Reno strikes it rich with bowlers

The Reno-Sparks area will get bowled over in the next three-and-half months.

But, there is no cause for concern.

On the contrary, it could be a boon for the local economy.

Thousands of female bowlers will descend on the Reno-Sparks area for the 84th Women's International Bowling Congress' championship tournament from March 20 to July 8.

Approximately 66,000 bowlers and 13,216 five-player teams from all over the United States will pass in and out of the area in the next three-and-half months.

Participants will also come from Australia, Bermuda, England and Japan to the area.

With such a large number of people flocking to the area during this period, it is estimated that Reno will rake in $73 million in room nights and restaurant and retail sales, according to the WIBC.

"Our women like to travel to Reno," Roseann Kuhn, executive director of the WIBC said.

"Certainly, we have had our largest tournaments in Reno."

Joe Kelly, general manager for Reno's National Bowling Stadium, said the average visiting bowling group is in town for about three days but may stay up to a week.

"It not all the same for the 65,000 to 67,000 guests we have over the period of the tournament," Kelly said.

He said that 700 to 800 bowlers use the massive 78-lane complex on a daily basis.

The Reno-Sparks Convention and Visitors Authority and the WIBC signed a five-year contract in 1997 for the rights to host the tournament every third year until the contract expires in 2009.

Kuhn said normally the delegation that oversees the WIBC chooses each year where the tournament will be held.

The delegation made a special resolution, though, to award Reno the current contract after the bowling stadium was built in 1995.

Lynn Thompson, executive vice-president of facilities for the Reno-Sparks Conventions Center, noted that plans are in the works to extend that contract even further.

"We're attempting to renegotiate beyond that point," Thompson said.

Thompson also said that the stadium is conducive to host such large-scale tournaments compared with other cities.

He said other cities that host the event often have to rent out convention centers and then import the bowling lanes into the centers.

"There's no place like the bowling stadium that we have," Thompson said.

"The fact that we have this building makes it much easier for us to host these kinds of tournaments."

Kuhn said that the RSCVA has not submitted a formal proposal to the WIBC for an extension, but her organization is willing to entertain any offer they may have.

"The ball is really in their court," Kuhn said.

"If they wish to submit a proposal, we'll definitely take it into consideration."

One area of concern for bowlers is traveling with their equipment on airlines.

Considering heightened security measures in response to the war with Iraq and subsequent fear of terrorist attacks, the airlines that transport bowlers to Reno have taken some precautions.

Continental Airlines, for example, allows one bag of bowling equipment per passenger, including three balls and shoes.

Gladys Johnson of Continental's group reservations department said that bowlers must check their bags at the check-in counter.

Such equipment would not be classified as a carryon item.

"A bowling ball is something that could be used as a weapon," Johnson explained.

Another carrier, American Airlines, states on its' website that all bowling equipment must be checked in before boarding an aircraft.

Adam Mayberry, community relations manager for the Airport Authority of Washoe County, said the different airlines that fly in and out of Reno-Lake Tahoe International Airport are responsible for placing their own guidelines on such security issues.

He reiterated that such precautions should not deter bowlers from coming to Reno.

"Quite frankly, we love to have the bowlers come to Reno," Mayberry said.