http://www.golf.com/golf/tours_news/article/0,28136,1868807,00.html

While many have bemoaned the the comparing of bowling to golf, perhaps there are things that USBC and the PBA could learn from this article.  It is interesting to note that the "limited field" events (see "Exempt Tour") have NOT garnered the interest originally thought...sound familiar?  Or how about the irrelevance of the Fall events going up against the NFL...again, sound familiar?  Perhaps the oversight of the PGA, their greed or arrogance (as pointed out by the author), related to their handling of sponsorship for the tour, could help out the PBA?

I think the limited fields is a mistake.  More entrants would seem to translate into higher purses.  Higher purses may also translate into more exposure...after all, poker wasn't a big deal until 7-figure paydays came about.  Not that I'm suggesting the PBA could get to such a figure, but perhaps the 50k or 75k 1st place figure.  And stop trying to build that ONE superstar, look what that has done to the PGA.  Sure the PGA is laughing all the way to bank currently...and perhaps the PBA owners would do the same, only to sell it off after such a star left, but the bottom line is this...No Tiger = no anything for the PGA.  

As for TV...I say forget ESPN and ABC.  Shop around to ANY network and make bowling appointment television.  And for God's sake, find a way to advertise the tour during non-event times.  Showing all of those professionally created, and paid for, PBA marketing spots the hour or two before the actual event doesn't do much.  How about buying a few spots on Versus, Spike TV, TNT, or whatever network, to show during other sporting events?  The PBA is a lower tier sport, it should try to compete against other such sports and start building an audience there first.

The PGA got greedy off Tiger Woods and now pays the price EVERY time he isn't involved.  TV ratings, sponsorship, gate fees, etc., all go WAY down when he isn't around.  What will happen the PGA if Tiger were to retire in the next 5 years?  Golf...meet bowling.

Any thoughts?

If I read the pros comments correctly, the PBA is paying ESPN to televise the matches, though. Perhaps putting it up for bid would get some money flowing in.

In the order of problems the PBA faces for viewership, I would rank them this way, greatest impact to least:

1) Going up against the NFL,
2) Being on Sundays in general during the time a lot of people in your core audience are in church,
3) No promotion on the network except when the telecast is on,
4) No wrap-up on SportsCenter unless Machuga does the flop,
5) Insufficient prize funds, thereby telling your viewers that this thing, in essence, really isn't a big deal,
6) Insufficient promotion inside bowling centers aimed at league bowlers,
7) Issues with the field (because of the low money involved, the guaranteed check to the guys that are there every week is a big deal ... thus, why I don't consider this a big issue for bowling versus golf)

Jess

i agree, open up the fields again,  another thing is i do believe the last time they had good ratings, was when they were on Tuesday nites, why?  because nothing else for sports is happening on Tuesday nite.  

As for the prize funds and all of that, i mean if they are not making money, then its kinda hard for them to up the prize fund.
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" Lift Your Skirt Grab Your Balls and Learn How to Bowl "   http://coolluvr4u1976.bowlspace.com/

Perhaps the PBA could use the current economic situation to its advantage...

People everywhere are getting fed up with corporate executives making tens of millions of dollars.  Corporations are starting to seriously watch where they put their sponsorship dollars and are likely to stop giving millions, or ten of millions, of dollars to athletes already making ridiculous sums of money.

Perhaps the PBA should push the idea that their athletes are not multi-millionaires?  Why not approach some of the same sponsors that other sports are involved with?  Explain that you are looking to give the sport greater visibility and that their sponsorship would help, without breaking their budgets.  Use the mass participation of the sport as a plus...after all, everyone these days is concerned about the middle class.  Why not support the very sport much of the middle class participates in?

Bowling is supposedly one of the few things that is recession/depression proof.  If there is any proof in that, then the sport is primed for an increase in participation again...given the current economic climate (bowling is still cheaper than golf or the movies).  Now would be the best time to make a MAJOR push to increase the standing of the sport.