Do you think the economy has alot to do with the decline in entries for local tournaments?

Just wanted to talk about this today, with yet another declining day on Wall Street.

Yes we all have regular attendees that participate in the tournaments but have we gotten down to just the core tourney bowlers who are committing funds to tournament play.   That is about 25 bowlers per event and maybe another 10 who trickle in and out?

Are we heading into a recession where those access funds are just to precious to take a chance?  

I dont know for sure, but I see a definite trend right now, what about you?
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Yvette
Tournament Director Triple Threat Tournaments
Triplethreat1560@aol.com

Yeah theres no chance directors could give back money, hell most of them barely break even at events.  If you ask me most don't make enough for running them.  I know I wouldn't do it to have to listen to all the whining and complaining from bowlers, not enough money in the world LOL
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"Typical House Bowler"

I agree Krakken.  If the return is so bad on $150 then golf, nights out with family is money better spent IMO.  When the economy turns back around that isn't going to bring bowlers back to tournaments,  it's too far gone.  It's kind of like baseball....Nothing will ever compare to the homerun era of Mcgwire,Bonds,Sosa.  They have lost the fans of the long ball and now the sport seems boring to them.
Bowling had the resin boom and every score has been shot by most, there is nothing left to attract someone back into tournaments.  It's all been done.

From a bowler that gets in all everywhere, I think GIB might be on to something there.  Your actually giving back but the director still makes the same on them, makes the bowler feel they are getting something back.  The 1 in 4 is actually ok too, because like you stated the "donaters" will grab a check every now and then.  

Tony/jeff, your thoughts?
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"Typical House Bowler"

Tony,

Just curious, what percentage of my above post do you agree with?

G.I.B

GIB “Jeff/Tony or anyone else who wants to run a tournament, you can advertise as you are giving back but you really aren’t. The money going back into the prize funds is money you aren’t taking right now anyway. I know it isn’t that much money going back in but it looks good as a way to promote these tournaments.”

I am not sure what that quote is implying and I am not going to shoot your ideas down and say they are not possible but it’s easy to say what someone else should do to be successful. It’s kind of like a person who cannot hook the ball telling a person to hook the ball to just throw it straight or vice versa.

To start, in your formula, you have a $5 expense line which 40 Boards DOES NOT CHARGE at the monthly tournaments now. We are charging a $60 entry versus the $70 you suggested. We don’t do the stepladder but everyone gets to bowl 6 games and not 5 to have a chance to win/cash. The truth of the matter is that local tournaments are not drawing 60 entries right now. 50 brackets a set is not happening and charging folks $6 vs. $5 was what was going on in the ‘90’s and folks were complaining. We ran 3 sets last year and we cut back to 2 sets this year because some bowlers felt like it was overwhelming. The “all” guys don’t care but the average player is playing 0-5 per set, max! It does sound better to win $30 in brackets but winning $10 for second now means you aren’t recouping 2 brackets with every second place finish.

In theory, the prize fund you posted looks good but it’s the “same thing” we see at most tournaments. Spend $70 to cash for $70, that has angered many bowlers too over the years. I do like your thinking for my wallet as a director, $5 of every entry in my pocket plus the bracket action. WHEW HOO! Latise and I have left tournaments with $30 after taking care of the bowlers, so please don’t say we have not given back. I definitely like your idea as it will guarantee the tournament some take home money at each event.

GIB, I am not going to say any tournaments name but I am going to give you some perspective. The tournaments that seem to draw well, they have huge expense lines or they don’t even advertise how the entry fee is broken down. They have cult like followings and because of this following, the gambling has grown 10 fold over the years. Notice what has grown or maintained these tournaments, the excessive gambling and we think the economy is retarding entries. People are dropping greenbacks like the end is here to try and win some of that money.

One of the things hurting entries now is the lack of a youth movement. At one time, all of us 30+ year old guys were the new blood at tournaments and right now, the same 30+ crowd is holding it down as the youth/veteran bowlers now. The next wave of talent in their 20’s has not come out and probably won’t. There are guys/gals dropping $200 or $275 at a PBA regional that you can count on 1 finger how many times they have bowled a local event. Isn’t funny how people can bowl 3-5 leagues and say they cannot afford a tournament? They are telling the truth, because league alone is costing them $200 a week if they don’t win any money.



Edited on 11/4/2008 12:08 PM

Tony,

I agree that some changes need to be made for the tournament scene just to get back to 40 entries.  I mean when I first started bowling your stuff 3-4 yrs ago, I would get in 80 brackets, first was $800 or higher, now you can't get 30 guys or 30 brackets and first is $500-$600.  I know there are many different reasons for people not bowling, but bowlers for the most part think breaking even is a good day, so when these guys bowl in the pa area, spend $30, cash for $30 they are ok with that, me personally itd be a waste of time lol.  Just some of my opinions.  Like I said I tried telling Jim Smith about his patterns about 6 months ago and he didn't seem to listen and it seems every tournament has a gimmick to it now, so no wonder people aren't bowling.  Who knows, hopefully it'll get better!
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"Typical House Bowler"

All

I like the fact that with a 1:5 ratio, last cash spot has been $150-$160 ($80 entry fee).

Frankie Abralon - Egos are huge. Bowling is forever ruined. We have USBC to blame for that. I knew when they allowed "short oil", allowed centers to basically wall their lanes without consequence and then couple that with the ball technology... Bowling started becoming a joke.

Not sure what to do and I'm running out of ideas and patience with the whole Tournament Director scene. Like MSB alluded to in his post. People will flock to a "certain tournament" 10, 20 deep from DC/BALT and know for a FACT these individuals running the event is taking money out of the prize fund. Yet they won't support a local event that has been paying out 100% or more since day ONE. I ran a $3,000 1st place GUARANTEED event in August that drew 139 bowlers. I may have had 40 locals in the event. THAT IS A JOKE. Promoted the event for 6 months, so people had plenty of time to get funds and or schedule together. Find it hard to believe people can't set aside $25/month for entry. I know some people who spend more than that PER WEEK on cigarettes, lottery and Keno.

Tournament bowling should be about testing your skills against competition that is on the same level as you or better. Somehow, people have lost that concept. Nobody comes out of the womb a contender. Champions are MADE not BORN (the cliche' police are now coming to get me! )
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Tony Walton
Columbia 300 Regional/Amateur Staff Member
VMSBT Tournament Director
http://www.vmsbt.com

Edited on 11/4/2008 2:54 PM

Edited on 11/4/2008 2:55 PM