On December 13 I had the privilege of attending the Bowling Industry Holiday Bowling Party in the heart of Times Square at the super swank Bowlmor Lanes.
Numerous media producers, writers and bloggers were in attendance and guests mingled and got some pointers, tips and tricks from a real live bowling pro! All of the guests dined on high end snacks and appetizers compliments of Chef David Burke, who designed a full menu for Bowlmor—awesome food you would never expect from a bowling center!
To kick-off the evening, event guests mingled and casually played a few games of bowling. Then, bowling industry professional and PBA bowler Parker Bohn III took over the floor, where he gave a brief description of the sport of bowling, how he got his start and some bowling industry trivia for a chance to win a few of his signed bowling books. Parker, with the help of his boys Brandon (age 8 ) and Justin (age 7) both future bowling stars, awed the crowd by demonstrating a few patented trick shots. Parker finished up with the “chair trick” that was shown on the Today Show by Chris Barnes, and then invited three attendees to be seated on chairs down the center of the bowling lane, where he proceeded to throw a strike down the center of the chairs!
After Parker finished up with his tricks he and his wife Leslie (also a former pro bowler), continued to give pointers for improving everyone’s game. At the conclusion of the evening guests received gift bags containing a hat from Bowlmor as well as a $20 coupon towards our next game!
Overall, a fun way to spend a night out in NYC and de-stress after a long work day. We munched on some good food and drinks and got a few games of bowling in!
Additionally, below please find some interesting and fun facts about the largest participatory sport in the United States, bowling.
- An average of 70 million Americans bowl each year
- The sport has more than a $10 billion impact on the U.S. economy annually
- This year marked the fourth consecutive year that the sport has grown in popularity, driven mostly by females and younger audiences.
- According to 2010 Simmons Data Research, adult consumers bowling participation amongst female “mom” consumers, aged 25-34, has experienced a significant spike, rising 31 percent year-over-year, with approximately 35 percent having bowled over the past year.
- The emergence of family entertainment centers and high-end bowling centers – such as Bowlmor – has also helped heighten cachet and fuel the popularity of bowling among women and multiple audiences.
What Do You Think?
-Phaon Spurlock, The Southern Gentleman
Follow me on Twitter – @Phaon
Follow the Magazine on Twitter – @LuxePROTOTYPE
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