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Category Archives: Bowling

Should location-based leisure businesses have strict mandatory face mask requirements?

This blog contains a lot of data from research and polls on the face mask requirements location-based leisure businesses should adopt to become the most successful during corona-time. Continue reading

Less than 1/3rd of previous bowlers are ready to return

Due to the coronaviruses, less than 1/3rd of previous bowlers are ready to go bowling again Continue reading

Increasing concern about Covid-19 impacting attendance at entertainment and cultural venues

Multiple polls show an increase in Americans’ concerns about the coronavirus outbreak and fear of getting sick. The worsening situation is sure to slow or postpone the reopening of entertainment and cultural venues of all types, including family entertainment centers (FECs)
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Who will be the first to return to which out-of-home leisure/entertainment activities?

Here’s my latest research and thoughts on which customers will be the first to return, to which out-of-home entertainment/leisure activities, and at what frequency. Continue reading

When will people return to out-of-home entertainment and dining based on their income, education, generation & age?

Here’s some very recent data on when adults expect to return to restaurants and out-of-home (OOH) entertainment and cultural venues based on their incomes, education, generation and age. Continue reading

The economics of operating location-based entertainment in corona-time

As stay-in-place orders are lifted, reopening LBEs will face financial challenges. Continue reading

What out-of-home activities consumers are now willing to do?

We’re seeing improvement in the percent of consumers ready to return to out-of-home entertainment, but it isn’t where we need to be. Continue reading

First mover doesn’t succeed unless its also best mover

The conventional wisdom is that first to market can establish a stronghold in the market, a first mover advantage, making it difficult for later entrants to capture market share. However, a first mover advantage is never a sure thing. Being a first mover at the expense of being the best mover will often lead to a competitive disadvantage. Continue reading

Looking back and looking forward at the FEC industry

Looking back through the history of the family entertainment center industry and predictions of what the future holds for its success. Continue reading

BECs still prisoners of the past

So here’s the problem with using the name BEC or hybrid bowling center for these mixed-anchor centers that include bowling. . . Continue reading

Vietnam’s Largest FEC Opens

157,000 SF Helio Center, Vietnam’s largest family entertainment center, celebrates its grand opening Continue reading

One-of-a-Kind Survey on National FEC Attraction Preferences

Last month our company completed a national survey of over 4,000 adults on their participation in major attractions at family entertainment centers. According to the results . . . Continue reading

Bowling as a third place

Contemporary bowling centers as well as other types of LBEs can have great success if they become third places. Continue reading

Is AMC Bowling’s bankruptcy the harbinger of the death of bowling?

On November 13th, AMF Bowling Worldwide, Inc., the world’s largest operator of some 262 bowling alleys in the U.S. and Mexico, filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy protection. The company will continue to operate while it tries to reorganize by restructuring … Continue reading

Youth bowling participation declines less than for adults

I decided to take a look at the 10-year trend for children and youth bowling versus adult bowling to see what that looked like. So I examined bowling changes to participation between 2001 and 2011 for ages 7-11, for ages 12-17 and for adults who had bowled more than once during those years Continue reading

What age households are the big spenders for location-based entertainment?

It’s the older age households that have the greatest aggregate out-of-home entertainment spending, not younger age households that marketing myths have us believe. Article includes infographic and historical trend data. Continue reading

Upscaling the guest’s LBE facility experience

Most independent FEC and LBE owners fail to understand the importance of the quality of design and ambiance of their facility to their success. Continue reading

Bowling: Death and Rebirth

Bowling is undergoing a significant change with the decline of league bowlers and bowling alleys and the emergence of upscale bowling centers catering to casual open-play bowlers. Between 2007 and 2010, the number of serious bowlers (13+ x/yr) declined 22%. Continue reading