BallReviews
General Category => Miscellaneous => Topic started by: thedjs on January 28, 2014, 03:05:20 PM
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What do you think the future holds for AMF bowling centers?
Here in our town we have two AMF bowling centers. Both now don't open until 5pm except for Sat. and Sun. One has an early morning league each week day but won't allow open bowling during that time even though they have plenty of empty lanes. The other house has a women's morning league two days a week and, if you are there during those times, you can rent lanes until the league is finished. Sat. and Sun. the places are full of little kids and it's not a good time for any kind of serious practice.
Is it like this at your AMF alley? Do you think there will be any changes in the future?
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Our amf center is a ghost town! Recently change the price of open bowling from 4.50 a game to a whopping 8 bucks a game! With a 50 lane independent top notch center only 10 miles away charging 2.75 a game, guess which one has the business?!
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I don't bowl in AMF houses for leagues.
However, I do bowl in them from time to time for tournaments, TNBA matches etc.
This past weekend, I bowled at AMF Land Park in Sacramento, CA with TNBA and I was impressed with the improvement in the facility. It has been about two years since I have been there, but the place has changed for the better.
The only complaint I have is; why the hell is there a 2+ foot space of dry lane starting at the foul line??
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Ours is like that….basically only open while leagues are going. We get two free games a week for practice, but no way to use them.
It is nice that they have done some upgrades to the center. So I just work on things during league, no other way to do it.
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From what I have heard, the two foot buffer zone is there because some open play bowlers sued AMF citing a slippery condition that caused injury. I asked a center manager at a tournament that filled the entire house why it was oiled that way, it's not like a tournament bowler would sue if they ventured beyond the foul line and slipped. I was told policy is policy, not matter who was bowling. That caused me to ask if the AMF World Cup also did that and I never got an answer :D
Also, at our local AMF center, the act of pushing the Kegel machine two feet also broke something, so the machine oils and cleans inconsistently from lane to lane. Was told that they did not have the budget to fix it.
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AMF bowling centers (Not to be confused with AMF300) are horrible. I don't think I've walked into one AMF center where I was like "The prices and service here are fantastic!" Don't know what their management technique is, but it's not a good one, IMO.
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I live right outside of Milwaukee, and we have a bunch of them around here.
Bowlmor bought the ones out in the area, and so far I have experienced:
1. Extremely inconsistent lane conditions (This is in the house where all of the summer swing finals were taped. sometimes it appears that almost no oil was put out.)
2. Staff reductions-I bowl in a 72 lane house and sometimes they have about 2 people working which makes things ridiculous when there is a problem.
3. Skyrocketing drink prices. a 22oz Sam Adams Beer is $6.50 which is insane for around here.
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Our AMF lanes closed, now re-open under an independent. He's kind of clueless and not interested in attracting leagues, so he's running on borrowed time, but AMF was no better. High prices, lane prep was a joke, and everyone left for other houses.
There's only one successful AMF house in my area, but it's over an hour away and even it's losing league bowlers.
Hate to wish failure upon a company, but Bowlmor has no business in the bowling business.
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At our local AMF house they do appear to be sincerely trying, but the BowlMor policies are killing them.
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From what I have heard, the two foot buffer zone is there because some open play bowlers sued AMF citing a slippery condition that caused injury. I asked a center manager at a tournament that filled the entire house why it was oiled that way, it's not like a tournament bowler would sue if they ventured beyond the foul line and slipped. I was told policy is policy, not matter who was bowling. That caused me to ask if the AMF World Cup also did that and I never got an answer :D
Also, at our local AMF center, the act of pushing the Kegel machine two feet also broke something, so the machine oils and cleans inconsistently from lane to lane. Was told that they did not have the budget to fix it.
The shot played consistent between the two lanes. Just had to make a major adjustment on where I lay the ball down.
The funny thing is, I had a lesson from Bill Hall in Baton Rouge and the main change he suggested was to get the ball on the lane earlier!
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I am speaking about my AMF House -- They dont condition the lanes period until they have a league and the extra lanes not being used on the lower side of the house never gets any oil...
Personally I am pissed because they kicked my youth out and now my older retired people dont have anywhere to bowl because they open so late... The place use to be jumping and full of excitement but now just waiting for the seaon to end because I am not coming back to that center..
Lineage went up and we didnt get any improvements...
They went cheap on oil and the volume is just alittle more than bone dry..
They did reduces the staff and prices did increase..
NAME - AMF DESOTO, TX
I wish they would close and get bought out by another center.....
Also this center is omitted during any travel league...
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Bowled at AMF Pinole over the weekend and yes, the shot was relatively consistent from lane to lane. It just differs at AMF Mission. Some lanes have little oil and the backends are flying and others are flooded with no back end.
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Bowled at AMF Pinole over the weekend and yes, the shot was relatively consistent from lane to lane. It just differs at AMF Mission. Some lanes have little oil and the backends are flying and others are flooded with no back end.
Last time I was at Pinole, it was a pretty nice house and the lanes played ok.
I have nightmares of my last tournament at Milpitas though, it was one of Buddy Souza's "Bowl-for-Bucks" tournaments. It was a modified Cheeta pattern and two squads bowled in front of us, the lanes were just toast by the time we bowled. If I remember correctly, I put up a whopping 750 something for the four games.
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I am speaking about my AMF House -- They dont condition the lanes period until they have a league and the extra lanes not being used on the lower side of the house never gets any oil...
Personally I am pissed because they kicked my youth out and now my older retired people dont have anywhere to bowl because they open so late... The place use to be jumping and full of excitement but now just waiting for the seaon to end because I am not coming back to that center..
Lineage went up and we didnt get any improvements...
They went cheap on oil and the volume is just alittle more than bone dry..
They did reduces the staff and prices did increase..
NAME - AMF DESOTO, TX
I wish they would close and get bought out by another center.....
This happened in my area, Northwest Suburbs of Chicago, and let me tell you, the old farts are furious that the center opens @ 3 pm, they have nothing to do. Good for the privately owned center a mile down the road though.
Hell, they even jettisoned the much fabled Peterson tournament to another center. I just sub as my patience only allows that I enter a AMF facility once a month.
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Maybe if AMF goes out it will be a good thing?
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I wish Brunswich would purchase AMF
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The only AMF center that was near me closed about two years ago. I don't miss it one bit, but know some people that do.
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It was announced that we have a new center GM now. Of course he was not at league last night to greet his customers. Is it Bowlmor policy to have GM's distance themselves from their customer base?
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From what I have heard, the two foot buffer zone is there because some open play bowlers sued AMF citing a slippery condition that caused injury. I asked a center manager at a tournament that filled the entire house why it was oiled that way, it's not like a tournament bowler would sue if they ventured beyond the foul line and slipped. I was told policy is policy, not matter who was bowling. That caused me to ask if the AMF World Cup also did that and I never got an answer :D
Also, at our local AMF center, the act of pushing the Kegel machine two feet also broke something, so the machine oils and cleans inconsistently from lane to lane. Was told that they did not have the budget to fix it.
Sounds more like they dont know how to use the Kegel machine. You can program them where to start oiling. Even the TOC telecast had a good 4"+ inches of clean lane after the foul line. Our center does about 3" inches off the foul line.
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I saw the guy at AMF Starlite in Reno do it a little differently. Ran the machine normally, then used a towel to wipe the oil off the first two feet. :D
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I forgot to mention this earlier, but while at AMF Land Park this weekend, the Pro Shop was busy moving everything out. One of the local guys said AMF/Bowlmor wasn't willing to work with him, so he was going to run a Shop from his house instead.
That can't be a good sign for leagues, right?
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I forgot to mention this earlier, but while at AMF Land Park this weekend, the Pro Shop was busy moving everything out. One of the local guys said AMF/Bowlmor wasn't willing to work with him, so he was going to run a Shop from his house instead.
That can't be a good sign for leagues, right?
Wow.. That is NOT good.
For those not in the Sacramento area, there are/were a good number of AMF alleys:
Mardi Gras Lanes
Land Park
Rocklin
Alpine Valley (closed)
Crestview (closed before Bowlmor buyout)
Fireside (not sure if it was truly AMF; independent anyway)
Capitol (independent)
Woodhaven (closed)
Lake Bowl (independent)
If they closed down a lot of these alleys, and have pushed a pro shop out, IIRC Mardi Gras is the city's largest house, at 50 lanes. If they push the pro shop out from there, this does not bode well for the area.
Though, I would say that what they are doing with Starlite would be the prime example of what they would do for the entire country.
BL.
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I forgot to mention this earlier, but while at AMF Land Park this weekend, the Pro Shop was busy moving everything out. One of the local guys said AMF/Bowlmor wasn't willing to work with him, so he was going to run a Shop from his house instead.
That can't be a good sign for leagues, right?
Same has happened with AMF Woodlake Bowl (LA/Woodland Hills). One of the first things that hit the fan was the Pro Shop closing down. Bowlmor is not league friendly, so it's not a surprise. Time will tell how successful their business model for AMF works out.
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Heard that Woodhaven is reopening under private ownership and probably a new name. Will be bowling a tournament at Land Park in mid March, should be interesting to see how it all works out. That pro shop has been in flux for a few years now.
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I forgot to mention this earlier, but while at AMF Land Park this weekend, the Pro Shop was busy moving everything out. One of the local guys said AMF/Bowlmor wasn't willing to work with him, so he was going to run a Shop from his house instead.
That can't be a good sign for leagues, right?
Wow.. That is NOT good.
For those not in the Sacramento area, there are/were a good number of AMF alleys:
Mardi Gras Lanes
Land Park
Rocklin
Alpine Valley (closed)
Crestview (closed before Bowlmor buyout)
Fireside (not sure if it was truly AMF; independent anyway)
Capitol (independent)
Woodhaven (closed)
Lake Bowl (independent)
If they closed down a lot of these alleys, and have pushed a pro shop out, IIRC Mardi Gras is the city's largest house, at 50 lanes. If they push the pro shop out from there, this does not bode well for the area.
Though, I would say that what they are doing with Starlite would be the prime example of what they would do for the entire country.
BL.
I've heard rumors of a new house opening in Rancho Cordova. A couple of different people have mentioned that the city is working with a group to build something, but I have no first hand knowledge of it.
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Heard that Woodhaven is reopening under private ownership and probably a new name. Will be bowling a tournament at Land Park in mid March, should be interesting to see how it all works out. That pro shop has been in flux for a few years now.
I heard the same about Woodhaven. And yea, the pro shop at Land Park has churned through several owners. Wayne Webb had it for a while and also Lonnie Cavins took a turn there when his wife Diana became GM at Woodhaven.
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Crestview was an independent that closed at least 2 1/2 years ago.
Alpine and Woodhaven both closed at least a year before the Bowlmor buyout of AMF.
Fireside is and was an independent and is now owned by Steve Cook.
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I forgot to mention this earlier, but while at AMF Land Park this weekend, the Pro Shop was busy moving everything out. One of the local guys said AMF/Bowlmor wasn't willing to work with him, so he was going to run a Shop from his house instead.
That can't be a good sign for leagues, right?
Wow.. That is NOT good.
For those not in the Sacramento area, there are/were a good number of AMF alleys:
Mardi Gras Lanes
Land Park
Rocklin
Alpine Valley (closed)
Crestview (closed before Bowlmor buyout)
Fireside (not sure if it was truly AMF; independent anyway)
Capitol (independent)
Woodhaven (closed)
Lake Bowl (independent)
If they closed down a lot of these alleys, and have pushed a pro shop out, IIRC Mardi Gras is the city's largest house, at 50 lanes. If they push the pro shop out from there, this does not bode well for the area.
Though, I would say that what they are doing with Starlite would be the prime example of what they would do for the entire country.
BL.
I've heard rumors of a new house opening in Rancho Cordova. A couple of different people have mentioned that the city is working with a group to build something, but I have no first hand knowledge of it.
They are in the final stages of talks with the city council (I live in Rancho). My understanding is that they want to make it into another Strikes Rocklin or Strikes Elk Grove; basically what Bowlmor wishes they could do. Unfortunately, it is going to be next to a very nice neighbourhood of homes, bring a lot of noise, activity, and commotion along with it.
It is proposed to go on that stretch of unused land on the southwest quadrant of the intersection of Sunrise Blvd. and White Rock Road. Whether it will indeed happen, I don't know. I'm of two frames of mind; it would cut down seriously on commute times for me (perhaps walking distance), but with having 2 toddlers, I don't know if I want the noise/ruckus in my backyard.
BL.
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I forgot to mention this earlier, but while at AMF Land Park this weekend, the Pro Shop was busy moving everything out. One of the local guys said AMF/Bowlmor wasn't willing to work with him, so he was going to run a Shop from his house instead.
That can't be a good sign for leagues, right?
Wow.. That is NOT good.
For those not in the Sacramento area, there are/were a good number of AMF alleys:
Mardi Gras Lanes
Land Park
Rocklin
Alpine Valley (closed)
Crestview (closed before Bowlmor buyout)
Fireside (not sure if it was truly AMF; independent anyway)
Capitol (independent)
Woodhaven (closed)
Lake Bowl (independent)
If they closed down a lot of these alleys, and have pushed a pro shop out, IIRC Mardi Gras is the city's largest house, at 50 lanes. If they push the pro shop out from there, this does not bode well for the area.
Though, I would say that what they are doing with Starlite would be the prime example of what they would do for the entire country.
BL.
I've heard rumors of a new house opening in Rancho Cordova. A couple of different people have mentioned that the city is working with a group to build something, but I have no first hand knowledge of it.
They are in the final stages of talks with the city council (I live in Rancho). My understanding is that they want to make it into another Strikes Rocklin or Strikes Elk Grove; basically what Bowlmor wishes they could do. Unfortunately, it is going to be next to a very nice neighbourhood of homes, bring a lot of noise, activity, and commotion along with it.
It is proposed to go on that stretch of unused land on the southwest quadrant of the intersection of Sunrise Blvd. and White Rock Road. Whether it will indeed happen, I don't know. I'm of two frames of mind; it would cut down seriously on commute times for me (perhaps walking distance), but with having 2 toddlers, I don't know if I want the noise/ruckus in my backyard.
BL.
I understand what you are saying about the noise. The Elk Grove Strikes turns into a night club after about 9 PM. But at least it's not in a residential area.
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I would hope somebody with enough money to build a place like that has more sense than to put it there. Destine to fail from the start.
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I would hope somebody with enough money to build a place like that has more sense than to put it there. Destine to fail from the start.
I agree. The only saving grace for the neighbourhood homes is that it would be across the street from a fire station, and the police department is 2 blocks up the street.
Other than that, at least for me, distance would be advantageous, but on the other side of that coin, as Ice T once said, "There goes the neighbourhood!".
EDIT: I take that back. I have the location wrong. It would not be going by Sunrise/White Rock, which is good for that set of homes there.
Instead it would be behind the Home Depot on Sunrise, putting the exact location of this at the intersection of Kilgore Road and Trade Center Drive...
next door to the Rancho Cordova Police Department.
More info on it here:
http://www.bizjournals.com/sacramento/print-edition/2012/06/01/28m-entertainment-center-rancho-cordova.html?s=image_gallery
I personally don't think leagues would fly here; they want movie theaters, a video arcade, and only 24 lanes. Local/small leagues may work, but not repeat bowlers with big paying leagues. Not enough lanes, plus dealing with the kids who want to hang out before their movie starts, plus the high school crowd.
EDIT #2: Too bad King Louie isn't around anymore.. they would have done a hell of a lot better with AMF than Bowlmor has, or ever would.
BL.
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That article is a year and a half old. The city council approved it June 2012. If they haven't moved any dirt yet don't hold your breath waiting.
This location isn't any better. Actually worse, being closer to the "old" section of R.C.
The only location a place like this had a chance is newer center in Folsom with the movie theaters. But I would hope the investors took a look at places like the two Strikes centers and realized the area just doesn't have the demographics to support bowling centers that need to charge $6 or $7 a game to make a go of it.
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That article is a year and a half old. The city council approved it June 2012. If they haven't moved any dirt yet don't hold your breath waiting.
This location isn't any better. Actually worse, being closer to the "old" section of R.C.
The only location a place like this had a chance is newer center in Folsom with the movie theaters. But I would hope the investors took a look at places like the two Strikes centers and realized the area just doesn't have the demographics to support bowling centers that need to charge $6 or $7 a game to make a go of it.
I totally agree. I was just wrong on where I thought the location would be. And for them to put one out at the Palladio in Folsom first would kill Lake Bowl, and second would be external to the complex there, because it is nearly filled. The only place they could build it is across the street behind the main complex, putting it next to the hospital. Ugh. But as far as an 'entertainment center' goes, they already have those theaters there.. all they would be missing would be a video arcade or something to keep the kiddies happy. The place is a bit too hipster to want that, though it could use an Apple Store.
But you're right; the demographics for this really suck.
BL.