I think if you asked bowlers why they bowled league, they answer was to win the league and make a profit.  And by a profit, they mean cover their costs of lineage and prize fund paid during the league year.

Now, as we all know, lineage has probably doubled, tripled or more over the past 20 years.  League fees and prize funds have not.

So in previous decades, you had a $15 league where $5 went to lineage and $10 went to the prize fund.  Well in today's prices, that same league probably pays close to $10 in lineage.  So the league fees would need to jump to $20 a week just to be at same level as they were in the previous decade.

However, you are now paying $5 more per week or approx $170 (34 weeks x $5) a season and getting back the exact same prize fund.  Less bowlers are being profitable.  More bowlers are losing money and eventually quitting. 

The work leagues that existed in the 80's and 90's have gone away for the most part leaving fun leagues and money leagues, but the money leagues are going away as it is it harder and harder to make a profit.  Thus the bowler loses interest.

Is it really fair to think that you should make a "profit" from bowling. You are going into a business, using their equipment for 2-3 hours each week. Would you expect to go the movies for free? Would you expect to go to a batting cage for free?
 
In the past, maybe that was possible, and I think that set a wrong expectation. There is always a cost for doing something. I think people need to look at are the making a profit on the amount they are paying to the prize fund every week. That is the additional money over the cost of playing. They used to run golf "leagues" where I grew up in PA during the summer. In that situation would you expect to make enough to play golf for free? The answer was no...they expected to pay greens fees, reduced fees from if they were playing on their own, but they expected to pay. Bowlers need to get over the fact that there is a cost for bowling. If you look at what you paid into the prize fund for the year, did you get back more than that. Also, how many teams should be above that criteria? Should it be just the winning team, the top 5, the top half? I think bowlers also have unrealistic expectations on how many teams should "win", or make a profit. I think there needs to be a shift in attitudes and expectations.....but as we all know, as bowlers that is almost impossible to acheive.

Is it really fair to think that you should make a "profit" from bowling. You are going into a business, using their equipment for 2-3 hours each week. Would you expect to go the movies for free? Would you expect to go to a batting cage for free?
 
In the past, maybe that was possible, and I think that set a wrong expectation. There is always a cost for doing something. I think people need to look at are the making a profit on the amount they are paying to the prize fund every week. That is the additional money over the cost of playing. They used to run golf "leagues" where I grew up in PA during the summer. In that situation would you expect to make enough to play golf for free? The answer was no...they expected to pay greens fees, reduced fees from if they were playing on their own, but they expected to pay. Bowlers need to get over the fact that there is a cost for bowling. If you look at what you paid into the prize fund for the year, did you get back more than that. Also, how many teams should be above that criteria? Should it be just the winning team, the top 5, the top half? I think bowlers also have unrealistic expectations on how many teams should "win", or make a profit. I think there needs to be a shift in attitudes and expectations.....but as we all know, as bowlers that is almost impossible to acheive.

I agree bowlers shouldn't "expect" to win back all of the money put into the year.  But for me, a good judge of prize fund distribution I feel is fair is if the 1st place team does win back their money.  Obviously, not everyone will win the league.  And hopefully, not everyone "expects to win the league.  But if no one wants to take the challenge and chances to make more than they put in with the possibility to take home a lot less, then bowl a league with no prize fund. 

This is true.  I play hockey and in leagues.  A fall league for example is 16 weeks and costs anywhere from $350-$450.  If your team wins the league, you get a trophy.  No money, nothing else.  You are paying for the ice time and the officials. 

Could you imagine bowling leagues operating like that?  Would a $10 per week league pull in more teams with no prize fund over a $20 per week league where you make back some money?

These are the questions that need answering.

Is it really fair to think that you should make a "profit" from bowling. You are going into a business, using their equipment for 2-3 hours each week. Would you expect to go the movies for free? Would you expect to go to a batting cage for free?
 
In the past, maybe that was possible, and I think that set a wrong expectation. There is always a cost for doing something. I think people need to look at are the making a profit on the amount they are paying to the prize fund every week. That is the additional money over the cost of playing. They used to run golf "leagues" where I grew up in PA during the summer. In that situation would you expect to make enough to play golf for free? The answer was no...they expected to pay greens fees, reduced fees from if they were playing on their own, but they expected to pay. Bowlers need to get over the fact that there is a cost for bowling. If you look at what you paid into the prize fund for the year, did you get back more than that. Also, how many teams should be above that criteria? Should it be just the winning team, the top 5, the top half? I think bowlers also have unrealistic expectations on how many teams should "win", or make a profit. I think there needs to be a shift in attitudes and expectations.....but as we all know, as bowlers that is almost impossible to acheive.

How tired and old this topic is.  If you're looking to make money or a "profit" from bowling league, you're not very bright.  As said before, leagues are an organized way to have teams compete for a "championship".  Money is and always should be an after-thought.  You want to make money, that's what pots are for.

What ruined leagues?  Nothing.  Just the lower average bowler getting wise to the higher average sharks dipping into their wallets every week. 

Hey Daddy.  You have your opinion, but you'll find just as many people who think the sandbaggers dip into the higher average sharks is also a problem.

Jesus.  Who cares about this crap?  Bowlers whine about more stuff than in any other sport.  Who the hell plays hardball or softball in league with hopes of getting rich?  Do golfers bitch as much about $300 drivers as much as bowlers bitch about $175 dollar balls?  How about those $350 bats, Joe?

People who bitch about USBC are the ones that can't even be bothered to go to their annual league meeting before the start of the season.  They just sit back and let everybody else setup everything up so they can come in, shoe up, bowl, bitch about there's too much oil or too lttle oil without once trying different hand position or spot on the lane, then leave.  They bitch about getting jobbed for $19 every year, they piss that away every month on lottery tickets that don't return a dime.

There's more than enough tournaments one can compete in if one is looking to make money.  There's more than enough leagues to find one that will suit what you're looking for.  If you don't like the way bowling is going, volunteer to coach or help coach the high school team or other youth bowlers.  Show them the right way to do it, tell them what bowling used to be and should be about. 

Do anything you want   but for crying out loud, stop bitching about it! "I hate the conditions", "I hate the cost", "I hate the USBC", "I hate the league rules", "I can't make enough money bowling in a recreational sport", blah, blah, blah.  Notice all the "I can'ts" in there?  That's the problem with bowling.  Give it a rest.
 

Hopefully that makes it clearer for you.   

Perhaps you can explain to me how coming on to a ball reviews site is helping solve any of the "problems" facing bowlers.  You're comment about jackpot "feeders" tells me all I need to know about your particular perspective.  You go on and beat this dead horse.  Not interested.

How tired and old this topic is.  If you're looking to make money or a "profit" from bowling league, you're not very bright.  As said before, leagues are an organized way to have teams compete for a "championship".  Money is and always should be an after-thought.  You want to make money, that's what pots are for.

What ruined leagues?  Nothing.  Just the lower average bowler getting wise to the higher average sharks dipping into their wallets every week. 

Bingo, we have a winner here...

Today in bowling there are two types of bowlers...

People who win POTS...And donators...

And most who win are the under 30 types who have ball speed...And drink beer...

So the house caters the shot to their style...