The United States Census Bureau considers El Paso and Teller Counties as part of the Colorado Springs Metropolitan area. The Colorado Springs Metro area includes the Town of Calhan, the City of Colorado Springs, the City of Cripple Creek, the City of Fountain, the Town of Green Mountain Falls, the City of Manitou Springs, the Town of Monument, the Town of Palmer Lake, the Town of Ramah, the City of Victor, the City of Woodland Park, as well as unincorporated El Paso and Teller Counties.
In 2006, there was an estimated 609,096 people in the Colorado Springs metro area. Approximately 64% of the residents were between the ages of 18 and 65 years of age. That is approximately 389,891 residents which are potential adult league bowlers. Another 26% of the population, or 158,365 people, were 18 years old or younger.
It is estimated that there are about 5200 USBC certified adult bowlers in the local association. Given the 5200 number, that equates to approximately 1.3% of the local adult population. About 500 certified youth bowlers were listed in the yearbook or about 0.3% of the youth population. Combined there are about 5700 certified bowlers or 0.9% of the potential bowling population.
There are currently 284 bowling lanes available for bowling in this same metro area at any point in time. If all lanes are filled with 5 people per lane, the bowling centers could accommodate 1420 bowlers at any given time. That is about 0.35% of the local population, and only about 25% of the existing USBC certified league bowlers bowling at any one time.
There is obviously plenty of room for improvement and lots of potential for growth. That is what this bowling website is intended to address. Either the existing bowlers will join with Colorado Springs Bowling to influence the future of bowling, or the new bowlers will be the driving force that changes bowling in Colorado Springs.
NEW STRATEGY FOR PROPRIETORS: Instead of only competing for the existing 5700 league bowlers, wouldn't it be more beneficial to target the 99% of the population that is not participating in league bowling. If a collective effort could get another 1% of those that are not currently bowling leagues to bowl one league a week, thats an additional 6000 bowlers each week. That should fill our lanes to capacity each day of each week as it more than doubles the league bowling base with many existing bowlers bowling multiple leagues each week. The same promotions for league bowling should mobilize the population in terms of recreational (open play) bowling as well. If both were to double, it would equate to an additional $2,250,000.00 in revenue in bowling lineage alone. Add to that the additional revenues generated for the Pro Shops, and food and beverage services.
Obviously, the burden of marketing bowling to the population falls on the bowling center proprietors. In turn, the bowling center proprietors stand to gain the most in terms of revenue. The proprietors individually need the existing bowlers to be happy or satisfied with the facilities they currently have. Word of mouth from the bowling population will steer new bowlers to most highly recommended centers. With a united bowler voice, bowlers can influence proprietors to provide quality facilities and services to the community.
That is how this all comes together. The existing bowlers must be heard. There is strength in numbers. Colorado Springs Bowling (csbowling.com) is intended to be the bridge linking proprietors to the bowling population and the bowlers back to the proprietors. Register today to be one of the bowlers that helps grow and influence the future of bowling in Colorado Springs. Together we can be heard, individually we only make noise.