BallReviews
General Category => Miscellaneous => Topic started by: thedjs on August 08, 2013, 11:05:04 AM
-
Now that AMF and Bowlmor have merged, do you think we will see any improvements in their bowling centers?
-
This is a good question. We just had our season opening meeting. We are finally getting a new lane machine. Something AMF would never do because our center did not have enough bowlers or make enough money. AMF's philosophy in the past was to ignore the less profitable centers and put all the updates into the more profitable centers. I think even the average person can find some fault in that strategy.
Anyway, we were told that we "should" get new scoring in the future. Under AMF management that typically meant "no chance", but who knows, maybe the new management will live up to their promises.
Now the philosophical changes that were told to us:
1. Reduced staff ... less management.
2. Snack bar discounts only viable during league bowling.
3. New hours. No more mornings, and will open at 4: pm 3 days a week.
4. No more free bowling for league members on weekends.
Our lineage went up again. There are two centers in town. The other charges less than $10 for league lineage. AMF just went up to $11.60 for our league.
So I think BowlMor appears to be putting money into the centers, but are cutting all the small discounts out.
My 2 cents.
-
So far, only change is a lineage increase :(
-
I don't bowl leagues at AMFs, but all these changes I'm hearing about all seem negative. I believe the non-AMFs in my area will benefit from Bowlmor's stupidity.
-
My center is a new BowlMor center also. Open at 4 pm 4 days a week and are open only 56 hours a week now. Center will close at 10 pm Sunday thru Thursday with last call in the bar and snack bar occuring at 9:30 pm. This sucks because our league ends around 9:15-9:30 and this means no more hanging out after league. No more drinks, no more bowling and no more pre/post bowling. In fact, you can pre/post bowl only on the weekends now and they won't oil.
As was said before, smaller workforce including no more desk personnel during league. If your lane breaks down or have a deadwood or ball return, you call the front desk and wait for an employee doing something else to come up to the desk and answer your call. We were told it could take up to 10-15 minutes until the employees get the hang of it.
However, in defense of BowlMor, they supposedly grossed more in the six centers they owned before the merger than all of AMF centers (200+) combined. Find it hard to believe, but who knows.
-
The (former) AMF center here in Salt Lake City couldn't possibly get any worse. AMF didn't want to spend any money on the place. League bowlers have left that place in droves over the past 10 years or so.
There is no possible direction but up, but I don't think anyone around here cares anymore simply because most of us quit bowling there years ago.
-
My center is a new BowlMor center also. Open at 4 pm 4 days a week and are open only 56 hours a week now. Center will close at 10 pm Sunday thru Thursday with last call in the bar and snack bar occuring at 9:30 pm. This sucks because our league ends around 9:15-9:30 and this means no more hanging out after league. No more drinks, no more bowling and no more pre/post bowling. In fact, you can pre/post bowl only on the weekends now and they won't oil.
As was said before, smaller workforce including no more desk personnel during league. If your lane breaks down or have a deadwood or ball return, you call the front desk and wait for an employee doing something else to come up to the desk and answer your call. We were told it could take up to 10-15 minutes until the employees get the hang of it.
However, in defense of BowlMor, they supposedly grossed more in the six centers they owned before the merger than all of AMF centers (200+) combined. Find it hard to believe, but who knows.
Sean how can there not be a desk person during league? Is it going to be mandatory for all bowlers to have correct change to pay their league dues? What if you want to buy a candy bar out of the machine and you only have a $5 bill oh well guess you're out of luck? Need a set up for a fallen pin waiting for someone to get there to call the back. Since i work at Armadilla 2 right up the freeway i invite you and all your fellow bowlers to come to Armadilla 2 and will guarantee you won't have to wait!! Call Randy Ray ASAP
Jimmy Fields
-
This is what I noticed....
Hanging out drinking and having a good time is over...
Family atmosphere that we had will be gone soon also...
Had some great times... O well...
-
My center is a new BowlMor center also. Open at 4 pm 4 days a week and are open only 56 hours a week now. Center will close at 10 pm Sunday thru Thursday with last call in the bar and snack bar occuring at 9:30 pm. This sucks because our league ends around 9:15-9:30 and this means no more hanging out after league. No more drinks, no more bowling and no more pre/post bowling. In fact, you can pre/post bowl only on the weekends now and they won't oil.
As was said before, smaller workforce including no more desk personnel during league. If your lane breaks down or have a deadwood or ball return, you call the front desk and wait for an employee doing something else to come up to the desk and answer your call. We were told it could take up to 10-15 minutes until the employees get the hang of it.
However, in defense of BowlMor, they supposedly grossed more in the six centers they owned before the merger than all of AMF centers (200+) combined. Find it hard to believe, but who knows.
We invite any bowlers looking for a new home center come down to Armadilla 1 in Pasadena, TX. We have openings on most nights, more on some and less on others.
Call Danna @ 713-941-2343 to reserve a spot.
P.S. She'll keep the bar open after league
-
Dont think our center is going to make -- We dropping allot of leagues because of the time they are opening and prices are going up...
-
Jimmy and Robert, trust me, I bowled at both Armadillas and like both centers. I see the writing on the wall for Alpha as far as competitive bowling. However, Alpha is still bidding on tournaments. They are getting a new GM and the hope is they will be able to adjust the hours a little bit. I bowl there for a different reason than most so I will probably be there till the end of the league.
But if I had to look into my crystal ball and predict what next year will look like, I don't see Alpha being what it is today. That is my personal opinion. I do like the increased competitiveness at the Armadillas so we will see about next year. Hope to sub some on Monday's at Arm II this year. Good luck to y'all and we may see you soon.
-
Starting this Fall, our AMF center will also be cutting hours to go along with the lineage increase.
-
Here's whats happening at one of the AMF centers near me:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/144738222369526/
Bowlmor should be renamed as BowLESS. Not a clue, they could have waited a season to make such changes. This will be my last year bowling leagues at AMF/Bowlmor
-
They are kicking kids out of several of the DFW centers. Told big leagues to go somewhere else and making other kids leagues start after 12, so it makes it tough to do high school bowling programs. In most cases they are dropping those anyway. Not sure what these guys think is going to fill the centers in the future. One of the centers wants corporate parties only and the entertainment junk and it was one of the big league houses. Not anymore. They kicked a scheduled regional out as well.
-
How in the hell do they plan on making money with this approach o.O
-
Oddly enough, I have one positive experience to report on my AMF/Bowlmor center.
My Monday night league is the center's premier league and we have been using a different Kegel pattern each year the past 3 years. 2 years ago it was Route 66; last year it was Beaten Path. Last night the center agreed to put out 3 different oil patterns for our league bowlers to test FREE. They put Route 66 on one air, Beaten Path on the next pair and Bourbon Street on the next 2 pairs. (I assume our league officers picked out Bourbon Street as the new alternative.
So everyone who showed up threw as many balls as they wanted across all 8 lanes, for as long as they wanted. Of course, not every one showed up. I'd guess 1/4 - 1/3 of the members bowled. We vote in 2 weeks, 2 weeks before league starts in September.
Considering how tight with a buck Bowlmor seems to be over AMF (who themselves could squeeze a penny so hard it would bleed), this was surprising.
-
I am only piling on a little bit with this, but BowlMor eliminated a Friday league at a center here that had around 30 teams. We were also told league doesn't have priority with their time schedule. If someone wants to come in and rent out the center or enough lanes to displace a league, the league gets kicked to the curb that day.
I can understand if someone wants to spend an arm and a leg to rent out the center. (we were described with an instance where someone paid $10,000 for a night of bowling) But what will happen is we would have to adjust our league with one less session. One week less of prize fund. May not seem like much, but it is the philosophy of pushing away your regular customers for a quick sell.
Has anyone approached their center with any type of complaint or at least any type of concession? We are pushing to see if the bowling center can stay open till 11pm, but not sure how that will go. And as someone said before, youth leagues being pushed to a 12 or later start time on Saturday will all but eliminate that league. Bowling early isn't bad since you still have the rest of the day. But splitting the day in half with bowling in the afternoon makes it more difficult schedule wise.
-
Oddly enough, I have one positive experience to report on my AMF/Bowlmor center.
My Monday night league is the center's premier league and we have been using a different Kegel pattern each year the past 3 years. 2 years ago it was Route 66; last year it was Beaten Path. Last night the center agreed to put out 3 different oil patterns for our league bowlers to test FREE. They put Route 66 on one air, Beaten Path on the next pair and Bourbon Street on the next 2 pairs. (I assume our league officers picked out Bourbon Street as the new alternative.
So everyone who showed up threw as many balls as they wanted across all 8 lanes, for as long as they wanted. Of course, not every one showed up. I'd guess 1/4 - 1/3 of the members bowled. We vote in 2 weeks, 2 weeks before league starts in September.
Considering how tight with a buck Bowlmor seems to be over AMF (who themselves could squeeze a penny so hard it would bleed), this was surprising.
Yes, that is a great thing to have happen irregardless who owns the center. But I can almost guarantee it was a center GM thing and not a BowlMor thing.
-
Just a reminder Armadilla 1 does have league openings and they will stay open after league. Armadilla 1 hours are Sunday-Thursday 9am - 10pm, Friday 9am - 12am, Saturday 9am -1am. Feel free to contact Danna @ 713-941-2343 with any questions or if you want to sign up for a league.
*** The Monday Madness League will have $3000 added to the prize fund again this year. ***
-
I don't know Robert, if you are bowling in the Monday Madness League with your Radical equipment, my money may not be safe.
-
I heard they are already planning on closing a few centers on Long Island. AMF was the pitts before and now it looks even worse.
-
Looks like since most of us bowl @ AMF centers to get discounts @ other AMF centers will be gone as well - That is the only reason I dont bowl @ mom and dad centers... The door for bowling opportunity has been open and I am broke.... :'(
-
Some employees at AMF Bowlmor are reporting that their centers will only be oiling the lanes once a week regardless of how many leagues the center has. They are also reporting that the center is 100% glow all day every day until there is scheduled league, thus making open practice play a thing of the past.
Have fun bowling at your local AMF Bowlmor center!
-
It is going to be interesting!
Focus is clearly not the want to bowl inexpensively every week league crowd but the party and have fun party bowler and profits.
It has been proven that the every week league bowler in these uncertain economic times cannot make these places profitable. Bowlmor has proven in their market they can make centers profitable. The transition to these type of entertainment centers is underway. The experiment to see if they end up profitable not complete.
Regards,
Luckylefty
PS I lived in a town that went to this type of format and I believe they are doing quite well with the party and entertainment crowd.
-
At our AMF center, here are the changes:
It will stay a league centric house. BowlMor does know that leagues are the cash cow in this house.
You still get 2 free games a week for every league you bowl in, so if you bowled in 3 leagues, you would get 6 games. Now that has been capped at 4 games a week.
Every league bowler got a card for 20%discount for food and bowling. That is now 10% for one league and 20% for 2 leagues, capped at 20%.
The league appreciation was 2 hours free bowling every week. That is now once a month, and you must bring the online coupon, that is only emailed to league bowlers.
No discounts to non-league bowlers.
-
Some employees at AMF Bowlmor are reporting that their centers will only be oiling the lanes once a week regardless of how many leagues the center has. They are also reporting that the center is 100% glow all day every day until there is scheduled league, thus making open practice play a thing of the past.
Have fun bowling at your local AMF Bowlmor center!
I'd find it very hard to believe that they will be oiling once per week. Let's remember the major importance of oiling the lanes is to protect the surface of the lanes. Not oiling will make the lanes not last as long due to the wear. For the minimal expense of oiling to the major expense of replacing lane beds, it doesn't make much sense. Our center oils once daily no matter if there is a league or not. Idk about you i'd rather spend $200 on a case of oil every couple weeks (depending on your center size) than dropping $150K on new lanes.
Just my opinion
-
Some employees at AMF Bowlmor are reporting that their centers will only be oiling the lanes once a week regardless of how many leagues the center has. They are also reporting that the center is 100% glow all day every day until there is scheduled league, thus making open practice play a thing of the past.
Have fun bowling at your local AMF Bowlmor center!
Conjecture.
-
At our AMF center, here are the changes:
It will stay a league centric house. BowlMor does know that leagues are the cash cow in this house.
You still get 2 free games a week for every league you bowl in, so if you bowled in 3 leagues, you would get 6 games. Now that has been capped at 4 games a week.
Every league bowler got a card for 20%discount for food and bowling. That is now 10% for one league and 20% for 2 leagues, capped at 20%.
The league appreciation was 2 hours free bowling every week. That is now once a month, and you must bring the online coupon, that is only emailed to league bowlers.
No discounts to non-league bowlers.
This is what I had heard as well. But nothing on the free bowling, other than possibly accumulating points toward free games through snack bar purchases.
I did notice that when I went to the league meeting at 6 pm on a Thursday, they did have all the lights going. So maybe that will be the standard. It probably drives the staff nuts :)
-
At our AMF center, here are the changes:
It will stay a league centric house. BowlMor does know that leagues are the cash cow in this house.
You still get 2 free games a week for every league you bowl in, so if you bowled in 3 leagues, you would get 6 games. Now that has been capped at 4 games a week.
Every league bowler got a card for 20%discount for food and bowling. That is now 10% for one league and 20% for 2 leagues, capped at 20%.
The league appreciation was 2 hours free bowling every week. That is now once a month, and you must bring the online coupon, that is only emailed to league bowlers.
No discounts to non-league bowlers.
This is what I had heard as well. But nothing on the free bowling, other than possibly accumulating points toward free games through snack bar purchases.
I did notice that when I went to the league meeting at 6 pm on a Thursday, they did have all the lights going. So maybe that will be the standard. It probably drives the staff nuts :)
The free bowling was always from 1:00-3:00 on Fridays. Now they will schedule it on a monthly basis, I think in the evening on a weekend. Staff was not sure how this will work though. Information is dribbling in to them as well.
-
My friend went to our local AMF house where we bowl, in order to throw a few games of practice. This is what he saw and learned. It sort of corroborates what many people here have already reported.
"New corporate mandate; if there are no leagues bowling it MUST be cosmic. So anytime you go in the day it will always be cosmic, both sides, whether people are there bowling or not. I told (his wife) to write a letter to AMF Corp and demand her money back for the summer pass. We ran into Tony C (pro shop owner) on the way out and he said 5 people were sending letters yesterday alone.
Maybe the board members of Bowlmor secretly own stock in Brunswick and are trying to force all league bowlers to Brunswick houses.
I also heard that the new policy is no open lanes between leagues and open bowling. They put open bowlers right next to leagues now. "
-
I also heard that the new policy is no open lanes between leagues and open bowling. They put open bowlers right next to leagues now. "
Yeah, because their pinsetters NEVER have break downs! I manage a 32 lane center, and wouldn't even think of not having a buffer pair for my leagues. Occasionally something breaks that isn't a 5 minute fix.
-
I also heard that the new policy is no open lanes between leagues and open bowling. They put open bowlers right next to leagues now. "
Yeah, because their pinsetters NEVER have break downs! I manage a 32 lane center, and wouldn't even think of not having a buffer pair for my leagues. Occasionally something breaks that isn't a 5 minute fix.
Not an issue, since they don't like leagues and are trying to get rid of all of them, right? #Snarky
-
I think this thread could quickly get out of hand. I am sure there are people here with a vendetta against AMF or just are afraid of change, but just because someone comes on here and states that this is the new BowlMor/AMF policy, that doesn't mean that it is, or even that the local manger will follow it.
Sometimes policies are just guidelines, and the local mangers have the prerogative to adjust the policy for the best interest of the business. Just because a front counter person can put open bowlers next to league bowlers, doesn't mean he has to or will.
I know that a friend of mine went over to our AMF and they had half the house using the cosmic bowl and the other half normally lit, to give the people a choice. Behind some of this rumor mongering is the fact that most centers still want to, and need to make money. I'm sure rational mangers realize that pissing customers off, isn't going to lead to either of those outcomes. Now perhaps some of these policies will be put into place and people will bowl elsewhere, (There are bad managers out there, I am sure) but I would think a successful business will see the impact of their decisions and adjust accordingly.
-
One of the major recent issues at the AMF house I bowl in multiple leagues at year around is a price increase for beer and drinks. A pitcher of Coors or Bud Light shot up from $9 to $14.00 and no Happy Hour specials. Lots of very unhappy bowling buddies at this bowling center right now.
-
I think this thread could quickly get out of hand. I am sure there are people here with a vendetta against AMF or just are afraid of change, but just because someone comes on here and states that this is the new BowlMor/AMF policy, that doesn't mean that it is, or even that the local manger will follow it.
Sometimes policies are just guidelines, and the local mangers have the prerogative to adjust the policy for the best interest of the business. Just because a front counter person can put open bowlers next to league bowlers, doesn't mean he has to or will.
I know that a friend of mine went over to our AMF and they had half the house using the cosmic bowl and the other half normally lit, to give the people a choice. Behind some of this rumor mongering is the fact that most centers still want to, and need to make money. I'm sure rational mangers realize that pissing customers off, isn't going to lead to either of those outcomes. Now perhaps some of these policies will be put into place and people will bowl elsewhere, (There are bad managers out there, I am sure) but I would think a successful business will see the impact of their decisions and adjust accordingly.
I wonder whether Bowlmor taking over what has apparently been a failing LARGE sized business, like AMF, would consider their new corporate policies to be optional on the part of the each center manager. While there are good managers and bad managers, not all AMF center managers are bowlers who would understand how each new policy might affect the running of the center they are in charge of. Even if some of the policies turn out to be "directives", I'm not sure all of them would know how to interpret them. Our manager happens to be a pool player who, from his attitude and his use of the facilities so far, seems not to know what each of the holes in a ball is for. I hope for AMF/Bowlmor's sake and the sake of us league bowlers, he is in the minority.
-
A few of the AMF centers here in NoCal are managed by real bowlers. Others come from various retail backgrounds.
-
I wonder whether Bowlmor taking over what has apparently been a failing LARGE sized business, like AMF, would consider their new corporate policies to be optional on the part of the each center manager. While there are good managers and bad managers, not all AMF center managers are bowlers who would understand how each new policy might affect the running of the center they are in charge of. Even if some of the policies turn out to be "directives", I'm not sure all of them would know how to interpret them. Our manager happens to be a pool player who, from his attitude and his use of the facilities so far, seems not to know what each of the holes in a ball is for. I hope for AMF/Bowlmor's sake and the sake of us league bowlers, he is in the minority.
I totally understand that. We have had some managers before, who appear to know very little about bowling. And even the ones that do bowl, aren't as well informed as they pretend to be.
Center manager probably doesn't pay that great either, so it probably doesn't attract the best of the best of the best ... with honors ... sir.
I guess the fact that our center recognized that not everyone is there for Cosmic Bowling, and offered another option, gives me hope that they can function without blindly following orders.
Also our AMF is supposed to be getting a new oiling machine, which doesn't really sound like they are giving up on league bowling, since I believe the shot matters a lot more to league bowlers than it does to "Cosmic" Bowlers.
-
By me, all of the AMF centers have changed hours. AMF Thruway opens at 12pm most days, though they are opening at 10am on Saturdays (they have youth leagues then). Since that place is very heavy in leagues, their management has been accomodating to that so far.
They also got a brand new Kegel oiling machine recently and they have only done a 50/50 split on cosmic and regular open bowling.
AMF Lancaster Lanes is now 100% cosmic on the weekends as of when I was there last time. Once I saw that, I turned around and walked out. That place now has the 4pm opening time as well.
I don't know what AMF Airport Lanes is doing as I haven't been there in a few months. Last time I was there, they were doing a 70/30 split of cosmic and regular open bowling (before the Bowlmor-AMF merger was finalized). That place has 66 lanes split into 3 sections. 2 sections were cosmic, 1 section was with the normal lights on. It's a heavy league house too, so it remains to be seen.
-
I wonder whether Bowlmor taking over what has apparently been a failing LARGE sized business, like AMF, would consider their new corporate policies to be optional on the part of the each center manager. While there are good managers and bad managers, not all AMF center managers are bowlers who would understand how each new policy might affect the running of the center they are in charge of. Even if some of the policies turn out to be "directives", I'm not sure all of them would know how to interpret them. Our manager happens to be a pool player who, from his attitude and his use of the facilities so far, seems not to know what each of the holes in a ball is for. I hope for AMF/Bowlmor's sake and the sake of us league bowlers, he is in the minority.
I totally understand that. We have had some managers before, who appear to know very little about bowling. And even the ones that do bowl, aren't as well informed as they pretend to be.
Center manager probably doesn't pay that great either, so it probably doesn't attract the best of the best of the best ... with honors ... sir.
I guess the fact that our center recognized that not everyone is there for Cosmic Bowling, and offered another option, gives me hope that they can function without blindly following orders.
Also our AMF is supposed to be getting a new oiling machine, which doesn't really sound like they are giving up on league bowling, since I believe the shot matters a lot more to league bowlers than it does to "Cosmic" Bowlers.
One of the other positive signs (which I didn't post here) was a reponse I got from one of my league secretaries:
"Big Changes at Strike N Spare. Bowlmore Corp. bought AMF and will be making improvements to the center. They have stated that they plan to increase league bowling."
I'm hoping that at this center (with the pool player manager) this becomes the truth, besides the other possible bad signs (cosmic bowling all the time, outside of leagues, etc.)
One can only hope.
(The nearest Brunswick center is 45 minutes in the other direction. It is a muchmore active center, in all aspects.)
.
-
At least a dozen AMF houses in the Phoenix area. I will be interested to see what happens when I get back down there. We typically have a couple of senior tourneys at the AMF houses. Bowled at Chandler, Tempe Village, and Union Hills last season. Open play rates were always ridiculous so I never practiced in any of them.
-
ONe of our AMF centers had a total staff replacement. Yep, everyone fired. And open at 4pm most days. That's great for the pro shop isn't it?
Other center, very busy center, pitcher of beer went up from $9 to $14. And lineage has gone up. The AMF centers were already the highest priced centers in our association.
-
Our only local AMF manager does not bowl. The assistant manager is pretty cool and down to earth and she bowls in 2 leagues. On the other hand they don't get along and the manager is pretty thick headed
-
Nothing will change until the 60,000 to 80,000 manager salaries with bonuses go away, and the staff and the counter people get a pay increase . Maybe then all employees will care about a job and able to live a good life .
-
One more hit today. We have been told that our holiday and season ending pot lucks are now forbidden. The bowlers in our league will be disappointed.
-
I bowl in several AMFs in the CT/NY area.
House #1: 60 lane center, supposed to be removing 8 lanes to make a bigger bar area.
House #2: 60 Lane Center, they are renovating the 30lanes downstairs, not clear yet if they will be removing all of them or only some of them.
As far as I know lineage is going up at all houses, and lights will be out all the time. Sounds like I will be taking my business elsewhere.
-
Nothing will change until the 60,000 to 80,000 manager salaries with bonuses go away, and the staff and the counter people get a pay increase . Maybe then all employees will care about a job and able to live a good life .
Many people look at a person's salary and immediately deem it worthy or not based on a personal experience. If that experience was bad, then they make too much. If it was good, they don't make enough.
Unfortunately, I guess, you have to pay more to attract better employees. Perhaps AMF did a poor job of hiring. We have all heard many a story of some manager that "just doesn't get it." Perhaps BowlMor will do a better job. And perhaps the salary will have to go up even more to attract the right person for the job.
People need to realize that a higher salary for a position like general manager can give you a much larger return of investment. We have all seen what a good GM can do for a bowling center; and we have seen the opposite true from a poor GM. In fact, if one looks at the position in this way, you can justify a very large salary if the right person is hired.
I also didn't like the way AMF provided bonuses for GMs for particular goals. Goals are great to use as incentives, but when you give incentives for keeping labor costs low, you only hurt the people you are trying to keep happy, your customers. Providing incentives for mystery shopper scores, snack bar and bar efficiencies, and the all important performance against previous sales. Just don't cut customer service and give a reward for it.
And when it comes to the desk person, it is already been made apparent to me that during leagues there won't be a dedicated desk person. If true, that makes BowlMor's beginning very rocky.
In the end, the customer will be the one who determines if this merger is successful. If it is going to cost $6 a game and $5 for shoes, then it will cost a group of four about $16 each (shoes and two games) for an hour and half to two hours of entertainment. That price is still comparable to a movie so the price will probably work.... for now. Used to think being a league member meant something but even our league lineage is close to $4.50 a game.
-
I know a place that you will get a better rate on lineage and the drinks are lower.....Armadilla 1
-
Heard from a friend in Sacramento. Their medium sized scratch league is moving to a privately owned center from an AMF/Bowlmor center. Large lineage increase was the cause.
-
Heard from a friend in Sacramento. Their medium sized scratch league is moving to a privately owned center from an AMF/Bowlmor center. Large lineage increase was the cause.
Just learned that our lineage was increased a standard $.50 per bowler per night (all 3 games). Kind of getting tired of an increase EVERY year.
I came into the center last night for summer league and the other side of the house was in the midst of Glow/Cosmic bowling. I had never seen that in this house during the day before. Once we started bowling, I didn't look over on the other side until much later (an hour or so); then the lights were on for general open bowling.
-
They have crossed the line...
I normally bowl Friday night around 7.....
They have increase our lineage more than any other league and stated we have to be done @ a certain time....My league has decided to move to another none AMF house... This house want be open longer than 1 year... It was great while it lasted...
-
They have crossed the line...
I normally bowl Friday night around 7.....
They have increase our lineage more than any other league and stated we have to be done @ a certain time....My league has decided to move to another none AMF house... This house want be open longer than 1 year... It was great while it lasted...
Is it because they want the lanes for Cosmic/Glow bowling and they feel they are losing money with your league?
-
Haven't noticed a single thing different at my local AMF bowling alley, but no matter who owns it the lineage fees will go up every year and this year is no exception.
-
The shop I work in is in an AMF/Bowlmor center in NJ. They will only be having leagues Monday - Wednesday, and first shift Thursday. They gave 270 league bowlers the option to move to those days...most of them left
I'm guessing the market the center is in dictates how drastic the changes are going to be.
-
We have an AMF center in our area that has had 6 managers in the past 7years. All but the current one have come from the food and retail industry without any bowling experience. I doubt that this will change with Bowlmor since they really do not need anyone with bowling experience to run a center that does not really want league bowlers.
-
Heard from a friend in Sacramento. Their medium sized scratch league is moving to a privately owned center from an AMF/Bowlmor center. Large lineage increase was the cause.
I can confirm this. We were planning on bringing in two teams to that league. They just moved to a house that is what Bowlmor is trying to go to, as it has a bigger arcade and laser tag in the building, but is prone to damaging equipment there. So we're in limbo, and may bowl at the Bowlmor place one more year then see what our options are.
BL.
-
Heard from a friend in Sacramento. Their medium sized scratch league is moving to a privately owned center from an AMF/Bowlmor center. Large lineage increase was the cause.
I can confirm this. We were planning on bringing in two teams to that league. They just moved to a house that is what Bowlmor is trying to go to, as it has a bigger arcade and laser tag in the building, but is prone to damaging equipment there. So we're in limbo, and may bowl at the Bowlmor place one more year then see what our options are.
BL.
Wow.
Glad we didn't return to that AMF/Bowlmor place. It went downhill FAST, and this was only the first week of the season! Out of the 18 teams we had in our previous year's league at the Bowlmor place, only 4 came back, to the point where they had to dissolve the league and merge with another, and they are still 2 teams down for having a full set for their prize fund.
On the other side, we got into that other league, where:
1. They are offering a free buffet 1 week out of every month,
2. a 5-figure prize fund (mid 5 figures at that), and
3. .25/game for practice bowling at any time.
Only thing missing from that place is the lack of a pro shop, but again, seeing that they are open 24/7 and have their share of glow bowling/partying along with their kids' arcade and laser tag, a free-standing pro shop can easily take its place.
Bowlmor's strategy really killed AMF here, and I'm still wondering why no-one in the BPAA has spoken up about it.
BL.
-
Our league which bowled on Friday night, which was not a large league was asked to move to the center up the road because they were not making enough money and wanted to have cosmic bowling on Friday nights.
-
The AMF center I just started bowling at changed their hours as well. Monday-Wednesday went to 4pm opening. No outside food or drinks, period. And if there's to be a league party at the end, everything must be bought within house.
Manager was there passing down decisions as if they were of the highest decree, so eh. We'll see how this works out. Haven't bowled in that center in 8 years, might have to add more to it after this league.
-
The shop I go to has moved from an AMF/Bowlmor center into a non-AMF/Bowlmor center. Not sure if the shop was forced out or not.
-
I have noticed - less oil..
They arent oiling the lanes like the should and now it feels like Entertainment center shot. Never thought I would see the day a plastic ball could run like a real ball... Was just thinking about replacing all my equipment -- I think i will wait .....
Also - Maybe its me but the front part of the lane where the oil starts looks to have been pushed further down the lane... Can someone else confirm that ....
-
AMF as per OSHA policy oils the lane 2 feet from the foul line to ensure that bowlers do not slip and fall. What your seeing is the lack of oil in the first 2 feet. Every AMF house does this and has been doing this for a while now. You probably didn't notice it before or your AMF center wasn't compiling with the rules and they are now.
-
AMF mandated 24 inches from the foul line. So they don't get sued by open play bowlers.
-
Another Bowlmor complaint. I am a youth league coach. No more working with the kids after bowling (without paying $4.95 per game). AMF gave us an hour and a half every Saturday to work with the youth after bowling. No free game passes for the coach or the youth. No discounts at the snack bar for the youth.
-
Another Bowlmor complaint. I am a youth league coach. No more working with the kids after bowling (without paying $4.95 per game). AMF gave us an hour and a half every Saturday to work with the youth after bowling. No free game passes for the coach or the youth. No discounts at the snack bar for the youth.
I would review the terms for league members in an AMF/Bowlmor center. At our center, each league bowler is given X number of games free depending on the number of leagues they bowl in. I want to say it is 2 games per week per league up to 4 games max, but I can't be sure.
-
The first employee meeting Bowlmor had at my center the new manager straight out told the employees that their focus was to be how to bring money to the bottom line. There was no mention of serving the customers at all. The center was very profitable and looked good still GM and the FM were fired. Much of the Bowlmor management is clueless about mechanical/technical maintenance. They put a low priority on lane conditions. All of the centers that got new lane machines are going to be disappointed when they can't buy lane oil/cleaner for it. The biggest problem is Tom Shannon is in over his swollen head. To build 6 centers in prime locations for open play bowling and be profitable is one thing. To make 272 centers in random and not-so-prime locations profitable using the same business model is quite another matter. There is no cookie cutter solution and the changes he has made so far are going to bite him on the ass before he figures it out, if he ever does. Even if he realized his folly tomorrow it would be too late. He doesn't have management with enough knowledge of the business to focus on what needs to be changed. I've worked in the bowling business since I was 13. It is a shame to see what Tom Shannon is doing to it and people who work for him.