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P/SUNNY Temp: 57 °F Wind: NNE at 4 mph Sunday, April 20, 2003 SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA HomeLife Magazine W3 Magazine Jobs @ Mail Tribune Tempo A & E Oregon CarZone Wellness Connection Real Estate Newspaper in Education Prime Times Outdoor Journal Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find Everything E SOUTHERN OREGON Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar ABOUT US FAQ What's New Advertise Home Delivery Classified Ad Contact Us Media Kit Email Story to a Friend January 13, 2003 PBA Notes The big picture might involve arena bowling By TIM TROWER Mail Tribune Kansas Citians spent millions to refurbish a nearly century-old train station and make it the hub of downtown. Now they’re considering turning it into a bowling alley. In other places, they’ve put down lanes at college basketball arenas, sports complexes and casinos. It’s another example that not even walls can confine the ideas flying about the Professional Bowlers Association. That is, as long as the walls are far enough apart to hold 78 feet worth of lanes, approach areas and pin decks. It’s called arena bowling, and it might be the next wave of change for the PBA. Arena bowling was introduced in 1994 for three tournament finals, and there’s been a smattering of them since. But turning all 20 PBA stops or, at least, the majority into arena settings? It’s on the table. "When you come to an arena final," says Mark Bisbing, vice president of tournament operations, "it’s pretty unique and pretty special." The PBA has not yet decided to what degree it wants to go to arena bowling, but it has asked each host to identify potential venues should it move in that direction. Under such a plan, early rounds would still be at Lava Lanes, with Saturday and Sunday action moving to an arena. The most obvious facility here would be the Medford Armory, but there might others. The PBA could set up lanes in an airplane hangar if it so desired. "We have yet to make a full-blown decision on how far we want to extend arena events," says Bisbing. "Is it really productive to do arena finals at every site? Will we make money or lose money? How many lanes do we want to set up? It’s hard to say whether our focus will be in that direction or not." He expects a decision on whether to add mainstream tournaments and smaller markets to the arena master plan within 30 to 60 days so tournament hosts can begin scheduling and negotiating. The PBA reserves most of its arena finals for the major tournaments, but there are exceptions. In early December, Siena College in Loudonville, N.Y., hosted the Empire State Open and attracted 1,428 fans to the finals. A week ago, the Earl Anthony Classic in Tacoma, Wash., drew 512 to the finals at the Emerald Queen Casino. One thing that may cloud the issue is the PBA schedule, which is expected to change so as to avoid having a tournament on New Year’s. Whether that means pushing everything back a week or doing some rearranging, it’s unclear. However, until the dates are known, there can’t be serious discussion about changing venues. The players are enamored of the idea of arena bowling. Bob Learn Jr., a finalist Sunday, enjoyed his career highlight in an arena setting in his hometown of Erie, Pa., winning the Flagship Open in 1996 for $100,000, rolling the 10th televised 300 game and setting TV records for a three-game average (283.33) and four-game average (282.25). There were 4,500 fans in attendance, making it seem more like a basketball game. "It makes you feel like you’re in a big-time sport," says Learn, echoing the sentiments of many tour companions. "You get to feel what other athletes feel when they get huge galleries and huge audiences. It takes the sport to another level." And Medford? "I think this area would accept it very well," he says. "It’s a lot like my hometown, about the same size and everything else, and I know they like their bowling here. I know we’d fill an arena." Lava Lanes owner Ric Donnelly would prefer to keep the entire tournament at his facility but doesn’t "know what they’re going to make us do." The center seats fewer people, he acknowledges, "but it gives it more of a bowling feel. "It’s not my decision, but I’ll be happy either way as long as we can keep it in Medford." Reach sports editor Tim Trower at 776-4479 or e-mail [email protected] Printer Friendly Version Email Story to a Friend Subscribe Archive: Click to Search M Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2003 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy Website Feedback A D V E R T I S E R S