Chad Murphy 3569 Members on this board. In the last few days a few topics have surfaced here that have been repeated in varying degrees over the last 365 days relating to the problems bowling faces. IMO, They boil down to four: Technology (balls, lanes, automatic scoring), Industry leadership (USBC, BPAA, PBA), Sociology (just that) and the need to drive revenue by individual business owners to support their families. By definition relating to those four: I can make an easy case that bowling struggled to find a good place to land through the technology boom of the sport. I can make an easy case that bowling leaders had a tough time figuring out what was best for the sport through that while they did what they could and should be respected for the effort. I can make an easy case that bowling lost the sense of community at some point whether it be through a high divorce rate, the advent of electronic gaming and major culture shifts in the social patterns of people today versus 30 years ago. And lastly, I can make an easy case that real estate values that made property more valuable then the business that was was on the property. All these things are easy to figure out and contributed to around 12,000 bowling centers becoming less then 5,000. Whats more difficult is turning it around. If possible, Id like to suggest to the 3569 members on this board that we turn our attention to the future possibilities for growth within the sport rather then continue to spend time on the past. The past is well documented and lays the groundwork for future successes but what are the solutions? As an example, have you ever tried to be something you are not? Bowling has tried to be that in many different ways over the years. Id like to think if we get back to what bowling is and celebrate that, we could in a collaborative manner start to rebuild. Its a recreation for most, a game for some and a sport for the rest of us. All three are needed for bowling to be successful, all three are possible and all three can be attractive to many. All three exist today, with the technology in place, with any industry leadership and as a piece of society. Things will continue to evolve, people will come and go and sociology will move along in a cyclical manner. I dont have the answers anymore then any of you and Im not pretending I do. However, I am working towards them daily. I think a good start would be If all 3569 of you spent time in a bowling center or on these boards this year spinning bowling in a positive light instead of driving the negative..... I promise, if we celebrate who we are..... the culture will begin to shift and more open minds to the necessary changes will appear. Thanks for the passion you have for bowling, Happy New Year!
Posted on: Sun, 19 Jan 2014 19:46:54 +0000
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