Bowling Centers NAICS 713950

Feb 27, 2026 - Bowling Centers See Steady League Base

• The United States Bowling Congress (USBC)’s 2025 recap signals stability and growth for US bowling centers. Membership remains steady at 1,075,194 (2024–2025), above 2021–2022 levels (1,053,129), and is forecast to be down less than 1% in 2026, supporting consistent league traffic for centers. Tournament participation is surging: the 2025 Open Championships drew a 13-year high 11,684 teams (up from 9,317 in 2022), while the Women’s Championships topped 4,099 teams, bringing nearly 75,000 bowlers combined and driving travel and lineage revenue. Nearly 11,000 teams are already registered for the 2026 Open in Reno. Center certification and technology upgrades measured 3,400 centers and 73,000 lanes, capturing 3.5 million data points, while online memberships grew from 40,000 to 100,000 in two years, easing administration. Youth growth is accelerating, with USA Bowling team entries up 22% and scholarship funding rising to $300,000 for 2026, strengthening long-term customer pipelines for centers.
• US bowling centers are likely to feel pressure from declining consumer confidence and weak sentiment, as consumers pull back on discretionary spending, according to leading indicators. The Consumer Confidence Index fell 9.7 points in January to 84.5, the lowest since 2014, with the Expectations Index plunging to 65.1, far below the recession signal of 80. Only 17.9% of consumers rated business conditions “good” (down from 19.8%), and the share saying jobs were “plentiful” dropped to 23.9% (from 27.5%), while 28.5% expect fewer jobs in six months (up from 26.0%). February’s Index of Consumer Sentiment measured 57.3, up modestly month-over-month but down 11.4% year-over-year, with only 15.7% expecting income gains (down from 18.8%). Because bowling is a discretionary, social leisure activity, the deteriorating confidence and income outlooks, and consumers’ moves toward “cheap thrills” and necessities, suggest reduced visits and tighter spending per visit, especially on premium services and food/beverage.

• 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.
• Pinstripes and its seven remaining locations were acquired by Punch Bowl Social in partnership with Silverview Credit Partners in late 2025, according to the Moco Show. USA Today had reported earlier that 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. 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.