As many people know, bowling has had a steady decline over the past few years, and this is only emphasized in the summertime. The bowling center that I represent is not excluded from this trend. Is there anything anyone out there has found to boost business or just get bodies in the doors more during the summer?

I'm not sure if they still do this, but it surely worked when I lived there. I also don't know if it was just local thing, either.

Back in my hometown of Omaha, and in the early to mid 1990s, the local alleys set aside an entire week during the summer to get everyone out to bowl. 25 cent special for everything: 25 cents per game, 25 cents for shoe rental, 25 cents for hot dogs, 25 cents for soft drinks.

This was for anytime there were open lanes. Summer leagues obviously had priority, but any time there were open lanes, every house in Omaha was full with at least a 30 - 45 minute waiting list for a lane. At that time, there were.. lemme see.. Forgive me, have to count them out:

Kelley's North Bowl, Kelley's Hilltop Lanes, King Louie's Rose Bowl, Ames Bowl, Chop's Bowl, ICC Bowlatorium, Sky Lanes, Wildcat Lanes, Leopard Lanes, Cougar Lanes, Papio Bowl, Ralston Bowl, Mockingbird Lanes, Western Bowl, Gateway Lanes, Maplewood Lanes, West Lanes, and Leisure Lanes.

18 total. Every house made serious money on that. And all it took was an ad or two in the entertainment section of the local newspaper to get the word out.

The only place nowadays that has anything near close to this is Vegas if you want to pay 50 cents per game after 1am, and that is only at some alleys.

Omaha did this for at least 9-10 years (I moved in 1998), but every house made some serious money on it, plus got some people to join leagues because of it. I really don't see a reason as to why something like this wouldn't work again. I really don't.

BL.

Here we have a Monday Sport challenge league there is only 9 people this year(certified but not sports first time in 10 years not sports certified the people did not want to upgrade to sports just for the summer) Tuesday 9 pin no tap league 4 member teams and we have 12 teams an it is certified just in case someone does shoot a real 300 (4 out of the last 6 years somebody has rolled one an receive their ring), Wednesday night .25 mania with a $7.00 cover charge, friday morning early bird league about 24 people in it (mostly Seniors), 1 youth league on Tuesday afernoon.
Last summer we went on vacation in Idaho there was a center out there that tues-friday all day I believe they had $1 everything (Game, Shoe, Drinks food). We where there at 10am it is a 24 lanes center an 17 lanes where being used less than hour after opening. Family said it like that all the time.

Check out the "Kids Bowl Free" promotion. The parents sign up their kids. You decide the range of ages for the kids. The kids will get (2) games free per day. You decide what days and time the promotion runs. The parents get an email every week with their coupons for the week. They print them out and bring them to you at the center. It costs the center a little in the front end, but you will have people in the door, and when they buy food, drinks, etc. from the center, you are finding a new source of revenue.  Again, the best case for KBF is the center gets to set the hours, days and some of the rules about the promotion.  You allow KBF to build up the hours where there is not much going on and still allow your existing customers (league or open play) to still visit the center at their normal times. Be very careful about making sure the details of the program are followed by your staff (I.E. No free bowling to those who do no print their coupons and bring them to the center, Watching the dates on the coupons, etc.)

The about the Kid's Bowl Free is you never see them again until it's free! We're a small center and it's hard to do maintenance when the lanes are going and you have no money for repairs! We decided not to do the KBF this year and doing specials instead. We're just as busy and making more money for the repairs that are needed after a busy winter season! Plus, KBF promoters are wanting the bowling centers to provide a lunch for the kids, which is an added expense! Just my $.02, Bruce

Since I don't own the center, but just bowl and coach there, I have not heard of KBF asking for lunch support. We went from a town in the Southwest, where the previous owner closed for the summer to one that was only open for summer leagues to one who is now open every day and also does KBF. Glad we have what we have and not just the KBF. KBF means more to others than to us, but the see new faces in the center that are less than 60 years old is a cool thing too...

From a proprietor standpoint. Boosting summer bowling is all about cheap specials in my area. Kids need things to do and 4.00+ a game isn't going to get them in the door.  Sport leagues sometimes work. I bowl one in the summer but we went from 24 people last year down to 12 this year. Too much reality for many of the "house heroes". Get them in the door for cheap or even "free" and the try to get them to sign up for a winter league and stay