Introduction

Once America’s favorite recreational activity, bowling has been in the gutter for decades. But some surviving alleys are resetting the pins. Zachary Crockett laces up.

• SOURCES:
  • Mike Leong, owner of Bel Mateo Bowl.
  • Devon Stewart, head coach of Florida State University bowling team, C.E.O. of Bowl Connect, and consultant with the Hansell Group.

• RESOURCES:
  • "Cornhole and Bowling Are the Sports Most Americans Played Last Year," by Mallory Newall, Johnny Sawyer, Charlie Rollason, and Tyler Ivey (Ipsos, 2023).
  • "Overview of the Bowling Industry," by The Hansell Group (2022).
  • "How Bowling Alleys Made a Comeback," by Justin Fox (Bloomberg, 2019).
  • "New Look Keeps Bel Mateo Bowl Thriving," by Curtis Driscoll (The Daily Journal, 2017).
  • "Inside the Ugly Road Bowlmor Took to Make Bowling Cool," by Gabrielle Fonrouge (New York Post, 2017).
  • "The (Short) History of the National Bowling League," by Bob Johnson (United States Bowling Congress News, 2015).

• EXTRAS:
  • "Is It Harder to Make Friends as an Adult?" by No Stupid Questions (2023).