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Bowling Centers in the US - Market Research Report (2014-2029)

Michal Dalal Michal Dalal New York, United States Last Updated: August 2024 NAICS 71395

Revenue

$3.8bn

2024

$3.8bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

$XXX.Xm

Employees

47,168

Businesses

2,646

Wages

$X.Xbn

Bowling Centers in the US industry analysis

Bowling centers handily recovered from COVID-19 closures but experienced extreme revenue volatility over the last few years. Revenue plummeted because of business closures and shelter-in-place orders in 2020, then spiked in 2021 thanks to rising disposable income propping up discretionary spending. Profit was as volatile as revenue but stabilized post-pandemic with the assistance of government aid. In line with the unprecedented losses experienced in 2020, industry-wide revenue has been falling at a CAGR of 5.2% over the past five years and is expected to total $3.8 billion in 2024, when revenue will contract an estimated 2.2%.

Trends and Insights

  • Centers no longer struggle with a split personality. Centers are differentiating; some remain focused on league players and others intrigue open bowlers with expanding entertainment services delivered with engaging VR, AR audio and video technologies.
  • Open-play customers are leading the game. League bowlers are decreasing in number and open-play bowlers that encompass more age groups are increasing.
  • Great Lakes racks up superior scores on all lanes. This region has four of the top five locations for Bowling and a location share that swamps population share.
  • Competition throws a spare, and smaller bowling centers fall. Large bowling enterprises with various entertainment options lure customers from traditional establishments, challenging the bottom line and forcing exit.

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  • Market estimates from 2014-2029
  • Critical performance data and rankings
  • Detailed analysis of competitive forces and the external environment
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Industry Statistics and Trends

Market size and recent performance (2014-2029)

Industry revenue has declined at a CAGR of 5.2 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated $3.8bn in 2024.

Trends and Insights

Bowling centers work to attract their desired demographics

  • A deterioration in league participation rates and the rise of casual bowlers have profoundly altered the economics of bowling centers. To stay viable, some bowling centers have focused on providing one of two types of playing styles to better meet the changes in clientele needs.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Bowling Centers in the US
Revenue (2014-2029)
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry outlook (2024-2029)

Market size is projected to decline over the next five years.

Trends and Insights

The pool of new bowlers is dwindling

  • Bowling is a lifetime activity, so a steady inflow of young people to the sport is crucial for long-term survival in the industry.

Biggest companies in the Bowling Centers in the US

Company
Market Share (%)
2024
Revenue ($m)
2024
Profit ($m)
2024
Profit Margin (%)
2024
Bowlero Corp.
1,201.2
151.2
12.6

To view the market share and analysis for all 1 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.

Products & Services Segmentation

Bowling Centers in the US
Products & Services
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Bowling, Food and beverages and Nonbowling games and activities . Bowling is the largest segment of the Bowling Centers in the US.

Trends and Insights

Bowling remains the central activity

  • The main draw and revenue source remains bowling, representing more than half the revenue for the bowling center.
  • More insights available in the full report

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

Operators in this industry primarily operate bowling centers. Establishments often sell food and beverages.

What's included in this industry?

BowlingNonbowling games and activitiesFood and beverages

Companies

Bowlero Corp.

Purchase this report to view all 1 major companies in this industry.

Related Terms

PINSETTERCOSMIC BOWLINGFAMILY FUN CENTER

Industry Code

NAICS 2017

NAICS 71395 - Bowling Centers in the US

Performance

Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.

Analyst insights

Centers no longer struggle with a split personality. Centers are differentiating; some remain focused on league players and others intrigue open bowlers with expanding entert...

In this chapter (4)

  • Current Performance
  • Outlook
  • Volatility
  • Life Cycle

Key metrics

  • Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
  • Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
  • Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
  • Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business

Charts

  • Revenue, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Employees, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Businesses, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Profit, including historical (2014-2024)
  • Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
  • Industry Life Cycle

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
  • Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
  • Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
  • How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.

Products and Markets

Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.

Analyst insight

Open-play customers are leading the game. League bowlers are decreasing in number and open-play bowlers that encompass more age groups are increasing.

In this chapter

  • Products & Services
  • Major Markets

Key metrics

  • Largest market segment and value in 2024
  • Product innovation level

Charts

  • Products & services segmentation in 2024
  • Major market segmentation in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
  • Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
  • Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
  • Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services

Geographic Breakdown

Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.

Analyst insights

Great Lakes racks up superior scores on all lanes. This region has four of the top five locations for Bowling and a location share that swamps population share.

In this chapter (1)

  • Business Locations

Charts

  • Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each state
  • Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2024

Tables

  • Number and share of establishments in each state in 2024
  • Number and share of revenue each state accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of wages each state accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of employees in each state in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Geographic spread of the industry across North America, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
  • Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage

Competitive Forces

Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.

Analyst insights

Competition throws a spare, and smaller bowling centers fall. Large bowling enterprises with various entertainment options lure customers from traditional establishments, cha...

In this chapter (4)

  • Concentration
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Substitutes
  • Buyer & Supplier Analysis

Key metrics

  • Industry concentration level
  • Industry competition level and trend
  • Barriers to entry level and trend
  • Substitutes level and trend
  • Buyer power level and trend
  • Supplier power level and trend

Charts

  • Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2019-2024
  • Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart

Detailed analysis

  • Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
  • Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
  • Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
  • Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
  • Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
  • Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
  • Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
  • Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
  • Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.

Companies

Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.

Analyst insights

Multiple entertainment lanes are vital for major player Bowlero Corporation. With a large share of industry revenue from bowling, brand recognition and a range of services ch...

In this chapter

  • Market Share Concentration
  • Companies
  • Company Spotlights

Charts

  • Industry market share by company in 2020 through 2024
  • Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2024
  • Overview of Bowlero Corp.'s performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Description and key data for Bowlero Corp., and factors influencing its performance in the industry

External Environment

Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.   

Analyst insights

Bowling centers have many lanes, but stable revenue suggests one strategy. Impacted by consumers' discretionary income, the bowling center has many options to enhance and exp...

In this chapter

  • External Drivers
  • Regulation & Policy
  • Assistance

Key metrics

  • Regulation & policy level and trend
  • Assistance level and trend

Charts

  • Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 
  • Assistance historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 

Detailed analysis

  • Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
  • Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
  • Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.

Financial Benchmarks

View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time. 

Analyst insights

Purchase cost growth leads to volatility. When bowling centers expand their service offerings and purchases to compete with other entertainment venues, they will likely face ...

In this chapter

  • Cost Structure
  • Financial Ratios
  • Key Ratios

Key metrics

  • Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
  • Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
  • Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
  • Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio

Charts

  • Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Investment vs. share of economy

Data tables

  • Industry Multiples (2017-2022)
  • Industry Tax Structure (2017-2022)
  • Income Statement (2017-2022)
  • Balance Sheet (2017-2022)
  • Liquidity Ratios (2017-2022)
  • Coverage Ratios (2017-2022)
  • Leverage Ratios  (2017-2022)
  • Operating Ratios (2017-2022)
  • Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Employee (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Establishment (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Average Wage (2014-2029)
  • Wages/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Establishments per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • IVA/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Imports/Demand (2014-2029)
  • Exports/Revenue (2014-2029)

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability 

Key Statistics

Industry Data

Data Tables

Including values and annual change:

  • Revenue (2014-2029)
  • IVA (2014-2029)
  • Establishments (2014-2029)
  • Enterprises (2014-2029)
  • Employment (2014-2029)
  • Exports (2014-2029)
  • Imports (2014-2029)
  • Wages (2014-2029)

Top Questions Answered

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What is the market size of the Bowling Centers in the US industry in United States in 2024?

The market size of the Bowling Centers in the US industry in United States is $3.8bn in 2024.

How many businesses are there in the Bowling Centers in the US industry in 2024?

There are 2,646 businesses in the Bowling Centers in the US industry in United States, which has declined at a CAGR of 2.3 % between 2019 and 2024.

Has the Bowling Centers in the US industry in United States grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Bowling Centers in the US industry in United States has been declining at a CAGR of 5.2 % between 2019 and 2024.

What is the forecast growth of the Bowling Centers in the US industry in United States over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Bowling Centers in the US industry in United States is expected to decline.

What are the biggest companies in the Bowling Centers in the US market in United States?

The biggest company operating in the Bowling Centers market in United States is Bowlero Corp.

What does the Bowling Centers in the US in United States include?

Bowling and Nonbowling games and activities are part of the Bowling Centers in the US industry.

Which companies have the highest market share in the Bowling Centers in the US in United States?

The company holding the most market share in United States is Bowlero Corp..

How competitive is the Bowling Centers in the US industry in United States?

The level of competition is high and increasing in the Bowling Centers in the US industry in United States.

Related Industries

Widen your competitive advantage with related industries

Competitors

  • Amusement Parks in the US
  • Arcade, Food & Entertainment Complexes in the US
  • Golf Driving Ranges & Family Fun Centers in the US
  • Video Games in the US

Complementors

  • There are no industries to display.

International industries

  • Sports and Recreation Facilities Operation in Australia
  • Sports and Recreation Facilities Operation in New Zealand
  • Sports Facilities in the UK

View all industries in United States

Methodology

How are IBISWorld reports created?

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Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.

IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.

What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?

Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.

Key data sources in the US include: 

  • US Census Bureau
  • US Bureau of Labor Statistics
  • US International Trade Commission

Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.

These sources include:

  • Industry and trade associations
  • Industry federations or regulators
  • Major industry players annual or quarterly filings

Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.

How does IBISWorld forecast its data?

IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.

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