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Midwest report
April 11 , 2007

Jeff Crowley

The National Bowling Stadium

It doesn’t seem like a year has passed, but it is tax day again. And that can only mean one thing… time for me to earn a tax deduction! I recently returned from Reno, Nevada (pronounced Ne-Vad-a). I was corrected at the AAA in Reno, while picking up tourist books. Nevadans can hear a tourist from a mile away by the way they mispronounce Nevada!

Reno is home to, what Time Magazine called the “Taj Mahal of Tenpins,” USA Today called it the “Pin Palace,” I just call it the greatest bowling facility in the world, the National Bowling Stadium.

Bob Thomas, NBS Operations Manager said, “Ground was broken on the National Bowling Stadium in January 1993 and work was completed in early February 1995, at a cost of 42 million.

“The NBS is a 363,000 square foot, five story facility, and was made with 2,800 tons of steel. The individual supporting trusses, which measure 180 feet in length, weigh from 8 ½ to 21 tons each.

The National Bowling Stadium houses the “Cue and Cushion” restaurant, Lane 81 logo shop, C.A.T.S. Practice Lane (Computer Aided Tracking System to analyze and help bowlers improve their game), pro shops, gift shops, sports bar, sky boxes, seating for 1,100 spectators, a 300 space parking garage and 78 bowling lanes. It also has an I-werks theater, but it is not open to the public. The NBS is built on a full city block in downtown Reno, and was completely funded by a 1% room tax.”

If you are scratching your head thinking, “I thought the NBS had 80 lanes,” you are not alone. I, too, thought there were 80 lanes, but Bob explained, “All of our media materials went out saying the Stadium would have 80 lanes. Even the main pro shop/gift shop is called Lane 81. The problem arose when we noticed the architect forgot to include the center aisle for bowlers to march out for the team event. We had to use two lanes to make the aisle.”

Brian Lewis, Director USBC Open Championships said, “This year marks the 8th time United States Bowling Congress (formally the American Bowling Congress) has visited Reno, breaking a tie with Buffalo, NY and Toledo, OH for the most years a city has hosted the event.”

Brian said, “USBC works hand in hand with the Reno Sparks Convention & Visitors Authority to provide bowlers with the best bowling facility in the world. The Reno-Sparks Convention & Visitors Authority completed a $1.3 million renovation this year, which includes installation of new Brunswick Pro Lane lanes, a new computer scoring system and scoreboards, carpeting, and expanded squad room.”

Thomas said, “The NBS does not have any leagues or open play, by agreement with the local bowling centers in town not to compete with their main pieces of business. We host the Storm National Mixed Team Tournament every year, which runs October – November, USBC Open Championship Tournament and the Women’s National Tournament are both on a three year rotation.

Since the NBS opened, it has generated $1 billion in economic impact to the city of Reno. We also have hosted the USBC Masters, USBC Senior Masters, many PBA tour stops, Team USA National Amateur Championships, The National Bowling Association (TNBA) National Tournament, and we have just signed to host the National Deaf Tournament and National Women’s Deaf Tournament for the next three years in July. During the times we do not have a tournament we host convention and business parties for up to 2000 people. The NBS is no longer a dark facility.”

Not only has the NBS hosted bowling greats Dick Weber, Earl Anthony, Mike Aulby, Walter Ray Williams, Parker Bohn III and many others, it has hosted Hollywood. The grand finale of “Kingpin,” starring Woody Harrelson, Bill Murray, and Randy Quaid was shot at the NBS. Michael J Fox and Kirk Douglas bowled on lane 81 in the logo shop, Lane 81, for the movie “Greedy.” Billy Crystal and Robin Williams bowled in the Stadium, while they were in Reno, shooting the movie “Father’s Day.”

Thomas said, “The numbers indicate that the bowlers love coming to Reno. Last year Corpus Christi was the site for the Open and hosted 12,500 teams, while an average year in Reno, has 16,500 teams, with an average stay of 4 days, and 40% of the bowlers bringing a guest. Those numbers mean that on average, there are roughly 4,000 additional tourists in Reno, everyday during our traditionally slow time of the year.”

Thomas said, “USBC contract expires at the end of 2007 for the Open Tournament and 2009 for the Women’s Tournament, and we are very please to say that we have signed a nine year lease extension through the Women’s Tournament in 2018. The Reno-Sparks Convention & Visitors Authority is committed to supporting the sport of bowling and providing the finest bowling facility in the world.”

Reno Mayor, Bob Cashell, added, “From an economical stand point the USBC Open Championship and the Women’s Tournament are tremendous to Reno. I wish we hosted the tournament every year. I will do everything possible to make sure we extend our lease with USBC before it expires in 2018.”

From a bowler’s perspective, I strongly urge you to bowl at the National Bowling Stadium. Whether you bowl in the Mixed, Women or Open Tournament, you will love the Stadium. The staff of the NBS is wonderful and helpful, the tournaments run on time 99.7% of the time, and there are two abbreviated lanes in the squad room where you can have action photos taken. There is nothing like marching down the center aisle before the start of your competition. One more thing, you will have a great vacation in RENO! For more information on the National Bowling Stadium or to check out the events being conducted there, go to their website at www.nationalbowlingstadium.org.

This week’s bowling limericks come from Randy Robertson and Dave Kuhn, who both are “honoring” me in verse.

There once was a bowler named Crowley
Who rolled the ball and seemed quite holy
"Amen brother" he said
As he grabbed at his head
Watching the big-4 fall so slowly

There once was a boy named Crowley
Whose stomach was rolly-poly
One day he went bowling
Since then he’s been rolling
To the “Bowling Gods” he’s Holy

Until next time, may the high scores be yours!

Jeff Crowley covers bowling for the Evansville (IN) Courier Press. He has graciously allowed AlabamaBowling.Com to republish his articles. Jeff can be reached by e-mail at CrowleyJA@thegleaner.com

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