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 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 68,900 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
Jul 2, 2024 - Bolero Acquires Bowling Center, Water Park
- 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.
- 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.
- The US bowling centers industry is projected to grow at a CAGR of 4.5% between 2024 and 2028, 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. Consumer confidence levels are expected to improve during the forecast window, which bodes well for the arts, entertainment, and recreation industries. Additionally, consumer sentiment has seen a degree of improvement following sustained lower levels. The report noted real spending for spectator sports has seen a strong recovery, up 12.4% in Q3 2023, following a decline during the lockdown period of the COVID-19 pandemic. In comparison, inflation-adjusted spending on other live entertainment was down 7.3%. Attractions appealing to older people are also expected to do well, as the retirement population will continue to rise rapidly as the Baby Boom generation retires.
- Consumer confidence levels fell in June 2024, after an uptick in May, according to data from The Conference Board. The Conference Board’s consumer confidence index was 100.4 in June 2024 from 101.3 in May 2024. Dana Peterson, chief economist at The Conference Board, noted that confidence was the highest among those under age 35 and those in the income category of over $100,000. Plans for large appliance and smart phone purchases rose on a six-month basis, while plans for car purchases stalled.
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