I was wondering if anybody knows if there is any place to look for return on investment(ROI) on Bowling Alley Equipment. The alley that I bowl at is so old it's not even funny. It's just a 12 lane house, but most of the equipment is at least 40 years old. I'm surprised they even get the stuff to work half the time. It becomes quite frustrating when your lane breaks down and takes 2-20 minutes to fix every night.
There isn't near as many people that bowl in this town as there used to be. I think a big part of it is people got tired of the machines breaking down and their bowling balls coming back with big scratches and chips out of them.

The bowling alley has said that new machines cost about $10,000 a lane and they just can't afford that. I don't see how they can afford not to. I think with new Pin Setters and electronic scoring that the place would get a lot of open bowling from the college and a lot more league members.

Sorry for the long post,
SLOTH

I never seen anything online but I'm sure Brunswick and AMF Capital Equipment Sales have those numbers.

FYI, $10,000 per lane is usually the price for used equipment and doesn't include scoring. You're talking around $20-25K per lane for new equipment AND scoring.

Thanks for the info, I've checked out their websites and haven't seen anything detailing that information. The bowling center had the lanes resurfaced about 3 years ago. I believe if they decided to do something the first step would be to just replace the machines in back(pin setter,etc.) the ball returns and scoring would wait until the next time they would decide to upgrade, but would like to know costs anyway.

I know of a bowling alley up here in Montana that may get sold for the building, leaving the lanes up for grabs. I don't know much about the condition of the equipment, but I do know there are 12 lanes with automatic scoring units with overhead screens. Do you know what their budget is? I might be able to talk with the seller and try to work something out. My friend used to work there, so he might be able to give some insight as to the condition of the equipment. Let me know--Jeremy

I too bowl at a small bowling alley that the equipment is at least 40 years old. We have 6 lanes and no automatic scoring. The bowling alley was just bought and they too are looking to find ways of improving the lanes because every night at least one lane likes to cause problems. If you hear anything about equipment let me know so that I can pass it on to the owners (who I am friends with).
One thing they did improve already with the lanes is the oiling. Yes, they were still oiling the lanes with the ol' bug sprayer up until the beginning of last season!
Have a good one!
Leandra

sounds like you guys at the old lanes ought to each chip in for a tank of gas, and drive to the nearest newer centers.. and leave the old breaking down 12 lane center where it belongs..in the past. lets face it, the owner is not going to dump a half million bucks into a money losing 12 laner.. all he probably wants to do is get in touch with 'rube goldberg' to help him out on bowling nites...lots of luck

[Edit by Admin: All upper case post converted to all lower case. Please don't type in all caps.]

pocket man, many 12 lane centers can be very profitable. Sometimes much more profitable than some 24 laners.

Its not the size, it all depends on what the management does with it.

Well, the owner is not rich so it's not that at least. I figure if the center wants to get new people into this place, they will need to at least update it a bit better. They, did however finally got a jukebox that wasn't only playing old country and old rock-n-roll (not that I don't like it, we just need variety when bowling) with some nice speakers so that we can hear it too.

Also, to pocket man....the nearest 'automated' facility is 40 minutes away and I don't have time for that. I work full-time, in school full-time, work part-time at the local bowling alley, and I have a son to look after. As much as I would love to be able to bowl in different alleys, I just can't at this time.

Leandra

Just thought I'd leave an update, the deal has not completely gone through yet, but I do believe they will part things up if someone just wants the pinsetters, scoring equipment, etc. I know the shipping charges would be pretty high, but a non-profit organization is hopefully buying the building and we might be able to get a very good deal with a cross country shipper that is based here. If someone would like more detailed information or is interested in pics or something, email me -- redline1@midrivers.com

Thanks,
Jeremy

Been a long time since I contributed to my own post. Like Leandra, going to a different center is not an option. The other lanes in this area are even worse and I don't plan on driving 100 miles one way just to have autoscoring.

The alley did get the foul lights working this year, which is the first thing they've bought new in decades.

The machines are still pieces of chunk, out of 12 lanes they are luck if 8 of them are working at the same time. Last Monday league. 2 teams had to bowl on 1 lane until another group finished and they could move.

Currently the owner is an 80 year old woman whose bought the business 20+ years ago and that's about the last of the money she put into it. Her Grandson-in-law pretty much runs the place for practically nothing. Unfortunately he takes so much pride in being able to fix the old pin setters that he keeps fixing them. Instead of telling her that it's hopeless. So the machine goes for 2 weeks and breaks down again.

We're a small town of about 10000. 6000 permanent residents and 4000 college kids. I think with auto scoring and a make over they could do pretty good in the area.

15 years ago, they had every league full with a waiting list, now they're lucky to fill 8 lanes since most people don't want to deal with the hassle and just give up bowling.

I've found refurbished 3-4 year old stuff on line and they could realistically get new machines and auto scoring for less than 10,000 a lane and the manager wants to. But unfortunately won't be able to until the old lady retires or expires.