Post by: Pat Kruschel on August 21, 2003, 11:20:14 PM
The center hit us with both a $.50 lineage increase($7.65 to $8.15)(Fee raised from $15 to $16 per bowler/per night) and $.25 beer increase. ($2.75 to $3 a bottle)
Usually, it was one or the other.
Keep in mind that our league is the biggest in the house, 26 5-man teams.
The new owners are really making a good impression, hope they are going to update the house with all the extra money they make.
Anyone else get hit with increases like this ?
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PK
You are only as strong as your weakest link!
That would be me!
Post by: NY Mike on August 22, 2003, 02:35:15 PM
10.75 - 11.50 making league fees $22 p/wk. As for beer we are
paying 3.25 for domestic and 3.75 for imported beers.
Post by: johns811 on August 22, 2003, 02:42:43 PM
We stopped doing beer frames when $10 wasn't enough to cover it.
Both houses I bowl at, raised bowling lineage a little, I think we pay in the $8 range. The one just did a total overhaul, New seating, new paint, new carpet (new owner last year). The other one looks the same since 1970's.
Post by: TWells1960 on August 22, 2003, 02:46:05 PM
Post by: C-G ProShop-Carl on August 22, 2003, 02:52:38 PM
He also raised beer prices from $1.50 to $1.75. He only sells it in cans.
I think the prices are very reasonable. Believe me when I tell you that people are still complaining about it though. Especially the lineage end of it since that hits every bowler whereas beer prices only affect the beer drinkers.
Centers have to raise money sometimes. I do think that $3 a beer is expensive. However that could have alot do to with the insurance company they have plus the liquor license renewal fees. Profit on almost everything a center sells is 100%. If they sell beer for $3, they are probably paying $1.50 or so for that beer.
Post by: bowl400 on August 22, 2003, 03:53:00 PM
Post by: JOE FALCO on August 22, 2003, 03:56:51 PM
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Hit them light and watch them fight
J O E - F A L C O
Post by: ThongPrincess on August 22, 2003, 04:13:09 PM
We pay $17/night. Since I don't drink, I'm not sure of the price of beer. I think it is about $3.Joe, I had to laugh when I read your reply. One of my teammates asked point blank if we were going to see what the increase was going for. GM said so we can pay our bills. I said maybe we'll actually get oil every night
Though I do like my center, but they decide to play with the shot.--------------------
To err is human to be thonged is divine
Post by: BC60 on August 22, 2003, 04:20:36 PM
However, our league is the entire house (50 lanes/teams)
so the house decided to contribute $2000 to our prize fund
since we have the whole house. That kind of makes up for
the lineage increase. I thought that was pretty decent of
them considering its an AMF managed house. haha
Post by: JOE FALCO on August 22, 2003, 04:58:28 PM
Someone on this FORUM keeps talking about BOWLING DYING! Doesn't that mean that the CENTERS don't want to lose what they have and we have the ability to BARGAIN??
Is the STATEMENT of LOOSING BOWLERS NOT TRUE or ARE WE TOO STUPID TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF OUR POSITION?
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Hit them light and watch them fight
J O E - F A L C O
Edited on 8/22/2003 5:08 PM
Post by: Pat Kruschel on August 22, 2003, 05:25:31 PM
We have to fight for 2%.
TWells1960 -
Secretary gets $25 per team, which is fair in my opinion.
Treasurer gets $20 a team, also fair.
Last year, the house made around $30,000 from our league and we had alittle over $30,000 for league prize money. (Rough estimate)
My team came in almost last place and we still walked away with $193 each.
First place is alittle over $200 each.
This league has been in this house along time, don't think anyone would think about moving.
Just another whiney bowler!
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PK
You are only as strong as your weakest link!
That would be me!
Post by: Brickguy221 on August 22, 2003, 06:09:14 PM
Post by: Gravy on August 22, 2003, 07:36:25 PM
Post by: JOE FALCO on August 22, 2003, 08:41:20 PM
Lineage $8.15/bowler x 5 (bowlers) x 26 (teams) x 36 (weeks in winter season=
I FIGURE $38,142 for GAMES BOWLED! The bar probable takes in a little also. Do you think this league could threaten to move and get some attention .. With the right negotiator .. PERHAPS!
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Hit them light and watch them fight
J O E - F A L C O
Post by: Tex on August 22, 2003, 09:52:03 PM
Post by: Magic Carpet on August 22, 2003, 11:41:27 PM
There is no excuse for the bathrooms to not be clean most of the time
and oil on the lanes.
Joe, it's not a good idea for a center to negotiate their lineage (if they can help it) during prime time. If the league bowls in the middle of the day or is a 2nd shift league then maybe ok. If you give a special rate to one league then word will get around and the other leagues will fill slighted.
As far as league revenue you have to make it during prime time. If you start giving that up then you will be closing the doors in no time or you have to turn your attention to open bowlers. The money has to be made somehow.
As far as shrinking prize funds I wish bowlers would get more active in trying to find sponsors for leagues. I bet a lot of bowlers work at places that would sponsor a league if they only asked. It was much easier on everyone 25 years ago when all you got at the end of league was a trophy. Now teams expect to get back hundreds of dollars at the end of the season. That is fine but the money has to come from somewhere.
Post by: JOE FALCO on August 23, 2003, 09:13:44 AM
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Hit them light and watch them fight
J O E - F A L C O
Post by: tburky on August 23, 2003, 09:38:56 AM
Post by: charlest on August 23, 2003, 09:53:16 AM
quote:
Joe Falco:
If we can't ask for things when we sign a contract .. when can we ask for them? What would happen if the LEAGUE said WE'RE NOT Going TO TAKE THIS ANY MORE!!! Then moved to another house.
Someone on this FORUM keeps talking about BOWLING DYING! Doesn't that mean that the CENTERS don't want to lose what they have and we have the ability to BARGAIN??
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J O E - F A L C O
Joe,
Here in NJ, most centers would be all too glad to have leagues drop out. They seem to believe that Open bowling and especially Cosmic bowling makes them so much more money with much less whining and complaining that league bowlers do.
Yes, I do agree that contract time is THE main time to negotiate. However, I don't know any league who has been able to get any house to agree to less than 35/36 weeks of bowling. Around here (NJ) people have become deadened to the pain of ever increasing prices, but what drives most of them out of league bowling, as far as I have seen, is the commitment to what in March and April seems to be a never ending length of the bowling season. With kids, jobs and other family activities (especially chauffeuring kids to every sport under the sun) most people can't commit, any longer to 36 weeks.
I don't know how long Cosmic bowling will last, but it seems that kids from 6 year olds and up are being weaned into believing this is THE ONLY type of bowling. So, as teenagers and young adults, they will NOT be joining leagues.
Very few people these days see any joy in bowling as a sport. (Yes, we do have many young teenagers and adults here.)
Sorry for the length of the reply and its becoming a rant.
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"Those who do not remember history are doomed to repeat it."
Post by: JOE FALCO on August 23, 2003, 10:21:06 AM
NOTE: A 4 man team/bowling 3 games/24 teams/for 36 weeks (1 league) paying $2.75 per game will bring in $28,512 .. How many leagues are there in a winter season at a Center? Then there's the BAR BILL! This COSMIC thing must be something!
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Hit them light and watch them fight
J O E - F A L C O
Post by: Debina on August 23, 2003, 10:45:49 AM
Sorry for the pseudo-hijack. I was just amazed by the math.
Deb
Post by: JOE FALCO on August 23, 2003, 11:37:02 AM
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Hit them light and watch them fight
J O E - F A L C O
Post by: MichiganBowling on August 23, 2003, 05:14:48 PM
Another thing, leagues pay more than open bowlers BECAUSE the money is guranteeed! Now let me rephrase that...From 6pm-9pm, a bowler CANNOT go open bowling. They have to wait until after leagues or they have to go during the day. That is the whole point behind "prime time" is that these league bowlers gaurantee x amount to the house each week, but the center also gaurantees those lanes at that time slot during the busiest bowling time of the day! It's a fair trade.
At 9pm, if a center is not utilizing all of their lanes, then they are probably either charging too much, giving poor service, or the people in their area just don't bowl enough to fill that time slot. So the centers charge less to get them in the building. Supply and Demand. But charge enough to pay your bills for crying out loud!!!
It all makes perfect sense to me.
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Brian
MichiganBowling.com
http://www.MichiganBowling.com
Famous Last Words of a Pot Bowler--"Ok, but this is my last game!"