Attention Bowlers comments about lane and equipment conditions

[villagetinker]

If you are as annoyed about the equipment failure rate and general conditions of the bowling lanes here are the contacts to send your concerns. I have complained several times and did get some positive replies, but I am one bowler, and lately complaints seem to be ignored.

So I am asking others who have concerns about the operation of the lanes, equipment, etc to send these to:

Bolero Corporate: 'GuestService@BowleroCorp.com'
Local management: 'LLockett@BowleroCorp.com'

Maybe if enough people let them know there are still problems they will actually do something, for example Friday lane 5 broke down causing the bowlers to be about 30 minutes late finishing, then Monday lane 21 broke down with the same results.

Thank you for letting me vent, now it is your turn.

[bagboy]

In most cases, I would say yes, talk to management. In this case with Bowlero (and local management) I would offer the opinion that you are absolutely wasting your time complaining. Bowleros game plan is reduce staff, reduce maintenance, and raise prices. They are despised by bowlers in every market they are in. For example, recently an accomplished bowler (paying customer) complained about the dirt and grime in the center here, and on the lanes. His complaint reached the center and area manager, and was confronted by them. He bowls 3 to 5 times a week (depending on weekend play) and spends money in the pub. He was told "maybe you should spend your money elsewhere". This is the type of people bowlers are dealing with. Complain all you want, good luck. I've posted an article re: Bowlero to confirm some of what have said.

Private Equity–Backed Firm Bowlero Is Ruining Bowling (https://jacobin.com/2024/05/private-equity-bowlero-ruining-bowling)


Let me add, my post in no way is meant to disrespect the concerns and effort by VT who is probably the most overall respected poster on this forum, including respected by me.

[CarlR33]

I don’t bowl but are they the only game in town?

[Snakster66]

I don’t bowl but are they the only game in town?

Essentially, yes.

[justjim]

I don’t bowl but are they the only game in town?

Leesburg Bowl on west main.

[MsPCGenius]

Leesburg Bowl on west main.

Same maintenance issues there, as well -- AMF owned.

[Snakster66]

Same maintenance issues there, as well -- AMF owned.

Correct. This is why I say 'essentially, yes'. Bowlero Corporation operates more than 350 bowling alleys nationwide, under a portfolio of brands that includes Bowlero and AMF. So the same parent company operates all of the nearby lanes.

[bagboy]

Correct. This is why I say 'essentially, yes'. Bowlero Corporation operates more than 350 bowling alleys nationwide, under a portfolio of brands that includes Bowlero and AMF. So the same parent company operates all of the nearby lanes.

You are correct. Bowlero owns centers here, Ocala, Crystal River, and the center on Main Street in Leesburg. The arcade at the mall in Leesburg I don't think they own, as well as the center Tavares, neither of which would be feasible for Villagers to bowl at.

[Babubhat]

All the same company now. String pin setters are the future. Up to 3000 parts in a pin setter. No idea how they find mechanics today. Watching a mechanic video it looks like a miserable job

USBC Approved String Pinsetters - Funk Bowling North America (https://www.funkbowling.com/products/string-pinsetters/)

Lucky Strike Entertainment Corporation provides location-based entertainment platforms under the AMF, Bowlero, Lucky X Strike, Boomers, and PBA brand names in North America. It also operates bowling, amusements, water parks, and family entertainment centers. The company was formerly known as Bowlero Corp. and changed its name to Lucky Strike Entertainment Corporation in December 2024.

[CarlR33]

Leesburg Bowl on west main.This place? I ask because it came up on a search for the “go bowling” (a sponsor of NASCAR).
Bowling – Leesburg, FL (https://viaentertainment.com/leesburg-fl/bowling/)

[CFrance]

A friend of ours bowls a couple times per week. I think up by Spanish Springs. He threw his ball down the lane, and it didn't come back. Another bowler on another lane had the same problem. The alley people couldn't find the balls. They think they are under the alleys somehow, and they had to call someone in to find them. Apparently they have had trouble keeping knowledgeable mechanics. I can't remember when this happened, but as of last Sunday they still hadn't located the two balls.

[badkarma318]

There should be at least one competent mechanic, and at least one porter on duty during business hours, preferably two of each.

If this corporation just hires "handymen" off the street as their mechanics, that is unacceptable (as specialized training is required, and each individual pinsetter has its own quirks). Lane oiling must be considered as well.

Source: Managed a 40-lane bowling center.

It seems as though the owner is determined to do things as cheaply as possible, so I only see two possibilities:

1. Create some type of petition outlining the problems, get as many people to sign it as possible, request a meeting with the highest-ranking employee (General Manager, most likely), then you can show them how many paying customers share your frustrations. If you do not gain satisfaction, time to escalate.

2. The lifeblood of pretty much any bowling alley is league bowlers. Very few locations would be able to thrive on walk-ins/open play only. See how many commitments you can get for a boycott. This will be difficult, as most won't want to rock the boat, but in order to force change, you must affect the incoming $$$.

Neither option is likely to succeed, sadly. You might try contacting someone way up the chain of command with The Villages, but I doubt they would apply pressure to a tenant.

Short of an ownership change, it doesn't look promising.

[Nevinator]

Bowling is a sport/activity that people can participate in well into their 80’s even with some disabilities, so with so many retirees living here with so much free time, I am quite surprised by the lack of bowling facilities throughout The Villages. I moved here from a city of about 65,000 in Texas and we had three local bowling alleys and all of them were always busy. Also, the cost to bowl was reasonable compared to here. On Friday’s seniors bowled for $1.00 per game and league bowlers were always given a flat rate of $2.00 per game.

[dewilson58]

If you are as annoyed about the equipment failure rate and general conditions of the bowling lanes here are the contacts to send your concerns. I have complained several times and did get some positive replies, but I am one bowler, and lately complaints seem to be ignored.

So I am asking others who have concerns about the operation of the lanes, equipment, etc to send these to:

Bolero Corporate: 'GuestService@BowleroCorp.com'
Local management: 'LLockett@BowleroCorp.com'

Maybe if enough people let them know there are still problems they will actually do something, for example Friday lane 5 broke down causing the bowlers to be about 30 minutes late finishing, then Monday lane 21 broke down with the same results.

Thank you for letting me vent, now it is your turn.

Not a bowler, will support and send emails.

:highfive:

[Babubhat]

Mike Rowe from dirty jobs did a video about being a bowling mechanic. See YouTube. Dangerous job requiring an acrobats agility. No idea how you find a mechanic for what they pay. Time for them to convert to String pins. Less than 50 parts and much fewer breakdowns

[Triker]

We’ve not been bowling since we moved. We heard about the prices and conditions and said no way.
I refuse to pay that ridiculous price under the facility conditions.
If you continue to support them like they are they will continue to do as they are.
Stop playing and everyone complain.

[bowlingal]

Carl...there is another bowling alley in Leesburg AMF Lanes. Not far from the villages

[rsmurano]

I miss the days where you ca bowl for $1.50 a line if it was early on specific days. Now you can pay over $8 a line all 3 bowling centers in our area.
I used to bowl in 5 scratch leagues a week but now with these prices, I get a summer card that costs $50 and I get to bowl 2 games free a day during all summer.

[Villager24]

I’m not a bowler so forgive me if this is a dopey question, but how about the lanes at Spanish Springs? I believe it’s called Spanish Springs Lanes? Are they bad as well?

[Snakster66]

I’m not a bowler so forgive me if this is a dopey question, but how about the lanes at Spanish Springs? I believe it’s called Spanish Springs Lanes? Are they bad as well?

These are the lanes that were the subject of the OP. All three local bowling alleys (Spanish Springs, Fiesta, and Leesburg) are all owned by the same corporate entity. So what you find at one, you will find at the others.

[wbadger]

Thanks VT for bringing up this rapidly worsening situation. In the last couple of years the bowling alleys here have deteriorated badly as far as service, price, and maintenance issues are concerned. Last week we had to change alleys three times in order to finish our league due to equipment breakdowns. We are paying good money for a product that is getting worse each week. The comment from the person behind the counter was to the effect that they have new people who don't know how to fix the mechanical issues? Perhaps its time to move to lawn bowling. Have sent emails to the 2 sites you mentioned.

[SaucyJim]

After reading these comments and our two teams in the league finishing a good 20 minutes later than the rest of the league last night, we’re done after this season. It’s not just frustration, but lost momentum. I bowled worse in each successive game. We lost games two and three plus total pins after winning game one by over a hundred pins (handicap).

But this not limited to bowling. Systems and services are degrading at an accelerated pace all around us as the visions of two prophets, Ayn Rand & Theodore Kaczynski, come to pass.

Atlas Shrugged.

[almondz]

When Bowlero bought out the previous owner we were told that there was going to be all new equipment installed and major interior remodeling. They even had some wonderful pictures of several other alleys they own/operate. Well they did minimal equipment change and no remodeling except to remove bathroom entry doors. These are the dumpiest looking places I have ever bowled in. But if you enjoy bowling, this is what you're stuck with.

[Bilyclub]

Leesburg is on its 3rd manager in 2 years. There is very scarce lane time to practice.

[mraines]

You are correct. Bowlero owns centers here, Ocala, Crystal River, and the center on Main Street in Leesburg. The arcade at the mall in Leesburg I don't think they own, as well as the center Tavares, neither of which would be feasible for Villagers to bowl at.

Once upon a time we had laws against monopolies. That is not the case anymore.

[stevesliders]

Bowlero has since take over put new lanes in both centers as well as new scoring systems, new flooring and has done what the villages has allowed them to do as the owners of the buildings. Fiesta bowl is managed well and maintained well, Spanish springs not as well, the people that bowl at these centers 80% of them don't clean up after themselves as well p and crap all over the toilets and floor. that's one reason they are unclean looking.

[dlspiess]

I understand they own that one too

[wbadger]

Got a response yesterday from an email I sent to Bowlero that said they have sent a team of mechanics to Spanish Springs with another mechanic on the way to fix the issues with the lanes. We'll see if conditions approve. At least I got a response.

[CarlR33]

LOL, if you ask Google “bowling ally business” it’s an interesting read. One of them is “Location: The most successful bowling alleys are in areas with high-income households”. Given the comments above about dollar days it does not seem a bowling ally business can do well in “the Villages Market”