Owning a bowling center in parts of the country is a feast / famine proposition. Only about half the league bowlers bowl in the summer leagues. Most of the major bills the bowling center has to pay remain the same. So my question is this. If you don’t normally bowl in the summer is there anything the bowling center could offer you that could "bribe" you into bowling? What would it take to keep your balls out of the closet and on the lanes? Anything? Anything? Buler?  

Ron Clifton

Bowling addicts (like me ) aside, most people need a break from bowling, so that they have something to look forward to in the fall.

I would devote more attention to increasing open play during the summer, with an overall goal of turning some of the open bowlers into league bowlers.  Crank up the A/C, promote the bowling center as a place to get out of the NC heat in the summer.

Make sure to get email addresses of open bowlers, so you can let them know when fall leagues are forming.  Offer to email them a coupon for a couple of free games and a soda, or something like that, to encourage them to give you a real email address.
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seadrive
Cogito ergo bowl

Ron this is real easy here in Texas!  AIR CONDITIONING!!!  Most of the centers here do not have climate controls set properly and it is hot.  We have giant 4 ft. tall fans standing in the concourses.  When it is 105 degrees in Dallas, it is 90 sometimes on the approach.  There is sometimes a 15 degree rise in temp. when you cross under the old score board headers at the foul line.  Cold drinks and cheap food specials would be nice.  Hot dogs and lemonade or Ice Tea.  Reduced rate games for the kids.  Fun and different leagues for the adults.  Winter leagues tend to be a grind.

Smash49
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Smash49
robert@bowlersslidesock.com
Bowler's Slide Sock:  Reduces or eliminates problems with Slick OR Tacky approaches.
www.bowlersslidesock.com

Since the Summer is a short season, perhaps that's the time for bowlers to "experiment" with other than standard leagues or tournaments. Perhaps:

a.  Sport Condition leagues (be surprised how many centers don't have these)
b.  Parent/Kid leagues/tournaments
c.  Rotating partner league
d.  Tournaments
e.  Challenge League (every week something goofy from 9-pin tap to lights out to whatever)
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Sixteen strikes...what do ya get? Another day older and deeper in debt...

There are some great ideas here gang, keep it up if you think of more. Some of it we already do but I love hearing new ideas. Our A/C is COLD too.
If centers in your area do anything promo wise that seems successful I am not above stealing ideas so post them. LOL
Ron

I agree with some of the statements made here. Cheaper rates and as Bones says, cater to the Seniors. One house I bowl at in the summer has most of the senior bowlers bowling that bowled during the winter. Same league, same people, etc.

They give the seniors a card good for 50 free games plus discount prices for practice games for everyone. Also, on the seniors league days, anyone striking in the 3rd frame of the first game gets to spin a large pin wheel for a prize. Some of the things on the wheel are a liter of soda, french fries, hamburger, a dollar, $5, and $10. Of coarse these money spaces on the wheel are very narrow and hard to get (like the Wheel of Fortune on TV), but they are makeable as even I win every once in a while. Other merchants also donate with things such as a Big Mack at McDonalds, 1/2 doz. free donuts from a local Donut Shop, free car wash at a local gas station, free double dip ice cream cone at a local ice cream store and etc. Ron, I don't know if you can get any of your local merchants to donate things or not, but it seems to work here. I don't know how to tell you to get merchants to participate, but some how they do here. Probably some type tradeout.

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Lane 1 - The Bowlers Company

Nothing hits as hard as an Uranium

Our center gives 30 minutes of practice time to the summer leagues.  --  JohnP

Ive seen a lot of promotions from several houses already.  Theres a couple of doubles leagues going around,  all with great payouts (1500 and up for 1st).  Theres a doubles league with pba conditions on tuesdays by me that i really want to try just to play with the different shot over the summer.  Ive also seen a couple of free ball leagues,  leagues with some jackpots included in the weekly fee (almost unheard of in the fall),  and most of these leagues also advertise great food and drink specials to keep the snack bar and regular bar going during the summer months.  

Is it going to be enough to get people to bowl?  I dont know,  some of my friends have expressed an interest,  but most of them dont really want to commit to anything over the summer.  I hate to say it,  but i almost look forward to the break during the summer (and I know my wife does).  Im sure ill practice more often this year to keep current but with so much going on these days its tough to squeeze a league in.   Maybe having a bi-weekly league during the summer is the key.  It would be real short,  but I bet i would have more people willing to commit to it.