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Author Topic: Future of AMF  (Read 8912 times)

thedjs

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Future of AMF
« on: January 28, 2014, 03:05:20 PM »
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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900DJ

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Re: Future of AMF
« Reply #1 on: January 28, 2014, 03:10:24 PM »
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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milorafferty

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Re: Future of AMF
« Reply #2 on: January 28, 2014, 03:11:43 PM »
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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Greazygeo

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Re: Future of AMF
« Reply #3 on: January 28, 2014, 03:22:23 PM »
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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bowl400

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Re: Future of AMF
« Reply #4 on: January 28, 2014, 03:32:39 PM »
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.
« Last Edit: January 28, 2014, 03:34:18 PM by bowl400 »
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Impending Doom

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Re: Future of AMF
« Reply #5 on: January 28, 2014, 03:43:44 PM »
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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tennispro11_7

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Re: Future of AMF
« Reply #6 on: January 28, 2014, 03:48:46 PM »
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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swingset

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Re: Future of AMF
« Reply #7 on: January 28, 2014, 03:53:04 PM »
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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astrodanco

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Re: Future of AMF
« Reply #8 on: January 28, 2014, 04:05:15 PM »
At our local AMF house they do appear to be sincerely trying, but the BowlMor policies are killing them.
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milorafferty

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Re: Future of AMF
« Reply #9 on: January 28, 2014, 04:17:27 PM »
Quote from: bowl400 on January 28, 2014, 03:32:39 PM
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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Zanatos1914

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Re: Future of AMF
« Reply #10 on: January 28, 2014, 04:18:38 PM »
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...
« Last Edit: January 28, 2014, 05:46:37 PM by Zanatos1914 »
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bowl400

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Re: Future of AMF
« Reply #11 on: January 28, 2014, 04:26:15 PM »
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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milorafferty

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Re: Future of AMF
« Reply #12 on: January 28, 2014, 04:36:51 PM »
Quote from: bowl400 on January 28, 2014, 04:26:15 PM
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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northface28

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Re: Future of AMF
« Reply #13 on: January 28, 2014, 05:02:39 PM »
Quote from: Zanatos1914 on January 28, 2014, 04:18:38 PM
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.
« Last Edit: January 28, 2014, 05:05:53 PM by northface28 »
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mainzer

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Re: Future of AMF
« Reply #14 on: January 28, 2014, 11:59:51 PM »
Maybe if AMF goes out it will be a good thing?
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