From the first paragraph:
A collection of bowlers has filed a class-action lawsuit accusing private equity–backed corporation Bowlero of a multiyear scheme to consolidate bowling centers, driving up prices and degrading lane quality.
Bowlero, which has been rebranding as Lucky Strike Entertainment, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
It’s important to note that they’re rebranding with a different name.
private equity is a disease
- private equity funding
- dynamic pricing
- AI initiatives
Yup, it checks all the enshitification boxes.
“A fragmented market”
That’s just a market, assholes.
private equity–backed corporation Bowlero
Well there is your problem right there.
Anytime private equity gets involved its the end of whatever you’re talking about. Private equity is a cancer for humanity and it should be removed from existence
Between bowlero and all those stupid expensive “boutique bowling” setups I’ve found i dont ever go anymore. used to go a ton, even took bowling as a physical Ed class in college.
This. I tried again a few years back but the experience sucked and it cost a lot of money.
It was a fun thing to do… Can’t find a normal bowling alley anymore. Exactly.
Bowling everywhere has gotten ridiculously expensive. Places like the one posted easily are over $50 per person. Per hour. Even “normal” places are around $30 each. You’re lucky to find off hour discounts, but it’s usually an hour or 2 M-Th at like 10 am, when everyone’s at work.
Join a league. You can go bowling throughout the week at league pricing, which will be much cheaper per person. Treat it like a workout and for about 90 minutes you’ll get cheap bowling with (usually) good company.
Way the Main Event is good place to bowl. Bowling always been expensive.
Main Event isn’t as bad as Bowlero where I am but it isn’t even close to the cheapest. Even the hole in the wall AMF I used to go to is around the 30 per person per hour now. They do at least have cheap daytime deals but I can never take advantage of it.
Oh well unfortunately all our bowling alley are freaking expensive as hell.
Bowlero figured out how to crater a sport for profit. Private equity is a disease. Shareholders need to be held accountable.
*Shot, Shareholders should be shot, FTFY
And as it consolidated the market, Bowlero executives allegedly planned to “use our scale to drive procurement synergies,” securing preferential deals with suppliers like Sysco Foods, QubicaAMF bowling balls, and Kegel lane maintenance not available to its competitors.
Ah. Synergies. mmmm. Yes. Very good.
I read this in Matt Berry’s vampire voice and it was very satisfying
