Gitnux/Report 2026

Bowling Industry Statistics

Explore how the U.S. bowling industry is evolving, from operations and modernization to participation and revenue, including the scale of 3,100 bowling centers in 2023. You will also see what is driving visits and upgrades such as automated scoring in 98% of centers and annual participation climbing to 67 million in 2023.
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November 11, 2026Updated
Bowling Industry Statistics
Lukas BauerWritten by Lukas Bauer·Edited by Marcus Engström·Fact-checked by Abigail Foster
Published ·Updated
How this report is researched
01Editorial Scope

Gitnux editors write the brief first: the topic, the inclusion rules, and the frame for what belongs.

02Source Research

Agents search the published record and log every extracted figure back to the passage it came from.

Read our full methodology →

Search agents attach provenance to every extracted figure.

Next review: within 31 days

01 Industry overview

The bowling industry at a glance

The U.S. bowling-center market is estimated at $4.7 billion in 2026, supported by broad casual participation, more than 3,400 certified centers, and continued consolidation by large location-based entertainment operators.

$4.7B[68]
U.S. market revenue, 2026
3.0%[68]
Five-year annual growth, 2026
67M[14]
Annual U.S. bowlers
3,400+[14]
Certified U.S. centers, 2025–26
Market size
U.S. bowling-center revenue is estimated at $4.7 billion in 2026. The Census Bureau reported bowling-center employer-firm revenue of $4.1 billion in 2019 before the pandemic-driven decline to $2.2 billion in 2020, providing a historical benchmark for the sector.[68][69]
Forecast & CAGR
IBISWorld estimates average annual industry growth of 3.0% over the five years to 2026. The estimate reflects a mature market benefiting from higher-value entertainment formats, while traditional center counts continue to face pressure.[68]
Market share & regions
Reliable public data identifying bowling-center market share by U.S. region was not found. The leading public operator reports more than 360 locations across North America, spanning the United States, Canada and Mexico, but does not disclose regional industry shares.[13]
Segmentation
Bowling centers increasingly combine lane revenue with food and beverage, amusement and other entertainment. At Lucky Strike Entertainment, fiscal 2026 revenue was $561.6 million from bowling, $431.1 million from food and beverage, and $252.7 million from amusement and other activities.[13]
Key players & concentration
Lucky Strike Entertainment, formerly Bowlero, is the largest disclosed U.S.-focused operator, with more than 360 North American locations in fiscal 2026. Its scale is significant, but the broader U.S. market remains fragmented among independent, regional and chain operators; a reliable current industry concentration ratio was not found.[13][70]
Trends, drivers & challenges
Operators are repositioning bowling as broader location-based entertainment by adding upgraded food and beverage, arcades, events and premium lounge formats. Technology investment is also visible in string pinsetters: USBC reported more than 100 approved installations across approximately 3,500 certified centers in 2025, while rising labor, occupancy and maintenance costs remain operating challenges.[13][14]
Consumer behavior & competition
Bowling has a broad casual customer base: USBC reports 67 million Americans bowl at least once a year, compared with 1.06 million USBC members in the 2025–26 season. This gap shows the competitive importance of casual visits, parties and open play alongside league bowling.[14]
M&A
Consolidation remains a defining feature of the industry. Bowlero agreed in May 2023 to acquire substantially all assets of Lucky Strike Entertainment for approximately $90 million, adding 14 locations; the combined company later rebranded as Lucky Strike Entertainment and reported more than 360 North American locations in fiscal 2026.[70][13]
Regulation
USBC certified string-pin bowling as eligible for independent competition effective August 1, 2023, provided equipment complies with USBC specifications. Its 2025 tiered certification framework uses Gold, Silver, Bronze and Standard categories, and the inspection cycle is moving to five years with an annual fee of $8 per lane from 2026.[14]
Latest news
In its August 2026 fiscal-year results, Lucky Strike Entertainment reported total revenue of $1.245 billion, up 3.7% year over year, and said its Lucky Strike brand had reached 159 locations. Bowling revenue was $561.6 million for the fiscal year ended June 28, 2026.[13]

02 Ranking

Top 10 Companies in the Bowling Industry

The leading companies in the bowling industry, ranked on market impact, performance, momentum, innovation and brand popularity.

Updated November 10, 2026 · Next review December 10, 2026

Verdict

MOTIV Bowling leads Gitnux's 2026 bowling ranking with an Overall score of 9.3, with Muskegon, Michigan high-performance ball manufacturing facility. Storm Products is the runner-up at 9.1, with Storm and Roto Grip high-performance bowling balls and accessories.

Ranked by Overall score · How we score ↓

Editor's top 3 picks

Where to start, by need.

  1. #1 Overall · Leader in high-performance bowling balls

    MOTIV Bowling

    US

    Ranked #1 · 9.3 · High-performance bowling balls

    Why we picked it: It focuses on high-performance bowling balls, backed by dedicated manufacturing at Muskegon.

    See in ranking ↓Visit motivbowling.com ↗

  2. Leader in bowling shoes

    Dexter

    US

    Ranked #3 · 8.9 · Bowling shoes

    Why we picked it: It specializes in bowling shoes, with the company positioning its brand as number-one.

    See in ranking ↓Visit dexterbowling.com ↗

  3. Leader in lane maintenance equipment

    Kegel

    US

    Ranked #4 · 8.7 · Lane maintenance equipment

    Why we picked it: It builds lane-conditioning machines, replacement parts, and specialized bowling machinery for centers.

    See in ranking ↓Visit kegel.net ↗

Pick 1 is the #1 company overall. Picks 2 and 3 are the highest-ranked companies in the top 5 that add a new segment.

Full ranking

Sort by
Top 10 companies in the bowling industry, 2026 – Gitnux ranking
#CompanyOverall ↓Company snapshot
1

MOTIV Bowling

High-performance bowling balls · US

9.3
2

Storm Products

High-performance bowling balls · US

9.1
3

Dexter

Bowling shoes · US

8.9
4

Kegel

Lane maintenance equipment · US

8.7
5

Hollywood Bowl Group

Ten-pin bowling centers · GB

8.7
6

QubicaAMF Worldwide

Bowling-center equipment and systems, global · US

8.6
7

Flying Bowling

Commercial bowling equipment, global · CN

8.4
8

US Bowling

Bowling equipment manufacturing and installation · US

8.3
9

Brunswick Bowling Products

Bowling equipment and consumer products, global · US

8.3
10

Lucky Strike Entertainment

Bowling-center operator, North America · US

8.0

How we score

  • Impact (30%): scale and weight in the market (revenue, market share, employees, market position).
  • Performance (20%): recent revenue growth and operating margin; an analyst assessment where a company does not publish them.
  • Momentum (20%): growth trajectory and future potential.
  • Innovation (15%): R&D intensity and how technologically advanced the company is.

Popularity (brand search demand, 15%) counts toward Overall but is not published as a column. Overall leaves out what is not known.

Scale Scores are shown on a 7–10 scale with one decimal; bars start at 7.0.

Cadence Recalculated when new figures are published; next review December 10, 2026.

Independence. Rankings are editorially independent. Scores, ranks, picks and the verdict follow the method above; no company can pay to change them.

Cite this ranking

APA

Lukas Bauer. (2026, February 13). Top 10 companies in the bowling industry. In Bowling Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/bowling-industry-statistics/#top-companies

report visual · Projection

Labor compensation in bowling centers (United States)

Labor compensation in bowling centers grew from 1,550.6 millions of USD in 2021 to 2,035.2 millions of USD in 2025.

$1,551
Start
+7.03%
CAGR · 4y
$2,035
Projected
20212025
source-verifiedfred.stlouisfed.org2025

04 Statistics

Technology & Innovation

Integration and automation show up most clearly in string-pinsetter adoption and recorded approvals, alongside a reported 3.5 million lane data points captured nationwide through 2025.

Automation in the bowling industry

  • 1 automated string-pinsetter system was specified for integration with the U.S. Air Force Global Strike Command bowling center’s existing management system in 2026.[1]
  • 10% of bowling centers in one industry discussion reportedly had the advanced performance-monitoring system available in 2026.[2]

Digital Transformation in the sports, fitness and recreation sector (sector benchmark)

  • 53% of UK fitness and leisure operators said digital accounted for at least half of their revenue in 2023.[3]
  • 93% of UK fitness and leisure operators said digital helped increase participation in 2023.[3]
  • 55% of fitness and leisure operators in the UK reported a digital maturity score in 2023, compared with 52% across the wider sport and physical-activity sector.[3]
  • 89% of UK fitness and leisure operators said digital helped increase customer retention in 2023.[3]
  • 77% of UK fitness and leisure operators said their digital experiences played an important role for customers in 2023.[3]
  • 88% of UK fitness and leisure operators reported at least some operational savings through digital use in 2023.[3]

Technology Adoption in the sports, fitness and recreation sector (sector benchmark)

  • 58% of integrative-health operators were actively investing in or evaluating technology in 2025.[4]
  • 5% of fitness and wellness businesses reported cutting technology spending in 2025.[4]
  • 83% of UK gym operators had a member app in 2025.[5]
  • 92% of UK gym operators used gym-management software in 2025.[5]
  • 54% of fitness and wellness operators were investing in or evaluating new technology in 2025, comprising 18% actively investing and 36% reviewing their technology stack.[4]
  • 70% of UK gym operators offered online joining in 2025.[5]

Cloud Computing in the sports, fitness and recreation sector (sector benchmark)

  • Among U.S. arts, entertainment and recreation companies using cloud-based computing, 12.8% cited automating tasks performed by labor as a motivation in 2018.[6]
  • Among U.S. arts, entertainment and recreation companies using cloud-based computing, 27.1% cited another reason for adoption in 2018.[6]
  • Among U.S. arts, entertainment and recreation companies using cloud-based computing, 47.0% cited improving process or method quality and reliability as a motivation in 2018.[6]
  • Across UK sport, fitness and leisure organisations, 100% were considering updates or changes to their cloud-based leisure-management systems within the next 12 months in 2024.[7]
  • Across UK sport, fitness and leisure organisations, 68% used cloud-based leisure-management systems in 2024.[7]
  • Among U.S. arts, entertainment and recreation companies using cloud-based computing, 36.0% cited upgrading outdated processes or methods as a motivation in 2018.[6]

Big Data in the sports, fitness and recreation sector (sector benchmark)

  • 36% of UK fitness and leisure operators said they collected audience data consistently and without duplication in 2023.[3]
  • 47% of UK fitness and leisure operators said they used data to drive deeper insight into their audiences in 2023.[3]
  • 63% of surveyed sports fans worldwide identified data analytics as having the most positive impact on sports in 2024.[8]
  • 44% of U.S. fitness-studio owners used their CRM to track customer interactions and communications in 2024.[9]
  • 46% of U.S. fitness-studio owners used their CRM to generate reports and analytics on customer data in 2024.[9]

Blockchain in the bowling industry

  • 1 ERC-20 cryptocurrency token, Bowl’A’Coin, is being developed for use in bowling-related machines, scoring systems and entertainment.[10]
  • 1 blockchain-based bowling-industry business model using Ethereum smart contracts was described in Bowl’A’Coin’s 2021 white paper.[10]

IoT in the sports, fitness and recreation sector (sector benchmark)

  • Among sports executives assessing smart-stadium technology, 39.3% identified enhanced fan viewing experiences as a top-three benefit in 2023.[11]
  • Among sports executives assessing smart-stadium technology, 65.1% identified sizeable upfront investment in hardware and software as a significant implementation challenge in 2023.[11]
  • Among sports executives assessing smart-stadium technology, 31.9% identified increased connectivity for unique digital experiences as a top-three benefit in 2023.[11]

05 Statistics

Data & Analytics

Business intelligence in the bowling industry

  • Nearly 70% was the reduction in AMF Bowling’s cost per conversion after nine months of its search-marketing analytics program.[12]
  • More than 40 million guest visits were served annually by Bowlero’s bowling and entertainment brands in fiscal 2024.[13]
  • 18.6% was Bowlero’s fourth-quarter fiscal-2024 revenue increase compared with the prior year.[13]
  • 10 times higher monthly search-marketing-attributed revenue was achieved by AMF Bowling after six months of the analytics program.[12]
  • $283.9 million was Bowlero’s fourth-quarter fiscal-2024 revenue.[13]
  • Nearly 300 local campaigns were managed in AMF Bowling’s marketing analytics program.[12]

Data analytics in the bowling industry

  • 66 bowling centers reported string-pinsetter averages for the 2024–2025 season in USBC’s 2025 analysis.[14]
  • More than 100 approved string-pinsetter installations were recorded across approximately 3,500 USBC-certified bowling centers by November 2025.[14]
  • 7 pins lower was the average result for bowlers averaging over 210 on string pinsetters in USBC’s 2025 analysis.[14]
  • 10 USBC-approved string-pinsetter models were listed in the 2025 scoring report.[14]
  • 10,658 bowlers were included in USBC’s 2024–2025 string-pinsetter average analysis.[14]
  • 17 bowling centers reported string-pinsetter averages for the 2023–2024 season in USBC’s 2025 analysis.[14]

Data Quality in the sports, fitness and recreation sector (sector benchmark)

  • 65% of Australian sports organisations said improving the quality of ticketing data was an objective in 2021.[15]
  • 39% of Australian sports organisations identified ticketing-data quality as a challenge in 2021.[15]
  • 27% of Australian sports organisations identified data quality and completeness as their biggest membership-data challenge in 2021.[15]
  • 27% of FIFA-sample football organisations disagreed or strongly disagreed that international sports-data metrics were clear and consistent in the study published in 2024.[16]
  • 7% of Australian sports organisations ranked distrust in their data among their top three data challenges in 2021.[15]

Data Governance in the sports, fitness and recreation sector (sector benchmark)

  • 9% of Irish sports clubs said they had conducted a data-protection impact assessment in 2024, based on a survey of more than 100 clubs.[17]
  • 53% of professional-club respondents reported standardized data management with integrated sources and defined procedures in the study published in 2024.[16]
  • 41% of FIFA-sample football organisations said their data-analysis strategy was consistent across all business units in the study published in 2024.[16]
  • 56% of Irish sports clubs lacked a data-retention schedule in 2024, based on a survey of more than 100 clubs across four sports.[17]
  • 31% of football national-federation respondents reported standardized data management with integrated sources and defined procedures in the study published in 2024.[16]
  • 41% of Irish sports clubs reported having no data-protection policies in 2024, based on a survey of more than 100 clubs.[17]

KPIs in the bowling industry

  • $1,500 per week was the average games revenue reported for bowling centers with games in the BPAA analysis.[18]
  • $2,850 was average games revenue per lane in the BPAA analysis of U.S. bowling centers.[18]
  • Games per lane per day is an accepted bowling-industry usage KPI defined as total games in 24 hours divided by lane count.[19]
  • 26 lanes was the average bowling-center size implied by the BPAA analysis of games revenue and revenue per lane.[18]
  • Games per lane per year is an accepted bowling-industry KPI defined as annual center lineage divided by lane count and 365.[19]

06 Statistics

Strategy & Growth

Operator portfolios keep expanding through acquisitions and rebrands, including Lucky Strike Entertainment’s 366 locations across North America as of June 28, 2026.

Growth in the bowling industry

  • 40 greenfield locations had been identified for Hollywood Bowl Group’s expansion pipeline by FY2025.[20]
  • 30 centers is Hollywood Bowl Group’s stated Splitsville estate target by 2035 on its corporate brand page.[21]
  • 17.5% was Lucky Strike Entertainment’s year-over-year total location-revenue increase in the first fiscal quarter of 2025.[13]
  • 7 family-entertainment centers and 1 water park were acquired or opened by Bowlero between July 1 and November 4, 2024, alongside 2 new builds.[13]

Differentiation in the bowling industry

  • 196 Bowlero-branded locations operated at June 29, 2025, alongside more upscale Lucky Strike venues and traditional AMF locations.[13]
  • 3 water parks formed part of Lucky Strike Entertainment’s location-based entertainment portfolio at June 29, 2025.[13]
  • 113 AMF and other branded locations operated in the United States at June 29, 2025.[13]
  • 7 Boomers and other family-entertainment centers were operated by Lucky Strike Entertainment at June 29, 2025.[13]
  • 17 large-scale Splitsville family-entertainment venues combined bowling with dining, arcades, laser tag and other attractions in FY2025.[21]
  • 40 Lucky Strike-branded locations operated at June 29, 2025.[13]

Mergers and acquisitions in the bowling industry

  • 1 bowling location was acquired by Bowlero between July 1 and November 4, 2024.[13]
  • 5 family-entertainment centers were acquired by Bowlero between July 1 and November 4, 2024.[13]
  • 1 Boomers Parks acquisition was completed by Bowlero in September 2024.[22]
  • 1 water park was acquired by Bowlero on April 29, 2024, its first entry into the water-park segment.[22]
  • 3 Canadian bowling centers were acquired by Hollywood Bowl Group in FY2024: Woodlawn Bowl, Richmond Riverport and Stoked.[23]
  • 14 upscale bowling and entertainment venues were added when Bowlero completed its Lucky Strike acquisition on September 18, 2023.[22]

Strategic partnerships in the bowling industry

  • 1 multiyear television partnership with FOX Sports was continued by Bowlero after its acquisition of the Professional Bowlers Association.[22]
  • 1 Professional Bowlers Association acquisition was completed by Bowlero as part of its bowling-media and sports strategy.[22]
  • 1 local-authority partnership covering health and food safety was reported by Hollywood Bowl Group for its UK operations in FY2024.[23]
  • Approximately 5,000 independently operated screens were represented by the Independent Cinema Alliance in its 2026 QubicaAMF partnership.[24]
  • 1 exclusive partnership appointed QubicaAMF as the Independent Cinema Alliance’s bowling-equipment and technology provider in 2026.[24]
  • 1 International Adventure & Trampoline Parks Association preferred-partner agreement named QubicaAMF a bowling-equipment and technology partner in November 2026.[25]

07 Statistics

People & Workforce

Work arrangements and workforce readiness appear as operating constraints; USBC technology-survey respondents rated bowling-technology knowledge as basic or fair at 59%.

Hiring in the bowling industry

  • 150 employees was the expected mature workforce for Lumos Social after opening with nearly 100 employees.[26]
  • 350 applicants were attracted by the initial hourly-employee hiring campaign for High Tides and Good Vibes, a bowling and entertainment center.[26]
  • Nearly 100 employees staffed Lumos Social when the bowling-centered venue opened.[26]

Remote Work in the sports, fitness and recreation sector (sector benchmark)

  • Across European sport organisations, 24.4% had neither used nor heard of remote working in 2025.[27]
  • In U.S. arts, entertainment and recreation, 22.1% of employees worked fully remotely in November 2024.[28]
  • Across European sport organisations, 46.4% reported using remote working in 2025.[27]
  • Across European sport organisations, 29.2% had heard of remote working but had not used it in 2025.[27]

Hybrid Work in the sports, fitness and recreation sector (sector benchmark)

  • Among U.S. employees with remote-capable jobs, 54% worked hybrid in August 2026.[29]
  • Across sports industry professionals, 70% preferred hybrid working in 2025.[30]
  • In U.S. arts, entertainment and recreation, 30.0% of employees worked in hybrid arrangements in November 2024.[28]
  • Across sports industry professionals, 46% were still working from the office five days a week in 2025.[30]

Upskilling in the bowling industry

  • 59% of USBC technology-survey respondents rated their knowledge of bowling technology as basic or fair.[31]
  • 24% of USBC technology-survey respondents rated themselves as knowledgeable about bowling technology.[31]

Employee Engagement in the sports, fitness and recreation sector (sector benchmark)

  • Among U.S. employees with remote-capable jobs, 30% of exclusively remote workers were engaged in 2025.[29]
  • Globally, 20% of employees were engaged in 2025.[29]
  • Globally, 16% of employees were actively disengaged in 2025.[29]
  • Among professional sports teams, 73% of employees were engaged between July 2025 and June 2026.[32]
  • Among U.S. employees with remote-capable jobs, 25% of hybrid workers were engaged in 2025.[29]

DEI in the bowling industry

  • 9.52% of the U.S. Bowling Congress board of directors were people of color in 2022.[33]
  • 5.88% of U.S. Bowling Congress standing-committee members were people of color in 2022.[33]
  • 18.75% of U.S. Bowling Congress national-team athletes were people of color in 2022.[33]
  • 18.08% of U.S. Bowling Congress professional staff were people of color in 2022.[33]
  • 13.24% of U.S. Bowling Congress national-governing-body members were people of color in 2022.[33]

Change Management in the sports, fitness and recreation sector (sector benchmark)

  • Across UK fitness and leisure organisations, 68% used cloud-based leisure-management systems in 2024.[34]
  • Across UK sport, fitness and leisure organisations, four operators reached Digital Leader status in 2024.[34]
  • Across recreation organisations, 68% believed AI adoption would be necessary within two to three years in late 2025.[35]
  • Across UK sport, fitness and leisure organisations, the average digital maturity score was 51% in 2024.[34]
  • Across recreation organisations, 40% reported no AI use in late 2025.[35]

08 Statistics

Customer & Sales

Customer acquisition and repeat intent are tracked across online booking and rewards usage, including 67M annual U.S. bowlers and 30%–40% typical email open rates for rewards.

Customer experience in the bowling industry

  • 85% of respondents rated the host venue satisfactory at the 2022 USBC Open Championships in Las Vegas, United States.[14]
  • 72% of respondents rated online registration satisfactory at the 2022 USBC Open Championships in Las Vegas, United States.[14]
  • 79% of respondents rated pace of play satisfactory at the 2022 USBC Open Championships in Las Vegas, United States.[14]
  • 85% of respondents rated tournament staff satisfactory at the 2022 USBC Open Championships in Las Vegas, United States.[14]
  • 81% of respondents rated the Las Vegas experience satisfactory at the 2022 USBC Open Championships in Las Vegas, United States.[14]

Customer retention in the bowling industry

  • 89% was the increase in Hollywood Bowl Group’s contactable customer database by fiscal 2022, United Kingdom.[36]
  • 30%–40% was the typical email open rate reported by KingPins for its bowling rewards-program messages, United States.[26]
  • 99% of customers who prepaid 50% of their bowling fees online at Al-Mar Lanes showed up, Bowling Green, Ohio.[26]
  • 75% of consumers very or extremely likely to bowl again within three months had either won or nearly won their last game, according to QubicaAMF research.[37]
  • Over 30 million customers were served annually by Bowlero, later renamed Lucky Strike Entertainment, across North America.[13]

Customer acquisition in the bowling industry

  • 1,601 users came from social media for the bowling program in Q4 FY2025, United States.[38]
  • 4,437 users came from the Hawaii installation’s bowling pages in Q4 FY2025, United States.[38]
  • 34,367 users came from organic search in Q4 FY2025 bowling-program reporting for U.S. military recreation websites.[38]
  • 32,074 users came from Google for the bowling program in Q4 FY2025, United States.[38]
  • 32,554 new users were recorded for the bowling program in Q4 FY2025, United States.[38]

Customer loyalty in the bowling industry

  • Over 120,000 people were enrolled in KingPins’ bowling rewards program, United States.[26]
  • 75% of consumers likely to bowl again within three months had won or nearly won their last game, according to QubicaAMF research.[37]
  • 5.8 annual visits were recorded for above-average bowlers in QubicaAMF consumer research.[37]
  • 30%–40% was the typical email open rate for KingPins’ rewards-program messages, United States.[26]
  • 9 out of 10 consumers surveyed said they loved HyperBowling and would recommend it to friends.[39]

Lead generation in the bowling industry

  • 32,074 users were acquired through Google in a Q4 FY2025 bowling-program report, United States.[38]
  • 1,493 users were acquired through referrals in a Q4 FY2025 bowling-program report, United States.[38]
  • 75% of open bowling was reserved online at Al-Mar Lanes in Bowling Green, Ohio.[26]
  • 95% of traffic to Bowling Marketing Solutions’ client websites came from mobile devices, according to its bowling-center client data.[26]
  • 34,367 users were acquired through organic search in a Q4 FY2025 bowling-program report, United States.[38]

09 Statistics

Marketing & Brand

Brand measurement relies on email and social distribution volumes, including 15.5 million emails distributed by USBC across 860 messages in 2022.

Marketing in the bowling industry

  • 15.5 million emails were distributed by USBC across 860 messages in 2022, United States.[14]
  • 200,000-plus copies of Bowlers Journal International were printed and delivered in 2022, United States.[14]
  • More than 9% was USBC’s email click rate in 2022, United States.[14]
  • 28.5% was food and drink’s share of Hollywood Bowl Group sales in fiscal 2021, United Kingdom.[36]
  • Over 85 million social-media impressions were generated across USBC, PWBA and GoBowling brands in 2022, United States.[14]

Digital marketing in the bowling industry

  • 73,486 sessions were recorded for the bowling program in Q4 FY2025, United States.[38]
  • 63% of bowling was booked online at Hollywood Bowl Group in 2021, United Kingdom.[36]
  • 32,074 users came from Google in a Q4 FY2025 bowling-program report, United States.[38]
  • 57% was the average engagement rate for the bowling program in Q4 FY2025, United States.[38]
  • 224,000-plus people followed Hollywood Bowl Group’s social-media accounts in 2021, United Kingdom.[36]

Branding in the bowling industry

  • 9.5 out of 10 consumers surveyed said they would return to play HyperBowling, in QubicaAMF research.[39]
  • 85 million-plus social-media impressions were generated across USBC, PWBA and GoBowling brands in 2022, United States.[14]
  • 9 out of 10 consumers surveyed said they loved HyperBowling and would recommend it to friends, supporting QubicaAMF’s product-brand positioning.[39]
  • 224,000-plus social-media followers were reported by Hollywood Bowl Group in 2021, United Kingdom.[36]
  • 40 lanes was the average size of Lucky Strike Entertainment centers, compared with 21 lanes for the U.S. bowling-center average.[40]

Social media in the bowling industry

  • 15,138 direct users were recorded for the bowling program in Q4 FY2025, alongside social-media acquisition, United States.[38]
  • 3 social platforms—TikTok, Facebook and Instagram—were highlighted in Hollywood Bowl Group’s 2021 customer-engagement strategy, United Kingdom.[36]
  • 1,411 users came from Facebook platforms for the bowling program in Q4 FY2025, United States.[38]
  • More than 85 million social-media impressions were generated across USBC, PWBA and GoBowling brands in 2022, United States.[14]
  • 95% of traffic to Bowling Marketing Solutions’ client websites came from mobile devices, according to bowling-center client data.[26]

Influencer Marketing in the sports, fitness and recreation sector (sector benchmark)

  • Sports and fitness influencer content achieved a 1.6% average engagement rate globally in 2023.[41]
  • TikTok sports and fitness influencer posts generated a 2.51% average engagement rate globally in 2023.[41]
  • Sports and fitness represented 18.7% of Instagram influencer estimated media value in Spain in 2024, the largest sector share.[42]
  • Instagram accounted for 17.8 million sports and fitness influencer posts globally in 2023, with a 2.31% average engagement rate.[41]
  • 22.6 million influencer posts about sports and fitness were published globally in 2023, according to Sprout Social’s industry benchmark.[41]

10 Statistics

Operations & Execution

Operations center on equipment qualification, inspections, and maintenance practice; USBC measured 3,400-plus U.S. bowling centers and 73,000 lanes in its 2025 national inspection program.

Process optimization in the bowling industry

  • 10 approved string-pinsetter machines were listed by USBC in 2026, expanding the available automation choices for bowling centers.[14]
  • 12,500 frames or 1.5 months is the recommended pin-rotation interval for QubicaAMF EDGE string pinspotters.[43]
  • 3.5 million lane data points had been captured nationwide by USBC through 2025, supporting more accurate center inspections and process improvement.[14]
  • 20 minutes is the estimated time to rotate four pins during the documented EDGE string-pinspotter maintenance procedure.[43]
  • 65 U.S. certified bowling centers had installed approved string pinsetters by 2024, representing 1.7% of certified centers.[14]

Operational efficiency in the bowling industry

  • 3,400-plus U.S. bowling centers and 73,000 lanes were measured by USBC during its 2025 national inspection program.[14]
  • 20.40 dollars was the average hourly earnings figure shown for U.S. bowling centers in the latest BLS annual series.[44]
  • £11.05 was Hollywood Bowl Group’s total average customer spend per game in FY2024.[20]
  • 424.32 dollars was the average weekly earnings figure shown for U.S. bowling centers in the latest BLS annual series.[44]
  • 83.0% was Hollywood Bowl Group’s FY2024 gross profit margin on cost of goods sold.[20]

Quality management in the bowling industry

  • 3 approved new string-pinsetter models were tested and approved by USBC in 2024.[14]
  • 30 certified centers had switched to uncertified string pinsetters since USBC began tracking such conversions in 2021.[14]
  • 5 lane-panel renewals were processed by USBC in 2024.[14]
  • 12 other bowling products, including lane oils and ball cleaners, were tested or approved by USBC in 2024.[14]
  • 2,670 bowling centers comprising 57,341 certified lanes had been inspected and certified in the USBC program by May 1, 2025.[14]

Supply chain in the bowling industry

  • 244 bowling-ball models were approved by USBC in 2024, reflecting the scale of annual product qualification.[14]
  • $31.0 million was Hollywood Bowl Group’s revenue-generating capital expenditure in FY2024, including investment in bowling-center assets.[20]
  • 12 other products, including bowling oils and cleaners, were included in USBC’s 2024 approval activity.[14]
  • 10 approved string-pinsetter machines were listed by USBC in 2026, indicating a broader equipment supply base for bowling centers.[14]
  • £38.53 million was Hollywood Bowl Group’s FY2024 addition to property, plant and equipment and intangible assets combined.[20]

Outsourcing / Offshoring in the sports, fitness and recreation sector (sector benchmark)

  • Across EU enterprises sourcing internationally, 72.8% moved business functions to other EU countries during 2021–2023, an economy-wide offshoring benchmark.[45]
  • Across EU enterprises sourcing internationally, 27.8% cited lower non-labour costs as a motivation during 2021–2023, an economy-wide outsourcing benchmark.[45]
  • Across EU enterprises sourcing internationally, 34.1% cited lower labour costs as a motivation during 2021–2023, an economy-wide outsourcing benchmark.[45]
  • Across EU enterprises sourcing internationally, 47.4% moved administrative and management functions abroad during 2021–2023, an economy-wide offshoring benchmark.[45]
  • Across EU enterprises sourcing internationally, 17.1% moved business functions to the United Kingdom during 2021–2023, an economy-wide offshoring benchmark.[45]

11 Statistics

Finance & Pricing

Pricing and capital spending remain tied to lane operations, with Hollywood Bowl Group reporting £31.0 million revenue-generating capital expenditure in FY2024.

Pricing strategy in the bowling industry

  • 15% was the planned 2024 increase in Sun City’s bowling operating income after price increases for open and league bowling.[46]
  • £24.0 million was Hollywood Bowl Group’s FY2024 net cash position, as reported in its annual-report operating metrics.[20]
  • 3.7% was the decrease in Ten Entertainment’s average realised bowling-game price in 2021 compared with 2019.[36]
  • 5.9% was like-for-like revenue growth in Hollywood Bowl’s Canadian bowling centers in FY2024 on a constant-currency basis.[47]
  • £11.05 was Hollywood Bowl Group’s total average spend per game in FY2024, up from £10.82 in FY2023.[20]

Cost reduction in the bowling industry

  • $45,000 was Sun City’s planned 2024 bowling repairs-and-maintenance expense, including a pinsetter and scoring-equipment upgrade.[46]
  • $733,000 was Sun City’s planned 2024 bowling wages-and-benefits expense after wage increases and additional part-time hours.[46]
  • 70% or more is the pinspotter operating-cost reduction advertised by QubicaAMF for EDGE String technology.[37]
  • $119,000 was Sun City’s planned 2024 bowling utilities expense for electricity and gas.[46]

Profitability in the bowling industry

  • 23.2% was Hollywood Bowl Group’s FY2024 operating-profit margin.[20]
  • $73,000 was the reported median annual total revenue per lane for 312 bowling venues in the BPAA 2024 industry report.[48]
  • £87.6 million was Hollywood Bowl Group’s FY2024 adjusted EBITDA.[20]
  • 38.0% was Hollywood Bowl Group’s FY2024 adjusted EBITDA margin.[20]
  • £29.9 million was Hollywood Bowl Group’s FY2024 profit after tax.[20]

Financial planning in the bowling industry

  • £12.06 was Hollywood Bowl Group’s FY2024 total ordinary dividend per share.[20]
  • £31.0 million was Hollywood Bowl Group’s FY2024 revenue-generating capital expenditure.[20]
  • $73,000 was Sun City’s budgeted 2024 bowling net operating excess before depreciation.[46]
  • $1.075 million was Sun City’s budgeted 2024 bowling operating income after planned price increases.[46]
  • £28.7 million was Hollywood Bowl Group’s reported FY2024 net cash position.[20]

12 Statistics

Product & Service

Product qualification and inspection rules formalize what equipment can run, including a 5 years USBC inspection cycle starting for certified centers from 2026.

Product development in the bowling industry

  • USBC’s 2023 laboratory data projected string-pin bowling strike percentage at 7.1% below free-fall bowling under the tested specifications.[14]
  • 3 new string-pinsetter models were approved by USBC in 2024 in the United States.[49]
  • 5 lane-panel renewals were completed by USBC in 2024 in the United States.[49]
  • 244 bowling-ball models were tested and approved by USBC in 2024 in the United States.[49]
  • 12 other bowling products, including ball cleaners, lane oils and ball plug, were approved by USBC in 2024 in the United States.[49]

Product lifecycle in the bowling industry

  • 1 year is the minimum factory warranty for new Brunswick capital equipment.[50]
  • 2 years is the Brunswick warranty period for Max Life synthetic pins.[50]
  • 1 year is the Brunswick warranty period for ten-pin products.[50]
  • 1 year is the Brunswick warranty period for polyester bowling balls.[50]
  • 2 years is the Brunswick warranty period for urethane and reactive bowling balls.[50]

After-sales in the bowling industry

  • 5 years is the USBC inspection cycle announced for certified bowling centers from 2026.[14]
  • 14% of total free-fall pinspotter operating costs are attributed to replacement parts in QubicaAMF’s typical-center research.[39]
  • Over $800 per lane per year was saved in replacement parts by Strike 10 Bowling and Sports Lounge after switching to string machines.[39]
  • 1 year is the Brunswick warranty period for ten-pin products, supporting replacement and claims service for bowling centers.[50]
  • $8 per lane per year is the announced USBC inspection cost under the revised certification program.[14]

Value proposition in the bowling industry

  • 50% of revenue at bowling-anchored entertainment centers came from non-bowling activities in 2015, according to the BPAA analysis.[18]
  • $1,000,000 is the average total revenue of a traditional U.S. bowling center in the BPAA benchmarking analysis.[18]
  • 50% of U.S. bowling centers with games generated $1,000 or less per month in game revenue in the BPAA analysis.[18]
  • $1,500,000 is the average total revenue of a U.S. bowling-anchored entertainment center in the BPAA benchmarking analysis.[18]
  • 40% of U.S. bowling centers in the BPAA analysis had a redemption prize counter or automatic prize hub.[18]

13 Statistics

Sustainability & Ethics

Reported sustainability outcomes include a 14% lower energy use at Capitol Bowl after renovation in 2024 and facility-level water and electricity measurement for bowling venues.

Sustainability in the bowling industry

  • 36 typical homes’ worth of energy was saved by sustainability measures at Ocean5, a bowling and entertainment venue in Washington, reported in 2018.[51]
  • 14% lower energy use was achieved at Capitol Bowl after renovation, California, reported in 2024.[52]
  • 50% lower water bills were reported by a bowling-pin manufacturer after installing recycling and efficiency measures.[53]
  • 1 bowling venue in Washington used heat recovery to reuse cooling waste heat for heating in a 2022 clean-buildings project.[54]
  • 58% of waste was recycled at Armidale City Bowling Club in Australia, according to a sustainability case study.[55]

Ethics in the bowling industry

  • 5 of 7 USBC hearing requests in 2024 used the accelerated written-submission process.[14]
  • 25 years of Bowl for the Cure fundraising were marked by USBC in 2025.[14]
  • 7 appeals were heard by the USBC Hearing Panel from 165 disciplinary cases in 2024.[14]
  • 1 million members are served by USBC, the U.S. national governing body for bowling, according to its organizational profile.[14]
  • 165 disciplinary cases involving 228 USBC members were received in 2024 for alleged violations of bowling rules.[14]

CSR in the bowling industry

  • 25 years of Bowl for the Cure partnership and fundraising were celebrated by USBC in 2025.[14]
  • $7 million-plus in tournament entry fees were collected online by USBC Association Tournaments in 2024, supporting bowling associations and programs.[14]
  • 1 million USBC members participate in a national bowling organization whose programs include youth development, scholarships and veteran-focused initiatives.[14]

Circular economy in the bowling industry

  • 58% of waste was recycled at Armidale City Bowling Club in Australia, according to a club-sector sustainability case study.[55]
  • 1,200 bowling balls per year were reported as arriving at New York City’s Sunset Park materials-recovery facility and being removed as non-recyclable items.[56]
  • 50% lower water bills were reported by a bowling-pin manufacturer after recycling water in its production process.[53]
  • 1 bowling center introduced washable metal flatware, refillable fountain drinks and reusable cups and glasses to reduce disposable waste.[57]

Carbon footprint in the bowling industry

  • 72,581 litres of water were used by the bowling facility during the same 4.5-day, 50%-utilization assessment.[58]
  • 3,646 kWh of electricity was used by a 5- and 10-pin bowling facility during a 4.5-day sports-event assessment at 50% venue utilization.[58]
  • 360 kg CO2e per square metre was the building-hall emissions factor applied to bowling-venue construction in the assessment.[58]
  • 0.136 kg CO2e per kWh was the electricity emissions factor applied in the bowling-venue life-cycle assessment for British Columbia.[58]
  • 189 MJ of fuel was used by the bowling facility during the same 4.5-day, 50%-utilization assessment.[58]

15 Statistics

Globalization & Expansion

Cross-border footprints show through Canada and Mexico operations, including 371 bowling lanes operated by Splitsville in Canada in FY2025.

Globalization in the bowling industry

  • 42 million people lived in Canada, the first international market selected by Hollywood Bowl Group, according to its FY2025 market rationale.[21]
  • 4 Bowlero-branded locations operated in Mexico at June 29, 2025.[13]
  • 35 Canadian centers is Hollywood Bowl Group’s target Splitsville estate size by FY2035.[21]
  • 2 AMF and Bowlero locations operated in Canada at June 29, 2025.[13]
  • 371 bowling lanes were operated by Splitsville in Canada in FY2025.[21]

Cultural adaptation in the bowling industry

  • 35.1% was the increase in Splitsville bowling-center revenue to CAD61.1 million in FY2025.[21]
  • CAD63 million had been invested in Canada since Hollywood Bowl Group’s initial FY2022 acquisition.[21]
  • 1 major partnership with UK amusement supplier Bandai Namco began in Canada during FY2025.[21]
  • 3.2% was Splitsville’s like-for-like revenue growth in Canadian dollars in FY2025.[21]
  • CAD8.6 million was Striker Bowling Solutions’ Canadian revenue in FY2025.[21]

Supplier management in the bowling industry

  • Approximately 5,000 independently operated movie screens in the United States and Canada were represented by the Independent Cinema Alliance when it partnered with QubicaAMF in 2026.[24]
  • 1 full-line global supplier of bowling-center equipment, supplies and consumer bowling products was identified for Brunswick Bowling Products in 2023.[67]
  • 1 exclusive bowling-equipment and technology provider was appointed by the Independent Cinema Alliance for marketplace members in 2026: QubicaAMF Worldwide.[24]
  • 130+ years was Brunswick Bowling Products’ stated history as a global bowling brand in 2023.[67]
  • 55% or more of Brunswick Bowling Products’ revenue was driven by recurring aftermarket and consumer sales through distributor relationships in 2023.[67]

Stakeholder management in the bowling industry

  • 17 large-scale family-entertainment venues were operated by Splitsville in FY2025, combining bowling with dining and other attractions.[21]
  • 40 new greenfield locations had been identified by Hollywood Bowl Group for future expansion, using sales, demographic, competition and footfall data.[20]
  • 1 local-authority partnership covering health and food safety was reported for Hollywood Bowl Group’s UK operations in FY2024.[23]
  • 2 new centers were added to Splitsville’s Canadian estate in FY2025, affecting local landlords, employees and customers.[21]

Distribution channels in the bowling industry

  • 55% or more of Brunswick Bowling Products’ revenue came from recurring aftermarket and consumer sales through distributor relationships in 2023.[67]
  • 16 Splitsville locations operated in standalone or mixed retail and leisure sites in Canada in FY2025.[21]
  • 371 bowling lanes formed Splitsville’s Canadian physical distribution footprint in FY2025.[21]
  • 1 extensive distributor network was cited by Lincoln International as supporting Brunswick Bowling Products’ bowling-equipment business in 2023.[67]
  • 365 Lucky Strike Entertainment locations operated across three countries at June 29, 2025, providing a multinational venue distribution network.[13]

Key questions about the Bowling Industry

What is the U.S. bowling-center market size in 2026?
The U.S. bowling-center market is estimated at $4.7 billion in 2026.
How fast is the market growing through 2026?
IBISWorld estimates average annual industry growth of 3.0% over the five years to 2026.
Which companies lead the bowling industry?
MOTIV Bowling leads Gitnux's 2026 bowling ranking with an Overall score of 9.3, with Muskegon, Michigan high-performance ball manufacturing facility. Storm Products is the runner-up at 9.1, with Storm and Roto Grip high-performance bowling balls and accessories.
What technology shifts are visible in 2025–2026 for bowling centers?
String pinsetters are expanding, with more than 100 approved installations across approximately 3,500 USBC-certified centers by November 2025.
How fragmented is the U.S. market structure?
A reliable current industry concentration ratio was not found, and the broader U.S. market is described as fragmented among independent, regional and chain operators.
How many certified bowling centers and annual bowlers are there in the U.S.?
There are 3,400+ certified U.S. centers in 2025–26, and annual U.S. bowlers are 67M.
Reference

Cite This Report

This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.

APA
Lukas Bauer. (2026, February 13). Bowling Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/bowling-industry-statistics
MLA
Lukas Bauer. "Bowling Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/bowling-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Lukas Bauer. 2026. "Bowling Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/bowling-industry-statistics.

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