Bowling games price increase

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krava
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Bowling games price increase

Post by krava »

If you go here: https://bowlholidaylanes.com/Pricing that is what it was before and still there.

I went in there today and was shocked. I didn't find out that I could do an hour of bowling for $7.50 for league bowlers until about 3 days ago. I got to use it one time. I went in there today and it went from $7.50 up to $16 and hour. The people that open bowl for $16 an hour went up to $22 an hour. League bowlers games went up from $2.00 to $2.50 a game. At the beginning of the year, they took out 4 lanes to make an arcade. Then in the middle of the year they took out regular seats and put couches in the first 7 lanes and then made those VIP lanes. Then not even 2 weeks ago, they took out more of the bowling alley and made the first 13 lanes VIP lanes. To get a VIP lane you have to pay an extra $10 on top of whatever you want to do. If you bowl one game it is 1 game plus the $10. I quit Monday's night because the price to bowl went up to $22 from $19 or $20. I was told the owner did this because she wants to "modernize" the bowling alley which was made in 1960. I don't see anything wrong with the place the way it is and not sure what all can be done to it.

In comparison, Barksdale air force base has $1.50 games on Sunday, $10 all you can bowl for 2 hours Friday and Sat night. (which they put you in the dark). I don't know the price of normal games there though.

I know prices have to go up sometimes but I think the price hike is pretty steep for sure. Games going up 25% and Hourly rate going up over 100% for league bowlers. Anyone have anything similar happen?
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Re: Bowling games price increase

Post by 44boyd »

You’ve stated how you’ve waited almost 2 hours for a lane, so you’ll see how that goes. Or you can go bowl on base, just not as many league options
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Re: Bowling games price increase

Post by JimH »

It is not fair to compare a non commercial operation such as bowling at a government subsidised air force base to a business. Most bowling centers are run as businesses and if there is not sufficient income the business will close. Many places have removed lanes because there is more income per square foot of floor space from such activities as arcade games or pool tables.

Removing 2 lanes will make room for at least 6 pool tables which will produce more income per hour han bowling.
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Re: Bowling games price increase

Post by kajmk »

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Re: Bowling games price increase

Post by JimH »

The Bowler's Journal article affirms the fact that the bowling industry is a business. The old style family run bowling business is disappearing with very few remaining. Most bowling centers are owned by corporations and are members of a chain of bowling centers. The future for small non chain bowling centers seems to casual or leasure bowling not league or tournament bowling.
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Re: Bowling games price increase

Post by MegaMav »

Talk to the manager about buying games for the month/year/season up front at a discount.
20, 50, 100? That will drive the price down.
Bowling centers can be negotiable.
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Re: Bowling games price increase

Post by bowl1820 »

krava wrote: January 2nd, 2020, 9:10 am If you go here: https://bowlholidaylanes.com/Pricing that is what it was before and still there.
I went in there today and was shocked. I didn't find out that I could do an hour of bowling for $7.50 for league bowlers until about 3 days ago. I got to use it one time.
Amazing all the time you've bowled there, You never knew or heard that league bowlers got a special price on open bowling until 3 days ago.
I went in there today and it went from $7.50 up to $16 and hour.
That does sound like a awful big jump for the league hr. rate, I might would go back and check to see if thats right. Given that reg. hr open bowling only went up $5, Leag. hr. open bowling should have been about $12.50
The people that open bowl for $16 an hour went up to $22 an hour.
Ok a $5 increase on a price that probably hasn't changed in a long time (Using the internet wayback machine the prices appear to be the same at least 2 years ago) isn't that bad
League bowlers games went up from $2.00 to $2.50 a game.
Ok .50 cent increase
At the beginning of the year, they took out 4 lanes to make an arcade. Then in the middle of the year they took out regular seats and put couches in the first 7 lanes and then made those VIP lanes. Then not even 2 weeks ago, they took out more of the bowling alley and made the first 13 lanes VIP lanes. To get a VIP lane you have to pay an extra $10 on top of whatever you want to do. If you bowl one game it is 1 game plus the $10.
Looking at the pricing from 2 years ago, They had the same VIP pricing then. So they just added more lanes to the VIP.
I quit Monday's night because the price to bowl went up to $22 from $19 or $20. I was told the owner did this because she wants to "modernize" the bowling alley which was made in 1960.
Well if it hasn't been updated in 60 years I'd say it's about do.
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Re: Bowling games price increase

Post by bowl1820 »

MegaMav wrote: January 2nd, 2020, 6:34 pm Talk to the manager about buying games for the month/year/season up front at a discount.
20, 50, 100? That will drive the price down.
Bowling centers can be negotiable.
Yeah that's like here, we have the Players pass which you can get a month of Unlimited practice for about $25.
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Re: Bowling games price increase

Post by krava »

I will try the lot of games package deal and see what they say. There is suppose to be a $10 special during off hours such as daytime but I have to check. The airforce base went up $2 as well.
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Re: Bowling games price increase

Post by ICURNVS »

While were on the subject....

What is everyone paying for lineage in leagues? In my local area (akron/canton OH) the non chain houses (3) vary from 9.50 - 11.5 the AMF house is 13.5

From what i understand if you move up into the Cleveland general area it varies from 11.50 - 13.50 non chain.
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Re: Bowling games price increase

Post by PIJoe »

Well, honestly, if she needs to take action to modernize to pull in more business, she has to pay for the modernization. Hopefully her gamble pays off. Times change, and just because YOU see no reason to change anything, LOTS of people not currently spending money there may strongly disagree.
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Re: Bowling games price increase

Post by Starion »

I'm grateful that a few lanes around here still have evening specials 2-3 hours for $5-10. Otherwise $3.75-$5+ per game. The newer Headpinz centers have very high hourly rates that I don't bother with, but are fine if there's big parties of 4-6 per lane and happy with maybe 1 game pp. It really does seem that some centers are league based while others are strongly just house entertainment. No surprise it's about the money. Sad to see lanes removed...I've seen trampolines replace lanes, then pulled for TVs and video games for the kids.

It seems that the majority of bowlers are casual, evening fun bowlers. We can only hope there's at least one place reasonably centered in town that caters to leagues and bowlers seeking to improve and bowl regularly & at reasonable prices!! Else, it's quickly a pricey endeavor that youth will avoid taking seriously.

speaking of the VIP "party lights"...

Q: Have you ever seen lanes where the arrows for aiming have a reflective paint or something/anything to actually be VISIBLE during those blacklight/VIP night conditions? It's really strange now that I'm using those, that centers are ok with them being totally invisible. Literally night & day difference. Seems like a clear reflective white coating beneath would fix it!?
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Re: Bowling games price increase

Post by Pinbuster »

I believe most of the houses around here charge $3.50 to $4.00 a line for leagues.

Open play is all over the place. A lot depends on the time of the day and which day it is .

As a league bowler I can get $2.00 open play during the day and early evening on weekdays. One house has a 2 hour special for $6.00 on weekdays from 11 am to 1 pm.

But weekend open play is generally about $5.00 a game or $13 and hour for a lane.
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