rum Bucket format to assist Bowland Port Charlotte in Port Charlotte, FL, and Howell Bowl-E-Drome in Howell, MI.

After last fall’s first league that brought 40 new bowlers to Bowland Port Charlotte and 31 to Howell Bowl-E-Drome, Hudson is currently on his third Rum Bucket League season. “It’s been a very successful program, and I think as long as we can keep people happy and enjoying it, we’re going to continue to do it,” he adds.

A Turnkey Program

Hudson says the adult Fun Bowling League program was easy to implement as BBBI handled all marketing and bowler registration and provided step-by-step instructions on how it should run. “It was a turnkey situation — everything was handed to us,” he explained. “All we did was say yes, we want to do it, this is the spot we want to fill, this is the number of bowlers we’d like to put in that spot, and they did all the work.”

Hudson says BBBI even provides the recipe for the rum punch that goes into the rum bucket each league bowler receives.

Increasing Revenue

The Rum Bucket League runs for nine weeks. Once a bowler pays a $20 registration fee, they attend a “Getting Acquainted” session. “If they don’t like it and don’t think it’s for them, they have a money-back guarantee,” Hudson says. “I don’t know anybody that asked for their money back.”

Afterward, bowlers pay $20 per week for the next eight weeks, which goes directly to the bowling center. For $20, the center provides each bowler with bowling, shoe rental, a rum bucket drink, and a large pizza shared by the four players on the team.

However, centers running the adult fun leagues find bowlers spending more money purchasing extra food and drinks. “Even though we’re supplying them with the pizza, the rum bucket drink, and the bowling, the revenues after they finish are still good because they want to have some fun and enjoy themselves,” Hudson adds.

MacColeman says there’s an opportunity for additional revenue as league bowlers bring extra people who buy food and drinks, play in the arcade, or even bowl themselves. “I had one person bring their whole office of 16 people,” he recalls.

And because 80%-90% of those who sign up for the Rum Bucket League have never bowled competitively before, they need gear. “Our pro shop operator was very happy because each session that people enjoy, they go in and buy a bowling ball, bowling shoes, or a ball bag and shoes from the pro shop,” Hudson says.

Nothing to Lose

For centers considering offering the Rum Bucket League, Hudson says although BBBI does all the legwork upfront, be ready with enough staff for league nights. “A lot of these bowlers don’t know much about bowling, so you have to explain the rules to them the first couple of weeks and get them used to how everything works,” he continues. “Once you do that, the program runs itself. You have to make sure you know each week that you’re ready to go when they come in.” MacColeman urges bowling centers not to be afraid to give it a try. “You have everything to gain and nothing to lose,” he says. “If you don’t try anything, you’re losing out on opportunities to generate revenue for your center.”

BBBI charges centers a one-time fee of $20 per bowler once they show up for the second week of bowling, a small fee to pay for the new business developed!

Center operators interested in more information on the fun bowling leagues program should contact Andy Vasko at BBBI at 1-800-720-0410 or email him at andy.vasko@bowlingbusinessbuilders.com•

BY THE BOOKING

By Ryan Vasko

Who wouldn’t love a business tool that keeps guests happy, frees up staff time, and rakes in dollars for the business? Online reservations have been around for a while but have grown exponentially and more efficiently since the pandemic.

The growth and adaptability of these systems have also been instrumental in allowing centers to weather recent years where they saw business ebb and flow. In today’s economic outlook, an excellent online reservation system may be something you need in your business toolbox.

Guests are accustomed to making online reservations for things ranging from fine dining to a concert, playing a round of golf, seeing a medical professional, and even booking a ride share ahead of time.

Consumer Expectations Have Changed

“The online booking process is much easier for our customers,” said Kirstin Dobbie, general manager at Strike Point Bowling in Lindsay, Ontario, Canada. “And ease is everything when it comes to entertainment!” “The key to anybody’s success right now, honestly, is automation,” said Jenna Boyo, CEO of Planet Lazer. “That’s booking, self-ordering on your phone, or using a kiosk.”

Bill Wammes, the proprietor of Al-Mar Lanes, attributes the online reservation system at his 16-lane center in Bowling Green, OH, to be full on Fridays and Saturdays from customers reserving and paying partially ahead of time. “We find that 55% of the people reserving ahead are bowling the same day, 10% are booking a week out, and everyone else is in between. Today’s customers love reserving online; it’s quick and easy for them, and many expect this option to be available.”

Companies that provide online reservation systems, such as AlleyTrak and Semnox, have established reputations for listening to their clients and being agile enough to tweak their systems to meet the operators’ and guests’ needs.

Finding Solutions

The Thirsty Duck, a duckpin facility in Sussex, WI, was parched for a solution to manage their specific lane setup. They turned to Chris Behling, owner and digital director of AlleyTrak, for help.

“The Thirsty Duck is a small facility, but they had a lot of demand and volume for their activities,” said Behling. Specifically, they were struggling with managing a large variety

Bill Wammes

Chris Behling

Jenna Boyo

Online Reservation

of different types of reservations. Chris continued, “They might have one reservation for a lane for an hour, another for a lane for two hours, and another where someone’s booking six lanes.” AlleyTrak was able to step in and create a solution that worked for Thirsty Duck and its guests.

Staff Relief – A Big Bonus!

Online reservation systems not only free up staff to do other things but also give a more accurate picture of business coming in daily. They can secure revenue more reliably, holding customers accountable for their reservations by collecting a deposit or fee upfront instead of simply being a name on a piece of paper that can easily be canceled.

“It’s been a flood for our clients, with customers coming back in,” said Brian Duke, senior sales partner for Semnox, whose Parafait booking system is tied into their larger suite of offerings. “The cost of hiring extra staff doesn’t always justify the results. That’s why we always stress this isn’t supplanting your employees; it’s supplementing them. It’s a way to help give your guests a better experience.”

When discussing what’s ahead, Behling highlighted AlleyTrak’s recent rollout of booking questions into their system, allowing for further customization and new avenues for data collection. “You can get very granular with the information you collect,” Behling said. “With open play, you might not need to ask additional questions, but for birthday parties or a New Year’s Eve event, you can collect that additional info and re-engage with them. It’s limitless.”

“We don’t want guests ever to have a bad experience,” said Brian Duke. “That’s why our guiding principle is always: Semnox listens to clients. How can we take an idea, take what you need, and make it better?”

As much as any other form of customer service, online reservation systems are invaluable to the continued success of modern businesses. Many centers now charge a convenience fee for open play reservations during

WHAT DO OPERATORS LIKE ABOUT USING ONLINE RESERVATION SYSTEMS?

“It’s great that it’s all-in-one, that it’s all centralized,” said Jenna Boyo of Planet Lazer, who recently switched to Parafait to help handle reservations for their massive laser tag facilities spread across western Canada. “As our business grows and we expand in the next year and a half, I can add in multiple places, and it all works together.”

“It was immediately evident that [this system] had been designed with a fundamental understanding of the bowling business,” said Kirstin Dobbie. “Chris from AlleyTrak was willing to customize the software to meet our unique needs. His team is very responsive and willing to adapt as our center and our industry evolve.”

“It has just enough customizability to tailor to our needs without being complicated,” said Jarrod Ashby at Mission Bowling Club, an AlleyTrak customer in San Francisco. “The interface is intuitive for guests making reservations, and it has been a breeze to train staff how to use it.”

premium times without pushback from guests. And let’s be honest, booking and paying at least partially online works around the industry problem of staff members who sometimes forget to ring the register.

While today’s online reservation systems allow guests to book online, they also have further capabilities beyond booking. Managing events, changing availability, pricing, and other details are part of their appeal to operators. If you’re still taking reservations on the phone or jotting down bowlers’ names with pen and paper, it might be time to step into 2023 and beyond.•

Brian Duke

Wammes,

Lanes in Bowling Green,

INS OUTS Inventory &

By Travis Harper

With everything going on this year, between labor shortages, supply chain issues, and inflation, our costs have increased quite a bit. Keeping a close eye on your cost of goods (COGS) has never been more critical. This information is precious in deciding price changes for your food and beverage programs. Implementing an inventory program will help you evaluate your COGS more accurately.

Inventory should be taken every month. This process can be daunting and time-consuming, which is why many do it only once a year, or maybe not at all. The good news is that with some preparation and standard practices, you can cut down the time it takes to complete a thorough inventory.

One of the first things you can do is clean and organize your coolers, freezers, and storerooms. This will reduce the time needed to count your goods and help ensure a more accurate count. Full cases are more straightforward to count than open cases. Ensure that your employees take the time to use any previously opened cases before opening a new one.

If you are taking inventory manually, create a count sheet that is specific to each storage area. This will save time searching multiple sheets to find the item you are counting. These sheets can be very simplistic in form, making them easy for anyone to use.

One tip when creating your count sheets: always leave room at the bottom of the sheet for unexpected items that the counter finds that were probably placed there by accident.

One of the things about doing inventory that we all hate is the late night it creates, because we feel we can’t start it till after the close of business. You don’t have to wait if you do a little prep work earlier in the day. Go through your bar and food prep areas and stock up with what you feel they will need for the night to come. Once you have done this to the best of your ability, start the process of counting inventory in your stockrooms and freezers.

Be sure to tell your staff that you are in the process of completing inventory. If staff must take something out of the areas you have already counted, make sure they tell you what they have used so you can adjust the counts. Once you close the different operations throughout the building, tackle the counts in those areas. Have the staff working in those areas to give you a hand as they put things away and clean up.

If you are well organized and work together as a team, you could complete your inventory within an hour or two of being closed. Once you feel that all counts have been completed, collect the sheets from everyone and call it a night. You can wait till the next day to finish the tasks necessary to complete your inventory.

The next step in the process is to combine the count sheets into one master list that includes costs so you can put a monetary value on your inventory. This sheet can look something like the example below.

I would suggest using a spreadsheet program to put together your master sheet so that you can use formulas to autocomplete the math. Once you have your final valuation, you can use that to complete the formula to calculate and report your COGS for the month.

Here are a few additional tips to help you with your inventory process:

1. Make sure you talk to your staff about the importance of counting accurately and completely.

2. Allow your staff to count full cases as just that, full cases. Don’t make them do the math to determine how many individual items or cans are in the case. This is where mistakes happen all too often. This is why, in the example above, I have two count lines—one for full cases and one for individual items.

3. Once you determine a method to do your counting, follow it monthly. Changing your counting methods every month can and will lead to inaccuracies. For example, if you determine that you will count open bottles of liquor with a ¼ system, stick to it.

4. Take the time to organize your stock a day or two before taking inventory to make the process easier.

5. Be sure to thank and reward the staff who helped you. Offer a couple of pizzas and have a little fun as you wrap up. If you make it a fun experience, your staff will be more eager to help.

Many tools are out there to help you automate your process. For example, if you use Sysco, they have an inventory application that you can use that is extremely helpful, especially when it comes to updated pricing. There are software applications that can help with liquor inventory, too.

Take some time to investigate and evaluate tools that are out there. You can also ask for help. There are industry experts who can come in and help you set up your inventory process and put systems in place to make doing inventory as painfree as possible.•

Travis has 15+ years of center management experience and is currently the operations manager at First Frame Bowling and the midwest representative of the Hansell Group. You can contact Travis at travis@firstframebowling.com or (844)923-BOWL (2695).

Mozz Cheese Pizza Blend 56.01

Bacon Sliced Smoked Apple 105.37 N/A

Beef Patty FRSH 60.4

Breast 5 oz 97.61

3.25 86.35

N/A 158.05

19 217.11

35 71.05

Meet Allison Timberlake

By Stephanie Davis

Each month IBI’s “Inside Line” highlights a team member from one of our loyal advertisers. It’s always fun to learn a little something new about people who make things happen at their company and for the industry. This month we had the pleasure of talking with Allison Timberlake, senior marketing manager at LAI Games.

IBI: How long have you been in the bowling industry?

Allison: I’ve been in the industry for 13 years, starting as marketing manager for LAI Games in 2009. Before that, I had been in the aviation industry, working for multiple companies that made aircraft instruments. Once I got a taste of the entertainment industry, I knew it was where I wanted to be. Where else is it your job to ensure people have as much fun as possible?

IBI: How has your position changed over the years?

Allison: When I started with LAI Games, I was a one-woman show, doing anything and everything marketing related. I was the head copywriter, graphic designer, and event planner rolled into one. Luckily, over the years, we’ve grown, and now I work with a team of talented individuals who specialize in their roles. Currently, I’m the senior marketing manager.

IBI: What makes LAI unique?

Allison: LAI Games is one of the oldest companies in the industry, founded by Malcolm Steinberg in 1958. So, the company has many decades of industry experience and expertise. LAI prides itself on pushing the boundaries

Allison and family in Hawaii

IBI: What new products, programs, initiatives, or options are in the works?

Allison: We have a variety of new products debuting at IAAPA. We recently entered into an agreement with Warner Brothers to launch a new pusher-style game themed for the globally successful cartoon Rick and Morty. We also partnered with the wildly successful FGTeeV brand, with over 50 million followers across social media, to create Out of Time, a quick-play redemption game themed for their upcoming graphic novel of the same name. We’ll also introduce a new VR version of Asphalt 9 Legends Arcade.

IBI: What new trends do you see emerging in 2023?

Allison: For a games company, the challenge is to help bring guests into entertainment venues and dazzle them so they stay – and spend. These days families often have gaming consoles and VR headsets at home, so centers need offerings that give them something they can’t get at home. For example, we introduced Virtual Rabbids: The Big Ride in 2017 and created the new Unattended Virtual Reality game category. Five years later, it’s still the top game in the category. We continue to improve on it with our new Ultra HD version, which features 5K visuals and a faster frame rate for incredibly realistic visuals and reduced motion sickness in those susceptible to it.

IBI: What do you like most about your job?

Allison: I work with the most amazing team at LAI Games. We are all passionate about this industry and want to give our best to our jobs. I believe in the products we sell, and I love

can reconnect with friends and make new ones.

IBI: What is one habit, technique, or strategy you employ at work to keep you organized and on-task?

Allison: I use a simple Chrome plug-in called Momentum to help me keep my top priorities in mind daily. Whenever I open my browser, I see my main task for the day and a list of the next most important things to get done. It’s a nice reminder not to get sidetracked by emails, texts, and calls, which can take up your whole day if you’re not careful.

IBI: When you’re not working, how do you like to spend your time?

Allison: I’ve got two young kids and a Labrador that keep my husband and me on our toes! When we’re not getting our game on at an entertainment center, we are going on walks, going to the dog park, catching a movie, swimming, or visiting with family and friends.

IBI: What would our readers be surprised to learn about you?

Allison: I am a singer and have sung at Carnegie Hall as part of a choir! We were also lucky enough to tour European cathedrals and enjoy the incredible acoustics as we performed.•

LAI Team Operators Choice Award

Scuba diving

The Case is Clear

HyperBowling extends the reach of your business far beyond bowling. And we can prove it. As part of our investment to create HyperBowling we commissioned an extensive consumer research study that involved over 1,000 casual bowling and non-bowling consumers to gather their reactions. Our research shows that this innovative product will fire up your current base and bring in new customers by offering an exciting fusion of bowling and gaming.

to see

Verity Crawley PWBA Champion

THANKS FOR MAKING BOWL FOR HOPE

SUCCESS!

Did your center miss out? Don’t worry, the Movember event starts now!

Bowl for Hope is in the final stages, but we already know it was a success among both bowlers, participating centers and for cancer research!

This November, your center will have another chance to support people affected by cancer, as we launch our Movember event! It’s free for centers to connect to Lanetalk, and you’ll get promotion on our event pages and the chance to increase both lineage and F&B sales. Read more about Bowl for Hope: www.bowlforhope.com

Lanetalk is free for centers, fast and easy to set up. For details or to connect your center today – lanetalk.com

By Bob Cooney

OLD IDEA,

NEW APPLICATION

Good, old-fashioned leagues for 21st-century gaming

As a bowling operator, you probably look forward to the predictable recurring revenue your league bowlers bring each week. While league bowling is essential to most centers’ total revenue, it has been increasingly challenging over the years.

What if I told you a large segment of the population would like to play in an organized league if you offered them what they’re looking for? And what are they looking for?

Opportunities to spend time doing what they love – gaming.

Competitive gaming is more than a trend; it’s a complex, growing sport and recreation to keep your eye on. ESports offers the opportunity for bowling operators to apply their skillset of building leagues to the fastest growing entertainment category in the U.S., video games and eSports. Bowling and gaming are both competitive and social, and depending on the context of the play, they can be fun or intense.

Competitive video gaming has exploded!

Gaming is hot, and gamers are many! 80% of corporate professionals say video games are the best way to connect with their workers. People are looking for a way to socialize by doing activities they love, like playing video games. It’s important to dispel the 1990s image that gamers are teenage boys playing games in their parent’s basement.

• Two-thirds of adults identify as gamers.

• 70% are middle or upper income

• 49% identify as female

• 70% play video games with their kids.

Reflect on classics like Tetris, Ms. Pac-Man, and Galaga. Some of you might remember stacking quarters to try and beat your best score or working hard to get on the leaderboard. Consider popular home games like Halo, Counterstrike (CSGO), and Fortnite. Anyone can play and have fun, but serious players commit thousands of hours and dollars developing skills that average players marvel at.

Gaming is FUN and BIG BUSINESS

In 2022 over $100 million has been awarded in eSports already. There’s even talk of eSports entering the Olympics. NBC and ESPN regularly broadcast eSports competitions on television. Whether or not you want to accept it, eSports is a big thing.

As popular as eSports is, VR eSports provides another layer to what your center can offer and is a robust and bourgeoning market. A recent Harris Poll showed that 23% of Americans had tried a VR headset, and two-thirds said they would do it again. The great news about VR is that while people can play video games almost anywhere, to have a quality VR experience, you have to go to a facility that offers it. That’s excellent news for locationbased entertainment facilities! There’s plenty of time and potential to build a profitable and sustainable business based on VR gaming.

The good news about competitive video gaming is that there are a lot of gamers looking for the competition that leagues provide. Since most center operators are skilled at hosting league and tournament players, it seems like a natural fit that could create a new revenue stream.

Great Tip!

If you’re looking to kick off eSports leagues and tournaments at your center, you’ll want to find the right community manager who is the equivalent of a league secretary. These community managers structure leagues and tournaments, handle entry fees and hand out prizes. ESport community managers can be passionate players or some of your current employees working it as a side gig. Typically, entry fees are split between the prize pools and the community managers. Locations make money on gameplay, food, beverage, and ancillary spending on other games and attractions.

Building an eSport Stream of Revenue

The best way to start is with an employee tournament. Encourage your staff to play, and award prizes to the top players. They will promote the game to your customers if they’re having fun. And you get a side benefit of higher employee engagement, which during the current labor crisis can’t hurt.

Once your employees play, recruit your community manager out of your most engaged staff. It’s an opportunity for them to do something unique and fun while making extra money. The community manager can work with your sales team to recruit leagues and tournaments from local businesses, school groups, churches, and other institutions.

Omni Arena Drives Repeat Play

Virtuix, the creator of the Omni Arena virtual reality eSports attraction, announced that it had launched a new online website for Omni Arena players: https://arena.virtuix.com. Players can monitor Omni Arena’s weekly and monthly contest leaderboards on the site. The player hub also displays Omni Arena’s games and its 60-plus locations nationwide.

“The player website allows Omni Arena players to watch their spot on the eSports leaderboards from wherever they are,” said Jan Goetgeluk, founder and CEO of Virtuix.

“These leaderboards drive high repeat play, prompting players to return to the entertainment venue to regain winning slots when their position on the leaderboard slips.”

In a survey of over 50,000 Omni Arena players, 46% reported they came to the venue specifically to play Omni Arena.

Omni Arena is a full-body, virtual reality attraction for up to four players. Omni-directional treadmills inside the attraction enable players to walk and run around inside video games. Guests can compete for top spots on leaderboards and win a share of a $100,000 eSports prize pool sponsored by Virtuix. Virtuix has paid out over $250,000 in eSports prize money to the winners of Omni Arena’s built-in eSports competitions.

ESports is a complex revenue stream to begin, so be sure to do your homework and find out how your center can best jump on the VR eSports wave. Building a locationbased eSports business will not happen overnight. It will take a consistently applied approach. But the payoffs of recurring revenue and attracting communities of frequent customers are great reasons to continue following this growing sport. •

RESOURCES TO LEARN MORE:

• For more information on VR Arcade Game Esports, check out Bob Cooney’s eSports Blog https://www.bobcooney.com/blog/

• Here’s a link to Bob’s complimentary IAAPA Buyers Guide: www.bobcooney.com/vrarcade-game-buyers-guide-to-iaapa/

• Information on VR games and professionals: thevrcollective.com/

eSPORTS!

Creating an eSports venue can draw gamers to your center

As bowling centers and FECs continue to reinvent themselves with added attractions, high-tech experiences, and higher-quality food and beverage options, one innovative new stream of revenue involves using a modest amount of space, high-definition computers, and lightning-fast internet.

You may have heard of eSports or eSports centers and not paid too much attention. If you’re a little cloudy on what this is all about, think of eSports as organized competitive video gaming, kind of like organized, competitive bowling.

ESports are short for electronic sports, which is a form of competition using different types of video games. Just like many other sports, eSports can involve individual players, teams, and even professional players. ESports are often quite competitive and even played in front of groups of spectators who watch tournaments, leagues, and other competitions.

Wildly popular for players and spectators

On a grand scale, last year, an estimated 440 million spectators watched eSport events, often hosted at packed stadium arenas around the world and are streamed to millions more. Just like other major sporting events, this includes lively sports commentary, action replays, interviews with coaches and trainers, and insight from game creators.

While major competitions are often hosted in large arenas, smaller eSports venues attract those who want a place to practice, socialize, and hone their skills. Individual eSports venues are popping up not just as stand-alone facilities but are also being offered in already established entertainment facilities that draw in customers of all types.

Enter the bowling and FEC connection. Being a gamer myself, I was stoked to talk to Travis Huston, manager at Rack and Roll Bowling Lanes at Purdue University, while I was at Bowl Expo last June. Travis was finishing up his latest initiative of completing the brand new Boiler Game Mine eSports area right next to the bowling center.

Finding space to monetize

Travis reworked the space at his center to accommodate his new venture. “By turning unused or unprofitable areas of your center into an eSports center, you can bring the local community together with leagues, coaching, and

Travis Huston

UnderstandingBy Mike Fernandez

Boiler Game Mine inside Rack and Roll Bowling Lanes at Purdue University

THESE ARE SOME COMPETITIVE NUMBERS:

• The 2016 League of Legends Championships had about 43 million viewers. Compare that number to the Olympic opening ceremony in Tokyo last year which attracted only about 16.7 million viewers.

• Nearly 52,000 tournaments have been played across 607 games.

• Total prize earnings distributed to players currently surpass $1.3 billion dollars.

• 175 colleges and universities are members of the National Association of Collegiate eSports (NACE) with officially recognized varsity teams. Colleges even offer partial and full-ride scholarships for eSports.

tournaments just like you do bowling!” Travis said when discussing the similarities.

“In our center, if we had an overflow of bowling, people kept themselves busy in the billiards area, which could also be reserved. To accommodate the eSports space, we replaced 12 of our 16 billiard tables and added 24 PCs which are more compact. We increased up to 28 reservable spots for people to pay and play,” said Travis. Spots are easily reserved through the center’s existing QubicaAMF POS system.

For players, one of the attractions of heading out to an eSports venue is that an entire team can come together in one location to train and scrimmage, just like any other sport. Besides the sociability of gaming together, eSports centers allow players the ability to pay affordable hourly gaming rates and avoid spending thousands of dollars on gaming consoles for everyone on the team.

While eSports is new to many people, it’s been a growing phenomenon for many years. The first major video gaming tournament was in 1990 when the Nintendo World Championships hosted thousands of players touring 30 American cities. The winner of that championship walked away with a clean $10,000 and a new TV — not bad for 1990! Since then, competitive gaming has picked up a bit of a momentum.

You might be familiar with kids doing silly Fortnite dances in your center. In 2019, the Fortnite World Cup Finals offered a monstrous prize pool of $30 million dollars to be a dancer with the best moves! Another competition, The International, is the annual world championship for the computer game Dota 2 and offered a record-breaking prize pool last year of over $40 million dollars. Now that’s hefty, hefty!

Depending on your center’s space and demographics, the size of an eSports room or designated area can vary greatly. Finding a provider who can consult with you and help outfit

your space will help maximize revenue. Travis found a turn-key solution company called ggCircuit that came in to handle most of the hardware, software, and networking to get the system up and running. If you’re interested in more information visit www.ggcircuit.com for details.

Whether or not you’re into eSports yourself, it’s certainly become a sensation that at the very least should be followed closely. If your center attracts a younger demographic, or especially if you’re in a city or near a university, you may want to investigate offering an eSports venue as another stream of revenue. Imagine all the new faces you’ll see visiting your facility.•

Mike Fernandez is a freelance contributor on all things regarding food, booze, and fun. Growing up in his family’s restaurant business fueled his passion for good eats and tasty treats. By day Mike works in business development for IBI, by night he scours south Florida for the latest trends in food, drinks, and recreation.

LEAGUES LEAGUE BOWLERS

OF EDGE STRING

Expert Alley

with

Jonathan Betti

Betson

The Importance of a Game Room Refresh

The initial decision to invest in an arcade is a significant one involving capital outlay, planning, and other valuable resources. Creating a successful arcade must factor in the room’s layout, the right mix of games, the selection of enticing prizes, the marketing of offerings, and many other variables.

Once you’ve gotten through that, you’re on your way to creating a successful arcade, but it’s vital not to underestimate the importance of developing plans for a game room refresh. This practice will enable you to maintain and grow your game room earnings through consistent reinvestment in new games.

Why should you refresh your game room? Technology changes, game trends evolve, assets depreciate, and consumers want diversity in their entertainment experiences.

How do you decide which games to remove, when to take them out, and which to add? This starts with understanding your card system reports.

Consistent analysis of the 6-week, 3-month, 6-month, and annual trend reports helps identify game assets that may be declining in earnings, provide redundancy (too many lanes, hoops, cranes, etc.), or are just not appealing to your customer base for other reasons. At that point, sharing data with your distributor to determine fair market value tradein prices will help you narrow down the games to swap out. Trading in late model games before they’ve become “old” provides a ripe time to offload an existing game and minimize the capital outlay to maintain a fresh game room.

As for new games, work with your salesperson to find suitable hot releases to fill those spots. You also want to maintain the optimal mix of video, redemption, and merchandisers within your arcade. That mix will be unique to your specific location but should still follow general guidelines within the industry.

While a redemption player may be motivated by both the gameplay and the prize, the video player is entirely driven by the immersive experience and competitive play. Video technology moves quickly, so keeping your players engaged with new releases is critical to repeat customer visits. Additionally, more manufacturers are incorporating virtual leaderboards, console crossover, and other unique offerings to incentivize return play. Video titles may not drive the most revenue in your game room compared to redemption titles, but they are a key draw for many players and an essential component of the arcade experience.

Leasing games is also a great way to provide a built-in reminder that it is time to refresh. Many locations and operators will lease a portion of their game rooms for this reason.

Don’t forget about marketing

What is the benefit of a new game if your customers don’t know about it?

Not all locations have the budget for TV or radio advertisements. Still, card systems and loyalty programs give locations incredible marketing power to speak directly to their player base. Additionally, social media platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok are all low-cost avenues to bring awareness of new offerings to your customers. Let your customers know that a game is coming, then create excitement and promotion around its arrival.

A new game is a great opportunity to rearrange your room. Simply moving some games from the front of the room to the back will make your room feel newer, even if you have only added a few new titles.

Jonathan Betti is senior vice president of Sales and Business Development for Betson Enterprises.•

By Mike Fernandez

So Should Your

CHANGE

SEASONS MENU!

For millennia, civilizations around the world have found different ways to track the seasons with hundreds of different calendars, all trying their best to plan for the future.

We may not find it necessary to sacrifice livestock for a good crop season anymore. Still, the way your home is prepared, the tires you put on your car, and the activities you plan, follow the seasons - so why should your business’s menu get left behind?

BETTER REVENUE:

On average, seasonal menus have a 26% increase in orders! It’s no surprise that seasonal menu changes bring a more robust performance than all-year offerings. Most consumers don’t want ice cream in the snow or hot casserole in the summer sun. Aside from the demand, menu changes bring in new guests looking to experiment with new foods. If an enticing new recipe is offered, there’s one more reason for guests to stop by.

BETTER PROFITS:

In addition to the increased revenue, you’ll save losses by avoiding unnecessary food waste. Most fruits and vegetables get much more affordable when the farmlands overflow with produce, so you’re meeting consumer demand while also getting the best year’s price. It’s a no-brainer!

BETTER SOURCES:

Menu changes are the best chance to look at new food sources, and you’re supporting small businesses and the local community by taking the chance to test out local farms. Locally sourced food means fresher fruits, heartier vegetables, and a lack of the potent pesticides that commercial operations utilize.

Make sure to add in the dish’s description that products are locally sourced or ethically farmed, as consumers currently highly value business transparency!

FOODS:

SWEET, SPICY, SMOKEY

Those are all the keywords you need to give your bar guests butterflies.

It’s hard to go wrong as long as you keep it seasonal. Hot Chocolate is a great way to warm up guests this winter, and it’s legal to add Kahlua in all 50 states — probably!

Pumpkin Spice: We’re all aware of the deal here. Add it to any cocktail, and if you think you’ve ordered enough for the season, order more.

Smokey drinks are always a hit in the winter.

There’s nothing greater than warming up to a cocktail with a hickory or cherry wood smoke flavor.

Booze and

KEEP BOWLERS ON REPEAT

Learn to Bowl programs at Star Lanes in Japan keep bowlers coming in

By Paul Lane

Akira Nakano, the president of Eastern Sports Co. Ltd, which owns and operates the Star Lanes chain of nine centers in Japan, told us since the end of COVID-19 restrictions in 2020, their income increased with league bowler sales.

“We have been strengthening our Learn to Bowl (LTB) program to attract people to bowling that converts attendees into league bowlers,” Nakano said. “In short, [we are] developing repeat business.”

While most Japanese proprietors rarely include league bowling in their marketing offers, Nakano wanted to bring more financial balance to the business.

Star Lanes has had a thriving league program since the 1960s; the LTB program started in 1996 to bolster league play. COVID-19 impacted both programs, along with open bowling. Open bowling remains the most significant source of income, but that’s during evening primetime and weekends. The lanes were idle on weekday mornings and afternoons, so Star Lanes became more aggressive in flooring LTB customers.

“It began with LTB, which we determined should run during times we needed to fill with league bowling,” said Nakano. “By attending six LTB classes, the attendees demonstrate that they are available during that time and day of the week, increasing our chances of converting them into league bowlers.”

“We start educating them on the concept of league bowling by explaining what it is all about during the first lesson. From the second through the sixth lesson, we simulate a mock league,” continues Nakano. “This prepares them and makes the transition into league bowling easier, with mostly positive results in terms of the conversion rate.”

The classes follow a lesson plan honed over the years. Nakano said the LTB-to-league conversion rate is 67%. Additionally, attendees who don’t become league bowlers continue as regular open bowling customers and generate additional revenue when they return with family members and friends.

Star Lanes employs a cadre of professional bowlers offering instruction and coaching for LTB programs. The pro-bowlers are assisted by Star Lanes’ employees trained to teach bowling fundamentals to beginners.

Star Lanes had 8,763 league members in 2019 pre-COVID. This number dropped to 7,939 in 2021 and up slightly to 8,030 in 2022. With their ongoing, more aggressively promoted LTB program, Nakano says they expect to surpass pre-COVID levels over the next 12 months.

The cost of six lessons and a dinner party/graduation following the last lesson is $36. The LTB participants are now qualified and eligible to bowl in a league and join the Star Lanes Members Club.

In 2019 Star Lanes Club Member sales represented 57.5% of all game sales. And in 2022, member game sales increased to 64%.

Star Lanes promotes LTB through sales calls, social media, and print media advertising. LTB classes are the most effective promotion for growing their league bowling business.

Open bowling during peak times at Star Lanes has returned to almost pre-COVID-19 lockdown levels. In many markets, including the U.S., centers are experiencing record business during those peak times. This demonstrates that bowling and FECs are attractive to consumers who have been locked down or locked out. If you have empty lanes during off-peak times, a solid LTB program may be an opportunity to turn newbies into hard-core bowlers.•

Learn to bowl programs worked great in the past for centers in the U.S.

Might they work again?

Back in the 1970s, most U.S. bowling centers were very busy with evening leagues dominated by teams of male players and company leagues. The daytime business was very slow until an industry initiative targeting homemakers was implemented. Free ladies’ learn-to-bowl classes were offered to women who were available to participate during the daytime hours. Thousands of four to six-week learn-to-bowl sessions were offered, and thousands of leagues were formed, filling morning and afternoon spots with plenty of ladies’ leagues. As time went on and more women joined the workforce, there was a gradual decline of available players, which caused the demise of most leagues.

Currently, 10,000 Baby Boomers are retiring a day. Perhaps a Boomer’s learn-to-bowl promotion could work into your schedule and attract players from this population segment. Boomers are notorious for seeking activities to entertain them and fill their time. A Boomer’s learn-to-bowl program might fill spots in the daytime or early evening. It would take some work but might be well worth the effort.

Akira Nakano

IAAPA

SHOWCASE

Kids Bowl Free

If you’re looking for more traffic, data, or revenue, The National Kids Bowl Free Summer Program (KBF) can help you achieve all three. KBF has become a key marketing tool for FEC’s that offer bowling; creating traffic and spending in time for slots where centers want additional business like spring, summer, and fall. Operators enjoy secondary spending on rental shoes, food and beverage, and other attractions of the operation. KBF’s user-friendly, automated system collects customer data from families that register children which includes birthday information and other key marketing data. KBF communicates with families year-round on behalf of the center. Additional revenue from the wildly popular KBF Family Pass, results in centers receiving checks from Family Pass sales which are made on behalf of each participating center. Since 2008 more than 32 million children have been registered for over 1,500 centers throughout the US, Canada, and military installations around the world. Visit us at booth #503 or call one of our representatives at 877-841-4590 to learn more.

AVS

In recent months, AVS Companies has expanded their FEC / BEC services with new additions to their sales and technician teams. With a rising demand from customers for high-quality FEC / BEC attractions, Eileen Schreiner was promoted to Director of FEC Sales and Service for AVS, bringing her extensive knowledge and expertise to help expand the customer base. With a direct focus on FECs, Schreiner will work closely with customers to meet their specific needs and expectations. AVS also welcomed Logan Schneider to the team as Director of FEC Sales and Service for their southern region. Schneider has prior amusement experience from working with manufacturers, bringing a wealth of knowledge and new processes to the company. With the addition of these new roles, AVS will focus heavily on every step of the process to help any BEC succeed and thrive for many years to come.

BMI launches their own Blind Box Kit for Cranes! Looking for something new and different for your crane games to entice your guests? BMI has hit the mark with their very own Surprise Box Crane Kit. There are 6 different boxes in the assortment to attract all ages, the Gamer, Fast Food, Squish, Fidget, Unicorn and Ninja, all with their own trendy designed box. Each box includes 5 surprises inside, we can’t say what as it’s a SURPRISE, shhhh! The kit is a 72 Pc. Crane Kit which also includes a custom designed poster to hang inside your crane. A correctly merchandised crane game generates substantial revenue, while the right merchandise casts a halo effect across the entire facility. And crane play transcends all customer demographics. Check out this kit on our website: https://www.bmimerchandise.com or call a salesperson @ 800-272-6375 anytime, we’re here to help.

ONLY AT

Brunswick

Visit us at IAAPA, booth 4831, to experience what’s new!

SYNC SELF SERVICE KIOSK

Get a hands on experience with our brand-new Sync Self Service Kiosk! Responding to customer and proprietor demands for self-service technologies that reduce interactions and long waits, the Sync Kiosk enables guests to enjoy a more personalized experience while reducing staff involvement. Provide better customer service without additional staff and turn lanes over faster with the Sync Self Service Kiosk.

OPENLANE

Consumers today expect on-demand, personalized experiences from their mobile devices. OpenLane custom mobile app, designed specifically for the bowling industry and available only from Brunswick, increases customer loyalty by making it easier and more rewarding to connect with your center. Users can sign on to wait lists, track and share their score achievements, and access specials and coupons from anywhere, any time. At the lanes, guests can use the app to edit their names and photos within Sync games.

ORDERNOW

Satisfy customers’ desire for instant gratification and self-service with OrderNow’s highly visual, interactive menu. OrderNow makes it convenient for guests to order and reorder on the Sync scoring tablet and improves profitability by reducing or redeploying staff, increasing average check total, and streamlining operations with full integration to the POS system.

Expert Hosiery Christmas Bowling Socks for Bowling fanatics! Look great at the lanes and in loafers. Great STOCKING STUFFER! Available in Teens / Ladies & Men sizes. Centers are selling bowling logo socks for extra revenue. Mix and match Athletic and Glow Bowling Socks by the dozen. Expert Hosiery / Funtime Footwear is THE athletic sock supplier for Bowling and FEC’s. Call us for details on how Centers are using Glow Socks in their centers. Ph 919-799-7707 E: support@experthosiery.com www.funtimefootwear.com

HOLOGATE is going BIG at IAAPA! You won’t want to miss HOLOGATE’s BIGGEST LBE NEWS and REVEALS

BBBI Unveils FUN LEAGUES FOR FECs

The industry’s premier marketing and software development company launched its no-risk league building service in early 2022 and is now expanding from the test phase to a complete industry launch. Centers around the country participated in the www.FunBowlingLeagues.com test phase with phenomenal results. The leagues that BBBI forms are casual, social bowling leagues that attract adults looking for a night out with friends and family. All leagues are a combination of bowling along with food and beverage. Participating centers report that Fun League bowlers spend additional time and money at their location.

To learn more about how your center can reap the rewards of having a www.FunBowlingLeagues.com built and delivered to you at no risk, visit booth #503 to learn more from the team at Bowling Business Builders International (BBBI) to see if your facility qualifies.

For more information, contact Bruce@BowlingBusinessBuilders. com or call 877-841-4590 to learn more.

The GHOSTBUSTERS are going to be recruiting at over 400 HOLOGATE locations around the world! But before you can join the team, you’re going to need some training. We are excited to announce the GHOSTBUSTERS VR ACADEMY.

HOLOGATE has partnered with Sony Pictures Virtual Reality (SPVR), in association with Ghost Corps, to create the ‘Ghostbusters VR Academy’, two distinct games on HOLOGATE’S pioneering multi-player VR platform, HOLOGATE ARENA, and their premium VR motion simulator, HOLOGATE BLITZ, set in the world of Ghostbusters.

HOLOGATE is fulfilling long-time wishes to let players operate iconic Ghostbusters equipment in virtual reality. Master proton blasting skills, and take down some nasty ghosts! And who doesn’t dream of strapping on a proton pack or racing the ECTO? If you ain’t afraid of no ghost, come by and get a sneak peek on the latest!

HOLOGATE will be exhibiting at booth 2883 /3083 Find more information visit us at www.hologate.com

BBBI

Switch and Save with Intercard

Intercard introduces its latest cutting-edge technology to their Edge Mobile Apps collection, which includes an iWallet that lets guests use Apple Pay and Google Pay. We will also present our E-commerce platform that enables guests to buy in advance game cards, gift cards, package deals and more. Purchases are made securely online and redeemed in your center at a contactless kiosk, saving guests time and reducing labor costs.

Experience our new iTellerPlus software and kiosk that expands the future of self-service kiosks in entertainment centers. It can be programmed to upsell guests on additional activities or food and beverage, all based on their initial choices. Intercard customers will receive the updated software for free. Switch and save with Intercard. www.intercardinc. com/products

LAI Games

Rick and Morty: Blips and Chitz

LAI Games has partnered with Warner Brothers to bring operators an exciting new pusher based on Cartoon Network’s most watched series of all time – Rick and Morty: Blips and Chitz. Instead of coins, guests aim to push marbles and colorful disks over the edge of the deck to win tickets and a chance at the Super Bonus prize.

A brightly lit cabinet and engaging game play, in combination with the huge following for this #1 adult comedy series, make Rick and Morty a winner for your bowling center. For more information visit www.laigames.com/rickandmorty.

QubicaAMF

Fly’n Ducks

Duckpin is an exciting and fun bowling game traditionally played on a standard tenpin bowling lane using a smaller ball and unique bowling pins, called duckpins. We have taken this highly competitive duckpin format and scaled it down to create the perfect social attraction for the modern venue! Fly’n Ducks is the engaging experience that is the right challenge level for adults but is still suitable for teens and younger guests.

Redemption Plus

You won’t want to miss visiting Redemption Plus at booth 1824 this year! We are building a redemption room that our inhouse design studio designed, and built by one of our industry partners. See our end-to-end services and products in action! We are showcasing our expanded product line in full force, along with our custom imprint capabilities and crane products on display in the booth. In addition, Redemption Plus is hosting redemption merchandising workshops (20-30 minutes each) at 10 am and 2 pm each day! Stop by, tour our store and speak with our expert staff about how to up-level your redemption program!

Fly’n Ducks packages the excitement of duckpin bowling into a smaller footprint making it the perfect anchor attraction for businesses like bars, restaurants and night clubs. Plus, Fly’n Ducks has been reimaged to meet the needs of today’s operators and consumers utilizing the power of the BES X Bowler Entertainment System and the EDGE String pinspotter, so you’ll be able to deliver the best duckpin experience at the lowest operational costs, maximizing profitability. www.qubicaamf.com

Semnox’s Online Cashless Payment Systems

Integration of Semnox’s cashless payment system enables businesses in convenient online bookings, party bookings, card sale, recharge, combo products sales and more! This platform has seen a rise in its customer base owing to its ease-of-use and brilliant features! The system’s flexibility to integrate with safe and secure payment gateways makes it all the more important for businesses which are looking for contactless solutions.

EXPANSIONS, OPENINGS, AND NEW BEGINNINGS

It seems that wherever you turn, there is a new, fantastical, fun venue with an array of glitzy choices. FECs are continually morphing into bigger and better places to spend time.

STARS AND STRIKES ARRIVES AT MYRTLE BEACH, SC

STARS AND STRIKES has opened in Myrtle Beach, SC. The splashy, 52,000 square-foot venue offers 24 lanes of bowling, a large arcade, a multi-story laser tag arena, axe throwing, chef-crated cuisine, and a large full-service bar surrounded by big-screen TVs for sports. It is the sixteenth Stars and Strikes location and the third in the state of South Carolina.

Price, UT, boasts the new and improved COUNTRY LANES. Again, the focus is a place where kids can congregate. The newly hired team was trained to create pizzas from scratch with homemade sauce and natural ingredients. On tap will be Coca-Cola products, specialty Jackson Hole bottled root beer and orange soda, plus energy drinks. “Familyoriented” is the key and fun will be the offering. An arcade was created with 18 of the most popular games with a vast variety of prizes.

MEANT FOR EACH OTHER

In Morton, WA, MILLTOWN SMOKEHOUSE features barbecue, bowling, and brews. The Smokehouse has offered bowling since the 1970s with a full-service bar, fresh meats smoked daily, outdoor seating, and 12 lanes of fun-filled bowling. BBQ is summer heaven and bowling goes with everything!

UTAH DOES BOWLING

Two new spots in Utah have stepped up to include bowling in their communities. PAT’S PLACE, formerly known as Plaza Lanes, in Delta, is open after a two-year transition of ownership and renovations. Mandi and Pat Stefanoff are the new proprietors of the center. The reason? “The kids need somewhere to go. There’s nothing for them to do,” said Mandi Stefanoff. Now, there’s new scoring systems and touch screen kiosks for picture taking. The bar has been removed and replaced with an ice cream machine and pizza oven. Let the fun begin!

Our

DECIBEL

BOWLING ACROSS THE POND

Bowling

in East Lancashire has opened the

BOILER HOUSE BOWLING –

and is reeling from a duckpin invasion. The smaller, squatty pins are enticing

as duckpin is similar to tenpin with

no

required, and lots of

introduce the

apply. The new bowling is designed to fit right in to the

industrial theme.

TENPIN

boasting a new

a

–

and

There are now

of UK’s

for

in

include

APOLLO

NEW

&

FOR SALE

BOWLING CENTER FOR SALE

Owner retiring. 47,000 sq ft high volume family entertainment center. Leased building located in West Houston Texas (Katy), opened in 2005. Revenue up significantly above 2019 and 2021 numbers. 36 synthetic lanes, 6 located in a private area, Qubica scoring, Laser tag, 55 Arcade games, Billiard tables, full sports bar restaurant, and party rooms. Strong league base during the week, followed by busy late night crowd. Full of parties and open play all weekend. Email Barry300@aol.com for more information.

PRO

Drill

AVAILABLE

HEAD MECHANIC WANTED

Head Mechanic

A-2

in

to sgroce@nationwidebowling.com

MECHANIC RETIRING

HIGH Level mechanic retiring – willing to train next hire for our 26 lane center with restaurant. Only the third mechanic since 1959 for our very stable, family business. Great opportunity in beautiful northwest NJ/PA border town. Salary and benefits commensurate with experience. Email resume to rob.plenge@comcast.net or call Rob 908-763-1192.

DUCKPIN BOWLING REIMAGINED

Fly’n Ducks is classic duckpin bowling reimagined for today. Amazingly easy to operate, available in a variety of sizes and options, cool and exciting for adults and children alike.

Stop by our booth at IAAPA in Orlando and experience the Fly’n Ducks difference!