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PWBA Announces New Ownership Agreement
The Professional Women's Bowling Association announced today that it has ceased operations under its present ownership effective September 1, 2003, and that Pinacle Events, Syosset, NY has assumed ownership effective September 2, contingent on due diligence. Finalization of the agreement will be announced within the next 30-60 days.
Pinacle Events is best known for its dynamic Mini Eliminator amateur tournaments, and for its work in many men and women's professional and amateur events over the past decade, including promotion of several very successful PWBA pro-ams. Pinacle produced the pro-ams for the 2002 PWBA tour event in Las Vegas and the 2002 and 2003 PWBA Regional Players Championship Tournaments. Pinacle also conducted the first Senior U.S. Open, the 2002 Brunswick Senior World Open and will conduct the 2003 Brunswick 40 Plus World Open in November. Several very successful PBA events in New York and Florida were also produced by Pinacle, some of which included a unique outdoor television finals.
"This is the best option I had to insure a good long-term future for the tour," said PWBA owner John Sommer. Pinacle Events President Steve Sanders is also optimistic about the tour's future, but realistic about the enormous challenge of turning the tour around and making it profitable. "I'm excited about the opportunity, but I also understand the enormity of the responsibility of building a new tour, and making it financially successful. We have a lot of work and research to do in the next couple of months," he said.
Both parties agree that a strong, viable, and highly visible women's pro tour is critically important for the growth of bowling. "Steve has a long history of success in event management, and a full understanding of the industry, with the continued support from all industry groups the PWBA will have a very bright future," added Sommer. Among those who will be involved in the transition process are the PWBA members, regional directors, WIBC, ABC, BPAA, Strike Ten Entertainment, ESPN, several prospective sponsors, host centers and others regarding the 2004 tour schedule.
Under Pinacle management, the PWBA regional tours continue to stage events in six geographic regions during the ownership transition.
For more information about the new PWBA, contact the interim tour office 815-332-5756 or the regional program office (972) 771-0069. Information can also be found at the website
www.pwba.com or
www.allbowling.com, or by email pwbaoffice@aol.com (national office) or pwbarp@aol.com (regional program office).
The Professional Women's Bowling Association, founded in 1981 as the Ladies Pro Bowlers Tour, provides a professional tournament program for the most skilled women bowlers in the world. The tour has consistently been the highest rated women's sports program series on ESPN and other networks for the past 17 years. The PWBA's key sponsors include the Women's International Bowling Congress (WIBC), Pepsi Cola, Miller Brewing, BowlersParadise.com and more than a dozen other bowling industry sponsors.
