Bowling Centers
Industry Profile Report
Dive Deep into the industry with a 25+ page industry report (pdf format) including the following chapters
Industry Overview Current Conditions, Industry Structure, How Firms Operate, Industry Trends, Credit Underwriting & Risks, and Industry Forecast.
Call Preparation Call Prep Questions, Industry Terms, and Weblinks.
Financial Insights Working Capital, Capital Financing, Business Valuation, and Financial Benchmarks.
Industry Profile Excerpts
Industry Overview
The 2,800 bowling centers in the US are indoor facilities that offer bowling and related activities. They serve a mix of league and recreational bowlers. Major revenue categories include game fees; food and beverage sales; and rental fees (shoes, balls). Bowling centers may offer group events, such as birthday parties or corporate gatherings.
Decline of Bowling
Despite its status as one of the top participation sports in the US, bowling as a competitive and recreational activity has struggled to remain relevant to Americans.
Boutique Bowling
To further engage adults and redefine the image of bowling, some firms have adopted a boutique bowling model.
Industry size & Structure
The average bowling center operates out of a single location, employs about 24 workers, and generates about $1.5 million annually.
- The US bowling center industry consists of about 2,800 companies that employ about 68,000 workers and generate $4.2 billion annually.
- The industry includes about 3,795 certified individual bowling centers and just over 82,000 lanes, according to the United States Bowling Congress (USBC).
- The bowling center industry is fragmented; the top 50 companies account for about 34% of industry revenue.
- Large companies include Bowlero and smaller chains such as Pinstack and Splitsville.
Industry Forecast
Bowling Centers Industry Growth
Recent Developments
Nov 11, 2024 - ISM Services Index Higher
- In October 2024, economic activity in the services sector expanded for the fourth consecutive month, according to the Services ISM Report on Business. The Services PMI registered 56% in October, up 1.1 percentage points from September. Fifteen of the 18 services industries reported an increase in prices paid during the month of October, including the Arts, Entertainment & Recreation; Retail Trade; and Wholesale Trade industries. Employment by bowling centers grew 6.3% in September 2024 compared to a year ago, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. Employment has been steadily recovering after reaching lows during the Covid-19 pandemic and is about 4% lower than 2019 levels.
- Bowlero announced a 14.4% increase in its first quarter revenues compared to a year ago, reaching $260 million, according to Intergame Online. The company also reported total location revenue gains of 17.5% and same store revenue growth of 0.4% year over year in Q1 2025. Growth during the quarter included two new venues being built, as well as multiple acquisitions including Spectrum Entertainment Complex in Grand Rapids, Michigan. According to CEO and chairman Thomas Shannon, “Total location revenue grew 17.5% year over year in the quarter as we outperformed the market driven by increased customer wallet share through heightened food, beverage and experiential offerings.” The company’s total number of locations is 361.
- The summer edition of the KPMG Consumer Pulse Survey revealed that consumers are cutting back on goods, services, and experiences as inflation continues to pressure consumer spending. About a fifth of consumers anticipate spending more on personal care products, a drop from last year when about 32% expected to do so. Between 53% to 65% of consumers said they plan to spend about the same online on essentials, while the automotive and grocery categories are expected to have higher spending. Meanwhile, spending on experiences is expected to decline this summer with consumers spending less on out-of-home entertainment, restaurants, travel, and vacations. Approximately three times as many consumers anticipate spending less (43%) than more (15%) on out-of-home entertainment, while almost twice as many consumers anticipate spending less (41%) than more (21%) on restaurants. The survey found that, on average, consumers expect to reduce their monthly spending on restaurants by 9%, entertainment and media (both in and out of home) by 8%, and travel and vacations by 7%. The survey captures the sentiment of 1,100 US adult consumers on a range of topics, including spending, inflation, and shopping preferences.
- Leading bowling chain Bowlero announced it made several large acquisitions in spring 2024, purchasing the largest bowling center in the US and the largest water park in Illinois. Bowlero bought 90-lane Thunderbowl Lanes in Allen Park, Michigan, in an all-cash transaction that closed in June 2024. The company acquired Raging River, the largest outdoor water park in Illinois, in May 2024, as it looked to grow its share of the “out-of-home entertainment space.” According to NBC Chicago, Bowlero plans to add alcohol sales to the water park to generate additional revenue and enhance the experience for adults. Bowlero operates approximately 350 bowling center locations in North America under the Lucky Strike, Bowlero, and AMF brands.
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