Despite the best efforts of Arlington, Texas, the new bowling capitol of the world — at least for the month of August — would appear to be Detroit. That’s because the Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour will spend a month in Detroit to stage seven Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour events. As Tour CEO and Commissioner Fred Schreyer says, “Save August 2009 on your calendar and start practicing.”

There are several reasons for this: First and perhaps most important, it cuts down the cost of traveling in a portion of the Tour that does not generate the Tour's highest TV ratings. Second, it has found two great hosts: Taylor Lanes in Taylor, Mich., which has hosted PBA events the past few years, and Thunderbowl Lanes in Allen Park, Mich. A third reason has to do with marketing and branding: it allows the PBA to create the Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour World Series of Bowling. Fourth, the rabid Detroit-area fans, who rate among the best on the Tour’s city-to-city card.

Bowling’s official World Series will offer more than $2 million in prize money and will take place from Aug. 1-Sept. 7, 2009 in the greater Detroit area. Said Schreyer. “Detroit will be host to the greatest festival of competitive bowling in history.”

The bowling business should be on the alert as well. The confluence of events in the Detroit area should provide the industry some great opportunities as well.

The kickoff PBA Motor City Open will take place at longtime PBA host center Taylor Lanes in Taylor, Mich., from Aug. 1-6. The remainder of the World Series of Bowling, including six exempt PBA Tour events, the return of the PBA Women’s Series presented by USBC and a revamped PBA Senior Tour World Championship will be held at Thunderbowl Lanes in Allen Park, Mich., just outside Detroit. The World Series of Bowling will culminate with the PBA World Championship open field event, the first major championship of the 2009-2010 season.
 
The seven PBA championship events with dedicated telecasts will be taped at the conclusion of the World Series and air out over what has traditionally been the first half of the PBA Tour season from mid-October to early December 2009, Sunday afternoons on ESPN. The first half of the season on ESPN will conclude with the live finals of the PBA World Championship on Dec. 13, featuring the four finalists decided in early September at the World Series.