ARE BOWLING GAMES TOO EXPENSIVE ?

[jl]

Jeff,
plus there's also the price to purchase brand new bowling pins $11,500+ every 2 - 3 years (for a 20 lane centre) $25 per pin x 20 pins per lane + 40 pins (in case of some dodgy pins).
price of bowling balls that the general public can use: $30 per ball x 120 every 4 - 5 years (again, a 20 lane centre with a maximum of 6 people per lane) the ones that get replaced most are the 6lb balls because it seems that adults use them and don't realize they don't last long.
Pinspotter parts (they get imported from the states by the way) $500+ per month for a 20 lane centre.

Aaron.

 

[Roysa]

Jeff last replied in 2003. I'm not sure he will read your response. I enjoyed it though Aaron

 

[Toon]

Major zombie thread, but I don't see why it can't be re-discussed.

Yes it is expensive for those that want to bowl all day long, but the decline in bowling has caused the raise in cost. At the end of the day, a bowling centre is a business and the owners and managers need to make a profit. The continuous decline in Bowling means less money is coming into the centre, which means they have to raise prices to cover the loss.

Hell, I have been bowling twice this week in the middle of the day, while I was there they had 3 staff working, tv's, music, lanes, arcade machines all on. All costing money to run.

To have the only bowler in the place spending $20 on each occasion.

Long story short, the prices are changes to compensate for the lack of bowlers and increased costs to run centres. The only time a centre is really making money is when a packed league is on or school holidays are on.

 

[scooby sue]

Hey James - it's about $14.00 for social bowlers in AMF centres in Melbourne.

Totally agree that social bowling is way too expensive - most people would only volenteer to bowl one game, but if you made it $7.00 per game them they would probably bowl 3 games! I am an AMF bowler and if I step into a Goldpin centre then they want $10.00 per game.....NOT HAPPENING AT THAT RATE!!

Terry - your tier system looks great....you would just have to get the staff on board to spend the extra few minutes per group and all would work well!

 

[jockey]

Scooby Sue

If you show your TBA card at a TBA registered Goldpin centre you should be able to get the local league practice rate. At least that is what should be happening now!

 

[jl]

You can use your TBA Membership Card at any AMF Bowling Centre considering if you weren't a bowler in an AMF centre and bowling in an independent centre aka Goldpin.
$5.50 per person per game. or;
4 Games for $18 per person
Also, it's not just valid for yourself its also available for 4 of your mates (and or family)
AMF League Bowlers with their Gold "Elite" card and get 4 games for $15 per person, also, for you and 4 mates

 

[mickyd213]

I went to AMF Clayton on Sunday to bowl on the Junior Nationals pattern and it cost $49.50 for my eldest 2 boys and myself to bowl 3 games. ($5.50 per game)

 

[Roysa]

You would of been better off Micky paying an extra $4.50 ($54) and getting 4 games (3ppl x $18)

 

[da_cowman]

Bowling as a package is far to expensive in my opinion. Let's assume that a couple come in bowl, eat and play some arcade games. 2 people playing two games is something around $40-45, the cafe purchases would rise this figure up to about $65 (a burger and drink, I may be under cutting that number...) and then another $10 for tokens. That's $75 dollars, which depending on how long the arcade games take, should last them about an hour (10 mins per game x4, eating and drinking while bowling, then 20 mins for the arcade games). As a couple, you can to the cinemas, buy two tickets, 2 packs of lollies, and drinks for around $60 and get, on average, 2 hours of entertainment. Is bowling worth the extra $45 an hour??? Who knows...? I know I keep going to the movies, I don't know how many regular social bowlers there are.

The movies are just one comparison and not a be all end all. I'm sure bowling has benefits that the movies don't. You're actually involved and can be more social, but how much is that worth? If the centres want to charge $5 for a syrup coke, then fine, but drop the price of bowling so that people feel like they're getting a win somewhere. And at the end of the day, how many people come into a bowling alley for a drink, and think bowling might be fun? None. How many people go bowling and feel like a drink? A whole lot more, of that I'm sure. People need to come through the doors for the cafes and arcades to make money. They come for the bowling, and get the chance to experience the whole package. But, for $14 for a single game, how many times are they coming back?? I'd like to imagine that if I ran a centre I'd rather 30 people in there at $5 a game buying drinks and food, then 10 people in there for $14 a game and not wanting to spend another fiver on a syrup coke. People can't spend money in a bowling centre if they aren't in one.

Cheers, Cow

 

[amagill]

I went to a strike bar in the city years ago, 2 people, 2 x games, a couple of beers & some nibbles, was about $120 at the time....

 

[Roysa]

I find lazer skirmish a better value for money social activity than bowling, not to mention the work out you get as well.

 

[CHIN]

Hey James - it's about $14.00 for social bowlers in AMF centres in Melbourne.

Totally agree that social bowling is way too expensive - most people would only volenteer to bowl one game, but if you made it $7.00 per game them they would probably bowl 3 games! I am an AMF bowler and if I step into a Goldpin centre then they want $10.00 per game.....NOT HAPPENING AT THAT RATE!!

Terry - your tier system looks great....you would just have to get the staff on board to spend the extra few minutes per group and all would work well!

If you walk in off the street and bowl 1 games yeah $14.90 a game is expensive. if you bowl 3 games each:-

Straight off the AMF website

Pricing
Number of games Bowling Adult Concession*
1 Game$14.90 $12.90
2 Games $19.90 $17.90
3 Games $24.90 $22.90

All additional games $5.00 a game.

4-5 people walk in off the street and bowl 3 games each. $24.90 each for 3 hours entertainment. go to the movies for $20 for 1 & 1/2 - 2 hour movie. Know where the better value is.

Laser skirmish same price structure

Number of games Bowling Adult Concession*
1 Game$14.90 $12.90
2 Games $19.90 $17.90
3 Games $24.90 $22.90

20 minute games.

Think with 4-5 people bowling certianly the better value for money than laser skirmish.

 

[Roysa]

I was merely answering the social aspect of both activities. I enjoy bowling in a league or competitive atmosephere, not socially.

Usually the lights are off, im dodging 8 year olds who are attending Billy's birthday party and as for the lane condition im probably going to find more enjoyment rolling it in the carpark.

 

[CHIN]

I find the 8 year olds only get in your way once. gotta agree with the work out part.

$14.90 a game at AMF includes shoe hire...10 years ago when shoe hire charges were seperate at around $3.00-$4.00.
Allow $5.00 shoe hire now makes your 1st game $9.90 with each additional game $5.00. Its not real expensive.

Wonder what it will go up to when the carbon tax kicks in.

 

[nev25]

Here we go again

Expensive compared to what?

How much to join a golf club these days

Bowling as a package is far to expensive in my opinion. Let's assume that a couple come in bowl, eat and play some arcade games. 2 people playing two games is something around $40-45, the cafe purchases would rise this figure up to about $65 (a burger and drink, I may be under cutting that number...) and then another $10 for tokens. That's $75 dollars, which depending on how long the arcade games take, should last them about an hour (10 mins per game x4, eating and drinking while bowling, then 20 mins for the arcade games). As a couple, you can to the cinemas, buy two tickets, 2 packs of lollies, and drinks for around $60 and get, on average, 2 hours of entertainment. Is bowling worth the extra $45 an hour??? Who knows...? I know I keep going to the movies, I don't know how many regular social bowlers there are.

Is it the Bowling or the food thats expensive

Its not compulsory to buy food and drinks

I went to a strike bar in the city years ago, 2 people, 2 x games, a couple of beers & some nibbles, was about $120 at the time....

Yeah but are they real bowling Centres or Bars
The one at Crown Casino in Melb I believe charges $10 Shoe Hire
I'm told they don't even oil their lanes

Bowlers need to understand how much it cost to run a bowling centre!
I have about 30 staff (lots of wages)
Lanes - Oiling machine $30 000.00 to $50 000.00, oil, detergents, machine parts, Lane recoats anywhere from $7000.00 to $10000.00, Resurface of lanes between $18000.00 and $25000.00.
Electricity - 16 hours per day
Phones, Water, rates and many many more bills.
.

Yeah agreed I would really like to see a Profit and loss statement from a Bowling centre I could imagine how much insurance costs are
Im told most centres are just breaking even

We also have to determine weather TenPin Bowing is a recreational past time or a sport
You play any other indoor sport and ask to hire the court (or playing surface) for an hours practice and see how much it costs you

 

[Toon]

My last golf membership was $7000 for a year. Fair few years ago now.

 

[Roysa]

My last golf membership was $7000 for a year. Fair few years ago now.

Wow. Where were you a member?

A quick calculation suggests thats about $130 a week... what did that entitle you to?

 

[jimcross]

In the late '80s- early 90s - owned a Golf Course in Ballina. Sold it '94, bought Ballina Bowl and ran for 2 or 3 years.

Compare Golf Course to Bowling Centre? Definately quite comparable as a business. Like,say, a Bentley Continental to a Nissan Micra.

Dealing with the people in a Bowling Centre is way better, though. They're a happy pleasant lot compared to golfers.

 

[da_cowman]

You're right Nev, it's not compulsory. But, all centres would want and hope that their patrons do buy food and drinks. Hence why I included it in my quick math. Take it out if it pleases you. I think the bowling is still more expensive then a movie outing, especially if you remove the optional food from that as well.

Comparing to what is another good question. Unfortunately, there are quite a few substitutes for a social night out. Everything from going to a mates place to play games to heading out to a night club are all bowling's social competitors, although its arguable to do more then one, it would get expensive very quickly. So when looking at bowling as a social outing, which brings in social bowlers, of which a % turn into league bowlers, and then another % turn into serious league/tournament bowlers, we have to compare it to all other forms of entertainment that are vying for patronage. So should we be looking at bowling as either a recreational past time or a sport? Well, both, and in the current climate, you need one to have to the other, unfortunately.

The worry for me is that when I practice, there is usually no one else in the centre. At most it's one lane of a few people, maybe 2 lanes of a small group. I'm not there at 11pm practicing either, I'm there between 8:30 and 10:30. So, why aren't there any social bowlers, and, maybe even more worrying, why aren't any other league bowlers practicing??

I also used to play Squash with my brother occasionally. Neither of us were amazing but it was a bit of healthy (maybe not for the knees) fun. How much did it cost? $15 bucks if I remember correctly, for the hour. $7.50 each. As for other indoor sports I really don't know, but I'd be happy to be told of the pricing structures.

Cheers, Cow

 

[Toon]

Wow. Where were you a member?

A quick calculation suggests thats about $130 a week... what did that entitle you to?

Hey Roysa, was a one off experience. I was playing 5-6 times a week and wanted to take it further. It was a membership at Springfield in Brisbane. Greg Normans course.

Basically covered play a round each day, tournaments each weekend and coaching session a week.

Lot of money, but I just wanted to experience being a member of a top golf course for a year really.


Did wonders for my game..and got really good connections through guys I was playing against.