Bowling Centers NAICS 713950

Apr 23, 2025 - Higher Growth Forecast

• The US bowling centers industry is projected to grow at a CAGR of 4.53% between 2025 and 2029, according to a 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. A factor that may curb consumer spending is substantially higher tariffs on consumer goods, which may be painful for households. On a positive note, lower inflation supports a moderate increase of real disposable income by about 2% in 2025 and 1.9% in 2026. Real income could suffer if average prices rise due to tariff implementation.
• Bowling center visits may be affected by falling consumer confidence, with levels declining 7.2 points to 92.9 in March 2025 month over month, according to the Consumer Confidence Index from the Conference Board. Stephanie Guichard, Senior Economist of Global Indicators at The Conference Board, noted that the segment driving March’s decline was consumers over 55 years old, and the decline spanned all income groups with the exception being households earning over $125,000. Per Guichard, “Consumer confidence declined for a fourth consecutive month in March, falling below the relatively narrow range that had prevailed since 2022.” Purchasing plans for homes and new cars declined while big-ticket purchases rose on a six-month moving average basis, which may reflect plans to purchase certain items before impending tariffs lead to price increases.

• According to the Consumer Price Index from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), prices for recreation services including leisure and entertainment activities were up 4.3% in March 2025 year over year. Employment by bowling centers grew 1.3% in January 2025 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 has reached 2019 levels. Leading industry indicators showed improvement in February 2025, with consumer spending up 2.7% compared to a year ago, according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis.
• A large bowling operator is adding higher end foods and coat checks to its bowling centers while it looks for ways to cut expenses operationally, according to a report in the Wall Street Journal. Lucky Strike Entertainment expects it will reduce capital expenditures by some $40 million for the fiscal year ending summer 2025 while investing $50 million in upgrades. Upgrades have included more premium food items such as beef birria tacos and better technology that allows servers to handle more tables and communicate orders efficiently with the kitchen. The company reports that food now generates more revenue than drinks, accounting for $205 million in sales last year compared to $200 million for alcohol. To manage costs, Lucky Strike is focused on reducing staffing and utility costs as well as shopping around for the best-priced vendors.