As one of several hundred on hand for the opening ceremonies of the new International Bowling Campus in Arlington, Texas, Cal Bowl proprietor Ken Benware said he couldn’t help but be impressed – not so much by the 100,000-square-foot complex as with the people working there.
“The people,” Benware said, responding to the question, “What impressed you the most?”
“The day the ceremonies were going on, the staff was there at 5 in the morning, and they were still there at 8:30 at night when I left. And they all were as pleasant as could be. You would never know they were working.”
Yes, it was all fun and games on Jan. 25-26 when the grand opening culminated a two-year project to bring the sport’s major organizations together under one roof. The complex houses the International Training and Research Center (featuring 20 lanes; six of them for equipment testing) on the south side and the International Bowling Museum and Hall of Fame on the north side.
The two-story campus also is the corporate headquarters of the United States Bowling Congress, Bowling Proprietors Association of America, Strike Ten Entertainment (marketing arm), The Bowling Foundation, International Bowling Pro Shop and Instructors Association, Bowling and Billiards Association, Bowling Writers Association of America, and Bowling News Network.
It is located across the street from Six Flags Over Texas and not far from the new Cowboys Stadium and Rangers Ballpark in Arlington.
“The place is gorgeous, really,” said Benware who flew to Texas with his wife, Marie, to also attend the BPAA Bowling Summit and to visit his daughter who lives in nearby Fort Worth.
“I like the fact that they have just one shipping department – this definitely will cut costs – and that there’s an open floor plan. Each integer has its one area, but it’s open and free-flowing. If you need something, just walk over to the other department. It should definitely improve communications.”
Benware said he wasn’t as enthused about the new Hall of Fame.
“It is how it was before except there used to be a whole hall full of plaques and busts. Now they’re (the Hall of Famers) are listed on a screen, and you have to put the person’s name in to see (their accomplishments). I didn’t like that aspect of it.”
As far as the BPAA Summit was concerned, Benware said he gathered some marketing materials to help promote his business in Caledonia and learned about ways to save money through group purchasing.
In all, he said the trip was “definitely worth it.”
“This is important in that it makes it easier for everyone to work together (for the good of the sport),” he said.
More information about the new International Bowling Campus can be found at www.bowl.com.
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TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE
The local tournament schedule for February includes the following events:
n Feb. 5-7, Perry FD 5-Person No-Tap. The fifth annual Sonny Yencer handicap event offers a first prize of $1,100, based on 56 entries. One in eight teams will cash. Entry fee is $100 per team. Squad times are 9:30 p.m. Feb. 5; 1:30, 4, 6:30 and 9 p.m. Feb. 6, and 11:30 a.m., 2 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. Feb. 7. Call 237-3039 or 237-6358 to enter.
n Feb. 7, Super Sunday Handicap Singles, Brockport Bowl. For an entry fee of only $30, bowlers will compete for a $400 first prize, based on 50 entries. Squad times are 1:30 and 3:30 p.m. To enter, call Mark Brown at 716-474-7960.
n Feb. 13-14, Mancuso Scratch Open, Mancuso Bowling Center. A $2,000 top prize is being offered, with an entry fee of $65. One in six bowlers will advance to the eliminator finals, and one in five will cash. Qualifying squad times (four games) are 1 p.m. Feb. 13 and 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Feb. 14, with a “last chance” squad to follow. Call 683-2722 or 343-1319 to enter.
n Feb. 13, H&E Classic scratch singles, Medina Lanes. First place, based on 70 entries, is $600. Entry fee is $40 and squad times are 1 and 3 p.m. with a “last chance” squad at 5 p.m. Call 318-4474 to enter.
n Feb. 14, “Kiwa” handicap fun tournament, Medina Lanes. Entry fee of $15 per bowler includes three games and free Pepsi products. Proceeds will benefit a high school scholarship fund in memory of the late Brian Kwiatkowski. Squad times are 12:30 and 2:30 p.m. Call 318-4474 for reservations.
n Feb. 19-21, Strike Out for Crossroads House, Mancuso Bowling Center. Only a few spots on the 1 p.m. Feb. 21 squad remain in the five-person team event to benefit Crossroads House, a comfort home for the dying. All Friday and Saturday squads are full. Opportunities for businesses to sponsor a lane (cost: $100) do exist. For more information, contact Linda Richter at 297-2897.
(Mike Pettinella’s Pin Points bowling column appears every Thursday during the bowling season in the print and online editions of The Daily News. If you have an item of interest for his column, contact him at mikepett2002@yahoo.com, at 343-3736 or by mail at 55 Edgewood Drive, Batavia).