THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, September 15, 1996 TAG: 9609130262
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 23 EDITION: FINAL
COLUMN: AROUND THE ALLEYWAYS
SOURCE: Bill Leffler
LENGTH: 99 lines
The Norfolk Bowling Association is interested in bringing bowling's biggest tournament - the American Bowling Congress Tournament - to this area.
It's a long-range undertaking because ABC Tournaments already have been awarded to sites through 2002.
The major hurdle faced by the NBA is the lack of a facility adequate to hold the tournament.
The ABC does not take its classic event into regular bowling centers. It constructs its own lanes in a building that has a minimum space of 100,000 square feet.
There is not a building in this area that meets the requirement. Perhaps the future might bring the major league hockey/basketball facility that has been discussed by area cities and it would have the necessary size. But would it be available for the duration of this five-month tournament?
Perhaps there will be a future expansion of the Pavilion at Virginia Beach.
There also is a minimum subsidy with an upfront amount that now stands at $350,000 but generally runs a half-million dollars. And this figure could approach $1,000,000 by the year 2003.
Alton Forbes of Chesapeake is currently the fifth vice president of ABC.
There was much sentiment among local bowling officials to make a bid for the tournament when he moves into the presidency of the national organization shortly after the turn of the century. But the first ABC tourney that's open is 2003.
``The ABC is aware there is interest in bringing the tournament to Hampton Roads,'' said Forbes. ``And there has been a change in their attitude toward awarding the tournament.
``In the past ABC has waited for cities to come to them. Now they want to showcase the tournament around the country and they are soliciting cities.
``It has been a good while since the tournament was held on the East Coast and they are definitely looking in this direction.''
Pres Carraway, secretary of the NBA, is 100 per cent behind making a bid for the ABC.
``For it to be a possibility,'' he said, ``it will take a joint cooperation of cities here. And just look what it can do. It will bring in thousands of visitors from February to the middle of June, when we don't normally have tourists.
``This is really big money. If people only realized how much is involved and what it can do for our area, everybody would get behind it. I can guarantee we will be working on it.''
The ABC has a commitment to hold the tournament every third year in the National Bowling Stadium in Reno through a 15-year period. The 1995 ABC was held there and the '98 tourney already has been scheduled there.
Billings, Mont., recently was awarded the 2002 ABC Tournament, making a cash bid of $500,000 and $150,000 in sponsorship money.
The population of Billings is under 100,000.
Jack Mordini is in charge of the bidding process for the ABC Tournament.
``Right now we are putting together a video package that can explain all of this,'' said Mordini, by telephone from his office in Greendale, Wis.
``Basically our space requirement is 100,000 square feet. We will come in and install 48 lanes. For that we need about 300 by 200 feet with no posts and 30-foot ceiling heights. It takes about 35 days for us to do the construction and about a week to tear it down.
``The tournament means about 100,000 visitors to the city.
``We had 92,000 bowlers at Reno and usually a bowler has a companion so you can nearly double that total. We were told the economic impact was $230 million.
``With the gambling in Reno, that's certainly far higher than most places we have the tournament. But I think it's realistic to say $60 million to $70 million is an average figure.''
Tenpin topics: There were five honors score games during the summer at Pinboy's of Lynnhaven. Tony Catlett, George Ensor and Tim Jennison rolled 300 games and Everett Ishie and Todd Allred hit 299s. . . . The WIBC has named Roseann Kuhn of Lakewood, Colo., as its executive director, effective Sept. 16. She has been a WIBC staff member for 21 years. . . . ESPN will televise the finals of the combined Men's and Women's U.S. Open at a later date. The competition is scheduled on Oct. 4. The two prize funds will total $325,000. . Live League at Pinboy's of Lynnhaven with a 242 single and 637 game. In the same loop Will Filomarino notched a 745 series. . . . Tina Sizemore chalked up a 600 series in the Tuesday Mixed League at Pinboy's of Chesapeake. . . . Todd Allred banged out 749 in the Divisional League at Pinboy's of Norfolk.
Duckpin data: Opening night in the Portsmouth Sunday School produced one all-time record. Three bowlers on the same team had 400 sets. Court Street Baptist teammates Ken Owen (406), Jack Cunningham (403) and Lloyd Minton (400) broke the barrier. . . . The second 200 of the season was rolled by Raymond Askew in the Monday Elimination Doubles League. He had a nine-mark 214 en route to a 441 series. The first 200 of the year was posted by Walter Laughon in the Industrial League. . . . Rick Lieberman joined the Tidewater Pro League and had a powerful 479 in his debut. . . . Bobby Wetherbee followed up a 503 in the Industrial League with 487 in the Tuesday Trio League. . . . David Campbell pitched a 187 game in the Tidewater Pro League. MEMO: Editors note _ The top 10 rankings of the weekly high games and
series will start in The Virginian-Pilot on Saturday. Secretaries should
leave results and highlights at control desks of area centers, fax
information to 446-2607 or call the bowling info-line at 640-5555, BOWL.
Also submit a nomination for Bowler of the Week, which will start in
next week's column. by CNB