K
kakcpa
Hello there.
As you might know, I'm located in the United States. I'm 40 years old, and have been bowling since the age of 3. I'm a huge fan of bowling (check out my website at www.mrbowling300.com) and as a bowler myself, I averaged 225 last year. I have never had the opportunity to travel to Australia, but I have known many that have. I'm just curious as to how the state of bowling is in Austalia vs. United States. Let's compare a few of the issues.
For example, the largest thing going on in the States is that Bowling is a declining sport. There are less league bowlers. In 1975, there were 4,500,000 members of the American Bowling Congress. This past year, I believe there were only 1,500,000. That's a significant drop in league members. As real estate property values have increased, Centers are closing all over. Where I live, from 1976 to 2006, I can name about 35 bowling lanes that have closed. I live in the greater Detroit, Michigan USA area. It's also become a very costly sport to play.
Youth leagues are dwindling as well. This might be because of the internet, cable tv, more variety of things to do. When I was a teenager, you would pick any day of the week to bowl in a kids league. Today, they pretty much are only on Sat. Lately, though it's making a comeback. The Michigan High School Assn has recognized bowling as a Varsity sport, getting the same recognition as Basketball, Baseball or Football. That is getting more and more kids interested.
I'm also curious as to if they allow smoking in the Australian bowling centers? Currently, here, smoking is allowed, but as a non-smoker, it's very irritating. Two states have outlawed it in all public buildings, California, and I think New Jersey, so any bowling centers there, would have a complete ban on smoking.
Today, the cost of 1 game of bowling is $3.00, which about $4 in Australian funds. A few months ago, I bought an Ebonite One for $230, which is $306 in Australian funds. In my bowling league, I pay $22/wk, which is about $29 Aust. Now about $7.50 goes for the cost of bowling, and the remainder goes into the prize fund. How do these amounts compare?
Do you get ESPN in Australia? If not, is there PBA bowling shown there? Has anybody seen a documentary about the decline of bowling and the PBA called "A Leauge of Ordinary Gentlemen"? http://www.bowlingmovie.com/ is their website. This discusses why bowling has been on the decline. Very interesting movie about this issues, and how life on the PBA tour is. Bowling on TV used to be huge in America. The professional bowlers tour show would come on at 3:30pm on Sat. afternoons from Jan thru April. But as cable tv came into play, and instead of only 7 channels, there were 70, it became less interesting. Finally, the network that showed it ABC dropped the show in 1997 after a 36 year run. There was much more money to be made showing college basketball.
Bowling has definately changed.
Thanks for your input,
Keith
As you might know, I'm located in the United States. I'm 40 years old, and have been bowling since the age of 3. I'm a huge fan of bowling (check out my website at www.mrbowling300.com) and as a bowler myself, I averaged 225 last year. I have never had the opportunity to travel to Australia, but I have known many that have. I'm just curious as to how the state of bowling is in Austalia vs. United States. Let's compare a few of the issues.
For example, the largest thing going on in the States is that Bowling is a declining sport. There are less league bowlers. In 1975, there were 4,500,000 members of the American Bowling Congress. This past year, I believe there were only 1,500,000. That's a significant drop in league members. As real estate property values have increased, Centers are closing all over. Where I live, from 1976 to 2006, I can name about 35 bowling lanes that have closed. I live in the greater Detroit, Michigan USA area. It's also become a very costly sport to play.
Youth leagues are dwindling as well. This might be because of the internet, cable tv, more variety of things to do. When I was a teenager, you would pick any day of the week to bowl in a kids league. Today, they pretty much are only on Sat. Lately, though it's making a comeback. The Michigan High School Assn has recognized bowling as a Varsity sport, getting the same recognition as Basketball, Baseball or Football. That is getting more and more kids interested.
I'm also curious as to if they allow smoking in the Australian bowling centers? Currently, here, smoking is allowed, but as a non-smoker, it's very irritating. Two states have outlawed it in all public buildings, California, and I think New Jersey, so any bowling centers there, would have a complete ban on smoking.
Today, the cost of 1 game of bowling is $3.00, which about $4 in Australian funds. A few months ago, I bought an Ebonite One for $230, which is $306 in Australian funds. In my bowling league, I pay $22/wk, which is about $29 Aust. Now about $7.50 goes for the cost of bowling, and the remainder goes into the prize fund. How do these amounts compare?
Do you get ESPN in Australia? If not, is there PBA bowling shown there? Has anybody seen a documentary about the decline of bowling and the PBA called "A Leauge of Ordinary Gentlemen"? http://www.bowlingmovie.com/ is their website. This discusses why bowling has been on the decline. Very interesting movie about this issues, and how life on the PBA tour is. Bowling on TV used to be huge in America. The professional bowlers tour show would come on at 3:30pm on Sat. afternoons from Jan thru April. But as cable tv came into play, and instead of only 7 channels, there were 70, it became less interesting. Finally, the network that showed it ABC dropped the show in 1997 after a 36 year run. There was much more money to be made showing college basketball.
Bowling has definately changed.
Thanks for your input,
Keith
