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The Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) has announced significant changes to the PBA Tour that will include an exempt field, an all match play format, increased guaranteed prize money for all spots and a new business model for bowling centers that host a PBA Tour event.
Beginning with the 2004-2005 Season, each of the 16 standard tournaments on the PBA Tour will be limited to 64 entries, 60 of whom will have exempt status for the full Tour Season. Exemptions will be determined by champions and top point finishers from the 2003-2004 Season, PBA Tour Trials (qualifying competition), weekly qualifiers, Commissioner's exemption and the highest finisher in a weekly Elite Pro-Am. The four majors (Tournament of Champions, U.S. Open, ABC Masters and the PBA World Championship) will continue with their current format. (Scroll down this page for details on all exemptions)
"The PBA has made some great strides in the last three years," said Steve Miller, PBA President and CEO. "We see these changes, however, as major steps in elevating our sport to the next level, and increasing sponsorship opportunities for the Tour."
"We want new personalities to continue to emerge in our sport," said PBA Commissioner Fred Schreyer. "We believe the new format will facilitate that process and will allow our players to assume both an inspirational and aspirational role for our fans. These changes will accelerate that process."
Bowlers who lose their first match will be guaranteed prize money, making it the first time the PBA will pay the entire field and guarantee exempt players a weekly paycheck.
PBA Tour Trials will be new to the PBA Tour in 2004. At a site to be determined, the PBA will have five daily tournaments, all on different lane conditions, with the top 10 finishers, after all five events, earning a full season exemption onto the 2004-2005 PBA Tour.
Finally, the PBA has announced it will no longer charge bowling centers a rights fee to host a tournament. Rather the PBA will become business partners with each center and will help with local marketing and sponsorships, promoting the pro-ams and sharing in the resulting revenue streams.
The PBA will begin its 2003-2004 season on October 8. Last season the PBA showed remarkable growth that included a 6% increase in ratings for its ESPN telecasts, a 20% increase in membership, and a 35% increase in tournament entries.
Beginning with the 2004-2005 Season, each of the 16 standard tournaments on the PBA Tour will be limited to 64 entries, 60 of whom will have exempt status for the full Tour Season. Exemptions will be determined by champions and top point finishers from the 2003-2004 Season, PBA Tour Trials (qualifying competition), weekly qualifiers, Commissioner's exemption and the highest finisher in a weekly Elite Pro-Am. The four majors (Tournament of Champions, U.S. Open, ABC Masters and the PBA World Championship) will continue with their current format. (Scroll down this page for details on all exemptions)
"The PBA has made some great strides in the last three years," said Steve Miller, PBA President and CEO. "We see these changes, however, as major steps in elevating our sport to the next level, and increasing sponsorship opportunities for the Tour."
"We want new personalities to continue to emerge in our sport," said PBA Commissioner Fred Schreyer. "We believe the new format will facilitate that process and will allow our players to assume both an inspirational and aspirational role for our fans. These changes will accelerate that process."
Bowlers who lose their first match will be guaranteed prize money, making it the first time the PBA will pay the entire field and guarantee exempt players a weekly paycheck.
PBA Tour Trials will be new to the PBA Tour in 2004. At a site to be determined, the PBA will have five daily tournaments, all on different lane conditions, with the top 10 finishers, after all five events, earning a full season exemption onto the 2004-2005 PBA Tour.
Finally, the PBA has announced it will no longer charge bowling centers a rights fee to host a tournament. Rather the PBA will become business partners with each center and will help with local marketing and sponsorships, promoting the pro-ams and sharing in the resulting revenue streams.
The PBA will begin its 2003-2004 season on October 8. Last season the PBA showed remarkable growth that included a 6% increase in ratings for its ESPN telecasts, a 20% increase in membership, and a 35% increase in tournament entries.
