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48 °F Forecast | Road Cams Thursday, January 27, 2005 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics Tempo AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map SPECIAL SECTIONS Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Menu Guide How To Guide Wellness Connection Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Real Estate Guide Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Passport to the Rogue Valley EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People Volunteer Opportunities Moving to Southern Oregon? MARKETPLACE Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Classifieds Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend April 23, 2004 Medford makes financial commitment to keep PBA By TIM TROWER Mail Tribune It’s not cheap, these Professional Bowlers Association tournaments. Shortly after the Medford Open at Lava Lanes ended in January with Pete Weber winning his 30th career title, proprietor Ric Donnelly and PBA officials planned to negotiate their future together, if there was to be one. But even before the PBA members boarded a plane to come here, they needed to know if Medford could meet the new going rate — $70,000 — to host an event. That’s double the $35,000 Donnelly, the Medford Visitors and Convention Bureau and their respective sponsors ponied up each of the first three years of the tournament. Advertisement "I told them before, I think I can continue selling it because I think it’s a great event for Medford," said Donnelly. "Money wasn’t everything, but it came to the forefront." The PBA made the trip for the meeting. Then it visited once more. "The second time, we shook hands and had a deal," said Donnelly. "I knew we had it." That was about a month ago, but the PBA and its affiliated centers have kept fairly mum on what’s going on, and for good reason. Contracts were still being finalized in the past week, preventing a schedule from being set in stone. Donnelly doesn’t seem to begrudge the PBA the increased price tag. Tourney prize funds are bigger, venues are changing and the PBA is taking ownership of its events rather than leaving the running of pro-ams and promotion to the individual centers. "They want to show a profit," he said. "It’s a business." THE VCB WILL split the cost with Donnelly, chalking the expense up to advertising, said Julie Petretto, executive vice president. There’s bang for the buck. The nationally televised finals of the Medford Open in January featured bumper ads for Southern Oregon, and the VCB’s Web site experienced a 97- percent increase in hits over the same time the previous year. The numbers stayed high for two weeks before leveling off, but they spiked again when ESPN aired a replay of the tournament. "We wouldn’t be able to put an ad in the Chronicle or New York Times or anywhere else and get the kind of response we got on that," she said. BRYON SMITH of Roseburg, a touring pro for more than a decade, said it’s unfortunate the PBA’s presence on the West Coast is waning, but it’s what needs to be done if the sport isn’t supported in the various markets. Smith nearly didn’t have to worry about it. He needed to make the top 50 in points to make next season’s all-exempt tour, and he was 49th going into the final event, the World Championships a month ago in Taylor, Mich. He needed to make it to match play to earn the points he needed, and to get to match play, he had to bowl a 250 in his final qualifying game. "I probably threw the 12 best shots of my life," said Smith, who played in the Pear Blossom Golf Tournament a couple weeks ago with Donnelly. He wound up with a 257 to get to match play, then ended up tying for sixth place and jumping all the way to 32nd for the season. Thoughts of what he’d do without bowling danced in his head. "Those thoughts crossed a lot of guys’ minds," he said. Smith has done a lot of construction and is taking an active role in the building of his new home near the Roseburg Country Club. "I knew there was stuff I could do, but bowling is what I enjoy doing," he said. "I’d be the first one to say I wouldn’t want to have to go build houses on a daily basis." IN MAKING broad changes to the schedule, the PBA didn’t consult with its players. At least, not in an official capacity. Many conversations are held during the course of the season, said PBA commissioner Fred Schreyer, and players and staff members have a pretty good idea of where each stands. Tour pro Chris Barnes concurred. "Our staff is really connected to the players," he said. "They keep everybody in mind pretty well. At the same time, they have to balance the business interests. They do a very good job of that already. "They’re trying hard to make things make sense going across the country. We all pretty much like the same places." Medford is high on the list. "The fans turn out in mass force and make it one of the most energetic and exciting places to be during the year," he said. Reach sports editor Tim Trower at 776-4479, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2005 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback ADVERTISERS A D V E R T I S E R S SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Opportunities Student Loan Consolidation Conference Calls - $50/Month Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker, Trunk, Footlockers