BOWLING HALL OF FAME TRUSTEES SUPPORT BOWLING DEVELOPMENTS IN ST. LOUIS AND TEXAS

Two big developments could be the best things to happen to the industry in years

                Bowling enthusiasts across the country are abuzz about two major real estate developments that could have significant impact on the game of bowling.  The United States Bowling Congress (USBC) announced recently that it will move its headquarters to Arlington, Texas to form a major bowling complex.  The International Bowling Museum & Hall of Fame trustees voted to move forward on a proposed new Bowling Hall of Fame cited for development in St. Louis. 

                “I believe that these two major developments could be the best things to happen to the bowling industry in years,” said Pat Ciniello, Chairman of the Hall of Fame Board.   “Our trustees fully support the USBC's decision to move to Texas and create a centralized administrative facility for the sport.  We are also excited about the potential of redeveloping the Bowling Museum and Hall of Fame within the proposed entertainment complex of Ball Park Village, a project of the Cordish Group and the St. Louis Cardinals.” 

Ball Park Village is a development to be built adjacent to the new Busch Stadium, home of the St. Louis Cardinals baseball team. The Village will be showcased as an entertainment area, complete with retail shops, restaurants, hotels and condominiums. Its projected annual attendance of nine million people will give the game of bowling tremendous exposure through the Museum/Hall to young and old alike.  Ball Park Village hopes to break ground this year.

The St. Louis deal includes:

• Demolition of the current facility.
• A new Museum/Hall of Fame, constructed within Ball Park Village entertainment facility.
• Interactive exhibits, theater, grand staircase and gift shop.
• $8.9 million in project costs fully funded by sources other than the International Bowling Museum and Hall of Fame and the bowling industry.
• Ownership of the facility (other project entities will be tenants).
• Projected attendance that is more than double that of the present location and exposure to potential new players.
• Tremendous exposure for the industry that compliments the proposed Texas facility

A snag that is complicating the Museum/Hall move is a January 21 decision to deny the request of the Hall of Fame Board to transfer the “Deed of Trust,” stemming from a long-term note USBC has with the Hall of Fame to pursue the project with Ball Park Village. The USBC has indicated that they would like the Museum/Hall to be moved to the new Arlington, Texas complex. 

“While we were disappointed with the initial decision by the USBC to deny our request, we are optimistic about future discussions of various options,” explains Ciniello.  “We have offered to build a satellite Hall of Fame in the Arlington facility that we think would be a great compliment to the complex.” Ciniello added that he is interested in pursuing additional conversations with the USBC board of directors, and he is optimistic that they will reconsider its decision.   “We invite anyone who is interested in the Hall to contact us and learn more about the project in St. Louis. We believe the idea of receiving outside money, rather than using industry dollars to build a state-of-the-art new facility within such an exciting project, is very satisfying and a real boost for the future of the bowling business.”

Ciniello and the Museum/Hall trustees are committed to staying in St. Louis and realizing the amazing opportunity they have to be a part of such an exciting development. “St. Louis is experiencing a significant social and economic renaissance and is poised to become a powerhouse in the Midwest and an important tourist destination.   With an impressive facility in Arlington and one in St. Louis, the bowling industry is making a strong stand that we are a growing force in the sports world.” 

The International Bowling Museum and Hall of Fame collects and preserves the rich history of bowling, and uses that information to help promote the sport worldwide.