My fall league started last night, and we currently have 4 teams of five in the league, with a possibility of adding a fifth team in the next couple of weeks. When trying to see if we could get bowlers for our league, the house owner instead tries to deflect and state how wonderful the Friday night league is looking (up 2 teams) and that his new mini-leagues are looking reasonably full as well. He states that no one wants to bowl at 6:15 pm anymore, and tells me that if the league was bowling at a later time, he could get more bowlers. But the people who bowl this league now and have for years would not adjust well to a 7 pm start time and leaving at 9:30 at night.

What also made me laugh was his comment that he doesn't care if my friend opens up a new bowling center in town for next year- he'll just turn this center into a go kart amusement park. Another comment he made is the average bowler will only bowl leagues for 7 years- he claims he heard this from bowling experts at a bowling management meeting in CT.

What interesting things have you heard bowling owners say for the decline in some of your favorite long time leagues?

Matt