Bowling Centers NAICS 713950

Dec 29, 2025 - Higher Growth Forecast

• The US bowling centers industry is projected to grow at a CAGR of 4.7% between 2025 and 2029, according to an updated forecast from Inforum and the Interindustry Economic Research Fund, Inc. The expected growth rate is faster than the overall economy's projected growth. Spending by US households and tourists, foreign students, and other visitors largely drives the arts, entertainment, and recreation industries. Expenditure for travel, live entertainment, and other services has continued to rise since the pandemic lows. Consumer confidence is expected to improve in the forecast period, which bodes well for the sector. Further increases in tariffs and decreases in immigrant labor supplies may push price levels higher and postpone improvement of inflation. The slow rise of employment and higher consumption prices may limit expansion of real disposable income to about 1.8% in 2025 and 1.6% in 2026.
• Bowling centers enter 2026 amid mixed consumer signals, as both the University of Michigan and Conference Board measures show sentiment ending the year on weak footing. The Michigan Index of Consumer Sentiment inched up to 52.9 in December but remained nearly 30% below 2024 levels, with durable goods buying conditions declining for the fifth straight month and 63% of consumers expecting unemployment to rise. The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index fell to 89.1, while the Present Situation Index dropped 9.5 points and the Expectations Index held at a recession signaling 70.7 for the 11th consecutive month. For bowling centers, the trends reinforce a shift toward affordable, local entertainment as consumers pull back from high cost discretionary activities. Although current financial assessments weakened, expectations for future finances improved and inflation eased, suggesting potential stability in early 2026. Still, elevated caution around jobs and income will continue to shape spending behavior.

• According to a report in USA Today, Pinstripes, a US-based entertainment venue offering bowling, dining, and bocce, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in September 2025, citing $143 million in debt. As a result, the company closed 10 locations and is seeking a buyer to sustain operations at eight remaining venues. The development highlights financial pressures facing hybrid entertainment models and signals potential volatility within the US bowling industry. While traditional bowling centers may not be directly impacted, the closure of upscale, multi-experience venues like Pinstripes could influence consumer expectations and investment strategies. The situation underscores the importance of financial agility and diversified revenue streams in a competitive leisure market.
• Employment and wages for bowling centers rose in August 2025 year over year, increasing 8.5% and 4.2%, respectively, according to data from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. Employment by bowling centers rose 15.6% in the past three years, higher than the 3.6% growth in overall private employment. Average wages for nonsupervisory employees at amusement, gambling, and recreational industry firms were $20.66 per hour in August 2025. According to the Consumer Price Index, prices for other recreation services, including leisure and entertainment activities, were up 1.5% in November 2025 year over year.