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| Corporate Info |
| Name: | Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) |
| Headquarters: | 719 Second Avenue
Suite 701
Seattle, WA 98104 |
| Phone: | (206) 332-9688 |
| Fax: | (206) 654-6030 |
| Website: | www.pba.com |
| Membership: |
Nearly 4,300 members representing 13 countries (Australia, Bermuda,
Canada, China, England, Finland, France, Germany, Japan, Korea,
Sweden, United States and Venezuela)
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| Number of Staff: | 32 |
| 2006-07 Denny's PBA Tour Schedule: |
21 official events between September 19 - April 1
One special pre-season tournament in Japan (September, 2006)
One special, regular season event in Fountain Valley, Calif. (January, 2007)
The Denny’s PBA Tour's 20 U.S. events take place in 16 states.
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| Major Championships (4): | United States Bowling Congress (USBC) Masters, 64th U.S.
Open, Denny’s World Championship, PBA Tournament of Champions
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| Description: |
The PBA was established in 1958 when 33 charter members
banded together to form the Professional Bowlers Association.
Today, with over 4,250 members, it remains the acknowledged
"major league" of bowling in the world. In March 2000, a trio of
high-tech entrepreneurs (and former Microsoft executives)
purchased the league in hopes of making it the next global
emerging sport and creating additional opportunities for its
members. The 2006-07 season will feature a 64-bowler exempt
format for the third straight year.
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| Senior Management: | Chris Peters, Chairman
Fred Schreyer, President/CEO
Steve Miller, Board Member
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| Television: | ESPN |
| Sponsors: |
| Sponsor | Since |
|---|
| United States Bowling Congress | 2001 |
| GEICO | 2002 |
| Pepsi-Cola | 2002 |
| Brunswick | 2003 |
| Bayer | 2003 |
| Denny’s | 2005 |
| Motel 6 | 2005 |
| Ace Hardware | 2005 |
| Etonic | 2006 |
| Columbia 300 | 2006 |
| H&R Block | 2006 |
| Discover® Card | 2006 |
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| Achievements: |
The new owners of the PBA achieved their initial goals of moving the
headquarters to Seattle and hiring key sports marketing executives to manage
the day-to-day operations of the organization. Some additional achievements
include:
Hired former Nike sports marketing executives to fill key executive positions,
including current Commissioner/CEO Fred Schreyer and current Board Member
Steve Miller.
Signed a three-year, multi-million dollar deal with Denny’s to serve as the
Tour’s first-ever title sponsor.
Signed an exclusive three-year deal (with a three-year option) with ESPN in
2001. Re-signed three-year extension in June, 2004. In addition, ESPN produces
and runs promotional spots each year on ESPN and ESPN2 to point viewers
toward PBA telecasts.
Implemented a PBA membership drive which brought membership to an all-
time high of 4,290 in May, 2006.
Secured "appointment television" - same day and time of the week for fans to
watch weekly telecast.
During 2004-05 season average household impressions and viewers increased
12-percent apiece compared to the previous season. In addition, both figures
were the highest numbers since the new ownership took over in 2000.
Average ratings (0.9) increased 10-percent compared to the previous season.
That also set a new mark for the PBA on ESPN since the new ownership took
over in 2000.
The 2005 PBA Dallas Open telecast drew a 1.8 rating and was viewed by
1,604,544 households, a record number of households for a live PBA telecast on
ESPN.
The PBA, working with ESPN and Motel 6, created special programming with
the post-season PBA Motel 6 Roll to Riches.
In 2004, hired Tulsa-based Winnercomm to develop roster of PBA sponsors and
re-vamp look and feel of ESPN telecasts. Since Winnercomm has come on
board, major sponsors such as Denny’s, Motel 6 and Ace Hardware have joined
the PBA.
After having two sponsors for the 2001-02 season, the PBA now has 11. These
sponsors have integrated their PBA sponsorship with their products or are
incorporating promotions around the sponsorship. (ex. Motel 6 - $600,000
Reasons to Strike Sweepstakes).
Increased the overall prize fund by 139% starting with the 2001-02 season.
The total prize fund for the 2001-02 season was $4.3 million (compared with
$1.8 million from fall 2000/winter 2001).
Over $9 million in prize money is distributed over the Denny’s PBA Tour, PBA
Regional Tour and PBA Senior Tour.
Set a defined season (October through April).
Changed the format of all standard tournaments to create compelling, head-to-
head competition.
Gives stock options to the top bowlers every year - a first for any sports
league/organization.
Re-launched www.pba.com, with an updated design giving the site a sharper
look with improved navigation. It also includes statistical information on every
tournament in PBA history.
Modified the dress code so that bowlers can develop their unique personalities.
This season, bowlers will wear special jerseys during all PBA Pro-Am events.
Banned sideline coaching.
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