That is bad and it is very frustrating for the league bowlers when the local management has no clue.  I am facing a similar situation here, or could be, it hasnt happened yet.

They just changed managers at our center and the new manager has no bowling experience .. period.  He was overheard by one of the bowlers discussing a new plan with his boss for next season.  He/they want more open bowling so they are planning on cutting the leagues in half so that half the lanes will always be available for open bowling.  Cant wait to see if that plays out or not.  
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I just want 2C was'zzub.
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I am the SGT Schultz of bowling.
"I know nothing! I see nothing! NOTHING!"

The inanity of it all.
I can't believe any center owner would hire someone who has ZERO bowligg experience. It's proven to be a faulty assumption in so many othe rindustries.

Besides, we all know everything goes in cycles. Eventually, open bowling, read the Cosmic bowling "fad" will die down and then centers will be dying and closing from lack of regular, steady customers like league bowlers. Besides since they charge league bowlers a non-discounted rate, what's not to like. God only knows how much beer the average league bowler drinks. How can they turn downn that steady clientel and huge profit margin that requires virtually nil advertising and work??

Ignorance is bliss.
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"When we choose an action,
we also choose the consequences of that action.

Back to rant...I hear this "open bowlers" are worth more than league bowlers, I began to do some work on it.  It is true, on a per line basis, open bowlers spend more.  But, open bowlers do not bowl as often as league bowlers, reducing the revenue stream.  Smart manager thinks "well, I will just cater more to open bowlers".  Fine.  There is a small number who will return, over and over again.  But that number is probably less than 5% of the number of league bowlers who are repeat (often multiple league) repeat customers.  Most of the casual bowlers (the 55 million who are not in leagues) bowl rarely.  A few houses can survive on open bowling.  Most cannot.

Bowling is the ONLY business where large numbers of occasional customers, who actually provide less than half of the gross revenue (despite being greater in number by a factor of about 11) are treated better than repeat customers in many instances.  Never does a restaurant throw away repeat customers who each account for a larger percentage of the place's revenue.  NO BUSINESS other than bowling does so.  Most places try to CREATE repeat customers and the best way to do this is leagues in bowling.  If leagues go down another 30 percent, more than 30 percent of the centers will either close or have to severely alter their businesses.  

Of course, I could be wrong.  No, I couldn't.  End of rant.
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"I don't mind if you don't like my manners. I don't like them myself. They're pretty bad. I grieve over them on long winter evenings."

Having bowled in the same center since I was a kid, I have watched it go through multiple owners and attitudes. It was owned by United Artist theater chain for many years, strange combination but they owned the local theaters too. I have seen the good and the bad, and it seems each owner or manager was a little of each. Some put out great conditions, some walled things up so much it was not funny, others have made things really tough. Same thing with the league thing. Most of our owners have been big advocates of league, obviously in the early years this was the standard. Just some observations from my exposure.

If we just look at recent managers/owners. The center cheated on all inspections, put out the great wall of China and scores were out the roof. The employees wore matching shirts and manager was at the center almost everyday. The maintenance in the back was a joke. Bailing wire and duct tape would not be out of the question if it bought a week or two extra. Attitude towards league bowlers was not pleasant. Now the promotion and attitude towards the bowlers in our big once a year tournament was fantastic and he created the entire open play promotional aspect that never existed before. Funny, hate league and love tournament bowlers. The last year he was here, before he basicallt bankrupted the place, we had the largest tournament in its long history. Results were, leagues dropped to almost nothing and he could not pay the bills. NO MATTER HOW EASY THE LANE CONDITIONS, PEOPLE LEFT IN DROVES.

Now, the next owner/manager. Leagues in his mind are number one. Open play is gravy and important on the weekends, but during the week it is league play. The machines in the back are maintained like never before. We have one of the best AMF mechanics around. The desk and snack bar are ran in somewhat less of a professional manor that before, but not major difference. No uniforms appearance, those type items. Lane conditions are tough. The conditions will pass any inspection anytime, no cheating required. Long term affect is undecided. Short term..Leaues are dropping like crazy. Some more than others and the biggest drop is the big money Men's league. NO MATTER HOW GOOD THE MAINTENANCE OR ATTITUDE TOWARDS LEAGUE, PEOPLE ARE LEAVING DUE TO LANE CONDITIONS.

So what is the secret formula? Obviously to me, the answer exists in the middle. When on the outside looking in you can always have 20-20 vision. I don't think it is that easy from the inside looking out. League bowlers are garunteed money. What do they want. They want to have fun, machines to not break down and score fairly easily. I don't think you have to give them the great wall of China, but they need some room to miss a little out or in and hit the pocket. Any business should present a professional appearance. This is probably more important to the open play/family bowlers, but I think appreciated by all. If nothing else the professional appearance gives you the feeling that the rest of the business is ran the same way. I think you also have to advertise where it counts. League and tournaments in bowling publications and open play in local papers and at local business's. One fact is that no matter what you do, you will not please everyone. That you can put in the bank.