(Source: Professional Bowlers Association)
What if you and I were having a cool beverage and I told you a story about a professional bowling organization that decided to add a cool half a million dollars to its prize fund for its season-opening event? Can we personally think of any pro or even non-pro bowling group that has ever done that?
Would you be interested in participating in that event or watching it unfold on national television or following the proceedings online? How about seven opportunities to compete for a title on national television at that season-opening event, does that have any appeal for you?
The Professional Bowlers Association is the only professional bowling organization that offers 50-plus years of history, national television exposure, media recognition and the benefits of that exposure by participating in its events.
It is going to be one Major Year on the 2010-11 Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour! We already know that the 2011 PBA Tournament of Champions will be the richest tournament in PBA history, featuring a million dollar prize fund topped by a $250,000 first prize check. Kelly Kulick will defend her title at Red Rock against a field of PBA Tour, PBA Senior, PBA Regional and PBA Women’s Series champions.
Details surrounding the 2011 U.S. Open and the 2011 USBC Masters with the remainder of the season schedule will be announced soon. The season’s first major will be decided at the upcoming $625,000 2010 PBA World Series of Bowling to kick off the 2010-11 Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour schedule in Las Vegas at South Point Hotel, Casino and Bowling Center in October.
With the input of PBA players, staff, corporate partners and ESPN, several significant changes to the World Series of Bowling concept will make for an exciting event for both fans and competitors alike. The first exciting development – any PBA member in good standing may enter the PBA World Series of Bowling for just $750, all in.
The inaugural WSOB last season was a bold concept to combine the elements of multiple tournaments into a single location. Built in are cost savings for the Professional Bowlers Association in the form of several travel and production efficiencies. Members are also saving in the form of reduced travel time and costs during the first part of the season.
The metro Detroit area, its bowling community, Erin Dobbins, Taylor Lanes, Tom Strobl and Thunderbowl Lanes were tremendous hosts for the 2009 PBA World Series of Bowling. Mike Monyak and his South Point staff will take the baton, providing the Major venue for the 2010 PBA World Series of Bowling. The facility at South Point is widely known as a tremendous venue for major bowling competitions.
Over the years many have said working smarter rather than harder should be one of the goals of the PBA – creating a property like the World Series of Bowling falls into that category.
Last year on the PBA Tour, seven separate tournaments were contested with seven separate entry fees: the Motor City Open, the five animal-pattern Championships and the PBA World Championship – six champions were declared in Detroit and the story of Tom Smallwood built until his incredible victory in the finale of the PBA World Championship in Wichita. (Watch his PBA World Championship victory below)
The action was chronicled daily on Xtra Frame, the official video streaming service of the Professional Bowlers Association. Improvements were introduced into the Xtra Frame production at the 2009 World Series of Bowling including PBA:39X60; Xtra Frame fans responded by doubling the subscription base.
This season, the 2010 PBA World Series of Bowling offers players the opportunity to compete for six PBA titles during the PBA World Championship. The focus of the WSOB is the PBA World Championship which will conclude with first-ever three-day live finals coverage in January.
That second exciting development bears repeating – three days of consecutive live television witnessing the battles from the Top 8 to the crowning of a $50,000 major champion. It has been talked about for years and never been done – multiple day, live national television coverage of a PBA event. It will happen in January to provide a thrilling live conclusion to the PBA World Series of Bowling.
The 2010 PBA World Series of Bowling will be completed over a tighter time frame than the 2009 version, providing an exciting two-week concentration of competition for both the players and the fans. One battle within the World Series battle will be the daily animal-pattern championships, each with a separate bonus prize fund and its own match play and televised finals.
Daily qualifying games, 12 of them, each in the Cheetah, Viper, Chameleon, Scorpion and Shark patterns will form the finals field in the PBA World Championship at the World Series of Bowling after 60 games of competition. The PBA World Series of Bowling highlights one major tournament with multiple chances to cash and make the six television shows.
The second battle within the World Series battle is the new U.S.A. vs. The World televised event where the Top Six United States finishers will meet the Top Six International competitors in a made-for-TV competition.
The PBA World Series of Bowling is open to members of the Professional Bowlers Association in good standing. Whether you travel to Las Vegas to compete or follow the action live on PBA.com and Xtra Frame, it’s going to be a Major way to start the season.