FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE Media Contact: Cary Richmond (cary@bpaa.com)
January 30, 2007 Tel: 817-649-5105
The Bowling Foundation Unveils Limited Edition "Youth Bowler" Statue as
Fundraising Effort First Statue Auctioned off at BPAA's Bowling Summit in Cancun
ARLINGTON, TEXAS - The BPAA Education Foundation unveiled its limited edition
"youth bowler" bronze statue this past week at BPAA's Bowling
Summit Midwinter Conference in Cancun, Mexico. The bronze statue, standing
approximately 9 ½" high, depicts a young boy in bowling motion
with the engraved caption, "Youth: Foundation of Bowling's Future," attached to
the base of each statue. The first of only 300 numbered statues, each with its
own certificate of authenticity, was auctioned off at BPAA's Board of Directors
Meeting held during BPAA's Bowling Summit with several distinguished bidders
vying for the first numbered statue. Bidders were many and included BPAA past
president Jeff Bojé, USBC President Mike Carroll, BPAA Treasurer Tom Martino and
STE's Frank DeSocio with the winning bid going to BPAA past president, BPAA Hall
of Famer and BPAA member proprietor Wally Hall for $1550. These limited edition
statues were created for The Bowling Foundation to utilize as both a fundraiser
item and a donation 'gift' for those participating as a Platinum Level donor to
The Bowling Foundation. Those donating at the Platinum Level have the choice of
one of the statues (while supplies last) or other items in recognition of their
generous donation. The Bowling Foundation is a 501(c)3, tax-exempt non-profit
organization and accepts donations. For more information on the work of the
Bowling Foundation or on The Bowling Foundation's "Pick-a-Program" donation
effort, visit their web-site
www.BowlingFoundation.org.
Headquartered
in Arlington, Texas, The Bowling Foundation's mission is to promote a life long
enjoyment of bowling by fostering youth and community health and fitness
programs, maintaining the value of sportsmanship, character development, and
leadership skills, while providing research, education and training for the
bowling community and its athletes.
###
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 2006
Media Contact: Cary Richmond (cary@bpaa.com)
817.649.5105
Mid-America BowlFest 2006 Deemed a Success
ARLINGTON, Texas - Returning to one of its favorite destinations, Chula Vista
Theme Resort in Wisconsin Dells, Wisc., the Mid-America BowlFest
resulted in a successful conference where attendance numbers were approximately
40% higher than the 2005 conference and even exceeded the 2004 conference, which
was also held in Wisconsin Dells, according to the Bowling Proprietors'
Association of America (BPAA). In the latter portion of 2005, BPAA was asked by
the Mid-America BowlFest Committee to take over management and operation of the
conference. More than 300 attendees and exhibitors enjoyed the beautiful
surroundings nestled along the banks of the Wisconsin River. Attendees were met
with an expanded educational program featuring topics and speakers such as
Thinking Inside the Box by Phil Kinzer; Short Season Programs/Planning by Jim
Doty; No Tricks, No Magic, Simply Lane Care by QubicaAMF's Cliff Adair; Bowler
TRAC Training by J Brock; In-Center Youth Director Training by Pam Long, who
also presented a workshop on Managing Differing Personalities; Building Repeat &
Referral Business by Brad Huisken; Retention Marketing by Randy Hairgrove; Risk
Management by North Pointe Insurance and attorney members of IALDA, the
International Amusement & Leisure Defense Association; along with various round
table discussions and an informative presentation by BPAA.
Along with the
education, attendees experienced a full room of exhibitors during the trade show
hours. On the networking front, BowlFest attendees participated in optional
events like golf tournaments and the popular "Tommy Bartlett Show", then they
rolled along the Wisconsin River on various river boats during the Tuesday night
Scenic Boat & Dine and ended the conference on Wednesday night with QubicaAMF's
"The Big Bang" featuring fun activities, a reception, dinner, a
fireworks show to rival any "4th of July" exhibition, and entertainment by "The
Booze Brothers," a show band whose motif mirrors that of the famous "Blues
Brothers."
Mid-America
BowlFest also presented an expanded FPAC (Future Proprietors Activity Club)
program for more than 30 'younger' attendees. Mid-America BowlFest thanks all of
its sponsors and especially recognizes the 2006 Platinum Level Sponsor QubicaAMF
along with Gold Level Sponsors North Pointe Insurance Group and Brunswick.
Mid-America BowlFest is a regional bowling proprietor educational conference
targeted for bowling centers located in Illinois,
Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin along with North and South Dakota.
# # #
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Cary Richmond (cary@bpaa.com)
January 2006 Tel: 817-649-5105
National Bowling Week Announced
ARLINGTON, TEXAS - The industry's return to a unified and official "National
Bowling Week" was announced at the BPAA Bowling Summit in Tempe, AZ on Tuesday,
January 24th.
This week will be scheduled annually for the week prior to Labor Day weekend,
with the kickoff week starting Saturday, August 26, 2006 through Friday,
September 1, 2006. The first day of the week, Saturday, August 26th, will be
positioned as "National Bowling Day."
This joint effort between the United States Bowling Congress (USBC) and Strike
Ten Entertainment (STE), on behalf of the Bowling Proprietors Association of
America (BPAA), has a national purpose to promote awareness of bowling
throughout the country. The International Bowling Pro Shops & Instructors
Association (IBPSIA) has officially signed on to assist in the effort.
USBC will be encouraging all local associations to meet with their local bowling
centers by the first week of May to plan joint activities. STE and/or BPAA will
be sending out a free National Bowling Week poster to all center members and
both an activation and press kit outlining how centers can take advantage of
selected opportunities.
Programs that are in the planning stages for this special week include free
coaching clinics, a Bowling Blast Off program for the youth, free in-school
clinics, free equipment checks, pro bowler appearances and various national
contests.
# # #
Contact: Alexsis Wilkes
Stanton Crenshaw Communications
(212) 780-1900, ext. 569
alexsis@stanoncrenshaw.com
Cary Richmond
BPAA/STE Communications
(817) 649-5105, ext. 207
cary@bpaa.com
ZOOM MEDIA AND STRIKE TEN ENTERTAINMENT PARTNER TO CREATE MEDIA AND
PROMOTIONAL BILLBOARD NETWORK
Partnership Puts Billboards in Centers Nationwide
New York/Arlington, Texas - October 18, 2005 - Strike Ten Entertainment, the
marketing arm of the Bowling Proprietors' Association of America, today
announced that it has partnered with Zoom Media, the leader in targeted out of
home advertising, to offer billboard advertising in 2,200 top bowling venues
nationwide. Zoom will be producing and offering to install large scale, 4' x 6'
backlit billboard signage for every participating bowling center, beginning with
the top 30 markets, which represent approximately 1,100 bowling centers.
Installation, production, and maintenance of these boards will be
handled by Zoom Media, and venues will receive a percentage of advertising sales
every month that appears in the board.
"This new network is a major enhancement of Zoom's ability to connect
advertisers with a highly-desirable, targeted audience," said Dennis Roche,
president of Zoom Media. "Bowling is the largest participatory sport in the
United States, with the average visitor spending more than two hours in the
bowling center, making it an ideal environment for marketers."
A Booming Industry
The bowling industry has evolved dramatically from its early years, with
innovations such as automatic scoring, glow bowling, bumper bowling and the
explosive growth of bowling center birthday parties all making centers a primary
destination for family entertainment. This new landscape significantly
increases the opportunity for marketers.
Modern bowling centers that create a wholesome and enjoyable environment have
broadened bowling's appeal to attract more than 70 million people
annually-including 46 million adults 18 and older, 12.7 million teens and more
than 11.5 million kids under 12. In addition, adult bowlers earn nearly 20
percent more than the average American, and 60 percent are homeowners.
"We are excited to partner with Zoom Media to provide these programs for our
members," said Frank DeSocio, President of Strike Ten Entertainment. "Zoom's
track record with major, national advertisers and its demonstrated ability to
work with family-friendly venues make it a great partner for the industry."
Strike Ten Promotional Board Program
As part of winning the industry's endorsement, Zoom Media will be installing two
27" x 39" promotional boards in all 2,200 Strike Ten Select centers for the
purpose of hosting Strike Ten promotional offers. The Strike Ten call center
will be contacting venues about the program, and Zoom Media personnel will be
installing the boards in Strike Ten centers nationwide. "This offering will
allow venues to showcase the Strike Ten promotions in a consistent part of the
venue every month," said DeSocio. "Streamlining the placement of our Strike
Ten materials will make programs easier to implement for venues and more
attractive to national sponsors."
Installation of the Strike Ten boards will occur market by market, with a target
completion date of the summer of 2006. Installation will begin in the winter.
Venues will maintain these Strike Ten boards by placing the Strike Ten materials
in them.
Continued Growth of Zoom
The Family Bowling Network is the latest and largest addition to Zoom's ability
to reach families. Zoom's Active Family Network consists of over 1,000 Family
Entertainment Centers, indoor soccer facilities, and roller skating centers
across the country. In addition to its Active Family Network, Zoom operates a
Fitness Network with leading health club operators including Bally Total Fitness
and Town Sports International, a Social Network of more than 2,000 bars,
restaurant, and nightclub locations in 35 markets, and a Cinema Network in
partnership with Loews Cineplex.
About Zoom Media
Zoom Media operates a network of over 5,000 venues targeting active consumers in
a variety of highly targeted indoor locations, including indoor soccer
facilities, family entertainment centers, health clubs, movie theaters,
restaurants and nightclubs, with over 40,000 billboard locations throughout
North America. Zoom is owned by the de Gaspé Beaubien family, owners of
Telemedia. For more information, visit
www.zoommedia.com.
###
For Immediate Release Media Contact: Cary Richmond (cary@bpaa.com)
July 2005 817/649-5105
BPAA Introduces Coach It Up! An Exciting, New Coaching Culture for Today's
Bowling Centers
Arlington, Texas - The Bowling Proprietors' Association of America (BPAA) is
proud to announce the creation of an exciting new coaching program, Coach It Up,
which is designed to introduce bowling centers' key employees to the world of
open play coaching. Bowling Center employees can learn how to 'coach' open play
bowlers on the basics of bowling techniques that will increase their success,
creating a more enjoyable experience that results in more repeat business and
maybe even turn them into potential league bowlers. Coach It Up will help
bowling center managers train in-center coaches, interact with the customers,
look for the signs of those customers that would like to learn more, and how to
properly approach them. This program takes customer service to a higher level
than ever before. This dynamic and unique answer to bowler
development was developed by a committee of five of the nation's leading
coaches, including a former PWBA Player of the Year, and two former recipients
of the national Coach of the Year award. Coach It Up, when utilized to its
fullest, can have an
incredibly positive impact on a bowling center's business and ultimately the
bowling industry as a whole. This initial course contains two CDs: one for
employees and one or proprietors and managers. Coach It Up is FREE to BPAA
member
centers.
To order your copy of Coach It Up, BPAA member center
operators need to simply refer to the new 2005 Summer/Fall BPAA Access Catalog
or call BPAA at 800-343-1329, ext. 259.
# # #
Bowling Centers and BVL Team Up, Supporting U. S.
Troops Abroad
Hundreds of "Bowling Salutes America's Troops" Portable Lane Kits Sold
ARLINGTON, TEXAS - Hundreds of bowling centers, as well as associations and
individuals throughout the audience at the recent International Bowl Expo in
Orlando showed support for America's when the new Bowlers to Veterans Link (BVL)
"Bowling Salutes America's Troops" Portable Lane Kit project was introduced,
according to the BVL and the Bowling
Proprietors' Association of America (BPAA). The kits, consisting of a carpet
bowling lane 26 foot long with a red, white and blue "Bowlers of America Salute
You" ribbon logo on the lane, a matching 5 lb. blue rubber ball, 10 pins, score
sheets and
instructions, were made available to bowling centers at the annual bowling
industry trade show, to send to individual service men and women on active duty.
BVL has already sent 200 kits to 40 troop locations in Iraq and Afghanistan,
however, BPAA members jumped at the chance to send the easily-portable kits to
individual service men and women from their communities. Kits have also been
distributed to Veterans Hospitals. "So many of our centers have bowlers or
employees or friends who
have been deployed," reports BPAA/BVL Troop Lane Kit Task Force Member John
Sommer. "The sport of bowling has a long tradition of supporting our troops,
clearly illustrated by the BVL, so we jumped at this opportunity to give back to
those who give so much. If we can send over a little bit of home, and a chance
to forget the hardships of everyday
life on the front lines, then we have done our job."
Task Force Member Wally Hall eloquently introduced the program to the BPAA
membership at a general session held on the Monday prior to the trade show
opening. At the close of the two-day event, hundreds of bowling centers had
signed up to purchase a promotional kit or a full kit.
The promotional kit contains:
* Red, white and blue 4 1/2' x 3' nylon bag with "Bowlers of America Salute You"
logo
* Red and blue pens for handwritten greetings on the nylon bag toselected
recipient
* A "how to" guide on running the campaign and a publicity package, including a
slotted press release
* A poster and flyers and announcements for customization for the selected
recipient
* Patriotic red, white, and blue silicone wrist bands
* Shipping instructions and return envelope for signed bag and check
The promotional package features a BVL/American Eagle and Flag Viz-a-ball. This
ball can be used as a premium to help create excitement about the campaign and
encourage contributions. Bowling Centers nationwide are called on to support
America's troops overseas and create community excitement with BVL's new
campaign which can generate a season full of good will and positive local
attention.
It's as easy to operate, for example:
* Display the nylon kit shipping bag (e.g.-at the bowling center, league office,
company lobby) with a poster detailing information on the designated service man
or woman to receive the package.
* Ask contributors to write a personal message on the bag to the recipient of
the kit.
* Complete the shipping instructions, and mail the personalized bag, along with
a check representing the total collected (minimum of $350), to BVL for lane
packing and shipment to the selected service man or women's APO address.
The entire kit: lane, pins, ball, bag, score sheets, promo kit and free shipping
to the APO address can be purchased directly for
$499. Contact BVL at:
Bowlers to Veterans Link
P.O. Box 2289
Rockville, MD 20847
Phone: 301.881.8333
Fax: 301.881.4042
Website:
www.bowlforveterans.org
The carpet bowling lane, 10 pins and rubberized ball
are easily stored in a lightweight storage bag which can be signed by
contributors participating in the program. "The kits already sent to our troops
have been a great success,"
explains BVL Board Chair Elaine Hagin, who also chaired the BPAA/BVL Troop Lane
Kit project. "We've received so many thank-you's from around the globe, this is
a rewarding project for all who participate."
The promotional package, including the nylon bag, pens, the how-to manual,
posters, silicone wrist bands and Viz-A-Ball can be purchased from BVL for $99.
This is a tax-deductible donation. The Bowlers to Veterans Link is a non-profit
organization and is registered under Section 501(c)(3).
# # #