One more pic.

It is a function of natural selection.  The characteristics of bowling centers 30 years ago suited the clientele just fine.  Now, the average bowler wants different amenities and the bowling centers of the future either change to accommodate those needs or dies and goes away. 

I can see a time when there will actually be too few of lanes for what the bowling community needs.  There was an AMF center here that was told it would be closing this month.  The other AMF and privately owned centers will try and absorb those bowlers, but some are reaching a maximum capacity.  In order to accommodate the new bowlers, they may have to go to two shifts of leagues on certain nights.  Is this what today's bowler wants?  Not sure. 

But with AMF closing a lot of the centers across the country, I'm sure there is a chance for someone to pick up lanes and pinsetters cheap.  The center here that closed is a leased facility and the lanes and equipment will be removed from the building.  Perhaps AMF doesn't want to sell it installed in the building to prevent competition to the other AMF nearby. 

Either way, competition will eventually give the bowler of today what they want.  At least until the needs change and we go through this all over again.

If all the Center managers work at it like it appears happening in my area .. there might still be hope for bowling!

And that is the key. Most old centers I know, the management is operating like it did 40 years ago.

Just heard AMF Irvin is closed - They didnt sale nothing but beer so I am glad... I wonder if my Center is going to get that equpiment... hmmmm

Many of the centers that close don't promote their product. They think by opening their doors they have done everything they should. That is not the way to run a business and if places continue to do so they will follow others with similar business models. This applies to any business.

Cost for new scoring for 24 lanes $135000.  Cost for 24 synthetic lanes $135000.  Bowling pins  $12 each.  It takes 21 to run an A2 properly.  New Kegel lane machine $25000 Amount of bowlers willing to pay more to get these items?  Many proprietors can barely pay the electric bill now.

Smash49

I couldn't agree more with you guys on all accounts. Bowling is down, for many reasons. Blame the economy, a lack of interest or whatever else you want but the result is the same regardless of the cause. I live in the Birmingham, Alabama metro area and in our small town there is only 1 center within 50 miles in any direction. Yet they seem to struggle. I believe the biggest reason for this is a lack of updating the facility. I moved here with my family in spring of 1991 and unless I'm just forgetting something, the only thing that has been updated since that time is the scoring monitors, the pins and a few pool tables. The paint on the 70's era hard plastic seats are worn down to the primer beneath them and many are cracked. The wood lanes are about as old as the building which I know has been there at least 30 years. I couldn't even begin to guess when the last time they were resurfaced was. We don't have a pro shop you can actually go into and get things when you need them. It almost always has to be ordered. We have about 7 centers in Birmingham and all but one of them are doing well. The one that isn't is in worse condition then the one I bowl in at home. The bottom line is that you have to be willing to spend money to make money. I suppose in some cases it's easier said than done. I only know that when I walk into a center and I actually see that there's an effort being made to make me feel welcome, I find myself wanting to go back often. That said, the opposite is also true. I pray that people who own bowling centers and care about the sport and their investment, will continue to do what they need to in order to keep their doors open. As for the ones who are running bowling centers and really have no interest in doing anymore than the bare minimum, I would advise them to sell out to someone who will give it the attention it needs or even better, take an interest in the business that you have invested your time, money and energy into and you just might be surprised with the results you get. That is all, thank you.