PHOTO: Luxurious Magazine
Forming a bustling community hub can be tough work. Not only do you need to have a property and building to host community gatherings, but you’ll also need personable skills to attract a crowd of frequent regulars, among many other factors.
That said, there are a few strategic and effective techniques that you can implement to draw in a strong, tight-knit community. One potent technique is integrating sports and recreation into your community hub.
While not everyone’s ready to sweat it out on the football field or basketball court, a bowling lane brings out a fun, competitive spirit that can resonate with a wide range of people, from young ones to the elderly.
Besides the competitive spirit a bowling club provides, this establishment can also double as a spacious centre.
Large friend groups, families, and acquaintances can all congregate and enjoy each other’s company in this venue, especially if there are held events and engaging activities happening during the time.
Ready to learn more about why a bowling club makes for a great community hub? Strap on your bowling shoes, and here are five reasons why bowling clubs are so pivotal for communities.
It’s a hit among all age groups
No matter your age, bowling is a fun and thrilling sport with universal appeal. You can be as casual or as competitive at it as you want, and this mass-appealing sentiment can draw in people from all ages and walks of life.
What makes a bowling club particularly nice is its approachability. Young folks in elementary school can roll a bowling ball down the alley and have a swell time with their loved ones. Elderly folks can do the same and not risk much in terms of overexerting their comparatively fragile bones.
But congregating amongst people of one’s own age group isn’t exactly what a bowling club is all about. The community and somewhat competitive aspect of bowling allows groups to intermingle and share their love for bowling, breaking the age barrier and fostering a shared love for the game.
This is unlike more physically demanding sports, like basketball or football, where young folks have a superior advantage.
Bowling alleys are, at their core, a casual gathering place for socialisation and fun—and their approachability for people of all ages can unite a crowd of diverse and unique patrons.
It’s primarily an indoor setting
People often gravitate towards cafes and restaurants as go-to spots for socializing and catching up. One reason for this is that they’re indoors and free from the pollution and the heat and humidity (or unbearable cold) of the weather outside.
But what comes after food is usually up in the air depending on the options available. Shopping in malls, browsing museums, and watching the cinema is generally what folks like to do for fun indoors.
And if friends, couples, or family want to participate in a more physically active pastime, trying to score some strikes in bowling alleys usually makes for a good time.
What makes bowling alleys so great, in particular, is that they offer a good blend of physical activity and a cool and comfortable setting. You don’t have to worry about sweating or getting sunburnt when you’re in a bowling alley.
And for lawn bowl club owners, you can provide a similar sense of comfort for your guests too if you have proper roofing up in your venue. Construction companies like Greenline offer a wide range of customisable roofs you can consider putting up to protect your guests from the shade.
Besides that, a bowling club’s exclusivity also helps people feel secure within the space. This, coupled with the comfortable temperature inside the venue, makes it a great space to bring families and friends for a good time.
It can host leagues and competitions
Bowling clubs don’t only have to be a casual venue where friends can get together. It can be turned into a place where competitive folks can go head-to-head and enjoy friendly competition.
A great thing about bowling clubs is that they offer the perfect backdrop for people to join in on some fun, sports-related action. You can host periodic leagues and competitions with prizes for people to compete in and potentially take home the crown.
Besides drawing in players, you’re also marketing your space. A lot of people would feel incentivised to come in and support their favourite players, thereby enhancing foot traffic and potentially introducing more members of the community to the beauty of the sport.
This, in turn, can boost the reputation of your space, allowing for more people to turn up at future events, thereby increasing your chances of expanding your reach, reputation, and profits.
It promotes physical and mental health
Not everyone likes to sweat it up in the gym or out on the track, but if there’s an undertone of friendly competition, more people could show up. Even the friendly batch of non-gym goers!
This is a great thing. Besides being a form of entertainment, bowling allows people to get up, move around, and engage in light exercise.
It’s not going to make you the fittest person in the world—far from it. However, it allows you to get up and get active—which is miles better than staying glued to your couch or bed all day.
Besides the physical aspect, bowling clubs also promote mental health.
The social aspect of bowling can make you feel like a part of the community, which can ward off feelings of loneliness. This is especially helpful for the older demographic, as studies have reported that over a third of them suffer from loneliness.
It can be much more than a bowling club
A bowling club business model may not exactly allow you to retire before 30, but if you continue to upgrade its facilities and add new amenities, it can achieve sustainable growth over the years and become a staple recreational hub for your community.
For instance, you can consider opening a diner inside the bowling club where people can eat or lounge before or after their games. This can also serve as a waiting area for patrons who aren’t going to participate in the games. It also acts as a secondary revenue stream for you.
Alternatively, you can consider upgrading your club with additional recreational activities.
If you want to draw in a younger crowd, consider adding arcade games, darts, and pinball machines. If the bowling alleys always seem to be full during peak times, consider putting up a table tennis area or a pool table as alternative sports.
By bringing in more games in your hub, you can turn your space into a full-fledged community hub that goes beyond the sport of bowling. This can, in turn, attract more of your community to lounge and socialise within your club.