Bowlers, you probably should have seen it coming. When your friendly neighborhood bowling alley jumped on the technology bandwagon many years ago by striking down manual score sheets in favor of automatic scoring, it was the beginning of the end.
For bowling purists, automatic scoring should only be used on TV during PBA tournaments. For all other bowlers at all other times, calculating your score on paper has a certain old-fashioned charm.
In a similar vein, all the disco music, flashing lights and the other distractions commonly found in bowling centers detract from the game.
Maybe that’s why we shouldn’t be surprised that bowling — once the most popular family indoor sport in the history of mankind — is getting mowed down lately.
When Adams Lanes and Boulevard Lanes shut their doors in the last three weeks, a piece of Northeast Philly died. It doesn’t have to be that way, however.
Northeast Philadelphia’s huge population surely will patronize bowling alleys if they are more available, particularly if the operators get back to bowling’s basics by spending less time catering to leagues and more time making “open” lanes more affordable and accessible to bowlers of all levels.
There must be a few brave entrepreneurs out there who can step forward to purchase Adams Lanes and Boulevard Lanes and get them back in business. The demand is there. Making supply meet that demand is not difficult, and it will be a win-win situation for all.
Build the alley of dreams and they will come.
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